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Aguda
Fort in Goa
A spring
within the fort provided water supply to the ships that called
there, giving it the name "Aguada" (meaning 'water' in
Portuguese). On the northern side, it provides a harbour for local
shipping. The fort, at present, houses the central jail. A 19th
century built lighthouse is situated inside the fortress.
Immediately south of Candolim, a long peninsula extends into the
sea, bringing the seven-kilometre white sandy beach to an abrupt
end. Aguada Fort, which crowns the rocky flattened top of the
headland, is the best-preserved Portuguese bastion in Goa. Built
in 1612 to protect the northern shores of the Mandovi estuary from
Dutch and Maratha raiders, it is home to several natural springs,
the first source of drinking water available to ships arriving in
Goa after the long sea voyage from Lisbon.
Built in
1540 AD opposite Fort Aguada on the south headland of the river
Mandovi, the Cabo (the Portuguese word for cape) Palace fortress
housed the Franciscan monastery, which later (1594 AD) became the
official residence of the Governor of Goa.
Holding the most panoramic view one can witness in Goa with the
Indian Ocean towards the west, the Bay of the river Mandovi and
Fort Aguada on the north and the busy port of Mormugao.
The beauty, solitude and uniqueness and well-planned features are
some of the main attractions of the Cabo. A small Chapel was
constructed at the very end of the mansion dedicated to Our virgin
lady of The cape (Nossa Senhora do Cabo).
The Cabo Palace is now known as the Raj Bahavan, the official name
given to the residence of the Governors of the States In India. It
is also counted among the finest residences of Indian Governors
and is indeed the oldest as no other residence of a Governor of a
State in India had its origin to over four hundred years in the
past.
The Raj Bhavan has a fine collection o Bohemian chandeliers,
Chinese porcelain, silver and furniture. The most remarkable are
the beautiful pieces of antique Chinese porcelain presumably
manufactured in Canton.
Chapora
fort was built by the Adil Shah of Bijapur on the southern
headland of the Chapora River. It was also known as "Shahpur" and
is now mostly ruined. It has a commanding view of the Vagator
beach and is near to Anjuna beach.
The red laterite bastion, crowning the rocky bluff, was built by
the Portuguese in 1617 on the site of an earlier Muslim structure.
Deserted in the 19th century, it lies in ruins today, although the
views up and down the coast from the weed-infested ramparts are
still superb
This
fort near the internationally famous Marmagoa Harbour was built to
protect the harbour situated near the Vasco da Gama town. Its work
started in 1624.
It covered an area of six miles in circumference, contained
towering bulwarks, three magazines, five prisons, a chapel and
quarters for the guard. It had 53 guns and a garrison with 4
officers, and was an important fortress on the western coast.
Unfortunately, except the chapel and a portion of the boundary
wall, little is left of this fort.
it was a
key Portuguese fort for the defense of Goa, on the north side of
the estuary of the Teracol River, the most northern boundary of
Goa. Hyped as one of the state's most atmospheric historic
monuments, it turns out to be little more than a down at heel
country house recently converted into a low-key luxury hotel.
Decorative turrets and dry moat with commanding views of the
estuary and ocean mark the fort.
If ones visit coincides with the arrival of a guided tour, one may
get a chance to look around the gloomy interior of the chapel of
St. Anthony, in the fort's claustrophobic cobbled square; at other
times it's kept locked. The Chapel also has a classical late Goan
facade.
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