The last remaining temple from the 13th century Kadamba dynasty. Impossible to get to without your own transport, but wonderfully isolated and desreted. There were two worshippers there whe we visited and no tourists in sight (apart from us). We visited on the way to Bondla.

       This beautiful Gothic & modern place of worship is located at Saligao. The foundation stone was laid on in 1867 the upon completion the chapel was raised in 1873. The shrine of the Nossa Senhora Mai de deus ("the miraculous statue of Mae de Deus = Mother of God") was brought over from the ruins of the convent of Mae de Deus at Daugim, Old Goa.

       Another afternoon trip worth considering is a drive to Ponda to see some of its temples. You drive through Old Goa on the way so you could do both in a day. The main temples to see are Shri Mahalsa, Shri Lakshmi, Shi Naguesh, and the Shri Shantadurga...although there are quite a few others in the region. Whilst nowhere rivalling some of India's major temple complexes...the architecture and design are well worth a visit. Just jump in a taxi from wherever you are staying...no need for a tourguide, and much cheaper!

       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.