The rich culture of Goa is preserved even today in the museums of Goa. People visit Goa mostly for beaches. But museums of Goa of no less importance, as a tourist interest, when compared to beaches.
The museums of Goa hold the historical facts of the state. The artifacts preserved in these museums will speak about the ebb and surge of Goan Culture that has been wrought by several wars. One can get also get a clear picture about Goan art-form, from the museums of Goa. These museums display some of the eminent traditional as well as modern arts and crafts.
Here is a list of museums that are worth visiting.
Archaeological Museum of Goa
- Location: Old Goa, North Goa District. 9 km from Panaji.
- Timings: Open from 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. Closed on Fridays.
- Highlights: Antiques, Sculptures, paintings, portraits, armory used during Portuguese reign; sculptures of Hindu deities
- Entry fee: Rs.10 for Indian, Rs.100 for foreigner
- Visit duration: 1 to 2 hours
Archaeological museum of Goa is perhaps the most visited museum of Goa. Almost every tourist takes time out from basking in the sun to visit this museum. This museum was established by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). One can take a look into the architectural finesse of the fortress walls, administrative buildings and churches of Portuguese era. The chief focus of Archaeological Museum of Goa is Basilica de Born Jesus, where the mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier has been preserved. This is one of the main attractions of this museum. Every year tourists thrive to see the remains of this noble man.
Collection of Hindu Art
This museum not only showcases the Christian portraits and sculptures, but it also displays Hindu deities. One can see sculptures and antiques of ancient Hindu deities like Uma-Mahesha, sati. The extensive coin collection of this museum shows the coins issued by Hindu, Muslim and Portuguese rulers.
Rare Collection
This museum contains some of the rare artifacts that were once stolen. Among its rarities a pair of bronze statue of Jain which were rescued by the custom officials from smugglers. One can see prehistoric Usgalimal rock carvings at the ground floor of this museum.
Portrait Collection
The valuable collection of paintings at this museum includes a well-known portrait of Vasco da Gama. The portrait of Alfonse Albuquerque can also be seen along with the portraits of other governors.
Apart from the aforesaid collections, several other antiques are on display at Archaeological Museum of Goa. Among other attractions, are the traditional weapons like rifles, daggers, swords etc. which were used during Portuguese era in Goa.
History
Archaeological museum of Goa was previously the convent of St. Francis Assisi. This convent was closed by the Portuguese government in 1835. Later on, when ASI started to preserve ancient churches and convents of Goa, this convent was made into a museum.
Museum Of Christian Art
- Location: Convent of Santa Monica, Old Goa.
- Established: 1994
- Highlights: Rosaries made of gold and stones, ivory image of Jesus as Good Shepherd and image of St. Francis Xavier.
- Timings: Open daily from 9.30 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.
- Entry fee: Rs.50/- per person
- Visit duration: 1 to 2 hours
Museum of Christian Art holds a unique collection of church art that flourished during the Portuguese region in Goa. This museum was created by a joint collaboration between Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), New Delhi and Calouste Gulbenkian foundation of Portugal. The sculptures and paintings of Museum of Christian Art include the Indo-Portuguese Christian Art of Goa. Such an art-form is truly a rare one, since it is found only in Museum of Christian Art, Goa in whole of Asia.
This museum primarily presents artifacts that represent enormous wealth of the churches in Goa. All the objects displayed in this museum are precious and reveals the plush churches that were made by the Portuguese rulers along with donations from some wealthy Goan families.
The sculptures of this museum exhibit a blend of Indian and Portuguese art. A close observation of the central theme of this museum will show Indian contribution (predominantly Hindu) to Christian art.
Objectives behind making the Museum
This museum was set up in order to retain the Indo-Portuguese Christian art from becoming extinct. This form of art was highly neglected during its time. Thus, its preservation keeps it alive till today and makes it a rare collection indeed. There were several other objectives, apart from conservation, behind the creation of this museum.
The museum authorities looked forward to grow a love for this art, by putting the valuable objects for public viewing. This will enable people all over the world to see the rich heritage of our ancestors. Moreover, displaying such art focused in motivating other people to treasure such artifacts in their churches and homes. Museum authorities are hopeful that public display of this unique art will bring co-operation from individuals in restoring this lost art.
History
The Museum of Christian Art was first located at the Seminary of Rachol, Salcette, Goa, where it was inaugurated in the year 1994. Later on, this museum was shifted to the convent of Santa Monica.
Big Foot Art Gallery
- Location: Ancestral Goa
- Famous As: Centre of Exhibiting Art Produced at the Artist Camps
- Exhibits: Art Work Done By School Children
- Timings: 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
- Entry fee: Rs.50/- for adults Rs.30 for children
- Visit duration: 1 to 2 hours
Goa of the present day is a picture of modern city but a visit to Goa Big Foot Art Gallery will surprise you with the fact the Goa is actually a village to the core. This art gallery has been opened with the objective of encouraging amateur artisanship in Goa. Naturally, if you hold a passion for paintings then Goa Big Foot Gallery is the right place for you. Here you will find a host of paintings created by artists of state as well as national level.
Arts Featured in the Gallery
Goa Big foot Art Gallery is presently one of the chief art galleries in this area, as it holds long art exhibitions. There are art exhibitions in the gallery that are held continuously for 3 days. This gallery is open for all Goan artists and it makes no choice in showcasing the paintings. This is the reason it presents creations of mature artists as well as school children. The diversity of art is Goa can be best known form the art exhibitions held in this gallery.
Other Attractions
Competitions are also organized by the Big Foot Art gallery to further promote the budding artists of Goa. A number of children take part in the drawing and poster making competition in this gallery. When the children of today’s world are getting submerged in the digital world of Entertainment, this gallery has taken a humble attempt of recreation for children through such competitions.
This art gallery is led with the belief of not restricting art from the common mass. Hence, this gallery conducts free of cost art shows where the paintings and drawings can be explored by any common man.
Attractions inside the Region of Ancestral Goa
The Ancestral Goa is a colorful place which is dotted with several places of tourist interest. You can visit the handicraft center which is located at close proximity to this art gallery. You will find other places of interest like Big Foot Dance Floor, which is a giant dance floor constructed in the shape of a big foot. This is the biggest dance floor in Goa.
How to reach this gallery?
This art gallery is located at the end of Ancestral Goa. Hence, you can very easily reach this finest gallery of Goa.
Naval Aviation Museum
- Location: Bogmalo road, Dabolim, 6 km from Vasco da Gama
- Attractions: Vintage aircrafts, weapons and armaments, photo gallery
- Timings: Open from 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. Closed on Mondays.
- Entry fee: Rs.20/- per person
- Visit duration: 1 to 2 hours
In case you are bored of watching the old and grayed pictures in the museums of Goa, then feel the difference in Naval Aviation Museum of Goa. This museum was established to give a tribute to the Indian Naval Wing. It showcases the several artifacts that will take you to the origin and evolution of the Indian Navy.
Naval Aviation Museum of Goa displays a wide variety of vintage aircrafts and other weapons used by Naval academy. All the naval aircrafts displayed in this museum have served its homeland at one point of time. The museum started off humbly in 1998 with only 6 aircrafts. But today, with its growing popularity, it boasts as India’s largest Naval museum. You can find 12 royal aircrafts which are smartly displayed in the outdoors of the museum. The museum is divided into two different sections namely the out-door objects displayed on its ground and the in-door galleries.
Some of the prime attractions of Naval Aviation Museum of Goa are the following gadgets:
- Sealand
- Giant Lockheed L-1049G Super Constellation
- Vampire
- Dove
- Sea Harrier
- Hughes
- Alize
This museum displays several other equipments beyond aircrafts that were used by Indian Navy. It has put on view safety equipments, sensors and weapons that played a crucial role during wartime for Indian Naval Academy. Among the weapons you can be enthralled to see a huge variety of torpedoes, cannons, bombs, and sensors that were in use before.
The museum makes its display of objects interesting by including tales and photographs related to Goa’s freedom fight. All the photographs are set chronologically and are associated with detailed footnotes. This enables any person to know the chequered History of Goa at ease. To make your leisurely trip of Goa a memorable one, visit to Naval Aviation Museum of Goa is must.
Goa State Museum
- Location: EDC Complex, Patto, Panaji
- Highlights: Twelve galleries displaying more than 8000 objects.
- Timings: 9:30AM to 5:30PM
- Entry fee: No entry fee
- Visit duration: 2 to 3 hours
Goa State Museum has an extraordinary and huge collection of Goan art, history and culture. This museum was established by the president of India in June 18th 1996. Prior to 1996 it was set up in the Dept. of Archives in Goa by the museum and Archeology unit.
Goa State Museum has a massive collection of artifacts which amounts to more than 8000 objects currently. A tourist can get familiar with all the details of Goan History and culture of he/she visits all the 12 galleries of this Museum. One can see priceless stone and wooden carvings, valuable paintings, beautiful bronze structures, rare coins and manuscripts, anthropological objects, and numismatic collection. One of the renowned collections in Goa State museum is the Hindu and Jain scriptures and artifacts.
Presently, there are 12 art galleries in this museum. Some of the treasured galleries that are a “must see” for every tourist are listed below.
Sculpture Gallery: This gallery showcases stone and bronze sculptures of different Hindu deities. There are stone and copper plate inscriptions which date back to 1049 A.D. One is able to see inscriptions belonging to Kadamba Dynasty. The rarest collection in this Gallery is a fossil bone collection of 10000 B.C.
Goa’s Freedom Struggle Gallery: This gallery includes photographs and paintings of eminent freedom fighters of Goa. The freedom struggle of Goa has been finely presented through these photographs and paintings.
Numismatic Gallery: This gallery is exclusively made to present coin collections. One can get the opportunity to view coins of ancient era like Shilaharas, Satavahanas and Kadambas. Portuguese coins and currency notes are also displayed in this gallery. What gives completeness to this numismatic section is the display of blocks and moulds used for printing notes.
Cultural Anthropology Gallery: This gallery displays objects that are related to cultural anthropology such as household utensils, weights and measures, different forms of tools for playing games. Some of its stunning collections include an ancient sugarcane crusher, an indoor game tool named Tabula Fala and several traditional agricultural equipments.
Furniture Gallery: This gallery contains variety of vintage wooden furniture. The rarest of all is Machul which is a palanquin-like vehicle.
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