Archaeological Museum of Goa/ आर्केओलॉजिकल म्युझियम ऑफ गोवा, Archaeological Survey of India /आर्केओलॉजिकल सर्व्हे ऑफ इंडिया, Old Goa, Goa.

This visit to the Archaeological Museum of Goa, Old Goa, was a part of the Goa Heritage walk to the temples and Heritage sites, organised by Aatrupadai, from 5^th December 2025 to 7^th December 2025. Thanks to திருச்சி பார்த்தி for organising the Heritage walk.

The Archaeological Museum of Goa was established in 1964 by the Archaeological Survey of India. Located in a convent that was formerly attached to the Church of St. Francis of Assisi, a heritage structure, the museum is situated in Old Goa or Velha Goa and is surrounded by several other monuments and ancient churches.

The entrance of the Museum is facilitated by a 3.10m high bronze statue of Afonso de Albuquerque, the Governor General and Captain of the Seas of India, who played a key role in conquering Old Goa in 1510 CE. He is an important figure in Portuguese colonial history as he consolidated Portuguese control over Goa by destroying the Arab monopoly over maritime trade.

Afonso de Albuquerque, the Governor General and Captain of the Seas of India.

The first amongst the Museum’s eight galleries introduces visitors to pre-colonial Goa through a conjectural blueprint of the ancient city of Chandor (the capital of Goa during early historical times), a 13th-century Vishnu statue, along with hero-stones carved with scenes of naval battles and heroic victories and sati stones representing the Hindu practice of widow immolation.

A chief attraction of this gallery is a 3.6 m high bronze statue of Luis Vaz de Camoes (1524-1580 CE), the national poet of Portugal.

Luis Vaz de Camoes

Gallery 1, The first gallery is the Key Gallery which shows a timeline of the history of Goa through the artefacts on display, starting with middle and upper Palaeolithic stone tools, Microliths and a few Neolithic Celts Visitors will also find the excavated materials from Chandor, one of the ancient capital cities of Goa The ground plan of an ancient Brahmanical temple and early historical antiquities, cast copper coins of 3rd century BC, copper nails, rings, etc. are also on display

Gallery 2 has ruins of the ancient Saptakoteshwar Temple on the nearby Divar Island and a life-size image of St. Catherine, the patroness of Goa.

Gallery 3 displays sculptures of Hindu deities and three images of Vetala, the god of a unique cult called ‘Bhoot Aaradhna’ that worships demi-gods from the underworld and is popular in the western region of India.

Images of Vetala, the god of a unique cult called ‘Bhoot Aaradhna.

Lakshmi Narayana / Narasimha

Gajalakshmi

Shiva

Gallery 4 showcases hero stones and sati stones (discussed in a separate post) from the medieval period, as well as a diorama featuring the original bone relic of Queen Ketevan, the ruler of the Kingdom of Georgia, located on the southern border of Russia.

The remaining galleries contain Arabic and Persian inscriptions, portraits of Portuguese Governors and Viceroys of Goa and a model of a 16th-century Portuguese ship.

Portuguese ship

The Museum also records Goa’s historical role as an important maritime trade point through medieval hero-stones, which represent naval battles in the Kadamba period.

The navigation gallery also displays the model of a 16th-century Portuguese ship along with stone and iron anchors. Moreover, the visitors can witness the Old Portuguese currency (Escudo) as well as the vintage indigenous currencies Pardav, Tanga, Xerafins and Rupia in the Museum.

Ref:

Thanks to

https://www.museumsofindia.org/museum/11779/archaeological-museum-of-goa-

LOCATION OF THE MUSEUM: CLICK HERE

OPEN GALLERY

Tomb stone

Tomb stone

Tomb stone

Tomb stone

Tomb stone

Tomb stone

Tomb stone

Tomb stone

?

Tomb for a dog?...

With many hands

Tomb stone

Water spout or Chanel 

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

Chapel of St. Catherin/ Capela de Santa Catarina de Alexandria/ कैपेला दे सांता कैटरिना दे अलेक्जेंड्रिया, UNESCO Monument, Old Goa, Goa.

This visit to the Chapel of St. Catherin/ Capela de Santa Catarina de Alexandria, an UNESCO Monument, Old Goa, Goa, was a part of the Goa Heritage walk to the temples and Heritage sites, organised by Aatrupadai, from 5^th December 2025 to 7^th December 2025. Thanks to திருச்சி பார்த்தி for organising the Heritage walk.

Churches & Convents of Goa have been inscribed on the World Heritage List of the convention concerning the protection of the world's cultural and natural heritage on October 20, 1986. Inscription on this list confirms the exceptional universal value of a cultural or natural site which deserves protection for the benefit of all humanity. This UNESCO monument comprises churches, which include the dilapidated Church of St. Augustine Ruins. The list of monuments is… 

1. Basilica of Bom Jesus

2. Church of St. Augustine

3. Church of Our Lady of Rosary

4. Chapel of St. Catherine

5. Church of St. Francis of ASSISI

6. SE' Cathedral

7. Chapel of St. Cajetan.

Churches & Convents of Goa have been inscribed on the World Heritage List of the convention concerning the protection of the world's cultural and natural heritage on October 20, 1986. Inscription on this list confirms the exceptional universal value of a cultural or natural site which deserves protection for the benefit of all humanity.

This Chapel was built in 1510 by Afonso de Albuquerque to commemorate his entry into the city of Goa on St. Catherine's day. The chapel was further enlarged in 1550 by the governor George Cabral. Finally, it was rebuilt in the year 1952.

The chapel is rectangular on plan. The façade of the chapel has a tower on either side. There is a choir located behind the façade. The choir can be approached through a flight of steps. The main altar is flanked by a sacristy.

The inscription on the outside wall of the Chapel.

AQUI NE STELIGER ERKA-APORT A POR QUE ENTROV-OGOV ERNADOR A DALDO S QUEROVE-E-TOMOV ESTA CIDADE FCSTO ROSE DIA DE SANTA CATIRINA ANODELSIC EN CVIO LOVVORE ME MORIZO COVERINA D ORGE CADRAL MADON TAZER ESTA CASAL ANODEISSOF CVSTA-DEST

Superintending Archaeologist, 

Goa circle.

Ref:

Archaeological Survey of India display board.

LOCATION OF THE MONUMENT: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA--

Se’ Cathedral/ से कॅथेड्रल, UNESCO Monument, Old Goa, Goa.

This visit to the Se Cathedral/ से कॅथेड्रल, UNESCO Monument, Old Goa, Goa, was a part of the Goa Heritage walk to the temples and Heritage sites, organised by Aatrupadai, from 5^th December 2025 to 7^th December 2025. Thanks to திருச்சி பார்த்தி for organising the Heritage walk.

Churches & Convents of Goa have been inscribed on the World Heritage List of the Convention concerning the protection of the world's cultural and natural heritage on October 20, 1986. Inscription on this list confirms the exceptional universal value of a cultural or natural site which deserves protection for the benefit of all humanity. This UNESCO monument comprises churches, which include the dilapidated Church of St. Augustine Ruins. The list of monuments is… 

1. Basilica of Bom Jesus

2. Church of St. Augustine

3. Church of Our Lady of Rosary

4. Chapel of St. Catherine

5. Church of St. Francis of ASSISI

6. SE' Cathedral

7. Chapel of St. Cajetan.

SE' CATHEDRAL

Churches & Convents of Goa have been inscribed on the World Heritage List of the Convention concerning the protection of the world's cultural and natural heritage on October 20, 1986. Inscription on this list confirms the exceptional universal value of a cultural or natural site, which deserves protection for the benefit of all humanity

The largest church among the group was built in the first quarter of the 17th century. Built on a raised plinth of laterite, the church has, besides the main altar, eight chapels alongside the aisles and six altars in the transept. The structure is oblong on plan but has a cruciform layout in the interior. Architecturally, the exterior of the building is Tuscan and the interior Corinthian. A belfry on the southern side of the façade is said to possess a golden bell that was heard all over old Goa.

The pillared nave is barrel vaulted, while the crossing is rib-vaulted. The main entrance in the façade has Corinthian columns on a plinth supporting a pediment containing an inscription in Latin recording that, in 1562 CE, in the reign of King Dom Sebastiao (1557-1578 CE), this cathedral was ordered to be erected.

The main altar is dedicated to St. Catherine of Alexandria. The richly gilded panel shows the martyrdom of the saint on either side of the nave; there are wooden statues of St. Paul and St. Peter. The projecting gallery to the right accommodates an organ. Below the projecting gallery are the seats for the canon and a throne for the archbishop.

Besides a large painting of St. Christopher hung beneath the choir, several paintings and gilded episodes over the walls draw attention.

Superintending Archaeologist, 

Goa Circle.

Ref:

Archaeological Survey of India display board.

LOCATION OF THE MONUMENT: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA--

Church of St. Francis of Assisi/ चर्च ऑफ़ संत फ्रांसिस ऑफ़ असीसी / Chapel of St. Francis Xavier/ St Francis Xavier's Basilica, UNESCO Monument, Old Goa, Goa.

This visit to the Church of St. Francis of Assisi, Chapel of St. Francis Xavier, an UNESCO World Heritage Site, Old Goa, Goa, was a part of the Goa Heritage walk to the temples and Heritage sites, organised by Aatrupadai, from 5^th December 2025 to 7^th December 2025. Thanks to திருச்சி பார்த்தி for organising the Heritage walk.

Churches & Convents of Goa have been inscribed on the World Heritage List of the Convention concerning the protection of the world's cultural and natural heritage on October 20, 1986. Inscription on this list confirms the exceptional universal value of a cultural or natural site which deserves protection for the benefit of all humanity. This UNESCO monument comprises churches, which include the dilapidated Church of St. Augustine Ruins. The list of monuments is… 

1. Basilica of Bom Jesus

2. Church of St. Augustine

3. Church of Our Lady of Rosary

4. Chapel of St. Catherine

5. Church of St. Francis of ASSISI

6. SE' Cathedral

7. Chapel of St. Cajetan.

THE CONVENT AND CHURCH OF ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI

Built in 1661 C.E., this church is built of laterite blocks and is lime plastered. The church faces west and has a nave with three chapels on one side, a choir, two altars in the transept and a main altar. To the north of the main altar is a belfry and sacristy. The convent, which forms an annexe to the church, now houses the Archaeological Museum.

The exterior of the church is of the Tuscan order, while the main entrance is in the Manuline style. The main altar is baroque with Corinthian features. The main entrance is decorated with circular pilasters and a rosette band. The central nave is barrel vaulted, while the crossing is rib vaulted, which supports the choir. The internal buttress walls separating the chapels and supporting the gallery on top have frescoes showing intricate floral designs. Above the tabernacle in the main altar is a large statue of St. Francis of ASSISI and Jesus on the cross. On either side of the main altar in the nave are beautiful, large paintings on wood depicting scenes from the life of Christ.

Constructed in 1661 C.E., this church is built of laterite blocks and is lime plastered. The church faces west and has a nave with three chapels on one side, a choir, two altars in the transept and the main altar. A belfry and a sacristy are located to the north of the main altar of the convent, which forms an annexe to the church, and now houses the archaeological museum.

The exterior of the church is of the Tuscan order, while the main entrance is in Manueline style. The main altar is baroque with Corinthian features. The main entrance is decorated with circular pilasters and a rosette band. The central nave is barrel vaulted, while the crossing is rib vaulted, which supports the choir. Internal buttress walls separating the chapels and supporting the gallery on top are adorned with frescoes showing intricate floral designs. Above the tabernacle in the main altar is a large statue of St. Francis of Assisi and Jesus on the cross. On either side of the main altar in the nave, there are beautiful and large paintings on wood depicting scenes from the life of St. Francis of ASSISI.

Superintending Archaeologist

Goa Circle 

Ref:

Archaeological Survey of India display board.

LOCATION OF THE MONUMENT: CLICK HERE

Constructed with laterite stone, and the paint-peeled-off portion of the stone can be seen

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA--