subject: Cabo de Rama Fort – A Mystic Ruin Shrouded in Barren Beauty [print this page] Cabo de Rama Fort A Mystic Ruin Shrouded in Barren Beauty
Goa's popularity as a holiday destination is not due solely to the sparkling seas and sun-drenched surf alive with the perpetual party beats of its fun-loving tourists. India's smallest state is also imbued with a sense of romance and ancient heritage, mostly because of its long history as a Portuguese colonial outpost. Several romantic ruins and monuments are scattered all over the state and its shores, showcasing a meld of the ancient Oriental legends with those of European occupation. The Cabo De Rama Fort is one such monument found in South Goa's Canacona, only 16km northwards from the Agonda beach, near Colva Bay. Legend has it that the Ramayana's Lord Rama and his wife Sita found a refuge here for some time during their 14 year exile from Ayodhya. This is said to be why the fort is named after him; it is also known in local kenning as Cape Rama. This association indicates that the fort is one of the most ancient inhabited sites in India. However, the structure itself is famed primarily as a Portuguese relic; one of the many ruined fortifications attesting to Goa's extended occupation by the colonists. Although the fort was originally built by Hindu rulers, changing fortunes saw it pass from them to the invading Mughal lords and finally the Portuguese, in the wake of some of the bloodiest battles in Goa's history. Its final renovation was done by the Portuguese in 1763, after having won it from the Marathi ruler of the time. The colonists equipped it with 21 guns and military barracks, as well as commandant quarters and a chapel. The fort was later used as a prison by the government until 1955, until it was finally abandoned. Standing brooding atop a rock-strewn headland reclaimed by beautiful wilderness, only a shell of its former grandeur can be seen today. The outer wall still holds fast against the ravages of time, but the buildings inside are mostly derelict and destroyed save for a solitary guardhouse and the ancient chapel. This is still in use in the present-day; the white faade of the church against the black ruins of the fort making a photogenic study in contrasts. Tourists who climb up to the parapet on the western end of the fort are greeted with a stunning view of the sea coast that stretches out for miles in all directions. Set amidst the jagged cliffs of volcanic rock, fields of coppery earth overrun by spikes of wild grass and shrubbery, the site exudes a mystical allure, shrouded as it is by a stark and barren beauty that stands out sharply against the lush and gentle landscapes of Goa. More of Goa's mystical and ancient heritage can be explored by visitors staying at a centralized Goa resort. The Zuri White Sands Goa Resort & Casino in particular is a luxury Goa beach resort found on the longest and most secluded stretch of Goan beaches, epitomizing the spirit of Goa in its celebration of music, dance and exuberant fun.
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