This visit to Fort
Aguada, Candolim, Goa, was a part of the Goa Heritage walk to the
temples and Heritage sites, organised by Aatrupadai, from 5th December 2025 to 7th
December 2025. Thanks to திருச்சி பார்த்தி for organising the Heritage walk.
AGUADA FORTRESS
(UPPER) CANDOLIM
Fort Aguada, built in 1612, comprises a lower fort with bastions all around and an upper
fort. It skirts the seashore and ascends the summit of the bare rocky uplands
called Aguada Point. The upper fort was built as a vantage point to serve as a
fort and a watering station for the ships, while the lower fort offered a safe
berth to Portuguese ships.
The upper fort
comprises a moat, an underground water storage chamber, light house, gun
powder room, and bastions. It also has a secret escape passage to use during an emergency.
Moat
The word 'Aguada'
means watering place in Portuguese. The storage capacity of the water tank is 23,
76,000 gallons. It has five divisions with a support of 16 huge columns and a
staircase to descend. A lighthouse at the initial stage used to emit light once every
seven minutes. In 1834, it was updated to emit light, creating an eclipse every
30 seconds. However, it was abandoned in 1976.
UPPER FORT, AGUADA
In 1510, Affonso de
Albuquerque conquered the city of Goa (Old Goa) with its natural harbours and
navigable rivers by driving away the forces of Ismail Adilshah (1510-1534), the
Sultan of Bijapur. After their firm establishment in Goa, the Portuguese faced
much opposition from other European invaders like the French, the Dutch, and the
English. The Dutch, who started coming to India in 1599, became the
major threat to the Portuguese colony in Goa. That necessitated the
construction of a fort on the mouth of the river Mandovi for keeping a strict
vigil. Therefore, a fort with an extensive circumference around the Aguada
plateau was constructed in the year 1612 during the tenure of governor Ruy
Lourenco de Tavora (1609-1612). It was named "Aguada", meaning 'a
place of water' in Portuguese. Constructed in two segments, viz. the upper and lower,
the upper fort Aguada was known as "Fortaleza Real", i.e., the royal
fort, while the lower fort Aguada was called "Praca da Santa
Catharina".
Shaped like a star, the upper fort Aguada stands
at a height of 260 ft. above sea level. Covering an area of 95,768 sq. mts,
this fort is located at a prominent geographic location forming a triangle with
the promontory of the forts at Cabo and Mormugao, respectively. The fort is
surrounded by a dry moat from three sides, which is attached to the mainland measuring
6.5 mts in width, 5.20 mts in depth, and is cut directly into the laterite
hillock, and the laterite removed from it was used for the construction of the
upper fort Aguada. The fort consists of structures like the gunpowder room,
the house of the captain of the fort, the water tank, and the lighthouse, which are
covered with a cell parapet wall. The two long stairways originating from the
seaside of the upper fort Aguada connect it to the fortification of the
lower fort Aguada.
THE WATER TANK
This flat rectangular
platform with small windows, in the encircled area of the parapet wall, is an
underground water storage chamber/tank. The storage capacity of this water
tank is 23,76,000 gallons. There are five divisions inside the tank with a
support of 16 huge columns carved in the bedrock. A small staircase is
provided at the entry gate to descend. It was used for the storage of sweet
water collected by the rain. The flat surface all around the tank was given a
slope towards the inlets, and small waterways were provided for collecting the
rainwater. This water was then drained to the tank through underground pipes
in the lower fort tank, which also had natural springs. This sweet water, so
collected, was supplied to the ships anchored at the bay through the pipes. This
system of drinking water supply at Fort Aguada holds a distinct place in the
fort architecture of India. The laterite quarried for both the cisterns was
used for the construction of the fortress.
The fort is being
maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India.
The water tank is in front of the Light House
THE DEVELOPMENTAL
WORK AND VISITOR AMENITIES UNDER NCF-IOF PROJECT AT AGUADA FORT, GOA
The Gracious
Presence of Dr. Pramod Sawant, Hon'ble Chief Minister of Goa, was inaugurated by Shri.
G. Kishan Reddy, Hon'ble Minister of Culture & Tourism and Development of
North Eastern Region, Government of India, On 4th December 2021, in the Exalted
Attendance of Shri. Shripad Yesso Naik, Hon'ble Minister of State for Tourism
and Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Government of India, Shri. Chandrakant
Kavlekar Hon'ble Deputy Chief Minister, Government of Goa, Shri. Michael Lobo, Hon'ble Minister for Science & Technology Waste Management, Ports and Rural Development, the Government of Goa, and Shri. Dayanand Sopte Hon'ble Minister of
Legislative Assembly Chairman, GTDC Goa.
TIMINGS
The fort will be open to visitors from 09:00 hrs to 17:30 hrs, Tuesday to Sunday, and closed on Monday, which is a holiday.
LOCATION OF THE
FORT: CLICK HERE
Basilica Bom Jesus
--- OM SHIVAYA
NAMA ---
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