Fort Aguada: Goa

Fort Aguada is a seventeenth century Portuguese fort facing the Sinquerim beach and the Mandovi river, south of Candolim, Goa.

The word ‘aguada ‘ in Portuguese means water and the fort seems to have got its name from the freshwater tank (capacity 23,76,000 gallons) inside the fort.

The fort was constructed in 1612 in order to keep a watch over the Marathas and the Dutch and provide a base for the Portuguese ships. 

The fort was said to have seventy nine cannons defending it.

The fort has a moat surrounding its periphery, besides a four storey ‘lighthouse’ (emits light every thirty econds) that was built in 1864 to look after the sea traffic.

Pic:source Nitin Pai

During the Salazar administration, fort Aguada served as a prison for political detainees. A prison still stands in its vicinity and mainly guards the western convicts caught for drug trafficking.

The Taj group of hotels have also constructed a beach resort and a grand five star hotel in its vicinity. The beach also offers several water sports that are a added attraction for the tourists.