Shanta Durga Temple
The temple is dedicated to Shantadurga, the goddess who mediates between Vishnu and Shiva. The deity is also called ‘Santeri’ colloquially. Local legends tell of a battle between Shiva and Vishnu. The battle was so fierce that the god Brahma prayed to Goddess Parvati to intervene, which she did in the form of Shantadurga. Shantadurga placed Vishnu on her right hand and Shiva on her left hand and settled the fight.
Bhagvati Devi Temple
The temple of Sri Bhagwati is quite unique and is dedicated to Goddess Bhagwati who is an incarnation of Goddess Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva. The Shri Bhagwati temple is an ancient temple in Goa. It is said to be more than 500 years old and is situated by the side of the main road.
Brahma Temple
The Brahma statue in this temple stands tall and elegant. The statue of Lord Brahma blesses all those who come to see him. The beautifully chiseled image of Brahma is dated to the Kadamba period and belongs to the 12th century.
The importance of this temple and Brahma idol lies in the fact that it is the original piece of sculpture chiseled out of a black stone during the Kadamba period. Inside the temple the idol of Lord Brahma stands at the center and wears a beard.
Shree Chandranath Temple
Shri Chandranath is located on the top of a 350m high hill of Chandranath, Paroda in Quepem. The main Deity is Lord Chandreshwar.
Lord Chandreshwar was the titular deity of the Bhoja kings who ruled South Goa before the coming of the Portuguese, till the middle of 8th century. They had named their capital Chandrapur after the deity.
Shri Datta Mandir
Datta Mandir is located at Sanquelim in the Bicholim Taluka of North Goa.
It is known as the hometown of the Ranes of Sattari who played a key role in Goa’s freedom struggle. Sanquelim is very famous for some of its Hindu temples.
There are also a number of places to visit around Sanquelim which include the Arvalem waterfalls which are just 2 kms from Sanquelim. Also one can find the Arvalem Caves nearby.
Gopal Ganapati Temple
The first chief Minister of Goa, the late Shri. Dayanand Bandodkar, was inspired to build a new temple here. He had the Idol, which was made of metal alloy, consecrated on April 24, 1966.
Kamakshi Saunthan Temple
In the village of Shiroda, a huge Mahadwar or temple gate leads to the Kamakshi temple complex known as ‘Sthal’ or more commonly called ‘Thal’. After passing under the Mahadwar, as one descends the flight of stairs. The temple, crowned by an octagonal, two-storied tower, with a golden Kalash perched on its Shikhar or peak, can be seen prominently.
Mahadev Temple
The most ancient temple in the whole of Goa is Mahadev temple located at a place called Tambi Surla at Mollem.
Mahalsa Temple
The temple of Mahalsa Narayani is located at the small village of Mardol, just about a kilometre from the famous Mangueshi temple and about 22 kms from Panaji, the capital city.
Manguesh Temple
The main temple is dedicated to Bhagavan Manguesh, an incarnation of Shiva. Bhagavan Manguesh is worshipped here as Shiva linga. According to the legend, Lord Shiva had manifested into a tiger to scare his wife Parvati. Paravati, who was frightened at the sight of the tiger, went in search of Lord Shiva and cried out, “Trahi Mam girisha!”
Shri Vithal Mandir
Situated at Vithalwadi, Sanquelim. Shri Vitthal is the ancestral God of ‘Ranes’ who had put up prolonged memorable resistance to Portuguese rule.
Saptakoteshwar Temple
This is also an ancient temple, Saptakoteshwar having been the deity of the Kings of the Kadamba dynasty around the twelfth century. Coins found from this era mention the name of the deity along with that of the King Jayakeshi.
Mahalaxmi Temple
The temple of Goddess Mahalaxmi has been in existence since at least the year 1413, when information about the rituals of the temple is found on stone plaques carved during the reign of Nanjan Gosavi Pratihast over Goa.
Shri Navdurga Saunsthan
Shri Navdurga Saunsthan in Goa is situated at Borim which is about 34 kms. from Panaji and 12 kms. from Margao. The temple is among the famous religious places in Goa and houses an incarnation of Goddess Parvati, the consort of Shiva known as Goddess Navdurga.
The temple is dedicated to goddess Navdurga, the temple is believed to be more than 500yrs old and was renovated in the year 1603.
Ramnath Temple (Ramnathi)
The idol of Lord Ramnath was initially housed in a temple at a settlement called Lotli (present-day Loutolim) which was set up by Gaud Saraswat Brahmins who had migrated from Rameshwar on the southern shores of India.
Rudreshwar Temple
The temple of Rudreshwar is located in the Bicholim Taluka at a distance of 45 kms from Panaji. Shree Rudreshwar Temple is newly built on the site of an ancient site and is also known as the temple of Lord Shiva, where devotees go to seek blessings for themselves and their ancestors.
