South Goa - 20/12/2025 to 23/12/2025

20/ 12/2025 to 23/12/2025 -

On our way from North Goa to South Goa we visited the two iconic temples of Goa for the blessings - white-towered Mangueshi Temple, the red-and-white Shantadurga Temple

Checked in at Radisson Blu Resort Goa Cavelossim Beach. It is an upscale, Goan-Portuguese styled resort in South Goa. Situated on Cavelossim Beach, providing easy access to the Arabian Sea and nestled between the River Sal and the ocean. Located 36km from the airport.

21/12/2025 - Relaxed in the comfort of the resort. Spent the evening on the Cavelossim Beach - walking collecting shells, watching people & their beach activities.

Enjoyed Mediterranean / Greek cuisine in the hotel’s Greek restaurant, Greco

22/12/2025 - After a hearty breakfast we started the day by visiting the Tallest Lord Ram Statue Partagali Math in Canacona, Goa.

Palolem Beach - We headed to the beach in South Goa. Palolem Beach, undoubtedly one of Goa's most picturesque locations, features a gentle arc of palm-lined sand facing a tranquil bay. which is situated in Canacona in southern Goa, India. The beach attracts many international tourists, mainly during the winter season between November and March. It is considered to be one of the region's most beautiful beaches

Cabo de Rama Fort, is a medieval hillfort located in Khola village, on the coast of Canacona, Goa in India. I was indeed sad to see poor maintenance of the fort which is in a dilapidated condition. The government needs to restore it as the location is absolutely fantastic and offers some amazing views of the Arabian Sea.

The Menezes Braganza House - We toured the Menezes Braganza House, also known as the Braganza Pereira House, the Menezes Braganza Pereira House, or simply as the Braganza House, is a 17th-century Portuguese-style mansion in Chandor, South Goa. It stretches along one side of the village square and is one of the largest colonial-period residences in Goa.

The West wing elderly lady of the house showed us around. She narrated the history of the house, people & the collections - furniture, chandeliers, Chinese & European Porcelains, silverwares, Belgium glasses displayed all around. She has lost her husband & her eldest son so is left with one u married son.

The East Wing lady is in her 50s & she offered to take our photos.

A private chapel in the eastern wing houses a fingernail relic of St Francis Xavier.

Family records indicate the land was granted in 1576 to Francisco Xavier e Braganza by King Dom Luís of Portugal. The original structure dates to the late 16th century, with significant extensions added in the 17th and 19th centuries. In the 19th century the house was divided between two sisters: the western wing became the Menezes Braganza property, and the eastern wing passed to the Pereira Braganza branch.

The house contains Goa’s largest private library, with over 5,000 leather-bound volumes in English, Latin, French and Portuguese, collected by journalist and activist Luís de Menezes Braganza

A private chapel in the eastern wing houses a fingernail relic of St Francis Xavier. It felt very unsafe in the chapel as if the roof would ant time fall on our head & we might go down with the floor. I suggested to the lady that safety issues should be addressed without any further delay.

Luís de Menezes Braganza used the mansion as a centre for political discussion, publishing O Heraldo and later O Debate from its salons. His brother-in-law, Tristão de Bragança Cunha, sheltered here during political unrest in 1946 and later founded the Goa Congress Committee.

After the liberation of Goa in 1961, the house was neglected until a descendant initiated restoration in 1983. In 2005 a trust was established to oversee conservation.

Interiors and collections -

Salon and flooring: Portuguese ceramic tiles in the visitor’s salon; Flemish oak in the library; Italian marble in the ballroom.
Chandeliers: Crystal fixtures from Venice and Belgium.
Porcelain and curios: Macao porcelain, a ceremonial coconut from the Seychelles and two large vases reputedly owned by St Francis Xavier.
Windows: Some with Venetian stained glass; others inlaid with local oyster shell.

It was a delightful experience to know the history & learn about the Goan historical heritage.

The sightseeing involved a lot of driving & time on the road though no regret as we got to see a lot of Goa in the process. Ended the tour of South Goa at the Braganza House.

It was a delightful experience to know the history & learn about the Goan historical heritage.