Explore yesteryear

Basilica of Bom Jesus is located in Goa and it is a part of the Churches and conventsof Goa UNESCO world heritage site. The Basilica holds the mortal remains of St.Francis Xavier. The church is located in Old  Goa which is the early capital of Portuguese rules. It contains the body of St. Francis Xavier. The body of St. Francis Xavier was first taken to Portuguese Malacca and two years later shipped back to Goa. It is said that the saint's body was fresh as the day it was buried. The remains of the saint still attract a huge number of tourists from all over the world especially during the public viewing of his body every ten years.  The floor is of marble inlaidwith precious stones. The main alters holds a large status of St. Ignatius of Loyola the founder of the society of Jesus and one of Francis Xavier's companions whose words drew him to a reformed life.

Mangueshi temple is located at Mangueshi village in Priol,Ponda Taluka.It is at a distance of 1 km from Mardol close to Nagueshi. These temple existing for centuries at Kushasthali (kuthal) in Goa until 1560 A.D A magnificent temple known for its wealth and glory and established and managed by 24 families of Gaud Saraswat Brahmins of "Vasta" and "Kaundinya" Gotras the shivlinga of shree Manguesh and its parivar devtas were shifted by them for safety to this land Priol sometime during oct-nov1560A.D. when Hindu temples in Goa were being destroyed by Christian Missionories. Every Monday the idol of Manguesh is taken out for a procession in the Palakhi accompanied by music before the evening Aarti. The temple is one of the largest and most frequently visited temples in Goa.

 The Aguada fort was constructed in 1602 CE, is one of the few intact Portuguese forts in the sub continent and a great example of military architecture, Aguada means watering place.This site is on the northern shore of the river Mandovi, has many natural springs that provide water to the passing ships. The Dutch were the early competitors of the Portuguese in the sea trade. In 1604 they blockaded the mouth of Mandovi with seven ships for one month. The Portuguese could not Dialoge them, as this spot was beyond the range of the cannons of forts of Reis Magos and Gasper Dias, which were further island. The Portuguese shocked at this in their defence took to building two forts the Mormugao at the mouth of the river Zuari and Aguada at the mouth of the river Mandovi. The fort has a lighthouse chapel and a huge underground water storage tank due to use of cannons design change in construction of forts became necessary.

Goa is a rich and unique with many tangible and intangible features in the history, but they are anonymous to its own populance. Many of the Goans of today may not be aware that there once existed a fort in the  North East area of Goa identified as the fort of Nanuz or Nanus. Today this spot is marked with flattened ruins and a lonely pillar with a marble plaque which reads "Locale de Forte de Nanuz . It is said that this pillar was constructed on January 16, 1933 to commemorate the spot where once stood the majestic Nanuz fort. The village of Nanus in Sattari is about 48-50 km from Panjim via Sanqulim Valpoi town. These fort has a beautiful intangible heritage in the form of a konkani song " Farar far zatai ranatu Rane marta Paklyaku, Pakle marta Ranaku. Which conveys the shots ringing out in the forest during the battle enduring between the Portuguese and the Rane.

The Tamdi Surla temple is 12th century temple build by Kadamba dynasty. The temple is dedicated to lord Shiva and it is active place of hindu worship. The temple consists of mandapas and garbhagriha where linga is worship. The temple have four pillars and every pillar there are some stone carvings on it. There is a headless Nandi in mandap. The temple is surrounded by evergreen forest and beautiful garden. The festival of Mahashivratri is celebrated by the local people from nearby village. The temple is bulid in such a way that most of the tourist gets attracted and it became a tourist destination. Everyone must visit these place.