PANAJI
CM Pramod Sawant on Friday said once again that Goa is moving strongly towards becoming a major spiritual tourism hub, with temple tourism at the centre of this plan.
Speaking at the 550th anniversary celebrations of the Partagali Math in Canacona, in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Sawant underlined the State’s renewed focus on its cultural and religious heritage. He said that more than one thousand temples were destroyed during Portuguese rule, and the government is now working to restore and honour these important sites.
As part of this plan, the State will develop the Koti Tirth Corridor at Divar, centred on the Saptakoteshwar Temple. The corridor will come up on government-owned land where several temples once stood before they were damaged during the colonial period. He said this project is expected to become a major attraction for pilgrims and cultural tourists.
Sawant also said that Goa is expanding its spiritual link outside the State. Work is ongoing on Ram Nivas in Ayodhya and Vitthal Rakhumai Nivas in Pandharpur, which will offer facilities for Goan devotees visiting these holy places.
The government, he said, is also committed to improving major spiritual sites within the State. As part of this, the Shree Samsthan Gokarn Partagali Jeevottam Math will be promoted as a key spiritual tourism destination to welcome devotees and visitors from Goa and across the country.
