Considered to be the smallest fort from all the forts in Goa, happens to have a long history dating back in 1551. It was built by the Portuguese to safeguard their territory. At a distance of 22 km from Panjim Kadamba Bus Stand, 49 km from Vasco Da Gama Railway Station and 12 km from Mapusa, Corjuem Fort is a fortress situated 4 km from Aldona on the island of Corjuem in North Goa.
The fort has a rather interesting story set in it. A Portuguese woman named Ursula e Lancaster was an ambitious woman determined to succeed in a man’s world, dressed like one, joined the army and traveled the world. Eventually, her secret was discovered and was captured and stripped. But the woman was in a different league – she ended up marrying the captain of the guard. The original occupiers of this fort were the Bhonsles from the Sawantwadi State. Under the Portuguese Viceroy Caetano de Mello e Castro, the control of the fort came under Portuguese India’s administration. The fort was subsequently rebuilt by the Portuguese to boost up defenses along Panaji. In the early 1800s, the fort was used as a Military School and had in its defenses a battery of four guns. The fortress defended the town of Corjuem and also had a chapel under the parochial church of Aldona.
Khor as in khorik which means deep or lower and Zunvem which means island. The fort is a relatively small fort and is square shaped. The walls are wide and have numerous gun ports and murder holes. At each corner of the fort is a ramp-like stair that leads to the ramparts. The fort has a well and a three room living quarters. Within the fort is also located a small chapel which seems to be a relatively new addition. This fort protected the Portuguese from the Marathas, Bhonsles, and the Rane Rajputs in the nineteenth century. The chapel of St. Anthony was earlier known to have been in the Corjuem Fort. The fort has the distinction of being one of the only two inland that is surviving. The fort has become popular for its beauty and the fort is surrounded by lush greenery and one can get a full view of beautiful villages and islands nearby. The fort is built out of pitted laterite stones. Corjuem is well connected with Aldona by a cable suspension bridge which is a major source of attraction as it is the only suspension bridge in Goa
One can even reach this fort from Panjim to Aldona via Mapusa or even from Panjim to Chodan via ferry an then to Corjuem. Corjuem Fort is 12 kilometers from Panjim.