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The convenient base for people staying at Colva and Benaulim
beaches, Margao is also the main population centre of South Goa. An
attractive and provincial town it still retains its Portuguese past.
There’s nothing much of great interest in Margo except the
impressive Church of Holy Spirit. Originally built in 1564, it was
rebuilt in 1675. Its pulpit in the north wall has carvings of the
Apostles. And the covered market is the best of its kind in Goa.
Next to the Capital city, in importance, Margao is the hub of
commercial activity in Salcete and Practically of all Southern Goa,
linked as it is, by rail and road to Belgaum, Bangalore and Poona.
Margaon is a city made beautiful by the Profusion of Latin Colonial
and Spanish-Mexican architecture of its palatial residences lined
with patios, balconies, terraces and red-tiled slopping roofs. The
two large markets are also the venue for fairs, or zatras so dear to
the Goan heart. Well-laid gardens and children’s parks add to the
colour.
The only rail route in Goa passes through Margao and into the hilly
wooded country of Sanguem taluka, and past the Dudhsagar waterfalls,
which are visible from the train. For those who delight in tramping
through forests, the view is a positive temptation to break journey
at the little railway station.
This is the largest commercial centre after Panaji and the capital
of the state’s richest and most fertile taluka, Salcete. A pleasant
provincial town it was given the statues of a vila (town) by Royal
decree in 1778.
The temple of Chandreshwar Bhutnath, 16 kms at a height of 1,170
feet. For the devout or the interested, both view and visits are
well worth, the difficult 500-ft climb.
Places of attraction :-
Church of the Holy Spirit:
This is the impressive baroque with its classic Goan façade
dominates the Old Market (Feast day in June) square, surrounded by a
number of fine town houses. Originally built in 1564 over the ruins
of a Hindu temple, it was sacked by Muslims in 1589 and rebuilt in
1675. A remarkable pulpit on the north wall has carvings of the
Apostles. The carved reredos is flanked by gold pillars, and there
are three Baroque style central pictures.
Shri Navdurga Saunsthan:
34 Kms.from Panajit at Borim (12 kms.from Margao) the deity of
Goddess Navdurga was originally brought by Brahmins of Karad to Goa.
The deity was later transferred from Benaulim in Salcete to its
present site at Borim.
Shri Damodar:
The temple of Shri Damodar lies 22 kms. From Margao at
Zamabaulim-Sanguem, on the banks of river Kushavati, more popularly
known as Panti. The river is regarded holy and is said to have
medicinal properties. Both Hindus and Christians worship the deity
which was originally in Margao. A weeklong celebration of Shigmo is
packed with programmes which includes a colourful fair, exchange of
gulal, collective meals and presentation of shows on popular legends
and folk culture.
Shri Datta Mandir:
37 kms. at Dattawadi, Sanquelim, and 40 kms. From Margao, the
century old temple of Trimurthy has a backdrop of a beautiful
hillock covered with dense groves of areca palms. The most important
festival, which is attended by devotees from all over Goa, is Datta
Jayanti. This falls in the month of December. The deity is believed
to have cured many people of unsound mind. The interior is made of
white marble.
Shri Mallikarjuna:
The temple of Shri Mallikarjuna is 40 kms. From Margo at Canacona,
the southern most Taluka of Goa. It is believed to have been
constructed during the middle of 16th century by ancestors of the
Kshatriya Samaj. It was renovated in the year 1778. The temple has
massive wooden pillars with intricate carvings. Around 60 dieties
are worshipped in the temple. Rathasaptami in February and
Shigmotsav in March/April are the festivals of note, which draws
huge crowds.
Loutulim:
Eastwards from Cortalim are the beautiful Kunbi Vilages, fields and
stately houses bordering the tributaries of River Zuari. Loutulim,
is the house of the famous artist Mario Mirananda. The houses in
this part are adorned with the traditional agricultural instruments,
music, clothing, cookware, the fisherman with his net, the Taverna,
local bar complete with ancient sodamaker, local feni guzzlers, game
of tablam etc.
Dona Maria’s house with its bird bath at the entrance, a fairytale
interior, an altar, a detailed Kitchen, a lazing cat beside the old
firewood store, the Maestro with his violin at the music school, the
abode of Ganesha. The exotic spice garden having a collection of
rare species and ancient watering system, the longest Indian
monolithic sculpture of Sant Mirabai, art gallery, handicrafts shop
etc, make the Art Gallery at Loutulim attractive. |
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