Safa Shahouri
Masjid - One important
monument left behind in Goa by the Muslim
rulers is the Safa Shahouri Masjid located
at Ponda. This is the biggest and the
oldest mosque in Goa. It is the only remaining
one in Ponda Taluka among the 26 mosques
that were built by Ibrahim Adil Shah of
Bijapur in 1560. Its greatness lies not
in what is left of the one time prosperous
religious complex, but its ruins, which
vividly recapitulate the past glory. The
interesting part of the complex is the
huge tank with Hamams dotting its four
interior sides in Meharab design. The
Portuguese destroyed the whole complex
when they occupied this part of the state.
The tank has since been repaired and restored
to its past glory.
Shri
Chandranath at Quepem - Built on
a 350m high hill, Chandranath Hill, the
main attraction of this temple are the
rock-carved Shivlings from which water
oozes on a full moon day.
Shri
Bhagavati Temple - 26 km from the
city, it is believed to be 500 years old.
Two life-sized images of elephants carved
from black stone guard its entrance. The
statue of the Goddess Bhagavati Ashtabhuja
is an imposing one.
Shri
Mahalsa at Mardol - This temple
is popular with people of all faiths because
the deity Gomantaka is beleived to fulfil
the wishes of all her devotees.
Shri
Nagesh at Bandora - Dedicated to
Lord Shiva, the temple is situated in
Bandora village, about 4km to the east
of Ponda. The temple has a gallery on
both sides that contains exquisite specimens
of intricate woodcarvings of the events
of Ramayana on one side and wooden images
of Astadikpal and Gandharva on the other.
Others
- Brahma Temple at Carambolim; Shri Damodar
temple at Zambaulim (sacred to both Hindus
and the Christians); Shri Datta Mandir
in Bicholim; Shri Gopal Ganapati temple
at Ponda; Shri Kalikadevi mandir in Bicholim
(almost 800 years old); Shri Saptakoteswar
mandir at Bicholim (renovated on orders
of Shivaji); Shri Mallikarjuna, in Canacona
(60 deities surrounding temple ) Shri
Mahadeva temple in Sangeum.
Mosques
Jama Masjid, Sanguem - An elegant
mosque of harmonious proportions and simplicity.
