Fort
Tiracol, sometimes known as Terekhol Fort, is a fort in Goa, India. Located on
the northern tip of Goa at the mouth of the Tiracol River, Fort Tiracol is
reached by a ferry from Querim, 42 km North of Panaji. The name probably
originated from the Marathi tir-khol meaning "steep river-bank".
The fort was originally built by
Maharaja Khem Sawant Bhonsle, the Raja of Sawantwadi, in the 17th century. The
site chosen was a hillock on the Northern (right) bank of the river, which gave
a commanding view of the Arabian sea. The Bhonsles of Sawantwadi kept a
sizeable fleet of native vessels which sheltered in the Tiracol River. The fort
initially consisted of 12 guns, a barrack and a chapel.
In 1746, the Portuguese under the
44th Viceroy of Goa, Pedro Miguel de Almeida Portugal e Vasconcelos, conde de
Assumar, marquis de Alorna, waged war against the Raja of Sawantwadi. On 16
November 1746, de Almeida brought the Portuguese fleet up to the River Kaisuva,
waged a fierce maritime engagement against the naval forces of the Raja of
Sawantwadi in which the Portuguese defeated the Sawantwadi forces utterly.
Several skirmishes on land followed and Fort Tiracol was finally surrendered on
23 November 1746 to the Portuguese.
The fort became an important part of
Portuguese maritime defences; being extensively revamped in 1764. It remained
in Portuguese control till December 1961 when the last of Portuguese
territorial positions in the subcontinent were forcibly annexed by India.
On 17 February 1819, following the
defeat of the Marathas, a treaty was signed by Raja Bhonsle Khaima Sawunt of
Sawunt Warree who recognised British suzerainty. This treaty effectively
abolished the strategic importance of the fort, as it became an enclave in
territory controlled by British allies.
During the Portuguese Civil War, the
fort served as a rebel stronghold during an uprising in 1825 against the
Portuguese led by Dr. Bernardo Peres da Silva, the first Goan born Viceroy of
Goa. It was greatly damaged but the fort and the chapel were later rebuilt. A
ruthless Commandant, "Tiger-killer" da Cunha entered the fort and
ordered the beheading of the entire garrison and the placing of the heads on
stakes.
Fort Tiracol was a symbolic location
where freedom fighters from Goa demonstrated from time to time. On 15 August
1954, Satyagrahis protesting Portuguese rule entered Goa from three different
directions - one of which was from the North to Fort Tiracol, which was
occupied and flew the Indian flag for a day before they were captured and
imprisoned.
A Church for the Holy Trinity was
constructed in the fort courtyard by de Almeida after its capture. This later
became the century old Church of St. Anthony.
Now, in a state of ruins, Fort
Tiracol has been converted into a hotel, the Fort Tiracol Heritage. The church
is not open to the general public except on certain occasions, such as the
annual feast that is usually held in May.
Accommodation :
Stay at hotel tiracol fort.
·
By Air : Dabolim (83kms)
·
By Rail : Nearest station is sawantwadi. From sawantwadi 37 Km.
·
By Road : 27 km. from Vengurla, 7 KM from shiroda , Nearest Bus Station shiroda 7 KM
Places to see nearby :
Redi ganesh temple , Sonurli mauli temple
