Aguada Fort – Entry Fee, Timings, Nearby Attractions

Situated on the banks of Mandovi river, Aguada fort tells the stories of refuge of Portuguese from Dutch and the Great Marathas! The mighty walls of this fort resonate with the war stories of the Portuguese.

If you are fond of visiting a place that is not frequented by lots of people, note down the name of this fort in your to- visit bucket list. The natural freshwater spring inside the fort gives the name to this fort as in Portuguese the meaning of Aguada is a place where one can find water.

You can enjoy the excellence of Portuguese architectural skills and catch the sight of the meeting of the river Mandovi and the Arabian sea.

History of Aguada fort

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During olden times, the Portuguese used this fort for storing gun powder for canons, and it also served as a source of water for Portuguese people passing by the fort. If you throw light upon the ancient history, the Portuguese constructed this fort with a 13-meter tall lighthouse to act as a guide to ships passing through the fort. This fort has the pride of being one of the freshwater resources in Asia.

It once stored a capacity of 2376000 gallons of water for Portuguese. These people used the upper portion of the fort to provide water and storage purposes. Meanwhile, the lower part served as a haven from the attackers.

It also had a secret path out of the fort when they foresee any possible attack from enemies. For the History buffs, this fort is nothing less than an amusement to be at a place of historical importance.

Do you remember seeing this fort in the famous movie Dil Chahta Hai? The lower segment of the fort is now the central prison of Goa.

Aguada Fort Timings

The public is allowed inside the fort from 9.30 AM to 6.30 PM. To go around the Aguada fort, it takes complete 2 hours. While observing the architectural excellence of Portuguese, you can also see a lot of monuments inside the fort that will take your breath away!

Every day this magnificent fort greets a lot of people, and because of this reason, it is advisable if you visit at 9.30 or 10.

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Aguada Fort Entry Fee

There is absolutely no fee for visiting this fort. You have to keep in mind to visit during the early hours of the day to avoid the crowd. Otherwise, pay a visit at 4-5 so that you can sink into the beauty of the golden setting sun. Along with that, you can enjoy the clouds in beautiful red and blue colour finery!

How to Reach the Aguada Fort

By Bus: If you want to travel by bus, you can go to the Panjim bus stand and get into the bus that takes you to the Aguada Fort. You can get into a bus that takes you through the NH-17 and NH-4A, and through state highways.

If you plan to travel from Mumbai or Banglore, NH 17 would help you to enjoy the beauty of Aguada Fort. The Goa state government runs a lot of transport buses that ply to this place from every part of the country. If you reach the Panaji bus station, you are only 16 km away from this fort.

By air: The Goa international airport is ready to invite tourists from all over the world, and it is very near to Vascodagama city. The Dabolim airport has flights to Dubai, Qatar, Netherlands, Russia, Britain, and various other countries. After reaching this airport, the tourists can hire a taxi or car as the port is only 46 km away from the airport.

By Train: Vasco da Gama and Margao railway stations connect this fort to the rest of the country. There are regular train services that receive and send passengers to and from Goa to the rest of the part of the nation.

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Best Time to Visit Aguada Fort

The fort is open for a visit at 9.30 AM and is open till 6 PM. There is no entry fee for the fort. There is a fee of Rs. 20 to see the lighthouse, though. The timings to visit the lighthouse are from 12: PM to 5 PM, and only adults are allowed to see the lighthouse.

Tourist Places near Aguada Fort

Sinquerim beach

The Sinquerim beach on the Arabian sea allows visitors to do scuba diving, fishing, water skiing. You can sit and enjoy till the sun meets the horizon. After the day has bid adieu, you can stay in any of the hotels around this beach. This beach is hardly 1.5 km away from the beach. It is one of the most popular beaches of Goa.

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Shantadurga Temple

Visit Shantadurga temple that is near this fort to fill your heart with piety for some time. The main shrine is goddess Saraswati and is a very important temple for gouda Saraswati brahmins. This temple was constructed during the 18th century.

Also read 7 famous temples in Goa

Goa State Museum

This museum houses a lot of rare collections of historical importance that describes the Goa’s freedom struggle clearly. If you are interested in seeing ancient artifacts, and scriptures, the Goa state museum is the right choice for you. It has 8000 items of ancient times, and they bring a lot of visitors to this museum.

Medicinal Springs

There are lots of medicinal springs that cure different types of diseases near the Aguada fort. These waters help you get rid of rheumatic problems and the common cold. You have to go to the springs by the walk as the roads here a very narrow.

Eating Joints Near Aguada Fort

Wok and Roll

This wonderful open-air eatery is a paradise for vegans as they have a wide variety of dishes on their menu. The price is a little high compared to other restaurants in this place. But it is worth the money. You can order any Chinese or Asian cuisine, and the taste will linger on in your mouth for hours.

Banyan Tree

If you are a great fan of Thai cuisines and want to visit a place where you get excellent treatment, your decision to go to the Banyan tree restaurant is excellent. You can give a delightful feast to the taste bids waiting to enjoy a Thai restaurant menu.

Tony’s shack

A restaurant that feels delighted in serving its customers with their great service and exceptional food. At the end of the day, if there is leftover food, they give it to the canines and felines near the restaurant. You can relish your food while watching to disappear on the horizon.

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Places to Shop near Aguada Fort

Gulzar Jeweler

They are great jewellers who are loyal to the line of service they provide to the customers. Their jewels are pure, and they are of the start of the art design jewels. The authenticity of the gold and stones are beyond compare. You would never regret buying jewels from them.

Calangute Market

You can shop for your favourite attire, accessories, or trinkets with seashells. When you want to relax for a while, treat yourself with prawns and gulp down beer you get here. Many local, as well as foreign travellers, flock to this place due to the variety of items you get here.

Mackie’s Night Bazaar

This bazaar gets busy during the nights. From tasty eateries to eco- friendly items, from eco- friendly items to various varieties of handicraft materials, this stall is a one-stop-shop for all who visit this place.

In short, the Aguada fort in Goa is a worthy place to visit because of the architectural elegance and historical importance. It is an off the beaten track not many travellers like to visit. For wanderlusts, it is a haven as it has a lot to tell about Portuguese history and its importance in shielding these people against the mighty Marathas.