From the 16th to the 18th centuries, when Old Goa’s population exceeded that of Lisbon or London, Goa’s former capital was considered the ‘Rome of the East’. You can still sense that grandeur as you wander what’s left of the city, with its towering churches and cathedrals and majestic convents. Its rise under the Portuguese, from 1510.

One of the few Hindu temples that survived the Portuguese rule, it was because the deity was moved to a more secure region ruled by a Hindu cheftain. A tour to the Spice Plantation in POnda allows you to see and understand the conditions of the spices that grow on this coast, besides getting a glimpse into the traditional way of farming and harvesting.

Also called St. Catherine's Cathedral this 16th-century masterpiece took 80 long years to finish and is one of the largest churches in the world. The Cathedral attains to the west of the great square called Terreiro de Sabato and has its face turned to the east.

The Shahouri Masjid in Ponda taluka, the biggest and most famous of the mosques in Goa, was built in 1560 by Ibrahim Adilshah of Bijapur. Adjacent to the mosque is a well constructed masonry tank with small chambers with ‘meharab’ designs.

The church was constructed in 1602 by Augustinian friars who had arrived in Old Goa in 1587 and was abandoned in 1835. You can see the ruins of eight chapels, four altars and extensive convent with numerous cells here.

Sri Mahadeva Temple, Tambdi Surla is one of the oldest temples in Goa to Lord Shiva. The monument is made of basalt rocks sourced from the Deccan Plateau and adorns beautiful carvings made by skilled craftsmen of the time.