Konkan Connect › Places to visit

Fort Aguada

Fort · Thivim, Goa

A Portuguese fort of the early 1600s on the headland at Sinquerim, with an old lighthouse and views over the mouth of the Mandovi.

Fort Aguada was built by the Portuguese in the early seventeenth century to guard the entrance to the Mandovi river and the approach to their capital. Ships also stopped here to take on fresh water from a spring, which gave the fort its name: agua is Portuguese for water.

The upper fort on the hill has a large water cistern and an old lighthouse from the nineteenth century, one of the oldest of its kind in Asia. The walls look out over Sinquerim and Candolim beaches to the north and across the river towards Panaji.

The fort is close to the busy beaches of North Goa, so it is easy to combine with a day by the sea. Afternoons can be hot on the open walls; mornings and late afternoons are more comfortable.

Best time to visit

November to March for the most comfortable weather.

How to reach

At Sinquerim, south of Candolim in North Goa. Nearest Konkan Railway stations: Thivim and Karmali, then by road.

Places nearby

• Chapora Fort
• Basilica of Bom Jesus, Old Goa

Facts: Wikidata (CC0) and OpenStreetMap; map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.