The Portuguese, led by Admiral Afonso de Albuquerque, arrived in Goa in 1510 at the invitation of Timoji, a local naval chief, to free the locals from the burden of taxes imposed by the Ottoman-influenced Bijapur Sultanate. Launching their first assault from the Mandovi River in March 1510, the Portuguese finally captured Tiswadi from Adil Shah on their second attempt, on November 25, 1510. Following their victory, they established the capital of Portuguese India (Estado da Índia Portuguesa). They quickly evolved into a vital hub for maritime trade, military operations, and colonial administration in the East.
Goa’s location on India’s west coast gave it great strategic importance, making it a crucial trading hub and a key base for the Portuguese to safeguard maritime routes and challenge rival powers such as the Dutch and British. To defend their interests, they constructed numerous forts that functioned as both military strongholds and administrative centres.
The Portuguese introduced advanced construction techniques and architectural styles that transformed building practices in Goa. They popularised the use of lime mortar and locally available laterite stone, enabling the construction of durable and complex structures that were well suited to the coastal climate. Their architecture blended European and Indian elements, visible in forts, churches, and other buildings.
Why was the fort constructed?
Prior experience taught the Portuguese to strengthen defences against rival European powers eyeing Indian trade. In 1604, the Dutch attacked via the Mandovi River, exposing the weakness of forts like Reis Magos, Gaspar Dias, and Cabo. Though the Dutch were defeated, the Portuguese lost several ships. In 1606, the Dutch returned and blocked the river’s mouth, halting ship movement. Fort Aguada, built under King Dom Filipe, was named after its freshwater spring and served to guard the fleet and refill passing ships.
Fort Aguada’s construction began in 1609, with Italian military architects designing it in a strong, local style using readily available laterite stone. Built to be impenetrable, the fort includes massive bastions, sloping walls to absorb cannon fire, and underground water tanks with a capacity of 2.3 million gallons. It served as a watchtower, water station, armoury, and prison.
Aguada fort layout
The fort’s broad layout traces the natural terrain by the sea and uses it to its advantage. The fort spans two levels: a sea-level platform and a high citadel. The lower platform housed barracks, prison cells, gunpowder storage, living quarters, and a chapel, while offering protected anchorage for incoming Portuguese ships. Its thick ramparts, with cannon crenels at regular intervals, provided defence from both land and sea. Remnants of its outer walls remain in patches along the riverside.
The citadel of the fort was built in a square layout, with three of its corners reinforced by heavily guarded bastions, shielded by thick walls and a dry moat. The fourth corner featured the main gate, positioned above a steep slope leading to the river. This entrance, accessible via a narrow path, was secured with iron-spiked doors. At its peak, the upper citadel could operate around 200 cannons, making it a powerful stronghold. Overlooking the vast Arabian Sea, it stood as a key defence point for the region.
Inside the citadel was a large cistern fed by a fresh spring, which replenished the water supply for ships stopping at the fort. The fort could store up to 2,376,000 gallons of water, making it one of the largest freshwater reservoirs in Asia at the time. It was divided into two sections: the upper part functioned as a fort and watering station, while the lower part provided a secure anchorage for Portuguese ships. Legend has it that the stones excavated during the construction of this cistern were used in the construction of the fort itself.
A key attraction of Fort Aguada is its tall, four-storeyed lighthouse built in 1864, regarded as the oldest of its kind in Asia. It used oil lamps to send out a light beam every seven minutes, guiding ships safely to Goa’s shores. The fort gained iconic status after featuring in the Bollywood film Dil Chahta Hai, turning it into a popular tourist destination. A copper plaque inside the lighthouse honours Viceroy Ruy Tavara and the fort’s architects. A second lighthouse, known as the Aguada Lighthouse, was built in the 20th century closer to the cliff’s edge.
Another notable structure within the fort was the chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Good Voyage. Built by the Portuguese, it served as a place of prayer and reflection for sailors, with ships often anchoring nearby to rest and resupply before continuing their journeys. The title Our Lady of Good Voyage, referring to the Virgin Mary, is believed to have originated among Portugal’s seafaring communities.
Connecting the citadel to the lower-level anchorage are parallel defensive walls. On the lower level lies the famed Mãe de Água or Mother of Water—a large freshwater spring. Previously a prison, the site was opened to tourists in 2015 after inmates were moved to Colvale Jail. A prominent statue near the old gates shows a man with a child and a woman breaking chains, symbolising Goa’s liberation struggle, with the Ashoka Pillar standing tall in the background.
Centuries later, Fort Aguada still reflects its strategic importance—overlooking the Arabian Sea as a reminder of colonial arrival, while its hidden passages echo past power struggles for trade and dominance in India.
