Chapora Fort

Forte de Chaporá

Portuguese fort ruins above Vagator Beach, made famous by the Bollywood film Dil Chahta Hai, offering sunset views over the Chapora River mouth and coastline.

Chapora Fort sits on a red-earth hill between Vagator and Chapora, overlooking the mouth of the Chapora River. It was originally a fortress of the Sultan of Bijapur, rebuilt by the Portuguese in 1717. It changed hands several times during conflicts with the Marathas and was abandoned in the 19th century. Today only a ring of red stone walls and a few round bastions remain, with grassy hilltop inside. It became a must-visit spot for young travelers after the Bollywood film Dil Chahta Hai was shot here. From the walls you can see Vagator Beach to the south, Morjim Beach to the north and the Chapora fishing harbour, making it one of the most popular sunset spots on North Goa's coast. Entry is free and the fort is open all day. It takes about 10 minutes to climb the stone steps from the car park at the foot of the hill. Nearby: Vagator Beach below (Ozran Beach, a smaller Vagator beach, is even more beautiful), hippie-style cafés, and Thalassa, a Greek restaurant on the cliffs with sunset views (reservations required). To the north, Chapora village has an old fishing harbour and juice bars such as Scarlet. Getting there: about 10 minutes by scooter from Anjuna, or about 50 minutes from Panaji. A good plan is to climb at 17:00 and spend about 1 hour. Notes: There are no railings inside the fort, so be careful near the edges. The mountain path has no lights after sunset, so bring a torch.

Chapora Fort

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