Chandor Fort

Goa, India

---

Chandor in Goa, historically known as Chandrapura, was the first capital of the Bhoja dynasty and an important trade center from around the 3rd century BCE.

The town flourished through centuries under the Bhojas and later the Kadambas, who developed it as a cultural and economic hub linked by the Kushavati and Zuari rivers facilitating trade with Arab merchants and other regions. Chandor is home to remnants of an ancient fort with mud and stone walls, along with old temples such as a Shiva temple and Jain Basadis, reflecting its religious diversity.

The settlement suffered destruction during invasions by Malik Kafur and Muhammad bin Tughlaq, after which the region came under Vijayanagara, Bahmani, and Bijapur Sultanates, before eventual Portuguese arrival who transformed it into a small village and built colonial mansions like the large Braganza House.

Chandor stands today as a place of layered heritage showcasing ancient ruins, Indo-Portuguese mansions, and deep historical significance as Goa’s ancient capital and trading heartland.