Goa’s beauty lies not just in its beaches, but the diversity of the experiences and memories the state can offer.
Goa alone can boast of over a dozen stoic forts which were built by the various rulers and kings which had staked claim over the prosperous region over centuries.
Take the fortress at Rachol for instance, which is located near the iconic Rachol seminary located about 40 kms from the state capital.
The fortress is now in a state of ruin, but was once armed with an impressive 100 guns to keep the enemy at bay. It was built in the 1400s by the Bahamani Kings and had since been witness to numerous bloody encounters and battles at its foothills between the Bahamani kings and the rulers of the Vijayanagar kingdom before the Portuguese took it over, who in turn also had to face a siege by Maratha king Sambhaji.
What greets a visitor to the fortress now, is a stone archway and the remnants of the moat which once helped keep the fort secure from intruders.
The ride to the Rachol fort itself is a lovely one, taking you through those parts of Goa, which are still relatively untouched with flowing rivers, serene rivers, etc.
Rachol Fort
Rachol, 40 kms away from Panaji