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by William M Cardozo
Picture Courtesy – Goa Tourism
There’s a place on this planet Earth wherein dance and music turn colorful all-day and all night long. It’s a place where time stands still and happiness is a state of mind, you must come to ‘GOA’ and rejuvenate your mind and body.
‘GOA’, on being liberated by our Indian Army on 19th December 1961, from 451 years of Portuguese Colonial Rule, became a part of the Union Territory along with the enclaves of Daman & Diu. And on 30th May 1987, ‘Goa’ was conferred Statehood to become the 25th State of the Indian Republic.
Interestingly, ‘The State of ‘GOA’ known as the ‘Pearl of the Orient’ and a ‘Tourist Paradise’, is located on the Western Coast of India in the Coastal belt called ‘Konkan’. With ‘GOA’ distributed in parts – Bardez, Ilhas, Harbour, and Salcette, the main towns are Mapusa, Ponda, Vasco, Margao. Panjim now Panaji is the Capital City of ‘GOA’, on the banks of the River Mandovi.
‘GOA’ is serviced by an international/national airport in Dabolim near Vasco. As well as intra-State and inter-State bus network does play an important role in attracting locales and visitors in an around Goa.
Apart from English widely spoken in ‘GOA’, Konkani is the mother tongue of Goans in Goa, who do speak Portuguese as well. The national language Hindi is well accepted.
‘GOA’ has a multicultural lifestyle distinct from the other sides of the Country with Hindus, Muslims, Catholics, and other communities. In major, it is Christians. The festivals celebrated with equal enthusiasm are Christmas, New Year, Easter, Ganesh Chaturthi, Diwali, Eid, and more…
In Goa as far as the Goan food specialty goes….. it’s always…. rich authentic Goan & Portuguese cuisines including fish-curry-rice.
Conscious of the preservation and conservation of the environment, ecology, and architecture, the State Government has decided no construction or development on the sandy stretches within 200 meters of the high tide line.
In the State, approximately 25% of its population earns their livelihood, directly and indirectly from Tourism activities.
Sun, sea, and surf, are the image of Goa which attracts millions of tourists from around across the globe. One can enjoy the perfect holiday and carry back a healthy tan to show off vacations to friends.
‘GOA’ welcomes you all with open arms and a warm heart!
The unspoilt tracts of forests in Mollem and Cotigao constantly spring surprises with a serene lake or shy wildlife playing hides and seek!
The Khandepar River thunders down great heights, forming the spectacular DudhSagar Waterfalls. A variety of bird life is found in the mangrove forests along the banks of River Mandovi and River Zuari which are a bird watcher’s paradise. Marsh crocodiles bask lazily along the banks of the Cumbharjua Canal. Idyllic organic farms and spice orchards dot the slopes of small hillocks across the state.
Ancient rock-cut caves at Arvalem and pre-historic Mesolithic carvings at Pansaimol interest historians from around the world. Strategically, located forts built by the erstwhile Portuguese and local rulers give an insight into the civil engineering skills of the earlier generations.
The Churches and Temples that dot the Goan Countryside are silent witnesses to the art and architectural marvels of the bygone era. The way these religious edifices are maintained by the local populace speaks volumes of the devotion they have to their divine master.
Putting together exciting images of ‘GOA’ in 100 (Hundred) Goan experiences in an attempt to offer a pictorial glance of picturesque lovely ‘GOA’ on its natural spots and its built-up heritages and exciting heritage like ‘Old Goa’, do try and to enjoy the amazing diversity of this tiny State, when in ‘GOA’.
In brief, ‘GOA’ is all about – adventure cruise along the coast, drive a Vintage Car, pump adrenaline, go go-karting, cruise the River Sal, jetski at breakneck speed, romance the stone, visit Olive Ridley Nesting site, stretch your legs on a beach walk, swim in the sea, make friends with the deep, walk under the sea, catch the sunset from Baradi, para sail into the clear sky, rejuvenate under a spring, go fishing, cool off at DudhSagar, cleanse in an elephant shower, tame the Chorla Ghat, trek to a little known waterfall, ride an elephant at Bondla, chase crocodiles at Cumbarjua, meet the birds at Carmbolim lake, watch birds from a canoe, stray into the sacred groves, get into wilderness, unravel a bubbling mystery, explore ruins at Vichundrem, admire the art of the stone age, inspect rock-cut caves, tombstones with a story to tell, attend Sunday Mass at Raj Bhavan, be awed by the Church of Santana, check out Manueline architecture, climb up to the Panjim Church, the Saligao Church at night, experience the Grace of the Sé, marvel at St. Cajetan Church, behold at the bleeding Crucifix, The Mausoleum of St. Francis Xavier, Pay Homage to Blessed Josep h Vaz, the Tomb of Ven. Agnelo De Souza, visit a grand old lighthouse, the majestic Reis Magos Church, invade a fort by boat, cross the unique Corjuem bridge, a transplanted Temple, bask in the Glory of Tambdi Surla, offer flowers at Manguesh Temple, reach for the Chandranath Summit, receive Prasad from Shantadurga, toll the Bells of Naguesh Temple, Worship at a Rare Brahma Temple, behold an ancient Jain temple, meditate under a brass roof, visit a 16th Century Masjid, stroll along the Palácio de Idalcão, view the Azulejos at IMB Hall, cherish a visit at Palácio Do Deăo, tour trhe biggest house ‘The Menezes Braganza House’ at Chandor in Goa, muse at Goa State Museum, The Christian art museum, visit the Past at the Pilar Museum, study Goan Christian Art, call on the Naval Aviation Museum, research at ‘Houses Of Goa’, meet the Rachol Seminarians, explore the Latin Quarter of Goa, appreciate the arts, set foot of Big Foot in Loutolim, dig into antique shops, examine some Goan handicrafts, enjoy a tiatr, a Pilgrimage of the Heart!, mould some clay, learn lacquer craftsmanship, peep into the Universe, develop a scientific temper, shop at midnight on a Saturday, strike a deal at the Flea Market, bargain at the Mapusa market, window-shop along 18th June Road, kiss a tender coconut, get married in Goa, spice up your life!, surprise your Love with flowers, spend the night in a House Boat, dine aboard a Floating Restaurant ‘Noah’s Ark’, drop in at a feni distillery, drink fresh today, hire a motorcycle pilot, mingle at the village feast, culture-cruise along the Mandovi, ferry across the river, Garland the ‘Fulancho Khuris’, Light Candles at a Roadside Shrine, saunter through a Pristine Village, stay in an Eco Hut, watch a football match, bicycle around the Countryside, speak in Goans’ mother-tongue ‘Konkani’.
One of the progressive Editors of a ‘Goa’ daily expressed…,
“The best part of discovering ‘Goa’ is re-discovering it”.
This tropical paradise has its roots firmly entrenched in the hoary past and diverse culture. Here live gentle and hard-working people with an intellectual expression and way of life harmoniously inter-woven – a happy blend of Indian traditions with more than four-and-a-half centuries-old Western influence.
“The greatness of Goa perhaps lies in its smallness”.
The Church of ‘Our Lady Of Hope’ (Nossa Senhora da Esperança) is one of the Village Parish Churches down south in Chinchinim, Salcette – Goa. The Church of Chinchinim was founded by the Jesuits and was completed in 1590. It was renovated and Blessed on 30.04.1888. The Grotto Of Our Lady Of Lourdes was Blessed on 26.12.2000. A Stately Monument to St. Judas stands across the road.
“In the 15th Century, there arose in Europe an architectural phenomenon that was to spread throughout the world and to form the first globally Inter-Continental style. It was seen to be a restoration of the style of imperial Rome, and was named by the eminent Baroque architect and pioneer architectural historian Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach (1653-1723) as the ‘Neo-Roman style”.
Implanted in Goa in the 16th Century, this style produced an array of Sacred edifices that are in the examples of Christian architecture in Asia. Most of the edifices are in the Mannerist mode of Neo-Roman; they are strewn over the tiny territory of Goa with a destiny that is unequalled anywhere outside Europe; and they were and rebuilt till the end of the Portuguese rule. It is these edifices that created the romantic imagery of majestic, white-washed Churches in the Countryside, which continue to delight and inspire the traveller.
The present work is a documentation of all these Village Parish Churches with façade photographs, brief history, and other useful information, which is part and parcel of the study of the architectural styles of these Churches
The weather in Goa can be classified into three broad categories. Overall pleasant weather conditions prevail between October to February, with the temperatures hovering in the range of 18 to 30 degrees centigrade. March to May see the humidity rising and the mercury shooting up to even 38 degrees. June to September ushers in the monsoons bringing in the much-needed relief from the sizzling sun. So choose your time to holiday in Goa, depending on the conditions best suited to you.
“Besides the natural beauty, the fabulous beaches and sunshine, travelers flocking into ‘Goa’, for sure…. you will love the laid-back, peaceful, warm, and friendly nature of the Goan-Portuguese in Goa with roots deep-rooted from Portugal and Goa. We have so much to learn and see and enjoy with our changing times in ‘Goa’”, shares….Mrs. Pamela Maria Mascarenhas e Menezes Pereira, Dy. Director, Government Of Goa, Department Of Tourism.
“After all, more than anywhere else on planet Earth, this is a place where people know how to relax”.
A place under the sun, moon, stars, bright-light blue skies –
In the twilight – is where time stands still –
Blessed from Above with nature’s beauty and abundance and fueled with festivities, fun ‘n’ frolic, is the beauty of ‘GOA’, where entertainment never-ever sets and the sun is worshipped all day long.
Welcome back to Sunny ‘GOA’