OLD
GOA COMPLEX OF ANCIENT CHURCHES:
Old Goa is an important pilgrimage Centre
visited by thousands of pilgrims and devotees
particularly on the occasion of St Francis
Xavier's annual feast on 3rd December. At
Old Goa, about 15 kms from Panaji, rises a
complex of ancient churches, monasteries and
convents renowned for their unique architectural
style and loftiness. The most famous are:
The
Basilica of Bom Jesus built in the 16th
century, where the mortal remains of St.
Francis Xavier are enshrined; the Se Cathedral,
which is the most imposing of all churches
at Old Goa. Its vaulted interior overwhelms
the visitors by its sheer grandeur. The
cathedral has five bells of which one is
the famous Golden bell, the biggest in Goa
and one of the best in the World.
The
Church of St. Francis of Assisi is the
only of its kind in the East. Its interior
is decorated with exquisite paintings.
The
Santa Monica convent (once the first
nunnery in Asia).
St
Cajetan's Church and convent which along
with several others at the same locality
have been declared national monuments. Much
of the rich decorative work inside the church
was done by local artisans in Se Cathedral.
The
Church of the Rosary is one of the earliest
churches built in Goa with an inscription
about the reconquest of Goa by Afonso de
Albuquerque in 1510.
THE
CHURCH OF REIS MAGOS AT VEREM (BARDEZ)
Situated
on the right bank of the river Mandovi,
the Church was built in 1555 and is dedicated
to the three Magi. This was once the residence
of all dignitaries and also a mission of
the Franciscan order.
THE
CHURCH OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION AT PANAJI
This
church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception
was built before 1541 AD. Originally a chapel,
it was elevated to a church in 1600 AD and
was then renovated in 1691 AD. The bell
at the top of the church which weighs about
2,250 kg is the second largest in Goa.
THE
CHURCH OF MAE DE DEUS AT SALIGAO (BARDEZ)
This
church was built in 1873. It is situated
amidst picturesque surroundings. The shrine
of the miraculous statue of Mae de Deus
(Mother of God) was brought from the ruins
of the convent of Mae De Deus at Old Goa.
This beautiful church is the finest piece
of the Gothic architectural style.
THE
CHURCH OF ALEX AT CURTORIM
It
is one of the oldest churches in Goa, built
in 1597 on the side of a Hindu Shrine, by
name Ravalnath, the remains of which are
visible even today.
THE
CHURCH OF ST ANA AT TALAULIM (ILHAS)
The
church dedicated to St Ana, the grandmother
of Jesus Christ is a remarkable piece of
ancient Christian architecture in the country.
It was built in 1695 on the right bank of
Siridao river and has picturesque surroundings.
The unique feature of this church is this
that it has hollow walls through which people
could walk in secrecy for the purpose of
confession.
The
Archaeological Museum,
OLD GOA,
Goa.
Hours: 10 am-5 pm except on Fridays and
government holidays.
Admission: Nominal.
Suggested viewing time: at least half an
hour, visit to the churches a whole day.
SHREE
MANGUESH TEMPLE:
20 kms from Panaji, at Mangueshim in Ponda
taluka. It is located on a hillock surrounded
by rolling green hills. Though small it
has an air of distinctive elegance. Its
lofty white tower at the entrance is a landmark
in the countryside. This is a temple dedicated
to Lord Shiva.
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SHANTADURGA:
(33 Kms. from Panaji) sumptuously
built at Kavlem dedicated to Shantadurga
the Goddess who mediates between Vishnu
and Shiva. It has a rich Garbhakuda where
the deity is kept.
SHREE
GOPAL GANAPATI:
24 kms from Panaji at Farmagudi,
Ponda, the temple was built by the late
Shri Dayanand Bandodkar, the first Chief
Minister of Goa and is situated on the slopes
of the hillock known as Farmagudi amidst
beatified natural surroundings near Bandora.
The stone image of Gopal Ganapati was discovered
by herdsmen while grazing cattle near the
hill and was later installed in a small
shrine.
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NAGESH:
The temple dedicated to Lord Shiva
is situated in the village of Bandora about
4 kms to the east of Ponda. The temple Sabhamandap
has a gallery on both sides that contains
exquisite specimens of intricate wood carvings
of the events of Ramayan on one side and
the wooden images of Astadikapal and Gandharva
on the other.
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MAHALAKSHMI:
Also situated in the village
of Bandora, this temple is considered the
abode of the original Goddess of the Shakti
cult. The Sabhamandap has a gallery of 18
images out of emanatory aspects of Bhagvata
sect and this gallery is considered one
of the rare galleries of wooden images of
Vishnu in India.
The
image of Mahalakshmi has a close resemblance
to that of Mahalakshmi at Kolhapur, the
main centre worship. Her special feature
is that she wears a linga on her head. She
is considered a peaceful or Satvika form
of Devi. The Goddess Mahalakshmi was worshipped
by the Shilahara rulers (750-1030 AD) and
the early kings of Goa.
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RAMNATH:
The temple is 33 kms away from
Panaji in Ponda taluka. Besides the main
temple of Ramnath, the Complex has four
small temples dedicated to Shree Laxminarayan,
Shree Shantadurga, Shree Sateri, Shree Betal
and Shree Sidhanath. The five together constitute
Shree Ramnath Panchayatan. The legend in
mythology says that Rameshwar is the original
abode of the Lord Ramnath.
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KAMKSHI AT SHIRODA:
This deity hails from
Raia village in Salcete taluka. She was
shifted to Shiroda between 1564 and 1668
AD to save destruction. Navaratra and Dussehra
are the main festivals of the deity.
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DATTA MANDIR:
(37 kms from Panaji) The century
old temple of Trimurti (Hindu Triad) at
Sankhali has a backdrop of a beautiful hillock
covered with dense groves of areca palms.
The most important festival which is attended
by devotees from all over Goa is Datta Jayanti
which falls in December. The deity is belived
to have cured many people of unsound mind.
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SAPTAKOTESHWAR:
Situated at Narva Bicholim
37 kms from Panaji, it was a favoured deity
of the Kadamba kings. Its original temple
was situated on the island of Diwar. It
was destroyed by the Portuguese and the
idol was shifted to its present site at
Narva (Bicholim). Many years later in 1668
AD Chhatrapati Shivaji ordered the renovation
of this temple at the present site, during
one the campaigns to oust the Portuguese.
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MALLIKARJUN:
Situated at Cancona 40 kms
from Margao, the temple is belived to have
been constructed during the middle of the
16th century by the Kshatriyas. It was renovated
in the year 1778. The temple has massive
wooden pillars with intricate carvings.
There are 60 deities around the temple.
Rathasaptami in February and Shigmotsava
in April are the festivals which include
a colourful fair, exchange of Gulal (Ochre),
Mahaprasad and presentation of shows on
popular legends and folk culture.
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SHANTADURGA:
Cuncolikarin of Patorpa, Quepem)
is originally from the village Cuncolim
in Salcete taluka. The Goddess was shifted
to Fatorpa in 16th century during religious
persecution. The annual Zatra of the Goddess
which falls on Pausha Shuddha Navami is
very famous and attracts thousands of devotees.
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DAMODAR:
(22 kms from Margao at Zambaulim-Sanguem)
Shree Damodar temple is situated in the
picturesque surroundings on the bank of
the Kushavati river. Popularly known as
Panti near the temple, the river is considered
holy and is said to have medicinal properties.
The deity is worshipped by the Hindus and
Christians alike.
A
week long celebration of Shigmo is packed
with programmes which include a colourful
fair, exchange of Gulal (Ochre), 'Mahaprasad'
and presentation of shows on popular legends
and folk culture.
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CHANDRANATH:
It is situated on the top of the 350-metre
high hill of Chandranath at Paroda, Quepem,
45 kms from Panaji. Chandreshwar was the
titular deity of the Bhoja Kings who ruled
South Goa before the Christian era till
the middle of 8th century. They had named
their capital Chandrapur after their deity.
Later on Kadambas came to power in the tenth
century. "Shivaling" in the temple
carved out from the rock oozes water whenever
the rays of the moon fall on it. The temple
is so designed that the linga receives moonlight
on every full moon night.
TAMDI
SURLA:
(70 kms from Panaji) Mahadev temple
is the only specimen of Kadamba Yadav
architecture (13th Century) in Goa.
This is the only completely preserved
basalt stone temple in Goa of the Kadamba
period. |
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SIDDESHWAR:
Situated on Siddhanath hill Borim at a height
of 1250 ft (410 mts) commands a panoramic
view of more than half of Goa. There are
perenial springs, coconut and arecanut gardens,
green forests and the climate is cool all
the the year round.
The
'Linga'is "Swayarnbu" and there
are idois of Kali and Bhairav more than
1000 years old; depicting that once the
Nath Sect flourished here.
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NAVDURGA :
4 kms from Ponda in Borim village
is beautiful temple of Mahishasurmardini
Navdurga.
There
is unique feature of spacious Sabhamandap
joining two temples face to face, Kamleshwar
of Kadamba times and Navdurga. Two festivals
on Kartik Pourmima and Ramnavmi are celebrated
here.
JAMA
MASJID:
(26 kms from Margao, at Sanguem) built in
the last century, the Jama Masjid was completely
renovated in 1959. The new structure is
remarkable for its harmonious proportions
and elegant simplicity. It has four minarets
whilst the entrance facade is flanked by
two elegant turrets surmounted by pillared
kiosks. A dome-shaped kiosk rises in the
centre of the four minarets. Festivals are
celebrated here with due solemnity and eclat
by rejoicing devotees.
SAFA
MASJID:
The Safa Shahouri Masjid, the biggest
and most famous of the 27 mosques in Ponda
taluka was built in 1560 by Ibrahim Adilshah
of Bijapur. Adjacent of the mosque is a
well constructed masonary tank with small
chambers with 'meharab' designs. The mosque
and the tank were formerly surrounded by
an extensive garden with many fountains.
They were all destroyed during the Portuguese
rule. The two major festivals, ID-UL- Fitr
and Id-UI- Zuha are celebrated at this mosque
with great pomp and are attended by large
number of people.
