# Chapora Fort

- **Country:** India
- **Coordinates:** 15.606111, 73.736389

Chapora Fort is a historic military structure located in Bardez, Goa, India, situated high above the Chapora River with commanding views toward Morjim. Originally constructed in 1617 by the Adil Shahi dynasty under the name Shahpoora, the site was later renamed by the Malvankar naval forces allied with Shivaji before Portuguese influence solidified. The fort served as a critical northern outpost for the Old Conquests and changed hands multiple times between the Portuguese, Marathas, and the Bhonsle rulers throughout the 17th and 18th centuries. Its strategic importance peaked when the Portuguese extensively repaired and strengthened the defenses in 1717 against local Hindu rulers, adding bastions and a secret tunnel leading to the riverbank for emergency escapes. However, as Goa's borders expanded northward in the late 19th century, the fort lost its military relevance and was officially abandoned in 1892.

Architecturally, the fort is defined by its adaptation to the natural landscape, featuring an irregular outer wall that follows the steep slopes of the hill to maximize defensive height without the need for dry ditches. The design includes irregularly spaced bastions equipped with large embrasures for cannons and distinctive cylindrical turrets. Although the main gate appears small and unpretentious, it leads into a deep, narrow passage designed for security. Today, the interior lies in ruins; the church once dedicated to St. Anthony has vanished, and former barracks have reduced to scattered stones where goats now graze. Despite its dilapidated condition, Chapora Fort remains a popular tourist destination, cherished for its panoramic vistas and rich history of colonial conflict rather than its preserved structures.

![Photo of Chapora Fort](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/35/Fort_Chapora_26012016.jpg)

**Source:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chapora_Fort (Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)