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Old Goa

How old is Goa?  Where is Goa?  What is Goa?

To the uninformed all legit questions.  I too had a partial understanding of the place but this time we visited and shaped our appreciation some.

Goa is an Indian state on the western coast.

From being a Sultan managed operation to being a Portuguese colony from the 16th to 18th century, it has history and charm in some old parts to a beat to death and has been with its crowded beaches for party goers. In the past decade a gambler crowd is being lured by its casino boats on the Mandovi river just outside Panaji.

The part we liked the most was the historic and well preserved one.  That of old Goa.  This is a time capsule some 500 years in the making.  Indian Archaeological Survey has taken some effort to maintain and educate visitors with placards and museums in this few acre area 10 km east of Panaji.

Below are some ornate churches we saw including the Basilica Bom Jesus where the 500 year old body of a patron saint lies in a casket for worshipers to witness.  This minor basilica is a UNESCO World Heritage site.  Italian knockoffs was the rage back then too - except not shoes - but places of worship with one trying to mimic the dome and design of the most famous of churches - the St. Peters.

Basilica Bom Jesus (good Jesus)

Church of St.Cajetan - knockoff of St. Peters in Vatican
Dome of St. Cajetan

Viceroy gate leading to the Mandovi river bank


Church of St Francis, Velha Goa (aka old Goa)




Se Cathedral in foreground and Church of St Francis in background

Ornate interior

Church of Our Lady of Miracles, Old Goa

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