Once the Portuguese established colonial rule in Goa, they took immense pains to protect themselves from hostile neighbours and enemy forces that waged war against their empire in Europe. Whilst forts like Terekhol, Rachol and Chapora proved effective against threats of invasion from within India, the Portuguese knew that they were also vulnerable to the naval might of warring European nations.

The confluence of the Mandovi River and the Arabian Sea was of great strategic importance, because whoever controlled this location controlled the waterways into the heart of Goa, and the then capital, Velha Goa. To this end, the Reis Magos Fort, Cabo Fort and Gaspar Dias Fort (which is no longer in existence today) were placed in such a manner as to be able to catch enemy ships in a daunting crossfire.

However, when the Dutch squadron attacked the harbour in 1604, even the combined might of these three forts proved ineffective, and although the invaders were eventually repelled it was at the cost of several Portuguese sailing vessels and countless lives. Added to that, they returned in 1606 and blockaded the harbour, effectively cutting off the trade routes.

The Portuguese therefore saw the need for a more potent military setup and thus began the construction of the Aguada fort in 1609. This was at the time of Dom Filippe’s rule, and to facilitate its construction a tax was levied to raise the funds. The fort was completed in 1612 under the watchful eye of Viceroy Ruy Tavara.

This fort, taking up the entire peninsula as it does, provided the colonists with an imminently defensible position as well as a safe harbour for ships to dock and restock their food and water supplies since the lower part of the fort had berths for the ships.

Built to encompass the entire Bardez Peninsula, the entire fort gives the impression of solidity rather than flights of fancy. The fort was built from designs drawn up by Italian military architects employed by the Portuguese Empire in Lisbon. The walls, standing 5 ft. high and 1.3 m. thick, conform to the natural terrain.

The fort is built on two levels, with berths for ships at the sea level and an imposing and formidable citadel surmounting the highest part of the hill. The sea level portion contained gun powder storage rooms, prisons, barracks, officers and chaplains living quarters and a chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Good Voyage. It additionally had safe docks for Portuguese ships.

The entire area was surrounded by walls with bastions holding embrasures for cannons at irregularly spaced intervals. These sea walls are no longer in existence today. The largest of all the freshwater springs called the ‘Mother of water’ or ‘Mae de Agua’ is also located here.

The citadel was built in a more or less square shape with bastions for artillary at three of the corners which were strongly defended by thick walls and a dry moat, and the main gate on the fourth which faces out on a steep drop towards the river. The embrasures were built so as to give the cannons a wide range of fire.

This upper level was once mounted with 200 cannons to safeguard the fort walls. The bastions are arrow-shaped and had rounded corners. To make the fort even more impregnable, the citadel gateway was narrow and blocked by iron-studded doors. The ditch outside was spanned by a narrow walkway and has a magazine adjacent to it, the unique half-round design of which was most effective in deflecting enemy fire.

There is also, on this level, a large courtyard, containing the cistern for stores of fresh water which could hold up to two and quarter million gallons of water at a time. The excavation that was done for the cistern provided the stone which was used to construct the walls. Parallel walls form a narrow passageway from the citadel down to the main fort. There is also a raised walk-wall which overlooks the dry moat, and the gorgeous vista of the Arabian Sea.

The first lighthouse was built in 1864, making it one of the first to be built in Asia. Prior to this, ships were guided into safe harbour by means of huge bonfires that were lit on the ‘hill of Pilots’ above the place where the Church of Immaculate Conception now stands in Panaji.

The old lighthouse dominates the landscape of the fort from a distance. Its rather squat appearance is relieved by the balustrade that encircles it’s upper storeys and the curving staircase winding up to the lamp house. It also contains a copper plaque dedicated to the Viceroy Ruy Tavara and the architect and engineer under whose aegis the fort was built.

This lighthouse also once contained an ancient bell, taken from the Augustinian church; however this bell is now housed in the Our Lady of Immaculate Conception Church, Panaji.

Although the jail itself is naturally closed to the general public, there is a rather magnificent statue just outside the gates of the prison area which commemorates the freedom struggle of Goa.

The statue depicts the figures of a man and a woman, the man cradling a child and the woman with her arms raised, breaking the chains which bind her. Behind them is the Ashoka pillar, the national emblem of India, with a plaque dedicated to the remembrance of all those who gave their lives in the struggle for freedom.

On the 18^th of June every year, a ceremony is held here in remembrance of freedom endlessly sought after, tirelessly fought for and hard won.