Day trip to Chandor the forgotten capital of Goa with guide and lunch

Day trip to Chandor the forgotten capital of Goa with guide and lunch

In this heritage trail, we visit Chandor, the forgotten capital of Goa which used to be the most prominent centre for trade on the Konkan coast between the 6th and 11th centuries. We will visit the ruins of this excavated town, an ancient temple dedicated to Lord Shiva,  a chapel from which begins the ‘Musal Khell’ a traditional folk dance, Sarah Fernades Heritage Home which was the home of an elite family of Chandor and Braganza Mansion the biggest Portuguese style house in Goa and famous for its aristocratic grandeur.

Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product

Stop At: Chandor Post Office, Igorjebhatt, Chandor, Goa 403714, India

8 AM- Hotel Pick up

830 AM- Ruins of Chandor

We begin our trail at the excavated site of Chandor. Chandor was known as Chandrapur in its heydays and used to be a thriving Port and a great centre for trade and commerce between the late 6th and mid-11th centuries It was the capital of the Bhoja and Kadamba dynasties. We will walk through the old town of Chandor with its preserved ruins of an old fortification wall, a battlefield and a number of sculptures. Excavations in Chandor revealed the ruins of an 11th-century temple dedicated to Shiva. Parts of these ruins are now exposed for us to experience. A broken Nandi is prominently on display. Muslim raiders in the 13th century disfigured the Nandi while looking for hidden jewels.

Next, to this temple stands a chapel from which begins the ‘Musal Khell’ a traditional folk dance that has been a tradition since Kadamba times. Today, it is performed on the next day of the Carnival. The Kshatriya Christians of the town, who were Hindus before converting to Christianity, perform this folk dance. The Fernandes family plays a significant role in preserving this tradition.


Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Fernandes House, Chandor India

The Fernandez family was one of the elite Hindu families of Chandor before the arrival of the Portuguese. Later they converted to Christianity and took the title of Fernandes. We will explore their mansion featuring architectural elements of Goan Hindu and Catholic Architecture. Some of the highlights include the palanquins, ballroom furniture, cupboards, showpiece collection and also a secret tunnel!

Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Menezes Braganza House, Chandor India

We visit the Menezes Braganza Pereira Mansion, a royal Portuguese style house with its elegant furniture and chandeliers in the Italian marbled ballroom. The pair of the high-backed chair that was presented to the Perreira-Braganza family by the king Dom Luis, is the highlight of this Mansion. It is also believed, the family hosts a fingernail of relic of St. Francis Xavier,

The west wing of the mansion belonged to the Menezes Braganza family, a reputed nationalistic journalist, and author who contributed immensely to the Goa’s Liberation Struggle. We will spend time appreciating various artefacts and family portraits which are on display in this wing. We will finish our tour at the private library and study room of Braganza, the revolutionary.

Noon- Drop back to hotel


Duration: 1 hour