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How to reach: Cabo de Rama Fort is connected with the region’s largest city of Margao by a regular bus line. You can also get there by a car through NH66 Highway — Fatorda road near the village of Balli you will need to turn right and in some time you will find yourself at this amazing ancient witness of South Goa’s history.

Quick facts:

• Rulers: Hindu Soonda Kings, Portuguese, British
• Inside the fort: St. Anthony’s Chapel, gatehouse, moat, ramparts, bastions, 21 cannon guns, springs, watchtower and water tank.
• Timeline:
  • Erected by the Hindu Soonda rulers.
  • Lord Rama and his wife Sita spends time here while on exile.
  • Battles between the Hindu and Muslim Kings.
  • 1763 – The Portuguese attack and conquer the fort.
  • 1792 – British rulers take over the fort from the Portuguese.
  • 1813 – Abandoned by the British.
  • Cabo de Rama turned into a prison till 1955.

Cabo De Rama is a beautiful and historic fort on the cape of Canacona in South Goa. This fort is witness to the ruthless battles fought between the Soonda kings and the Portuguese. At one point of time, this fort also served as a prison for political prisoners during the Portuguese rule. This is the best place for those who want to be away from a stressful life because this place offers peace and serenity. From the fort, one can get a great view of the Arabian sea and the nearby Cabo de Rama beach.

Cabo de Rama is sandwiched between two popular beaches in South Goa, Cavelossim and Agonda.

The Founders of the fort:

It was constructed by the local Soonda rulers, who ruled from here. But the Portuguese took it over after their arrival in Goa by defeating the local kings. That was in 1763. Attracted by the big cape that offered good views of the Arabian Sea and the coastline, the Portuguese rulers soon carried out renovations to modernize the fort. The Cabo de Rama Fort is now in ruins, but you can still see many attractions from the past. Cabo de Rama offers great views of the south Goa, the sea, and sunset.

The Name:

The fort gets its name from Lord Rama, the Hindu King from Ayodhya. According to mythology, the King and his wife Sita stayed here while they were in their 14-year exile from Ayodhya – the story of the Hindu epic Ramayana. So the fort is thousands of years old, making this one of the oldest forts in western India.

This story comes from the local Soonda rulers, who arrived from the neighbouring Karnataka, just across Goa’s border. The Soonda were the original builders of this fort and used to rule over their kingdom from here.

The Portuguese rule:

There were a few battles between the local Hindu and Muslim Kings, but the fort finally fell to the Portuguese in 1763. The Portuguese were attracted because the fort offered great views of the Cape region from the top of the hill. It offered a clear view of the coastline and further into the Arabian Sea, so they could see advancing enemies from both the land and sea. It was called ‘Rama Killa’ after Lord Rama during the days of Hindu rule. The Portuguese changed the name to Cabo de Rama. The word ‘Cabo’ in Portuguese means ‘cape’.

But the Portuguese rulers lost interest in the fort after its importance diminished, and abandoned it. The fort was later turned into prison but was abandoned again.

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