Locality-Reis Magos

Reis Magos is a village located on the Northern Bank of the Mandovi River in Bardez, Goa, opposite to the capital city of Panjim. The village is famous for two of Goa’s famous structures; the Reis Magos Fort, and the Reis Magos Church – the first church in Bardez. Reis Magos is the Portuguese name for the Three Wise Men from the Bible. The Fort, originated as an armed outpost of the Adil Shah of Bijapur in 1493. This Fort, surrounded by sturdy laterite walls studded with typically Portugu read more

Reis Magos is a village located on the Northern Bank of the Mandovi River in Bardez, Goa, opposite to the capital city of Panjim. The village is famous for two of Goa’s famous structures; the Reis Magos Fort, and the Reis Magos Church – the first church in Bardez. Reis Magos is the Portuguese name for the Three Wise Men from the Bible. The Fort, originated as an armed outpost of the Adil Shah of Bijapur in 1493. This Fort, surrounded by sturdy laterite walls studded with typically Portuguese turrets, was erected in 1551 to protect the narrowest point at the mouth of the Mandovi.The fort is now converted into a cultural centre, besides being used a tourist attraction. The Reis Magos Fort dramatically rising over the steep slope of a headland and situated a little above an old outpost (built in 1493) had a defensive system capable of curbing the crossing of enemy ships through the Mandovi waters. The high walls are topped at vantage points by cylindrical watch turrets,a distinctive feature of medieval fortifications. The fort had the advantage of a perennial source of water from a nearby spring.

The fort of Reis Magos was of great strategic importance because it served as a first line of defense to the port town of Old Goa. To make it more effective against the Dutch incursions,the Portuguese built in 1595 another fortification on the opposite bank of Mandovi river on land belonging to a noble man named Gasper Dias.
In 2007, a tripartite agreement was signed between the Government of Goa, INTACH and the Helen Hamlyn Trust to restore and re-use the fort as a cultural centre.
From 5th June 2012 the fort was made open for public to enjoy a glimpse of Goa’s past and her heritage.