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Goa is renowned for its various striking tourist attractions. Its gorgeous beaches are thronged by thousands of tourists, including foreigners. The churches too are the pride of the city. The temples of Goa are also much sought after, and are visited by scores of devotees. The land of Goa reflects a unique amalgamation of the Hindu and Christian culture and traditions. The temples and the churches of Goa are testimony to this, and are visited by tourists coming from all walks of life regardless of the religions and castes.
The temples of Goa are unique and the style of construction is similar in most cases. Each of the temples has the Garbhagriha or the sacred chamber where the idols are kept. The roof of the temples is in the shape of a pyramid and you will also find many temples in the vicinity to each other. The temples scattered around Goa house different deities of the Hindu religion. Thus the devotees have an array of choices when it comes to visiting the temples in Goa.
The Sri Brahma temple, Sri Devaki Krishna temple and the Sri Shantadurga temple are some of the revered and frequented temples of this favoured tourist destination. The Sri Shantadurga temple is the biggest and is devoted to Goddess Shantadurga or Parvati. The Devaki Krishna temple reflects the love and affection between Lord Krishna and Devaki, who was his mother. The structural design of the temple is very beautiful and very appealing to the eyes. The Brahma temple is a one of its kind and is very popular among the devotees.
In addition to these temples, the temples of Goa also include the Sri Mahalaxmi temple, Sri Chandreshwar temple and Sri Ananta temple. The Sri Ananta temple is enveloped by picturesque surroundings and is devoted to Lord Vishnu or Ananta. The Sri Mahalaxmi temple, devoted to Goddess Mahalaxmi, is also a favourite among the tourists. This temple also boasts of a shubhamandap and the jatra held here also draws many tourists towards it. The Sri Chandreshwar temple is a magnificent temple, which houses a beautiful Shiva linga. This linga attains an altogether different beauty at the time of the full moon.
Apart from these, the Mangueshi temple, Sri Kamakshi temple, Sri Navdurga temple and the Sri Vithal temple are the other main temples of Goa. The Mangueshi temple, devoted to Lord Shiva, boasts of a dip stambha, noubatkhana and agrashalas. The Sri Kamakshi temple and the Sri Vithal temple are also much revered by all the devotees. A chariot made out of wood draws the tourists towards the Sri Vithal temple. This chariot is believed to have essayed an important role in the Mahabharata.
The Naguesh temple, Sri Gopal Ganpati temple, Sri Mhalsa Narayani temple, Sri Mahadev temple and the Sri Maruti temple are the other prominent temples of Goa. Each of the temples in Goa celebrate various festivals related to the deities that the temples house. These festivals are celebrated with great enthusiasm and all the devotees come together and soak in the festive spirit.
There are various buses which are available in the city which take you on tours of the temples. The sacred temples have been preserved in excellent conditions and are surrounded by greenery and other natural wonders. The temples of Goa are surely not to be missed as they will leave a lasting impression on your minds and will surely add spiritual essence to your travels.
To know more about the temples of Goa go to:
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