Reis Magos Fort: A Fascinating Legacy You Should Visit In 2024

Goa may be known for its beautiful coastline, but did you know that it has a rich cultural history? Recently we visited a village a short drive away from Panjim, the capital city of the state. Reis Magos is a village that is best known for two things: a fort and a church.

The Reis Magos fort is one of the oldest forts in Goa and it even predates the famous Aguada fort by half a century! Today the Reis Magos fort is owned by the government of Goa and is listed under the Goa Ancient Monuments and Archaeological sites and Remains act.

It is one of the trips that I advise taking because it is so close to the capital city Panjim. You could visit the church and then head back to chill in one of the many cafes in Panjim if you should like to. It is that close! For people like me who live in Margao, it is a little more challenging.

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Getting To Reis Magos Fort And Reis Magos Church

The easiest way to move around Goa is via your own transport. Not that there isn’t public transport in the form of buses but because these are rather infrequent and can take a while to figure out. If you are a tourist heading down to Goa, you may wonder what this means for you.

Well, you have two options. You can hire a cab for a day, or you can rent a vehicle. If you decide to rent a vehicle and drive, just make sure that you have a valid license.

That said, Reis Magos church and Reis Magos fort are both close to each other and you can walk from one to another. Getting to both of them however would entail some form of personal transport.

Reis Magos Fort Entry Fee

The Reis Magos fort has a nominal entrance fee of Rs. 50/- per head. You do have to pay a fee of Rs. 250/- if you want to take your camera in. Phone cameras are however allowed in without a charge.

Note that you cannot drive your vehicle all the way to the top of the fort which is situated on a hill. At the base of the hill, a little after you pass the Reis Magos church, you will find a reception area.

There isn’t a lot of parking space but there is definitely enough considering that not many people head here. Once parked, you can pay the entrance fee and head up. Make sure to keep your ticket at hand as they will check it at the main entrance of the fort above.

Reis Magos Fort Timings

Oddly enough, this wasn’t our first attempt at visiting this fort. The first time around, we had work in Panjim on a Monday and found ourselves trying to make a nice day of it. Bad idea! The Reis Magos fort is closed on Mondays. It is however open on all other days of the week between 9:30 am and 5:30 pm.

Who built Reis Magos Fort?

Constructed way back in 15^th century, the Reis Magos fort has been around for centuries. A once dense fortress, it has served a multitude of uses since then. From being a jail to a hospital, the fort has stood the test of time.

In fact, the fort was abandoned in 1993. It was then that it started showing signs of deterioration. The fort was reopened to the public in June 2012 after it was restored. The funds for this were provided by the Helen Hamlyn Trust which worked in partnership with the government of Goa and the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage.

So why was the fort so important to the Portuguese at that point of time in history? Well, when Alfonso de Albuquerque arrived in Goa and made his way through the Mandovi river with his fleet, he found himself at odds with the King of Bijapur namely Yusuf Adil Shah. Despite this, he still managed to secure the town of Old Goa which was then known as Ela.

His problems however far from over as the town was recaptured by Yusuf Adil Shah once more. This meant that he suffered quite a bit of loses to his fleet. He was then forced to retreat to the moth of the Mandovi river and the onslaught of the monsoons did not help him much either.

When Portugal sent in reinforcement, he was able to conquer Old Goa once more. Salcete and Bardez were also added to his conquests in 1540. That is where the Reis Magos fort made its appearance. Strategically situated atop a hill and at the mouth of the river, this fort offered a great vantage point and aided in defense.

There is a lot more to the history of Reis Magos fort. It was used to house soldiers at one point. Then it was turned into a jail and even a hospital. I won’t go into all the details though since its history spans over a couple of centuries.

The Architecture Of Reis Magos Fort

The cannons at Reis Magos fort and an incredible view.

The architecture of Reis Magos fort is pretty impressive. For one thing, the fort has stood the test of time. Built upon a hill, it is strategically located too. The height of the fort means that you are greeted with phenomenal views the moment you reach the top.

The Portuguese also designed it in such a way that there was always plenty of fresh water available which may not seem like much today but back in the day (where piped water was not a thing!), fresh water was an important commodity in times of a crisis.

One of the things that I liked the most was the abundance of signs in the fort that explained its history and the significance of different structures within the fort. For example, just as you enter the fort, you will notice that there is a plaque above the archway. This plaque was apparently vandalized in 1961. It was later found amidst the rubble and restored to its proper place.

What does the plaque say? Well it bears the coat of arms and translates from Portuguese as follows, ‘Caetano de Mello de Castro being the Viceroy of India placed these arms in stone on this fortress when Dom Aleixo da Almeida was captain – 1703’.

The death hole at Reis Magos Fort.

Once you step through the arch, direct your gaze above and you will notice a hole in the roof which is odd, but it served an especially important purpose. This hole was called the ‘Death hole’. It was used to shoot or throw hot oil on any enemy that breached their defenses.

The solitary confinement cell in Reis Magos fort.

Here you will also spot a solitary confinement cell which was used when the fort was converted into jail to house prisoners.

A short walk and a ticket inspection further and you will find yourself in the centre of the fort. There are a couple of different places that you can head to from here. Each one has its own significance.

The exhibit at Reis Magos fort.

We first took the route up the fort on our left and explored the two exhibits on the structures along the fort wall. One of the exhibits displayed Mario Miranda’s work while simultaneously offering a gorgeous view of the surroundings.

Who is Mario Miranda and why is his work important in context to the fort?

It is a question that you definitely will ask yourself especially if you are not familiar with the art scene in Goa. Mario Miranda was a renowned cartoonist whose work depicts different aspects of the Goan daily life. He was instrumental in getting the ball rolling where the renovation of the Reis Magos fort was concerned.

The second exhibit talks about the history of the Reis Magos fort. It talks about how the Portuguese came to Goa, the building of the fort and the way the use of the fort changed over time. It is an interesting read. The text is also supported with old photographs and texts from that time.

The third and the last exhibit shows floor plans of the entire fort. It talks about the difficulties that they encountered in the restoration process. It is here that we realized that the lower part of the fort hasn’t been fully restored yet. Hopefully it will soon be restored too.

Reis Magos Church

At the base of the hill is one of the iconic structures in the area. The Reis Magos church is pretty hard to miss. You will see it as soon as you drive up to the fort. The Reis Magos Chruch was constructed by the Portuguese.

‘Reis Magos’ refers to the ‘Three Magi’ or the ‘Three Wise Men’. This is in reference to story in the Bible where the three wise men visited the baby Jesus. The Reis Magos church is one of the only three churches in the state that celebrates the feast of the three wise men. It is one of the reasons why this church is so popular.

Places To Visit Near Reis Magos Fort

There is quite a lot of fun stuff to be done close to the Reis Magos fort which is why it great to add it as part of a day trip plan. Here are a few ideas that can help you plan your day better.

• Aguada fort: Another iconic fort in Goa that is a short drive away.
• Fontainhas: The Latin quarters of Goa
• Carlitos By The Sea: Good food, good ambiance especially at night.
• Padaria Prazeres: Can’t recommend this bakery enough!
• Miramar beach: Beach close to Panjim that is worth visiting.
• Sinquerim Fort: Great place to watch the sun set.
• Old Goa: Lots of historical monuments and churches.
• Cafes in Panjim: The city has a great coffee culture and has some epic spots to visit!

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