Gaspar Dias Fort - named after the man on whose land it stood - once faced it across the river. It has since vanished.
Known as the Royal Fort, it was where political prisoners were jailed, after it outlived its use as a defence fort. Post the 1961 liberation of Goa, the fort became a sub-jail, where undertrials were lodged. The lock-up was shut down in July 1993. The steep pathway to the fort, blocked by a corroded gate, is covered with weeds and bushes. Symbolically, a pair of handcuffs has been used to lock the gate.
.Entry Not allowed; peek at it from outside
Chapora Fort
Built in 1717 by the Portuguese on the ruins of an earlier fort built by Adil Shah District Bardez
Location On the southern headland of the River Chapora
Distance from Panajl 30 km north-west via Mapusa
Guns 9
Little is left of this fort except for the outer periphery, but the view from here is very special. This is the Goa of the picture postcards: two beaches (Vagator
and Anjuna), a river, the sea in varying shades of blue, the sky above, red soil and swaying palms. Be discreet, don't disturb the couples seeking an escape from the intimacy of a small state where everyone knows everyone.
The fort changed hands several times. The Portuguese had built it on the ruins of Adil Shah's Shah pur Fort; they lost it to Shivaji's son, Sambhaji in 1684. In 1717, the Marathas withdrew and the Portuguese rebuilt the fort. In 1739, the Marathas recaptured Chapora and held it for two years. When the Portuguese got it back, it had lost its strategic importance. In 1892 they abandoned the fort.
.Entry Sunrise to sunset. Great place to ~ shoot scenic pictures
Fort Cabo da Rama Built by the Sundas District Canacona Location Main road
Distance from Panajl 72 km south via Betul
Guns 21
Cabo da Rama was used by various rulers until the Portuguese took it over from the Raja of Sunda in 1763 and rebuilt it. However, it held no strategic or practical importance for them. The British occupied it twice between 1797 and 1802 and then again from 1803 to 1813. Thereafter, it appears to have been used as a prison tm 1955. Nicolau da Fonseca notes that there were two freshwater springs in the fort: one had its origins in a gold mine, the other in a sulphur mine.
Though the church within the fort is still in use, little else remains. However, the view from the headland is breathtaking. According to a legend, the fort has derived its name from Lord Rama who stayed here for a while during his exile along with his wife Sita.
.Entry Sunrise to sunset

Rachol Fort
Built in 1576 by the Portuguese on the site of an earlier Bahmani fort Location East of Salcete, 7 km north­east of Margao, on the left bank of the Zuari
District Margao
Distance from Panaji 55-60 km south­east
Guns 100, but reduced to 65 in 1832 The Vijayanagara ruler Krishna Rao got hold of this one in 1520 and the Portuguese got hold of it soon after. It was repeatedly attacked by the Muslims and the Marathas, which may explain why you don't see much of the fort, though if you spend a day hunting you might bump into some bits of the old wall. However, it is worth visiting because of the beautifully restored Church of Nossa Senhora de Neves and the seminary. This is also where India's third printing press was set up by Thomas Stephen's SJ, the press that printed the Kristapurana, the first translation of the Gospels into Marathi. Spectacular views.
.Entry Sunrise to sunset; church open 7- 11 am and 5-7 pm