Forts in Goa have served multiple needs of our rulers of the time. Take the Aguada fort for example. Constructed by the Portuguese colonists in the early 1600s to ward off the fellow Dutch colonials as well as an upcoming Maratha navy from conducting raids, the fort, part of which has been converted into a five star hotel today, was also used as a water storage facility for Portuguese ships stopping over. In fact ‘agua’ from the word Aguada means water. At its peak, the fort had a water storage facility of two million gallons. For a long period, the fort which is located on a piece of land jutting out into the sea “ which made it strategically very important “ was a very crucial sentinel as far as the Portuguese navy and its trade was concerned. Later the same fort served as a prison for freedom fighters and later after the state was liberated, it was the state’s biggest prison. It was only some months back, that the prison was relocated elsewhere and the government now plans to make Aguada a tourism hub. Going there today especially in the evening, when the sun is setting over the horizon is a splendid experience, especially when viewed from the fort’s ramparts. The lighthouse in the distance too makes for a nice outing, if you are looking for a breath-taking views and some photos to go with it.
