The Portuguese had established themselves in the city around 1534, and it was few years after, that they decided to have this fort constructed, after having constructed many along the western coastline. Back then, it was armed with seven cannons and other smaller guns. In its vicinity was a freshwater spring which supplied water to the passing ships, thus the word Aguada in its name, as it means a source of water in the form of a fountain.
Sometime in the 18th century, the Portuguese witnessed a decline as the Marathas took over and became a threat to the British. Sensing danger and threat, the British had the fort demolished as a precautionary measure, to ensure that it’s not used as a military base to attack the British Bombay. It was in the year 1830 AD that the British donated some of its possessions, including the land’s end, to Byramjee Jeejeebhoy who was a well known Parsi philanthropist then. The man then set up his residence on the hill where the fort is located, and the cape got the name Byramjee Jeejeebhoy Point.
In 2003, a conservation program was started by local residents association to save the fort. With the help of the local Member of Parliament Shabana Azmi, the residents restored some of the walls of the fort, including the brick arch of one the gateways that was on the verge of collapse. The Taj Lands End hotel is now responsible for the maintenance of this historical monument and is owned by the Archaeological Survey of India.
The magnificent Castella de Aguada has been a backdrop for the shooting of many Bollywood films, Dil Chaahta Hai being one of them.
Even though, in today’s time there’s very little from what was and the fort is in shambles, it makes a beautiful spot to watch over the curvy sea link bridge. It also makes for a great morning walk spot if you’re living around and would like to gaze at the sunny skies while exercising the mind body and soul. Now commonly also known as the Bandra Fort, it makes of a scenic spot with a picturesque view. Along with being a space that is wide, clean and stoic, without any carvings or embellishments, the garden inside and a stone inscribed in Portuguese at the entrance would be the highlights.