20 Most Famous Historical Places in Goa
Are you packing your bags to explore the beauty of Goa? You should know about some of the most interesting and historical places at this tourist destination for the best experience of your tour. Portuguese ruled Goa for about 450 years and they introduced European architecture by building several monuments and churches. There are several other historical places in Goa where you will find proof of Muslim and Hindu dynasties. You can check out 20 historical places in Goa below where you should visit during your trip:
1. BOM Jesus
Bom Jesus Basilica is a famous UNESCO World Heritage site that is also known as St. Francis Xavier's Tomb. This famous place is dedicated to St Francis Xavier and it was constructed during the period of 1594 to 1605. This famous church is located at the distance of 9 km from PanajiKadamba bus stand and at 27 km from Vasco da Gama railway station.
Visiting Time : Mon-Sat 9 am - 6:30 pm, Sun 10 am - 6:30 pm
Entry Fee : Rs. 0.0
Location : 9 km from Panjim Kadamba Bus Stand
2. SE Cathedral
Se Cathedral is another famous church that is dedicated to St. Catherine. It is considered as one of the largest churches in Asia that is located in old Goa. This Church is one of the oldest and most celebrated religious places so you should visit here for sure. The construction of this church was started in 1562 and completed in 1619.
Visiting Time : 7:30 AM - 6 PM on all days.
Entry Fee : Rs. 0.0
Location : Near Basilica Of Bom Jesus, 9 km from Panjim Kadamba Bus Stand
3. Fort Aguada Jail
Fort Aguada Jail is located below Aguada Fort in Goa. This place is famous for its architecture, panoramic view and historic significance. This place was considered as largest jail in Goa but they closed it in the year 2015. Now, it is open for the public as a famous Heritage site and you will also find a museum with galleries here.
Visiting Time : 24 hrs on all days
Entry Fee : Rs. 0.0
Location : The bottom of Aguada Fort
4. Church of St Francis of Assisi
Church of Saint Francis of Assisi is a famous Roman Catholic church that was constructed by eight Portuguese Franciscan friars. This Church was originated as a small Chapel but it was modified to a church in the year 1521. After that, the building was replaced by the current building of discharge in 1661. It is a beautiful example of architecture where you should visit during your trip.
5. Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception
Church or the Church of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception is located near the Municipal Garden in the heart of Panaji City. This Church was constructed as a Chapel in 1541 but it was replaced by a bigger Church in the year 1609. Industrious, you will find the second-largest Bell in this state and you will love the exterior architectural elements having a baroque style in the church.
Visiting Time : 9am-12.30pm & 3-7.30pm Mon-Sat, 11am-12.30pm & 3.30-5pm Sun, English Mass 8am daily
Entry Fee : Rs. 0.0
Location : Near the Municipal Garden in Panaji City
6. Fort Aguada
Aguada fort is one of the historical and famous places of Goa that was constructed to protect old Goa from the attacks of Marathas and Dutch. This fort was constructed by Portuguese colonial rulers in the year 1612 and you will find a lighthouse and Central Jail located near the fort that was constructed during the 19th century. You should definitely add this historical location to your list of famous places in Goa.
Timings : 9:30 AM - 6 PM on all days.
Entry fee : Free
Entry fee and timings for Lighthouse : 20 Rs/adults, 12 pm - 5 pm on all days.
7. Church of St. Cajetan
Church Of St. Cajetan is a well-known Roman Catholic Church that is located in old Goa. The construction of this church was completed in the year 1661 and it comes under UNESCO World Heritage sites. You will love the stunning white structure having large-sized dome and inscriptions of Latin on the walls. This architectural beauty is constructed close to Mandovi River and you can visit here from 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
8. Mae De Deus Church, Goa
Mae De Deus Church is also known as Mother of God Church that was constructed in the year 1873 by Parishioners. This Church is a breath-taking historical site having Gothic spires and pristine white walls. This beautiful church is located at Saligao and is one of the best Neo-Gothic Architectural sites. You will love the attractive illuminations at night in this Church.
9. Reis Magos Fort
Reis Magos Fort was constructed in the year 1551 by Alfonso de Noronha. In the year 1707, this fort was reconstructed and this photo served as pivotal site acting as a defensive wall during the war of Portuguese with Marathas in the year 1739. This famous historical site is located at a distance of 7 km from Panjim Kadamba Bus Stand.
10. Safa Shahouri Masjid, Goa
Safa Shahouri Masjid is located in Pondataluka and it is considered as one of the most famous and biggest mosques in Goa. It was constructed Ibrahim Adilshah of Bijapur in the year 1560. You will also find a well-constructed masonry tank having small chambers with ‘meharab’ designs adjacent to the mosque. If you also like historical and old places, you should visit this Masjid for sure.
11. Chapora fort
Chapora Fort is one of the best tourist attractions in Goa where you will find breath-taking landscape views. People loved this place after the shooting of famous Bollywood movie Dil Chahta hai in this fort. It was built by Adil Shah of Bijapur and you can visit this fort for its unique history and beautiful views from the fort.
12. Palacio Do Deao
Palacio do deao is a well-known mention that is 213 years old. This historic place was constructed by a Portuguese nobleman who was the Dean of Church and founder of Quepem town. You can also visit this historical destination to know about the appealing elements of Portuguese and Hindu architecture. At this place, you will find a historical house, library, restaurant, cultural event space and a garden.
13. Cabo De Rama Fort, Goa
Cabo De Rama Fort is a famous place that is known as Cape of Rama. This fort is known as a famous historical site as well for its mythological significance. In the year 1763, Portuguese reconstructed this fort after seizing it from Maratha King of Sonda. This famous historical place is located in South Goa, 60 km from Panjim Kadamba Bus Stand.
14. Monastery Of St Augustine, Goa
Monastery Of St Augustine was constructed by Augustinian friars in the year 1602. The construction of the Church was started in 1597 and completed in 1602. The tower of the church is known to have an impressive height of 46 m and it is a famous landmark. Originally, there were four towers of this Church but now only one remains. To explore more information about the history of Monastery Of St Augustine,you should visit this place during Goa trip.
15. Corjuem Fort, Goa
Corjuem Fort was built by Caetano de Melo e Castro in the year 1705. This fort is located 4 km away from the village of Aldona on the famous river island of Corjuem, Goa. It was constructed for the purpose of military defence of Portuguese in India. If you are going to visit hair, you will find it smaller in size but you will find beautiful surrounding with attractive views. This photo is only 12 km away from Panjim and you can visit this place to know about the historic facts of this fort.
Timing : Every day of the week from 6.00 am to 7.00 pm.
Location : Corjuem, Goa
16. Church Of Our Lady Of The Mount, Goa
Church of our lady of the mount is located in old Goa and it is known as a beautiful chapel having an attractive panoramic view for every visitor. You will find simple-looking exteriors but lavish interiors of this Church. During the time of sunset, you will find a delightful picture with its plain whitewash walls and you will love the breath-taking view at this place.
17. Church Of Our Lady Of The Rosary, Goa
Church of Our Lady of the Rosary is a famous catholic Church that was constructed during the period of 1544 to 1547. It is considered as the oldest church in Goa that is still standing and open for visitors. This church comes under world heritage sites and it is located in old Goa. When you will see the exteriors of this Church, you will notice that it is well preserved as one of the oldest buildings in old Goa. There are two chapels in this church and you should also visit here to explore the beautiful exteriors and interiors of this historical site.
Timings : Open seven days a week from 9 am to 5.30 pm.
Location : Old Goa
18. Shri Ramnath Temple
Shri Ramnath Temple is another famous temple in Goa where you can visit during your trip. The original Ramnath temple was located in Loutolim, Goa that was shifted to this current site in the 16th century to prevent the destruction by Portuguese authorities. In May 2011, this famous temple completed its 450 years at this location. You will love to explore its religious beauty and architectural design during your trip to Goa.
19. Mangueshi Temple
Shri Mangeshi temple is located on a hill at Mangeshi Village in Priol, PondaTaluka. This temple is considered as one of the wealthiest, largest and most popular Hindu religious places in Goa. This famous temple was constructed around 1744 and was reconstructed and renovated several times. This famous temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and you will find the beautiful architectural design of this temple. This famous temple attracts a large number of tourists from all over the world.
20. Goa State Museum
Goa State Museum is also known as the State Archaeology Museum that was constructed in the year 1977. In this museum, you will find the departments like archaeology, ancient history, art and craft, geology and more. In this museum, you can explorer about 8000 artefacts including stone sculptures, carvings, bronzes, wooden objects, paintings, rare coins, manuscripts, and anthropological objects.
Timing : From 10am to 5pm from Saturday to Thursday. Closed to the public on Fridays.
These are the top 20 historical places that you can explore during your visit to Goa. By visiting these places, you will find the beautiful architectural design of these historical places, forts, churches, temples and monuments. You can know more about the historical information and facts of these places during your visit. You can check out additional information about their timing and entry fee online. You should definitely include all these places in your package during GOA trip.
