Rachol Fort

Overview

The Rachol Fort is a historical pre-Portuguese-era fort located in the village of Rachol. This fort is today little more than a ruin being swiftly reclaimed by nature. Little remains of its wonder and glory save an archway over the road leading to the Rachol seminary and a dried-up moat surrounding the hill upon which the seminary sits. Known more for the scenic beauty that surrounds it rather than any architectural merit, the fort nonetheless has a fascinating if bloodied history. This is a fort that predates the Portuguese invasion. It was in fact, built by the Bahamani Sultanate and fell into the hands of the Vijayanagar kings after a prolonged and bloodied battle. These kings later bartered with the Portuguese, exchanging the possession of the fort for help against the Sultanate of Bijapur. It is said that at the height of its power the fort held up to one hundred great cannons and guns, which would of course be how they managed to repel the powerful Maratha armies under the control of Sambhaji.

Highlights

• The fort was constructed by the Bahmani Sultanate, who recaptured Goa from the Vijayanagar Kings

• After a period of time, the Vijayanagar King Krishnadevaraya regained control of the Rachol Fort

• When the Portuguese gained dominion over Goa in 1510, Krishnaraya set up cordial relations with them

• When the Portuguese helped him to overcome the Sultanate of Bijapur, he gave them the Rachol Fort as a gesture of gratitude and friendship

• Its location on the banks of the Zuari River made the fort of great strategic importance in defending the newly formed Portuguese colony from both internal and external threats

• By 1521, they had built a chapel within its walls dedicated to St. John the Baptist. A church was built in 1565. In 1604, the fort was renovated and rebuilt.