Terekhol
|
In Goa, in Sindhudurga district on
the border of Redi village we find Terekhol fort.
It is on a big hill near the seashore. Though it
is in Goa, people visiting Sindhudurga are able to
sect fort is situated at the mouth of Redi creek.
Towards the south of the fort is the seashore. Redi
village is well known for its manganese business.
Often mis-spelt as tirakol or tirakhol, Situated
on the Terekhol River, this fort lies on the northern
tip of Goa. Maharaja Khem Sawant Bhonsle built this
fort in the 17th century. It was then rebuilt in
1764 after the Portuguese Viceroy Dom Pedro Miguel
de Almeida captured it. However, Terekhol was legally
incorporated into Goa only in 1788.
In 1825, Dr. Bernado Peres da Silva, a Goan governor
general used the fort as a base for an armed rebellion
against the Portuguese. The outcome however, was
not very fruitful and the Portuguese took over the
fort once again.
The remains of the fort have now been converted
into a hotel, the Terekhol Fort Heritage. However,
the St. Anthony's church inside the fort still remains.
But it is not open to the general public except on
certain occasions such as the annual feast that is
usually held some time in May. |
Cabo da rama |
Located in
the Canacona taluka of South Goa, the Cabo da Rama
fort presents a desolate spectacle of crumbling ruins.
Also known as Cape Rama fort, this ancient bastion
is steeped in mythological legends. The fort derives
its name from Rama, the protagonist of the epic Ramayana,
who, accompanied by his wife Sita took refuge here
during his exile from Ayodhya.
Unlike many other forts in the state, the Cabo da
Rama fort predates the Portuguese invasion of Goa.
Possession of the fort changed hands many a time
as dynasties fell and rose during the ages. In 1763
the Portuguese claimed the Cabo de Rama fort after
defeating the Raja of Soonda and renovated it subsequently.
The present ramshackle structure with turrets and
rusty cannons is a remnant of the Portuguese.
Apart from scattered ruins here and there, the Cabo
da Rama fort does not hold any attractions. Within
its ramparts, the moated fort houses the church of
Santo Antonio which is in excellent condition and
is still in use. The western side of the fortress,
where the cliffs drop sharply to the sea, provides
a panoramic view of the surrounding areas. |
Fort Aguada |
Fort Aguada is an old, well preserved
Portuguese fort standing in Goa, India, on Sinquerim
beach, overlooking the vast expanses of Arabian Sea.
The fort was constructed in 1612 to guard against
the Dutch and the Marathas. It was a reference point
for the vessels coming from Europe at that time.
This old Portuguese fort stands on the beach south
of Candolim, at the shore of the Mandovi river.
A freshwater spring within the fort provided water
supply to the ships that used to stop-by. This is
how the fort got its name: Aguada = Water. On the
fort stands a 4-storey Portuguese lighthouse, erected
in 1864 and the oldest of its kind in Asia. A part
of the fort is converted to central Jail. Many of
its inmates are Western tourists serving time for
drug-related crimes.
Fort Aguada was the most prized and crucial fort
of Portuguese. The fort is so large that it envelops
the entire peninsula at the south western tip of
Bardez. Built on the mouth of river Mandovi, it was
strategically located and was the chief defence of
Portuguese against the Dutch and Marathas.
Fort Aguada light houseThe fort got its name 'Aguada'
from the word Aguada (Portuguese for water), because
of the three fresh water springs inside it. Built
in 1612, it was once the grandstand of 79 cannons,
a moat around the fort also protected it. |
Chapora |
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. |
