The Corjuem Fort also known locally as Khorjuve is a must visit Tourist spot in Goa. Located around 4 kms from the famous village of Aldona on the river island of Corjuem, it is a Heritage monument. Its location along the Mapusa river makes it a picturesque spot during the monsoons. The Fort can be easily accessed by road as the Island of Corjuem is well connected to Aldona by a cable suspension bridge, a tourist attraction in itself, being the only suspension bridge in Goa.
Goa Chief Minister, Manohar Parrikar, who also holds the portfolio of Archives and Archaeology confirmed recently during the Parliament session, that funds will be allocated for the restoration of the Fort, being a tourist destination. In reply to a query by Aldona MLA Glen Ticlo assured him that fund would be made available for the restoration of the said Fort soon but did not specify a time frame. Parrikar said, “The redevelopment has to be done keeping original essence of the structure intact.”
Most of the Forts in Goa were used for military purposes as was the case with the Corjuem Fort. The fort is said to be constructed in the year 1551. In the early 1800s, it housed a military school with its own battery of four guns. The Portuguese used the fort to ward off the Marathas, Bhonsles and the Rane Rajputs in the 19th century. A famous story attached to the fort is about a Portuguese lady Ursula e Lancaster who disguised herself as a soldier until her disguise was exposed. She ended up marrying the captain of the guard.
Picture credit: Trawell.in
Information credit:ToI
