mobiblog

Visit to Aguada Fort, south of Candolim village, near Panaji in Goa.

Aguada Fort was built by the Portuguese in 1609-12 to guard Goa against Dutch and Maratha invasions and control entry to Mandovi river. It comprises a lower fort with bastions all around and an upper fort with a lighthouse, an underground water storage chamber, bastions, and gunpowder room.

The upper fort used to serve as a Watering Station to ships (Água means water in Portuguese, and hence the name Aguada—a place for storing water). The lower fort provided a safe resting place for Portuguese ships. Part of the lower fort now houses the Central Jail of Goa.

The 19th century 42-feet (~ 4-storey) circular lighthouse at Aguada fort, which is not in use anymore, used to emit light every 30 seconds. The lighthouse, built in 1834 and supposed to be the oldest of its type in Asia, was de-commissioned in 1976 in favour of a new lighthouse located close to the fort.

Aguada Fort is located at a distance of 18-km from Panaji and it's worth spending an hour or two enjoying the fabulous view of Mandovi river from the upper fortress. Other places of interest near Aguada fort are Sinquerim beach and Calangute beach.

See pictures of lighthouse at Aguada Fort and views of Mandovi river and surrounding greenery, as seen from the upper fortress.

View of Mandovi river from Aguada Fort, Goa. Click image to download full size wallpaper. File size: 98KB. Resolution: 1024 by 768.

View of Mandovi river from Aguada Fort, Goa. Click image to download 1024 by 768 resolution desktop wallpaper. File size: 88KB.

Aguada Fort lighthouse. Click image to view full size. Resolution: 1024 by 768. File size: 80KB.

19th century Portuguese circular lighthouse at Aguada Fort. Click image to view and download full size 1024 by 768 resolution photo to set as desktop wallpaper. File size: 74KB.

View from Aguada Fort, Goa. Spend an afternoon at Aguada Fort watching ships sailing in Mandovi river. Click image to view full size. Resolution: 1024 by 768. File size: 68KB.

View from Aguada Fort near Panaji in Goa. Click image to view a larger picture. File size: 135KB. Resolution: 1024 by 768.

View of ships sailing in the calm water of Mandovi river, as seen from Aguada Fort, Goa. Click image to see a larger picture. File size: 64KB. Image resolution: 1024 by 768.