# Reis Magos

- **Country:** India
- **Coordinates:** 15.496944, 73.808889

Reis Magos is a historic village situated on the northern bank of the Mandovi River in the Bardez sub-district of North Goa, India. Located directly opposite the state capital of Panjim, the settlement derives its name from the Portuguese term for the Biblical Three Wise Men. The area is renowned for two prominent landmarks that define its skyline: the Reis Magos Church, which holds the distinction of being the first church built in Bardez, and the imposing Reis Magos Fort that crowns the headland overlooking the river's narrowest stretch.

The fort was originally erected in 1551, predating the more famous Fort Aguada by fifty years, to strategically protect the mouth of the Mandovi estuary. Constructed with sturdy laterite walls and distinctive Portuguese turrets, the structure was enlarged over time and finally re-erected in 1707. Historically, it served as a prestigious residence for viceroys and dignitaries traveling between Lisbon and India, while also functioning as a critical military bastion during conflicts against the Maratha Empire in the early eighteenth century. Although smaller than the fortress of Mormugao, its elevated position provided commanding views and defensive superiority, allowing it to withstand sieges that other forts could not. Later in its history, the bastion was repurposed to serve as a prison.

Today, the Reis Magos Fort remains in a good state of preservation, retaining its original complement of thirty-three guns and accommodations for a small garrison. The site continues to offer splendid panoramic views of the surrounding landscape and the river below. At the base of the fort lies the historic church, originally built by Franciscans in 1550 on the ruins of a pagan temple, accessible via a beautiful flight of stairs. Together, these structures represent a significant chapter in Goa's colonial past, blending military utility with religious heritage in a location that has guarded the river entrance for nearly five centuries.

![Photo of Reis Magos](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/40/Reis_Magos_Fort_-_View_from_Mandovi_River.JPG)

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