10 RELIGIOUS PLACES TO VISIT IN GOA

10 Religious Places to Visit in Goa

1) BASILICA OF BOM JESUS

Being a UNESCO heritage site, this church is world renowned to still host the mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier. The interesting thing about the saint’s mortal remains is that it is extremely well preserved. Even today, thousands of visitors throng the church to witness this miracle. A Jesuit church amongst churches in Goa, this structure is considered to be amongst the finest representations of Baroque architecture. The church is located in Old Goa. The Basilica of Bom Jesus is more than 408 years old and is open to the public every day. This is one of the oldest churches in Goa and in India.

2) SHREE MANGUESHI TEMPLE

Shree Mangueshi Temple is located at Mangeshi Village in Priol, Ponda taluka, Goa. The temple is one of the most popular in Goa and attracts many devotees. Mythology says that Lord Shiva came to Goa after having lost everything in a game of dice against his wife, Parvati. When Parvati came looking for him, he disguised himself as a tiger and frightened her. In a state of shock, Parvati uttered the words, “Trahi Mam Grisha”, which when translated means, “O Lord of the Mountains, save me”. Shiva then reverted into his normal form and returned with her. The words, “Mam Grisha” came to be associated with this story and Shiva came to be known as ‘Manguesh’. The reunion of the two was indeed joyful and to celebrate this, Lord Shiva adopted the last 2 words, “Mam Girisha” of the cry for help from Parvati as one of his abundant names. Lord Shiva left a linga before departing for his abode, and this was discovered by a cowherd whose cow used to sprinkle milk on the same spot regularly and that was how the temple of Mangesh at Kushastali came into existence. The name Mam Girish was abbreviated to Mangesh and so it has remained till today.

3) SE CATHEDRAL

The Se Cathedral is dedicated to St. Catherine, as it was on her feast day, 25th November 1510 that Alfonso de Albuquerque conquered Goa. It was built to celebrate the victory of the Portuguese ruler Afonso de Albuquerque for capturing a Goan city. It is one of the oldest churches in the country. The UNESCO has also declared it as a heritage site. Inside the church, there is a large bell called the Golden Bell – which is the largest in the state. The church is open for tourist to visit and the public are allowed to click photos.

4) MAHADEVA TEMPLE

Mahadeva Temple at Tambdi Surla was built in the 12th century by the Kadamba queen Kamladevi and is not made of basalt, as it was once believed, but of grey black talc chlorite schist soap stone. This makes the intricate handwork adorning the walls of the temple still seem fresh, as it is weather resistant. The Mahadeva Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva has a pillared porch and three stepped entrances and the shrine surmounted by a tower. It is quite small with a small passageway and has Shiva’s vehicle, a headless Nandi bull in the centre of the main porch. There is a linga (symbol of Lord Shiva) mounted on a pedestal inside the inner sanctum and local legend has it that a huge King Cobra is in permanent residence in the dimly lit interior. The festival of Mahashivratri is celebrated by the local people residing in surrounding villages.

5) SAFA SHAHOURI MASJID

The Safa Shahouri masjid, the oldest and most famous mosques in Goa was built in 1560 by Ibrahim Adilshan of Bijapur. The star attraction of Safa Masjid is the huge laterite stone masonry tank with turquoise waters located within the mosque complex. Many Mosques were destroyed during the Portuguese rule but the Safa Masjid remained unharmed. The two major festivals Id-Ul-Fitr and Id-Ul-Zuha are celebrated at this mosque with great pomp and are attended by a large number of people.

6) BETIM GURUDWARA

The Betim village has Sikh Gurdwara which is named as “Shri Guru Singh Sabha”. “Sri Guru Singh Sabha” Gurudwara is most famous pilgrimage destination of the Sikh religion people in Goa state. It is located at walking distance from the Betim Ferry terminal. The three main functions carried out are Kirtan, Katha and Guru Ka Langar. Guru Ka Langar is the free food served in the Langar Hall. There is also accommodation provided – Six air conditioned rooms are available on chargeable basis & are subject to availability.

7) PANJIM CHURCH

This is one of the oldest and most famous churches located in Panjim, Goa, India. Standing on the gallery of the church, you can see the entire view of the lovely city. It is one of Panjim’s best attractions, the 17th century structure in the heart of Panjim – the capital of Goa. The simple, white washed elegant exterior and the tidy interiors are well-maintained. The church is beautifully illuminated at night. The main altar, which has an elegant decor, is dedicated to Mary. The church celebrates the Feast of Immaculate Conception annually on 8th December and thousands of devotees visit this church on the day of the feast.

8) JAMA MASJID

The Jama Masjid is situated at Sanguem in Goa which is about 26 kms from Margao. The mosque is a well known Muslim religious place of worship in Goa which is known to have been completely renovated in 1959. The entrance facade of the Jama Masjid has two towers, which are surmounted by pillared kiosks. The Jama Masjid also has four minarets and from the centre of these a dome-shaped kiosk rises. It is an example of simple yet elegant architecture. The turnout here during Eid in Goa is quite a large one.

9) MARUTI TEMPLE

Maruti Temple is situated on top of the Altinho hillock in Panjim, It is dedicated to lord Hanuman, the monkey god and enshrines Lord Hanuman as the presiding deity. The Maruti Temple is also beautifully lit up at night. This temple also celebrates its annual feast or fair, which is popularly known as ‘Mala Jatra’. The Jatra is celebrated for 10 days in the month of February. Do visit Maruti Temple when in Goa to explore the intriguing history behind its construction.

10) BODGESHWAR TEMPLE AT MAPUSA

Shri Bodgeshwar Temple is one of the chief temple attractions located on the outskirts of the famous town of Mapusa, Goa. The temple is situated in a lush green environment and has a small shrine which is dedicated to Kanakeshwar Baba or Bodgeshwar, locally known as Bongini. Lord Bodgeshwar is locally considered as the Guardian of Mapusa. There is a belief among people that all their prayers will be fulfilled and thousands of devotees flock to this temple. Devotees from all over Goa rush to this temple to attend the fest. An annual fair or ‘Zatra’ is held during the festival which thronged by both locals and the tourists alike.