Today we are visiting Old Goa and Ponda

Old goa also popularly known as velha goa. (Velha means ‘old’ in portuguese.) It is famous for there’s bunch of Beautiful architectural churches which taking part in world heritage site by UNESCO.

And Ponda is famous for his ancient Hindu Temples. which have a great historic background.

That means we are testing two different cultures in a day so we divided day in two parts up to noon old goa and then up to evening ponda.

Part 1

We manage to leave hotel at 8.30am and take walk up to main road for getting bus. we got bus for Kadamba Bus stand, Panjim. after reaching there we got quick bus for old goa we took bus and waiting for our destination. We get off at in front of Archaeological survey of India gate and back side there is Basilica of Bom Jesus church. So we entered first in Archaeological survey of India. Inside  Se Cathedral church, st francis church, chapel of St. Catherine and museum is there

So we start from…..

Se Cathedral church – This church is dedicated to St. Catherine of Alexandria on whose feast day in 1510 Portuguese was defeated Muslim army and took possession On Goa city so the cathedral was dedicated to her.

Church is very huge white washed from outside and also one of the largest church in Asia. From inside very beautifully carved main alter and either side there are chapels. Many holy idols there I click some photos of them, we sit there 5-10minutes. Very peaceful place, Peoples are talking in bit slow voice. After that we move for next place.

St. Francis Assisi –

This is also very nice beautiful church same white wash from outside and from inside white and brownish colored with inkling paintings on wood showing of depicting scenes from the life of St Francis of Assisi. Looking ancient we roam there and move towards museum.

Archaeological survey of India – The museum is situated in convent part of the St. Francis Assisi. Ticket is 10 INR per head and photography not allowed. Museum is huge includes 8 galleries with full of antiquities things like coins, notes, arms, paintings, Postal stamp, portrait paintings of governor and viceroys, wooden sculptures and many more metal and stone sculptures. Also there huge Statue of Luis Vaz De Camees I think 15feet in height, miniature model of old goa etc. The museum is must visited at least one time to test goa history.

Chapel of St. Catherine – Structure is built from laterite blocks. Structure is nice looking but inside nothing to see we just roam there and move. Next we go to

Basilica of Bom Jesus church – This is a house of the tomb and mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier, the patron saint of Goa. This church is also built from Laterite stone and carved from basalt.

Outside the church some are selling flowers & candles, we buy also. Entered there, in front of church main door some renovation work in progress. So we go from other side. Place was full of crowd, I think because of Sunday. We light there some candles hang our rosary and roam there. Main altar is full of people sitting on benches same sitting arrangement like Se Cathedral church and father is reading something holy.

I tried to took photo but they are not allowed. Because of that we are not able to see main alter of church. After that we move towards our next destination.

St. Augustine’s ruins – the St. Augustine church and tower build by the St. Augustinian Friars. He firstly built a small convent on this hill and later it was enlarged. Actually As per the records the convent and the church dedicated to our lady of Grace was occupied by the Augustinian order. It was then abandoned as a result of an official decree and the Portuguese Government ordered its demolition.

This is just remains of St. Augustine Church and tower which later conserved by ASI. We roam there take some photographs and move towards bus stop.

There convent of john of god and St. monic, our lady of the rosary church are also nearby. We want to visit but our time limit is over so we keep these places for next time.

(Note: All information of places from Web)

That’s all folks…..