Where is the Goa Shiva Temple located? Another India. North Goa. Ganesha temple (end). Natural resources of Goa

The small Indian state of Goa today is very popular among tourists all over the world. At its comfortable resorts you can have an interesting and exciting holiday with your whole family, company or alone. As for visiting ancient monuments and national reserves, Goa has a wide variety of excursions that will allow you to get closer to the cultural heritage of India, its temples and unique exotic nature. The attractions of North Goa are different from other places - this unique and unique corner of the earth will bring incredible experiences to every traveler. The Russian village of Morjim, the Kerkar art gallery, ancient fortresses, temples and picturesque waterfalls surrounded by virgin jungle are not the entire list of the most interesting and fascinating places in Goa.

What to see in Goa?

A tourist visiting Goa for the first time will certainly be surprised by the amazingly beautiful landscapes and special Indian flavor. Goa is located on the western coast of the country and is washed by the warm Arabian Sea. The developed infrastructure of the state makes it possible to conduct excursions for numerous tourists with maximum comfort and the best service. In the northern regions of the state there is Fort Aguada, temples dedicated to Indian goddesses, the picturesque Cape Dona Paula, and the Russian village of Morjim.

In the central part of Goa, tourists will find the state capital of Panaji, which has unique palaces and ancient monuments, a flea market and the Cathedral, which is unusual in its architecture. In Old Goa, which is located 9 kilometers from the capital, you can visit interesting museums, churches and St. Catherine's Cathedral.

In the south of Goa, you definitely need to see the real paradise Butterfly Beach, which is home to the most beautiful butterflies, the milky white Dudhsagar waterfall, Catholic and Buddhist temples in the city of Margao.

Russian resort

The Russian-speaking village of Morjim was founded by immigrants from Russia on the banks of the Chapora River. Its secluded picturesque beach stretches for three kilometers among dense vegetation. In the southern part of the coast there is a unique Turtle Beach, where giant-sized sea turtles swim to lay their eggs. This area is carefully protected as this turtle species is on the verge of extinction. Poaching is prohibited here and there are a number of restrictions for local establishments. However, the turtles can be admired from a distance.

Morjim itself is quite sparsely populated. The village is home to many Russian-speaking residents and immigrants from Russia, which attracts Russian tourists here. The resort is distinguished by its magnificent nature, white clean beach sand, calm waters of the Arabian Sea, which you can admire endlessly. There are many good restaurants serving European and Indian cuisine in the village and on the beach itself. Fresh exotic fruits and juices are brought directly to the beach for vacationers. Not far from the shore there are comfortable and cozy guesthouses.

Morjim Beach in the early morning is an ideal place for relaxation and meditation. Warm calm waves and peace of mind of the environment will allow you to truly enjoy your beach holiday. The best time to vacation here is from November to March. The resort always welcomes tourists with amazingly warm and comfortable weather. Walking excursions along the coast are best done before lunch and in the evening. “Little Russia” has comfortable hotels, shops, cafes and a kindergarten. In this paradise of India you can have a great time with your whole family or company.

Fort Aguada

The most famous ancient defensive fortress of Goa was founded in the 17th century. In ancient times, Fort Aguada served as a bastion against German and English invaders. Over the centuries, the fort has not been destroyed, and its ancient buildings and walls have been perfectly preserved to this day. Ancient cannons, a lighthouse and a prison are located here. The accessible part of the fortress can be visited for inspection from 10 am to 6 pm.

Buddhist shrines in Pernem

Pernem is a city located fifteen kilometers from the resort of Arambol. Its main and interesting attraction is the unique temples of the Mother Goddess and Goddess Bhagavati. The temples were built five centuries ago. Impressive ancient trees line the entrance to the ancient shrines, and majestic elephant statues greet guests. Nearby are smaller temples and cozy bungalows. Excursions to ancient temples will leave an unforgettable impression and provide an excellent opportunity to get to know India better.

Cape Dona Paula

This place is considered a “paradise for lovers.” The legend about this picturesque corner tells about the unhappy love of the local governor's daughter Paula for the young man Gaspard. The Indian story of Romeo and Juliet forced the governor's daughter to throw herself off a cliff into the sea due to the forced separation between young people in love. At the top there is an observation deck from which you can endlessly admire the beauty of the bay. Here you can take a great break from the hustle and bustle of cities and enjoy a relaxing holiday among palm trees.

St. Catherine's Cathedral

Excursions to the largest temple of the Christian religion will bring memorable impressions. The temple is located in Old Goa and was built four centuries ago. The construction of the holy place lasted almost a century. The ringing of the main bell of the temple can be heard for fourteen kilometers in the area. The temple is recognized as one of the best shrines in the whole world due to its amazing beauty and unique architecture. Services are held regularly in the Cathedral.

Flea Market

The real flavor of India can only be felt by visiting the Flea Market, a popular flea market among tourists and the local population. The market is located behind the Angevin beach. Here you can buy a wide variety of Indian souvenirs, ride an elephant, and watch snake charmers. The market square hosts colorful performances by dance groups and DJs. Russian tourists are welcome at the Tchaikovsky restaurant, where they serve a very tasty menu. It is in this place that the true diversity of India reigns.

Bhagwan and Molem Nature Reserves

The amazing tropical forest of the reserve leaves no one indifferent. The picturesque Dudhsagar and Tambdi waterfalls, exotic animals, birds and butterflies, the most beautiful landscapes of Indian wildlife, ancient Buddhist temples in the jungle - all this can be seen with your own eyes in the Bhagwan Nature Reserve and Molem National Park. Excursions to tropical forests are extremely exciting and interesting.

The four-tiered picturesque Dudhsagar waterfall is especially impressive. At the foot you can swim in its cool waters. According to an ancient legend, a beautiful princess once loved to splash around in Dudhsagar. After bathing, the girl enjoyed milk. One day she saw a young man watching her through the foliage and, out of surprise, dropped a jug of milk into Dudhsagar. Since then, the streams of this waterfall have an unusual white color.

Mahadeva Temple

Not far from Panaji there is a Buddhist temple of Mahadeva, created from basalt. The ancient Indian shrine was erected among the wild tropics of India in the 12th century. The structure is the only example of Kadamba-Yadava stone architecture. The unique temple houses a statue of Shiva, and Indian legend says that a cobra lives in it. The temple has unique prayer halls, their vault is supported by four columns with images of elephants. Carved stone lotus petals hang from the temple ceiling. Here you can join the ancient culture and fully feel the spirit of ancient India.

Shri Mangesh Temple

The holy place is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is designed in colonial architectural style. Shri Mangesh Temple is located near Panaji in Priol. Its original dome is in the Muslim architectural style and the roof has balustrades. The main element of the temple complex is the octagonal tower. Near the temple you can see carved bright chariots, which are used during various festivals.

Gokarna Monastery

Gokarna is one of the monasteries of the Indian philosophical movement of Dvaita. The shrine is located in the south of the state on the banks of the Kushavati River. The monastery was founded in the 15th century and now belongs to the Brahmin community. Not far from the walls of the monastery grows a sacred banyan tree with two hundred aerial roots. It is a symbol of self-knowledge, and this is what the monks in the ancient monastery of India practice. In the areas adjacent to the monastery there are temples and a picturesque national reserve.

We are already in Delhi, but have not yet seen anything here, so there is nothing to write about the city yet.
but I continue my story about Goa.

There are a lot of temples in Goa, mostly Catholic and Hindu, but there are also mosques.
When traveling around the state, it is impossible not to stop to admire them and photograph them.

1. one of the most beautiful temples we saw is in Anjuna.

2. Hindu temple found near Arambol.

3.

4.

5. Work is still underway on it, apparently, it was only recently rebuilt. In general, Goa is full of fresh Hindu temples.

6. Life around the temple is in full swing.

7. and in general there is a very cozy place where there are not a single tourist.

8. another temple, in the Morjim area.

9. another one, not far from the previous one.

10. beautiful church in the town of Siolim.

11. a brand new temple near Morjim.

12. Unfortunately, I don’t remember exactly where this one is, but it seems to be also in Siolim or somewhere nearby.

13. A very unusual temple in the Arambol area.

14. It has a completely original design, especially for these places.

15. something a la Angkor Wat somewhere near Baga.

16. Another beautiful temple, some kind of event was taking place there, possibly a wedding.

17. and there’s a man standing on the roof:)

and this is just the most beautiful part that made me want to stop. and there were many more that we admired as we passed by. both similar to these and completely different.
Later I will show you more magnificent temples of Old Goa and Panaji. and besides this, it remains to write only about the two forts that we visited, and that will be all about Goa.

and below are a few more photos that were not included in other posts.

18. Here I first met these luxurious trees - banyans. There are smaller ones, and there are very large and spreading ones.
Interestingly, in India many schools are called something like The Banyan Tree School, and there is even such a trademark - Big Banyan.

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20. There are also rice fields in Goa. there are few of them, and of course they are not as beautiful as somewhere in Indonesia or the Philippines.

22. A whole “camp” of Indians lives in the fields next to the highway. The most curious thing is that all this is happening under a huge banner with the inscription “Luxury is the destiny of the Russians.”
when you stop to take a picture of them, 5-6 kids immediately run up and all of them repeat “Picture money”. taught!

23. Another wonderful thing about Goa is the sunsets. Moreover, interestingly, in all our evenings there was not a single sunset such that the sun set directly into the sea. Surely, in the distance, some kind of haze forms over the sea, into which it disappears.
some photos of sunsets over Morjim and Ashwem.

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07.11.2017

India is a very religious country, and a large number of temples, monasteries and mosques have always attracted many Hindus, Hare Krishnas, Buddhists and other believers. And tourists who are interested in the religions of the peoples of the world visit India to get acquainted with its rich religious past.

Many tourists relaxing on the beautiful beaches of Goa visit the magnificent temples and monasteries of the state. Although the territory of Goa itself is small, there are many interesting architectural and religious buildings on its lands.

General information about Temples and Monasteries of Goa

According to tourists, Goa has the most beautiful temples. Their appearance marked the disappearance of the Inquisition. True, much of the appearance is taken from the architectural styles of Christianity and Islam, but the traditional Hindu style has not gone away. The round large domes of the temples and the internal layout are sometimes very reminiscent of Christian and Islamic temples and mosques, but they cannot be compared with them.

After all, the colorful, beautiful and unique style of Hindus takes over. Similar temples can be found in the city of Calcutta or in the holy city of Varansi, but in Goa they are distinguished by their intimacy and special individuality. The most popular temples to visit are Shanta Durga, Sri Magesh, Sri Mahalakshmi. Also, many tourists come to see the famous St. Catherine's Cathedral and the Basilica of Jesus. We will talk about them in more detail in our article.

Shri Magesh Temple

In Goa, Sri Magesh is the most visited and majestic temple. It is located in Old Goa, 23 kilometers from the state capital of Panaji. Shri Magesh is dedicated to the most revered and beloved god of Hindus - Shiva. Interestingly, it was originally built in Cortalim, and in the 16th century it was moved here to save it from the Portuguese. It was rebuilt more than once; today the oldest part of it has been preserved - the temple pool.

You can get inside the temple through the gate. In the courtyard there is a seven-story tower containing oil lamps. There is a water tank in front of the temple and the Shri Magesh building itself stands on a small platform.

The temple, small in size, nevertheless inspires respect and even awe. After all, all the premises and attributes of Hindu temples are present here. Sanctuaries, turrets, spacious courtyards. Outwardly, it can be mistaken for a small palace, but the deities depicted on the walls do not give such a possibility.

The interior decoration of the temple is marble and beautiful decorative tiles. The door leading to the altar is silver and decorated with ornate ornaments. On both sides, the entrance to the altar is guarded by statues of guards, because it houses the Shiva Lingam, the image of Shiva and the Shesha snakes.

According to tradition, offerings must be made to Hindu gods. To do this, there are merchants in front of the temple. Which offer to buy orange flower wreaths. If you decide to make an offering and buy such a wreath, then keep in mind that you cannot smell it and put it on your neck or arms. Flowers to be offered must be clean. In addition, many small insects live in them.

Shri Magesh Temple is operational. Religious ceremonies and holidays are celebrated here.

Shri Shanta Durga Temple

In Ponda there is a temple of Shanta Durga, dedicated to the incarnation of Parvatti - the wife of the god Shiva. She was the most powerful and influential goddess in Hinduism. She could take on different forms, which is why the temple is called Shanta Durga. After all, “Shanta” means humility, and “Durga” means anger. The temple was built in 1550, and the place was chosen because of its picturesque views. It is very popular among both tourists and Hindu believers.

It's rare that there aren't enough people here. Mostly it is packed to capacity with visitors. During its history, the temple has undergone many changes, even being completely destroyed by the Portuguese in 1564. But later, in 1738, it was completely restored, and the statue of Parvatti, which the Hindus hid after destruction, was returned to its place.

The architecture of Parvatti Temple is beautiful and unique. This is where the styles of various religious movements in architecture intertwined. Beautiful, exquisite carvings on the facade and interior decoration, pyramidal triangular roofs, turrets in the medieval style, unusual domes, all this testifies to the influence of Muslim and Christian styles. For pilgrims on the territory of the temple there are separate rooms that are made in the same style. In the courtyard there is a structure made of white stone for lighting oil lamps and lamps.

Sri Mahalakshmi Temple

Mahalakshmi is a temple that is dedicated to another manifestation of Goddess Parvatti. The difference between this hypostasis and others was the presence on the head of the goddess Lingam Shiva, or rather his phallus. Sri Mahalakshmi is located four kilometers from the town of Pond. This incarnation of the goddess was worshiped by King Kadamba and the rulers of Shilahara. The image of Mahalakshmi in Goa is very similar to her appearance in Kolhapur. It is believed that the goddess of the Shakti cult lives in this temple.

The temple of Sri Mahalakshmi is also known to others. On its territory there are eighteen statues of the god Vishnu, which are carved from wood and are very rare historical artifacts.

This temple was built in 1818. It became the first Hindu temple in Goa during the 300 years of Portuguese rule. It was completely restored almost 30 years ago, in 1983. Since then, the Mahalakshmi statue has been kept in a small box that stands at the rear wall of the temple.

St. Catherine's Cathedral

St. Catherine's Cathedral is the largest Christian temple not only in India, but throughout Asia. Its construction began in the 16th century and ended 90 years later. The cathedral was the first temple built by the Portuguese in Goa. It is made in their typical Tuscan style. The cathedral is amazing in its size. Its length is slightly more than 76 meters and its width is about 55 meters.

Today, the appearance of the cathedral is slightly modified. Initially, there was a tower on both sides of the façade, but in the 18th century the southern one unexpectedly collapsed. They did not restore it, and today the appearance of the building is charming with its asymmetrical nature. The surviving tower houses the largest bell in Goa, called the “Golden Bell”. Its sound is so beautiful and melodic that the Portuguese poet dedicated a poem to it. Only during the Middle Ages and the Inquisition, its ringing summoned the city public to executions and torture, which took place in front of the church on the square.

The cathedral received its name thanks to Saint Catherine of Alexandria; the main altar in the temple is dedicated to her. And on its walls are depicted scenes of her life, martyrdom and death. The Miraculous Cross is kept in the cathedral chapel. It is said that he can heal the sick and the possessed. Today it is in a special case, which believers and the sick can touch and ask for healing.

Basilica of Jesus in Old Goa

The Basilica of Jesus or as it is also called “Bom Jesus” is located in Old Goa. The basilica stands opposite St. Catherine's Cathedral. It is a significant and characteristic structure for Portuguese India. Like many Portuguese churches, it was built at the end of the 16th century. From its name it is clear that it is dedicated to Jesus, or, to be precise, to the baby Jesus.

On the facade of the church there are three Greek letters, which are the first in the name of Jesus. The choirs are supported by columns, where there are slabs that tell about the dates of construction and consecration of the church. It was consecrated by Archbishop of Goa Alexy de Menezis. The church building was built of laterite stone; after construction it was whitewashed, but then the whitewash was removed.

If you look at the Basilica of Jesus from above, its outline resembles a Catholic cross. The church has two chapels, a sacristy, an altar, a bell tower and a choir.

Below the choir is the altar of St. Anthony, and to the left is a statue of Francis Xavier. Here is also the cenotaph of the founder and patron of the Church of Jesus, Jeronimo Mascarenas. With his money, which he bequeathed after his death for the construction of the church, the basilica was built. The other two church altars are dedicated to the Madonna and St. Michael. The main altar is decorated with the Baby Jesus and the Holy Trinity.

The Basilica of Jesus became famous thanks to the incorrupt body of Francis Xavier located here. Once every decade it is put on display for worship. Thousands of pilgrims come to the church on such days, because according to legend, his body has healing powers.

Conclusion

In fact, there are many more temples and other religious attractions in Goa. It is impossible to see everything in one go, especially if you combine excursions with relaxing on the beach. But if you are interested in the religion and history of India, then do not be lazy and at least explore the main temples of Goa.

After all, Indian temple architecture is inimitable and unique. The shapes, colors, decorations, the meaning that religious buildings carry is so deep that not everyone can understand it. Until now, each of them keeps many secrets and stories.

The journey from Goa to Hampi takes about 8 hours, the road is long and very tiring, although we traveled in a good minibus. And it’s also a little scary, because no one here even thinks about traffic rules. The roads, of course, are not like in Europe, but I won’t say that they are worse than ours. But despite all this, it’s encouraging that the trip turned out to be super interesting and educational. The excursion along with the road took us two days and a night. As a result, on the one hand, we saw complete poverty and wretchedness, and on the other hand, something great, mysterious and mystical!

Hampi is a village in the Indian state of Karnataka and it is famous for the fact that there are many monuments that were once part of the ancient city of Vijayanagara. The village of Hampi, located in the center of these ruins, is often identified with the destroyed city itself. Today the ruins are listed among UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

At first, Hampi didn’t make much of an impression on us: a lot of beggars, ruined roads and houses, very persistent sellers. However, as one immerses oneself in the local atmosphere, the attitude begins to change dramatically. The broken-down houses later turned out to be former guest houses, instead of which a large park will be laid out (when, however, is unknown), beggars and sellers lag behind if you don’t pay attention to them, and ancient architecture begins to evoke positive feelings, even admiration.

Already at 7 am we went in search of a temple, the top of which could be seen from behind the houses.

This Virupakshi - the oldest temple of Hampi, which includes three 50-meter towers of 9 tiers each. Early in the morning, a lot of believers and… monkeys gather here and are generously pampered with bananas. The temple is operational, you are allowed to go inside, look and touch with your hands. Taking off your shoes, you realize that you are walking on stones that have been lying here since the 7th century.

You feel like you're watching the Discovery Channel.

There are smaller temples near Virupaksha. Such buildings stand near huge boulders that appeared in the Mesozoic period. We went down to the river and walked a little along the shore. Here you can really feel complete unity with nature. An extraordinary place!

There was once a market on this site.

Now let’s go wander around the temple complexes, of which there are a lot in Hampi. Here I felt like a child in a museum, though - I could climb everywhere, look at everything and even touch it.

This is an ancient market square.

From Virupaksha we walk through the market square, then climb Mount Matanga, from the top of which an excellent view opens. On the way, we came across a small temple, from where an old woman suddenly jumped out and dragged us inside to perform a certain ritual. She drew red dots on our foreheads and demanded that we pay 20 rupees). Then we reached the top, from where we can see the whole of Hampi and the ruins.

From this side there is a view of another temple.

In the distance you can see the white steps that lead to the Hanuman shrine. According to legend, the sanctuary was built in honor of the ruler of the monkey kingdom.

And these are the ruins of some ancient fortification.

In the evening we visited the festival taking place at the Virupaksha Temple. There were a lot of people: some were sitting, others were lying on rugs, some were even sleeping. There was some action taking place on stage, the essence of which we still did not understand. The festival brought together people from different parts of India, many of them seeing white tourists for the first time.

This is one of the purposes for which we went to Hampi. This is a sunrise more beautiful than we have ever seen.

The Lotus Palace, or rather its female part.

We decided to end our walk around Hampi at the most important monument of this place - Vitthala temple. The stone chariot standing opposite can itself be called a mini-temple: it was carved from a single piece of rock.

As a result, the Hampi temples turned out to be the most vibrant and eventful excursion during our stay in Goa. We will be happy to return to this place someday!

He represents a deity with the body of a man, the head of an elephant and one tusk, and the number of his arms varies from 2 to 32 depending on the context of the image.

In India you will find not only a temple dedicated to Ganesha, but also monuments and sacred places. Despite the fact that some temples are located near the seashore, some are on the island of Goa, and some are hidden in the heart of India, they have common features. Each temple is a very light, colorful and vibrant place and, of course, the usual rules for all sacred places in India apply. You need to take off your shoes before entering the building, and also behave quietly and calmly, as pilgrims and locals come to these places to experience the bright and sublime atmosphere of the Hindu temple.

Ganesha Temple near Nashik

One of the temples is located on the mainland of the country, near a large city called Nashik. Since it is located remotely from the popular tourist area, this temple is not very popular with tourists. However, if the purpose of your trip is to get to know the religious component of the country’s life, then we recommend renting a car and getting to this wonderful place.

The Ganesh Temple is located right on Highway 3, which connects Nashik and Ozar Airport.

Address: Ganesh Temple, Ozar, Maharashtra 422207, India

Ganesha Temple in Mumbai

In the picturesque city of Mubai, in its very center there is also a colorful monument to the eternal deity Ganesha. It will be much easier to get to it, but keep in mind that there are many more tourists there.

The center of Mumbai can be reached on foot, by rented car, taxi or rickshaw, or by public transport.

Address: Shri Ganesh Temple, Mandapeshwar Road, Navagaon, Mandapeshwar, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Ganesha Temple in Goa

About 26 kilometers from the capital of Goa, the city of Panjim, you will find the most popular Ganesha temple. There is such an interesting legend that on April 18, 1976, an unknown truck driver parked at the currently empty temple site and fell asleep. In a dream, Ganesha himself appeared to him and told him that he lived here, in this very place. In the morning, the driver began building a stone idol of Ganesha, which was ready on May 1st. Then the locals decided to build a temple on the site of the idol.

It is located in the very center of the lush greenery of the island, so it is not only a religious and architectural, but also a natural attraction. In addition, at the temple you can buy yourself a small bright figurine of Ganesha and make an offering to this god in the form of fruits and flowers, which are sold there.

You can get to it either by rented car, taxi or pedicabs, or explore the attraction as part of an organized tour of Goa. The capital of the island itself is not of great interest to tourists and pilgrims, but the nearby suburban areas are much more colorful and interesting.

Address: Shri Ganeshi Temple, Goa, India