I think we have only seen the Basilica of Bom Jesus on both visits. ( Log Out /  I enjoyed reading the post and viewing the photos. The roof of the church is tiled and supported by wooden rafters. , Old Goa is so gorgeous..I should ask my parents to look at this post and take it as a travel guide and check out all these places. Some sour curds, withered methi leaves, a shrivelled tomato, paneer that I didn’t remember I had, and some frozen corn that was unearthed from the freezer - all went into the making of this unusually elaborate lunch (for me that is) today. I am not as fond of ruins as you are, but would love to visit one with you, just to see and listen to you bring it alive , Thanks, Alrmelvalli. Happy as we were for being misdirected to the Church of St. Cajetan, we decide to use Google Maps to locate ourselves and find directions for the other monuments in the area. No one even gives a second glance to the beautiful altar dedicated to St. Michael (see photo on the right). Our next halt is the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary, which is further up the hill that the Museum is located in. I have brought people here who have done all the monuments in less than 2 hours and then headed to the beach.”. We didn’t have anyone to guide us properly, either. The church has two chapels and a richly gilded main altar. The first thing I see when I enter the complex is a signboard which proudly proclaimed that this is the site where a large part of the title song of the 1965 Hindi film Gumnaam was filmed. The basilica holds the mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier. This town was considered as the administrative town of the seat of Portuguese India. We just took a chance and found that they opened. With rounded towers, topped by a cross, this Church is architecturally very different from the others in the area. About Se Cathedral Chruch. The valuables in this Church were either sold or distributed to other the churches in Goa. Sites of Old Goa Adil Shah's Doorway - Only remains of the palace of Adil Shah - Islamic ruler of Goa until the arrival of the Portuguese. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. The churches can get confusing as I know from my previous visits. Chapel of St. Francis Xavier (550 mts), Church of the Carmelites (800 mts) At a distance of 12 km from Panjim Kadamba Bus Stand and 27 km from Vasco Da Gama Railway Station, St. Paul's Church is situated at Old Goa part of North Goa. Discover more inland Goa attractions! We have spent a wonderful day in this culturally and historically significant part of Goa by exploring some of its monuments and also a museum. Not that it is possible this time around as well. Road - As mentioned earlier Old Goa is 9 km away from Panjim and you can get there either by bus from the main bus stand, take an autorickshaw or hire a cab. Various modes of transportation are available to reach the Old Goa Church. Various religious orders (like the Franciscans, Augustinians, Jesuits, and Dominicans) with royal mandates had settled in Goa and started building grand churches and convents.The late 16th and 17th centuries was a period when Christianity established itself in the region. The Chapel of the Holy Ghost was the only one that was open. As I walk the ruins, I try to imagine what it must have been like before its “restoration “covered with vegetation and home to fauna that I prefer to read about, but not see. Welcome to “My Favourite Things” and thank you so much for stopping by and commenting. The Se Cathedral, Archbishop's Palace, Chapel of St Catherine, Archeological Museum and Church of St Francis of Assisi are on the north side of the main square. Today the remains of Old Goa are an important tourist attraction and pilgrimage site for Indian Christians. St. Clara’s Church, Assonora, Goa: The St. Clara Church in Goa is one of the oldest churches in the … Whoa! I’ve visited quite a few churches like Her Lady Immaculate at Panaji. This is an online tool to calculate the Distance and Driving Directions between two cities, … East of these are the Viceroy's Archway, Adil Shah's Doorway, Church and Convent of St Cajetan and further east, up the hill, the Church of Our Lady of the Mount. Terekhol Fort In Goa - Well then, read on… . We follow his directions and end up at the Church of St. Cajetan ! View Vagator beach from Chapora Fort in Goa's north before climbing down towards an invitingly warm sea and cold Kingfisher. . A professional guide will be hired for the group. The property is 656 feet from Old Goa Church, while Karmali Train Station is 0.9 mi away. The oldest church in Goa, it holds the remains of St. Francis Xavier, a special friend of St. Ignatius Loyola with whom he founded the Society of Jesus (Jesuits). It has a main altar, 5 smaller altars, a sacristy and 9 chapels. . But after the visit, I was glad that we had left it till the end. Se Cathedral. This plate of food is the outcome of a #CleanTheFridgeDay. i have read this post twice, appreciating how beautifully you have condensed the narrative to fit all the churches into this one post! When I walk into the Cathedral, I feel that maybe construction work has still not stopped. There is no accommodation in Old Goa - visitors can stay in Panaji nearby or other tourist areas from where it is easily accessible as a day trip, such as Baga beach, Calangute and Anjuna. Sightseeing in Old Goa is all about visiting its various churches, chapels, and cathedrals that are an architectural delight and are considered as the largest in Asia. We have visited Old Goa twice, on both our visits to Goa, but barely scratched the surface of the area. Nothing makes me happier than the prospect of spending a day exploring old monuments and pottering around ruins and Old Goa is full of them. So, when DJ deposits us outside the Basilica of Bom Jesus (whose tall, imposing façade I recognise from previous visits) on that beautiful November morning last year, I could barely contain my excitement and enthusiasm. Old Goa was the capital of the Portuguese empire from 1510–1835. The Cathedral isn’t too crowded. Archbishop's Palace - Standing between Se Cathedral and the Church of St Francis of Assisi, the Archbishop's Palace is the only remaining civil building of colonial Goa's golden period. I know there’s a lot more that we’d love to do in Old Goa. In 1842, the main vault of the church collapsed, and in due course other portions of the complex also fell into ruins. I had gone there during sunset and it was beautiful. I loved the Church of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception. Old Goa is a lovely city with rich history and heritage. It is rare to see public art installations that show books or reading. The Church of Our Lady of the Rosary is among the older churches having been built between 1544–1549. Although I did not undertake a heritage walk with a travel company, an approximate idea of of total distance covered is around 3 kms. Understand . Perhaps it will interest you to know that my first draft of this post was over 4000 words long. The foundation of the oldest church in Goa was laid in 1594, while its construction was completed in 1605. I recently came across a book titled “The Tulsi and the Cross: Anthropology and the Colonial Encounter in Goa” by Rosa Maria Perez, who says that that “Goa is, and was, dominantly Hindu” and the perception of Goan society and history as formed by the Portuguese is essentially a colonial imposition. We will make sure we will take Old Goa booklet along with us. We visited 6 monuments and 1 museum.”, DJ actually stops the car and turns around to stare at us. It is so crowded that day that it’s impossible to stand in one place without getting pushed or shoved. The return journey to Colva (where I’m staying) presents the perfect opportunity to review the day, jot down important observations as well as questions to seek clarifications, think about how different my fourth trip to Goa is turning out to be, maybe review the photos taken…, Suddenly DJ asks: “You really didn’t go anywhere else after I left you outside the Basilica?”, I burst out laughing. Located in Velha Goa, Se Cathedral is one of the largest churches in India and is also amongst the most famous Goa church.It is one of the oldest churches in the country and was it was built to celebrate the victory of Portuguese ruler Afonso de Albuquerque who captured a Goan city in the year 1510. I just shrug. Make sure you have at least half-a-day … The red oxide flooring provides the perfect foil to the whitewashed walls and highly decorated altars. It was the Viceroy’s Arch, which lay a short distance away from the Church of St. Cajetan. I always thought that it was first discovered by the Portuguese. Churches at Old Goa. Old Goa: Of churches, a ruin, a museum and Google Maps, Happy Tears. Such a beautiful blog, I could actually revive my time when i went to Goa last year & Thanks to your post would see the rest of the churches which we could not see last time. The Chapel of Our Lady of the Mount is situated on the top of the hill behind St. Cajetan Church. We stayed at North Goa and hired a vehicle for a day trip to South Goa that included visit of Old Goa churches, Panjim city and its beaches etc. I have to visit Old Goa again as I have to see the churches I haven’t visited yet. Most of the grounds and churches are free to walk around, with small admission prices charged for a few of the museums. The fastest route to Old Goa Church is by getting off at the Karmali Railway Station, which is 3km away from the main area of Old Goa. Change ). Built in 1585 by the Jesuits, the Basilica is built from the blocks of local red-coloured laterite stone. Escape to the coast of Kerala, the warm sea and baking sands of south India. It was worth taking a break from crowded beachside to witness rich history and heritage of Old Goa. Room was old and historic. If you were to do that really, you would actually unlike the post. In 1835, this complex was abandoned when religious orders were expelled from Goa by the Portuguese Government. ( Log Out /  They are only interested in viewing the casket containing the remains of St. Xavier kept in a side chapel. Church of St. Francis of Assissi: Lovely old church in Old Goa - See 224 traveler reviews, 291 candid photos, and great deals for Old Goa, India, at Tripadvisor. It looks very peaceful and sort of immaculate. It was a good thing that we did as something unexpected popped up, something that was not there on the list of monuments in Old Goa compiled by my friend. Thanks, Neena. It is called Bom Jesus or Good Jesus or infant Jesus to whom it is dedicated. Bring a lot of water, since it is very hot during the day, especially if you are climbing te hills. Se Cathedral: At a distance of 9 km from Panjim Kadamba Bus Stand, 27 km from Vasco Da Gama Railway Station and 23 km from Mapusa, Se Cathedral is considered to be one of the largest churches in Asia, situated in Old Goa, opposite to Basilica of Bom Jesus. Your post is proof of this. Getting ThereThe site is a 30 minute road journey from Panaji, Goa's capital. Glad to know that you have a thing for ruins too. The Mandovi river runs east to west to the north of Old Goa. About Basilica of Bom Jesus Church Destination: Basilica of Bom Jesus church is located in Old Goa city which was built by Portuguese rulers in 1605. Portuguese History Of Goa - . In fact, I see many tourists making a beeline for the casket and once they have photographed it or “selfied” themselves into the photo, would promptly leave ! The defining feature of this church was its 46 m tall bell tower, as were its richly embellished 8 chapels and 4 altars. The Cathedral was built for the Dominicans by the Portuguese Government and construction lasted for nearly three-quarters of a century after it commenced in 1562. Old Goa is magical and there is such a sense of history and piety intermingling with the present. How could we go anywhere? Are you also curious about my day in Old Goa and what I did there? Hello Sarthak. It’s a fascinating book. The basalt doorway stands alone on a plinth and is reached via five steps. “Oh Madam, I thought something had happened to you.”, “What made you think so?” I ask him, surprised. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Time and neglect may have stripped the Church of St. Augustine of its former glory and riches, but its bare walls with remnants of decorative elements, tile work, plaques and gravestones have stories to tell, not all of them happy. Even we thought the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary was closed, but because nit many people visit it, the gate and doors are kept shut !. travel, books, art, stories, mumbai, music & more. That way you can see, enjoy and remember what you say. Though the Portuguese conquered Old Goa in 1510 after defeating the Adil Shahi forces, it was not until 1543 that their influence became visible. Would love to visit Old Goa again. . It is across the road from the Basilica and an easy stroll later we are facing its whitewashed façade. However, I would still suggest that you use Google Maps to get around , I write about this, that, here, there and everywhere... Come, explore my world. The Sè Cathedral is Goa’s largest church measuring 35.36 m in height, 76.2 m in length and 55.16 m wide. It is dedicated to Francis Xavier where also has his body till now from last 408 years. The Tower of the Church of St. Augustine is visible even from a distance and its desolation drew me in like a magnet. Archaeological Museum, Old Goa 403110, India. Se Cathedral is among the largest of all churches in Goa, and also the most beautiful. The interior layout and plan is quite different from what I have seen so far. Thanks, TGND. Full days, that too.”, DJ just shook his head and continued driving. Please share with our readers! I have a thing for the ruins probably becuase it excites the imagination. Posted by: Admin; Date: 2-Jan-2021. I haven’t seen all the monuments in Old Goa yet. It might be an understatement to say that I loved the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary. We wait for a while and since no one stops us, we just proceed. Click here to leave Old Goa and return to Travel India Goa Guide Home, Ancient Goa History - wonderful, Sudha! Not that I was complaining, but it was a real shame that such a stunning church had so few visitors. I have also traveled to Goa but i don`t remember most of things as i was very young and you had went in to so much details. The church is located in Old Goa in Bainguinim about 10 km away from Panjim. Rail Route: Basilica of Bom Jesus is located at a distance of 2.1 km from the Karmali Railway station and you could take an automobile or cab from station to the church. ( Log Out /  Apparently it was from this spot that Afonso de Albuquerque watched the Portuguese forces defeat the Sultanate’s forces. Also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Hampi makes a great 3 or 4 day trip from Goa, and is an unforgettable experience. It took me 12 days of editing and rewriting to arrive at this dradt. It is a popular tourist attraction in Goa. Built from the local laterite and then covered with lime plaster, it’s asymmetric façade is the result of the tower on its Southern side (to your right in the photo above) collapsed in 1776. Know any great places to stay in Goa? This church is considered as a victory symbol for Portuguese over Deccan rulers. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. According to the Archaeological Survey of India, there are 18 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the area. Thanks, Vishal. . That is a beautiful representation of the descent of the Holy Spirit/Ghost on Mother Mary and the apostles, when they received the gift of the tongues. Church of Our Lady of the Rosary is a 16th-century catholic church located in Old Goa. North Goa (One day) : Distance covered 150 Kms. I write about this, that, here, there and everywhere... Come, explore my world. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. I offered to recommend one to him, but he preferred to choose one himself. I buy some flowers and candles from one of the many women selling them outside the Basilica Gates before entering the complex. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. How to reach Old Goa Churches ? When I come back to Goa next, I’ll be spending another day or two here. Old Goa is quite easily navigated independently, and requires 1 to 2 days. Buses run from Panjim's Kadamba bus stand every 15 minutes, dropping off at the south-east side of Old Goa's main square, near to the Basilica of Bom Jesus. The interiors are laid out like a Greek Cross and there are 6 altars besides the main one, each one more ornately carved and gilded than the other. Full of history, it today is home to some scenic churches and convents, that are well maintained and worth a visit. My phone pings notifications furiously and to my surprise, I see notifications for 16 missed calls and 12 text messages — all from DJ. Some famous churches in Goa are the Basilica of Bom Jesus, Se Cathedral, Chapel of st. Xavier, St. Monica Church, St. Francis Church and St. Augustine Church. Thank Mervin_3 . “Of course not ! When I saw the ruins of the tower of St. Augustine’s Church rising in the distance, I had wanted to visit it first. Goa Map. But the Basilica is, perhaps, best known for holding the mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier since 1613. Dona Paula - 15 Kms. It is dedicated to St. Catherine of Alexandria. A couple of the altars have wooden latticed screens so fine that I wonder how they were even carved. Just for you , Circulating on WhatsApp: A terrific aerial shot of the Immaculate Conception Church, Panjim, Goa. I hope that the next time you are in Goa, you’ll be able to visit and see at a pace you are comfortable with. Ruins fascinate me for reasons that I cannot really explain, and this one is no different. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is more than 400 years old. The church is over 400 years old and is also one of the major pilgrimage sites in Goa, not only for Christians but also the members of the other faith. Old Goa is the former colonial capital of Goa. As for seeing my Goa photos, you just have to come home now. Also find out attractions, sightseeing, weather, maps, nightlife, festivals & photos at Travel.India.com The beautiful Se Cathedral is one of the top places to visit in Goa. Street of Old Goa Town. The Church of St. Augustine was built in 1602 by the Augustinian Friars who arrived in Goa in 1587. A Monument where many Hindi films were shot. Perhaps that’s why I liked it more than the other churches I visited. The Viceroy’s Arch was built shortly after the Portuguese conquest of Old Goa. The Chapel of the Holy Ghost was closed when I visited. A little bit of That and a little bit of This…, I have written about one of their exhibits in an earlier post, An afternoon in Aldona | My Favourite Things, The Bassein Fort at Vasai | My Favourite Things, The Old World Charm of Fontainhas by Sudha Ganapathi – Ticker Eats the World, Museum Treasure: Sarcophagus of the mourning women, Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 2.5 India License. We ask the driver of a tourist bus for the directions and he duly and happily obliges. The only people around are tourists who are as clueless as we are. google_ad_client="pub-4520119733373775";;google_ad_width=336;google_ad_height=280; A quintessential tropical paradise, Palolem beach beckons from Goa's south offering an alternative to the busy resorts of Calangute and Baga.