Terekhol Fort

The Terekhol Fort lies on the northern tip of Goa near the Terekhol River. Often wrongly spelt as Tirakol or Tirakhol, the fort was built by Maharaja Khem Sawant Bhonsle of Sawantwadi in the 17th century. The fort was rebuilt in 1764 when the Portuguese Viceroy Dom Pedro Miguel de Almeida captured it. In 1788, the fort got legally incorporated in Goa.

The fort was used as a base for armed rebellion against the Portuguese in 1825 by Dr Bernando Peres da Silva, the first Viceroy born in Goan soil. The rebellion failed and Dr Bernando left Goa never to return again. The fort has acted as a sanctuary for those opposing tyranny and oppression. The fort also witnessed resistance against the Portugese colonialists in 1954 when two Goans tried to hoist the Indian flag and were shot fatally.

The fort has been refurbished and is now a hotel. The 100-year-old Church of St. Anthony, the parish church of Arambol since 1934 and founded in 1764, stands in the courtyard. The courtyard is open for visitors only during special occasions like the annual feast which is held in May.

The view of the fort is mesmerizing as it overlooks the Tiracol River and the captivating beauty of the sandy Keri beach which is also known as the Querim beach.