Corjuem Fort: Have You Been Here?

Situated at a distance of 4 kilometers from the village of Aldona. On the Island of Corjuem is an old Portuguese fort known as the Corjuem fort. The fort was built in 1705 and is one of the only two inland forts that are surviving made of pitted laterite. In the eighteenth century this fort protected the Portuguese from the Marathas, Bhonsles and the Rane Rajputs. The fort also has an interesting story according to which an ambitious Portuguese woman named Ursula e Lancastre landed up here as a soldier as she was determined to succeed in a man's world and also dressed like one. The earlier chapel of St Anthony was known to have been in the Corjuem Fort.

It is smaller compared to the other forts in Goa. But it gives a good view of the surrounding river and land. It was more like a solitary outpost. The walls are wide and have numerous gun ports and murder holes. At each corner of the fort is a ramp like stair that leads to the ramparts. The fort has a well and a three room living quarters. Within the fort is also located a small chapel which seems to be a relatively new addition. The fort is surrounded by lush greenery and one can get a full view of beautiful villages and islands nearby. Corjuem is well connected with Aldona by a cable suspension bridge which is a major source of attraction as it is the only suspension bridge in Goa.