The town of Margao in South Goa is known more today as the commercial capital of Goa. But there is a more genteel and cultured side to Margao, which is increasing getting drowned in the din of development and commerciality.
Take the Abade Faria street, which houses some grand old heritage homes for instance. Walk down this street, especially on a Sunday afternoon, when traffic is at its minimal and it will virtually take your breath away. Such is the languid beauty of this street, that it should rightly be christened as the town’s heritage path.
The exquisite façade of homes like the one owned by the Alvares’, the Lourencos, Monte da Silva’s also on Abade Faria street are more of grand works of art than simply abodes for living.
The entire Abade Faria street is littered with splendid brick and mortar exponents of the Indo-Portuguese architectural style, which continues to hold its own place of pride even today.
The stunning Holy Spirit church lies just off Abade Faria street. The church itself is more than 400 years old. What’s wonderfully peculiar about the architecture of the church are the local design motifs reflected on its walls, inspired by peacocks and cobras, which is a rarity considering the overwhelming Western influences which the religion of Christianity came with at the time.
Shri Damodar Temple
For thousands of devotees in south Goa, the Shri Damodar temple located on the picturesque banks of the Kushawati river, in Zambaulim, represents a fervent sense of hope and expectation. The gulal festival at the Shri Damodar temple is one of the most looked forward to events in the month of Phalgun, with devotees thronging the temple premises with gulal or pink coloured powder which is used in religious and social celebrations in Goa.
The temple itself is located in Zambaulim village which is located around 22 km from Margao city in the heart of the Quepem sub district.
The extremely popular temple is home to the deity which is a reincarnation of Lord Shiva. It was originally located in Margao, but was relocated during the Portuguese inquisition. The new temple was relocated sometime in the 1800s and also has an idol of Lakshmi Narayan and shrines of goddesses Chamundeshwari.
Interestingly, the Shri Damodar temple has both Hindus as well as Christians in its long list of devotees. Getting to the temple is not difficult at all, just follow the National Highway 66 to the destination. The closest railway station to Shri Damodar temple is at Balli.
Shri Damodar temple
Zambaulim village, in Quepem taluka
