Curiosity and enthusiasm go a long way in making the unfamiliar familiar. Gorgeous Goa never strays far from our hearts, and so when we turn the lens on it again the shadows seem to fade away and things which were always there in plain sight suddenly emerge demanding our attention. Goa yields her charms easily, but she still has many secret sides to reveal. From haunted shrines to the restless world of her tidal forests — from off-beat islands to oyster-shell houses… There’s more…much more…
The gems of hidden Goa shine bright and beckoning. Let us feed our restless minds with the unlocking of the mysteries that are worthy of our zest for delight and discovery. Goa’s distinguished history of Portuguese conquest is a familiar refrain on our visits; but not all of us are so familiar with her rule by Hindu dynasties such as the Bhojas, the Sialaras and the Kadambas. Chandor or Chandrapur, is a sleepy village in South Goa, 43 km south of the Panaji; it served as Hindu Goa’s oldest known capital before the advent of the Portuguese. A major commercial and trading hub at the time, it also reveals immersive yarns of battles and marching troops…even a vengeful queen.
A tour of Cansaulim village brings us to the Three King’s Chapel said to still ring with paranormal sounds and sightings. Legend has it that it’s haunted by the three kings buried here; while alive there was a fight to the death over supremacy of the territories of Goa at a feast organized here. Dig deeper and learn all about it.
We love the picturesque setting of Candolim and its beguiling charms, but at least two new things pop up that are not common knowledge. Its native son Fr Abbe Faria is believed to be the founder of the science of hypnotism. And, he was the one to egg on the Pinto family, in what was the first revolt of the Goans against Portuguese rule. A wander around Aldona brings you to St. Thomas High School, whose principal rebelled against the Portuguese regime to introduce an English Medium School in Goa; the rebel who brought this about has a statue to his name in the market square.
Not only is Moira (in the hinterland of the Bardez region) famous for the GI tag for its humongous bananas (they grow up to 30 cm in length and can be 8 cm in diameter), what’s intriguing is the tale about the Wise Fools of Moira and their association with a church here. Find out for yourself about this mysterious incident, that’s so unique to Moira.
A cycling tour of sundrenched lesser-visited Divar Island, offers an intriguing socio-spiritual past. There was a time when it was flooded with temples and was a major pilgrimage hub; that is, before the Portuguese captured it and destroyed many of them. What’s left of the Saptakoteshwar Temple, home to the tutelary deity of the Kadamba kings, are just atmospheric ruins. Today its sleepy environs are the perfect cure for the restless spirit as one pedals ones way through the serene countryside in the middle of the Mandovi River waters.
History and mystery, heritage and natural beauty, draw you to the atmospheric highs of Cavelossim. Take a wander around the traditional Oyster Shell House and dive into some old seaside pursuits of the fisher folk; hunker down and learn to shuck oysters as the natives do. A delicious seafood meal, served with traditional local hospitality is just the ticket to warp up your visit.