Shree Saptakoteshwar Temple

This temple was my favourite: small, intimate, quiet and surrounded by beautiful lush forest. The Saptakoteshwar temple at Narve is considered to be one of the 6 great sites of temples dedicated to the "God of seven worlds": Lord Saptakoteshwara, an incarnation of Lord Shiva.

The deity originally was based in a temple on Divar Island off Old Goa, and after Goa fell to the Muslims it was buried but later rediscovered and a temple constructed for it on Divar Island. It was moved to its present site after the temple on Divar island was destroyed by the Portuguese. Shivaji (a Maratha king) ordered its renovation at its present site in 1688 whilst trying to oust the Portuguese.

Around 30 minutes is enough time to have a look around the grounds & inside the temple buildings.

TIP: At the entrance local women sell orange flower necklaces, which you later place in the temple as an offering. If you like, take a few (make sure not to get ripped-off though) but if you're squeamish I wouldn’t advise putting them around your neck… ours had plenty of little bugs in them... :-)

NOTE: Photography is NOT allowed inside the temples. Please show respect and only photograph the outside of the temples.

There are quite a few temples in Goa that attract numerous devotees & visitors every year. Their simple architecture and natural beauty have an attractive effect.
It is noteworthy that when the Portuguese came into power they had tried to destroy these temples. The Saraswat Hindu Temples in Goa are the few that had survived the attack.
One of the special features of Goan temples - giving it a special local flavour - is the Lamp Tower or "Deepmal" or "Deepa Stambha" rising anywhere from 2-6 storeys high. On festival days the Lamp tower is decorated with hundreds of oil lamps & results in a spectacular effect of beauty & mesmerizing tranquillity.


Directions: Situated at Narve, a small village located in the north, about 35 kms from Panaji near Bicholim.