The Past Still Lives On In Goas Chandor Village

As soon as you land in the seaside paradise that is Goa, time ceases to exist. The minute and the second hands of the clock slow down, and the day rolls into night seamlessly. Timelessness becomes a way of being, and we quickly adapt to it. It comes easy only because Goa is so much like that in the way it is&ndashthe facades of a past left behind continue to cast their charm. 

The grand old churches and the ornate Portuguese houses still stand gloriously, primarily in Goa&rsquos ancient capital Chandor. Situated 43 km away from Panaji, this historical village continues to preserve its bygone ways. A day-long trip to the erstwhile capital of the Kadamba rulers (rule from the 6th to 11th Century CE) is the perfect way to dive deep into Goa&rsquos fascinating past. 

Fernandes House 

The houses here open doors to rich history and culture. In Chandor, you can enter Goa&rsquos colonial past, when the Portuguese asserted their control. One such house is the 500-year-old Fernandes House, which has been beautifully preserved for generations. It features a stunning ballroom, delicate crystal chandeliers, and finely crafted vintage furniture that transports you to the old opulent world it still holds. 

Menezes Braganza House 

This 350-year-old Portuguese-era house is also the biggest in Goa. As per its history, the land on which it was constructed was gifted by Portugal&rsquos King, Don Luiz, to A.F.S Braganza Pereira (who represented Goa in Spain as the Vice General Consul). Even though this magnificent abode is open to visitors, the Braganza family continues to live here. This grand mansion still houses artefacts acquired or gifted centuries ago&ndashlike the Belgian glass chandeliers and antique treasures from Macau and China. 

Chapel Of Sao Tiago 

Although the Chapel is beautiful, the most fascinating part for the tourists is the rock kept in front of it. If you take a closer look, you will be able to see footprints on it, which are supposedly that of the village&rsquos Queen back in the day. It is here where she cursed every woman in the town to have the same fate when she found out about her husband&rsquos brutal killing in an invasion. In anger, she stomped on the very rock in front of the Chapel. 

The Remains Of The Statue Of The Nandi Bull 

In 1974, when the village was excavated by a team from the Archeological Survey of India (ASI), a 1500-year-old temple complex built in devotion to Shiva was discovered. The only significant remains found at the end of the excavation was a colossal Nandi-bull statue that belonged to the 11th century. However, due to a raid in the 13th century, the figure is broken in a few places.