Fort Aguada Jail

North Goa

Below the fort is Fort Aguada jail, once Goa’s largest prison. It closed in 2015, with inmates moved to a new jail in Colvale, and there are now proposals to turn the historic buildings into a heritage site and museum. The cells stand on the site that once formed the square-shaped citadel of the hilltop Fort Aguada.

The road down to the jail’s entrance passes a weird and wonderful compound known as Jimmy’s Palace, home to reclusive tycoon Jimmy Gazdar. Designed by Goan architect Gerard de Cunha, it’s a closely guarded froth of fountains, foliage and follies, of which you’ll catch glimpses as you whizz past.

Suggest an edit to this attraction

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Basilica de Bom Jesus

9.01 MILES

Famous throughout the Roman Catholic world, the imposing Basilica de Bom Jesus contains the tomb and mortal remains of St Francis Xavier, the so-called…
Sé Cathedral

9.09 MILES

At over 76m long and 55m wide, the cavernous Sé Cathedral is the largest church in Asia. Building commenced in 1562, on the orders of King Dom Sebastiao…
Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception

3.53 MILES

Panaji’s spiritual, as well as geographical, centre is this elevated, pearly white church, built in 1619 over an older, smaller 1540 chapel, and stacked…
Goa Chitra

19.14 MILES

Artist and restorer Victor Hugo Gomes first noticed the slow extinction of traditional objects – from farming tools to kitchen utensils to altarpieces –…
Braganza House

23.86 MILES

Braganza House, built in the 17th century and stretching along one whole side of Chandor’s village square, is the biggest Portuguese mansion of its kind…
Reis Magos Fort

2.19 MILES

Opened to the public in 2012 as a cultural centre, Reis Magos Fort overlooks the narrowest point of the Mandovi River estuary, making it easy to…
Palácio do Deão

27.47 MILES

About 8km southeast of Chandor is the busy small town of Quepem. Here the Palácio do Deão, the renovated 18th-century palace built by the town’s founder,…
Church & Convent of St Cajetan

9.27 MILES

Modelled on the original design of St Peter’s in Rome, this impressive church was built by Italian friars of the Order of Theatines, sent here by Pope…

View more attractions

Nearby North Goa attractions

1. Church of St Lawrence

0.13 MILES

A short way to the east of the bastion is the pretty Church of St Lawrence, which also occupies a magnificent viewpoint. The church was built in 1643 to…

2. Fort Aguada

0.21 MILES

Standing on the headland overlooking the mouth of the Mandovi River, Fort Aguada occupies a magnificent and successful position, confirmed by the fact it…

3. Fort Aguada Lighthouse

0.25 MILES

The old Portuguese lighthouse, which stands in the middle of Fort Aguada, was built in 1864 and once housed the great bell from the Church of St Augustine…

4. New Lighthouse

0.26 MILES

Outside the Fort Aguada bastions, the new lighthouse, built in 1976, can usually be visited; climb to the top for good views along the coast.

5. Casa dos Costa-Frias

1.82 MILES

Though it’s not open to the public, seek out the beautiful Casa dos Costa-Frias, down a side road just opposite Candolim’s football field, which belonged…

6. Miramar

2.15 MILES

Miramar, 3km southwest of the city, is Panaji’s nearest beach. The couple of kilometres of exposed sand facing Aguada Bay are hardly inspiring compared to…

7. Reis Magos Fort

2.19 MILES

Opened to the public in 2012 as a cultural centre, Reis Magos Fort overlooks the narrowest point of the Mandovi River estuary, making it easy to…

8. Reis Magos Church

2.2 MILES

Reis Magos Church was built below the fortress walls in 1555, shortly after the construction of the fort itself. A Franciscan seminary was later added,…

View more attractions