Excursion Goa highlights with lunch at spice plantation tour at Mormugao

You will need your imagination to envision the tangle of twisting streets, plazas and ochre villas of the old city, but what remains is a wealth of exceptionally impressive churches and convents, all UNESCO world heritage sites.

Old Goa,  Basilica of Bom Jesus, St. Catherine's Cathedral

Your first stop is the Basilica of Bom Jesus. While noted for its size and style, the Bom Jesus is visited mainly for the precious relic it contains. Here worshipers, or the simply curious, may view the body of Saint Francis Xavier (d.1562), which lies partially exposed in a dazzling silver casket. Unfortunately St. Francis' corpse has not rested entirely in peace; bits of it have been removed by relic hunters. One devotee is said to have bitten off a toe. In 1614 part of the right arm was dispatched to the Pope in Rome, where it allegedly wrote its name on a piece of paper, and parts of a hand were sent to Christians in Japan in 1619.

The Se, or St. Catherine's Cathedral, was commissioned to be "a grandiose church worthy of the wealth, power and fame of the Portuguese who dominated the seas from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Its exterior is in Tuscan style, with one remaining tower containing the "Golden Bell", which rang during the Inquisition to announce the public torture and burning of suspected heretics. The vast interior is Corinthian, with enormous pillars dividing the nave, and 15 chapels arranged around the walls. The gilded main altar is stunningly ornate. An altar to St. Anne contains the relics of the "Blessed Martyrs of Cuncolim", who died as a result of their ill-advised mission to convert the Mughal emperor Akbar.

Sightseeing through villages, Goddess of Peace Temple

Travel away from the city and the Portuguese influence. Pass through small towns and villages, and feast your eyes on large elegant homes and brilliant green rice paddies. In the lush valleys and forests of Ponda are hidden a number of Hindu temples, built in the 17th and 18th centuries by those who were attempting to practice their traditional religion away from the prying eyes and persecution of the Portuguese.

Visit a temple dedicated to the Goddess Durga, also known as the Goddess of Peace. Considered one of the most important and the largest in Goa, the original temple was destroyed by the Portuguese in 1564 but the idol of the Goddess was taken away to safety and subsequently brought to its present abode. Constructed in 1738 A.D., it is an unusual temple with a pagoda like structure and a roof made up of long slabs of stone. The impressive idol of the Goddess dominates the temple.

Spice farm and local lunch

Spices are an ever-present part of Indian life - they are essential in flavouring the distinctive regional cuisines and if you keep your eyes open you will see their bright colors reflected in the ladies' saris, and decorative textiles everywhere.

To find out where they come from you will pay a most enjoyable visit to a spice plantation. Take a guided walk through the trees and see what you can identify, smell, taste, and learn about the myriad spices for which India is renowned. And what place could be more perfect for a meal? Enjoy lunch here where everything is fresh and fragrant. Don't worry, the simple, tasty food will be spiced for Western tastes, and the preparation of each will be explained. After lunch you will return to the port and your ship.

Points of interests

Points of interest seen on this excursion include: UNESCO World Heritage churches and convents, Hindu temple, spice farm, local lunch

Note

Please note: This tour requires a minimal amount of walking for approximately 0.90 miles (1.5 kilometers) over paved surfaces, with a few steps to negotiate to get on/off the coach, 5 steps at Se Cathedral, 20 steps at Shanta Durga Temple, 20 steps at Spice Plantation . At the spice plantation, uneven ground and some inclines require sure-footing. This tour is not suitable for guests with limited mobility and those who utilise a wheelchair. We recommend wearing comfortable shoes and bringing sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat. Proper attire is also required to visit the temple. Shorts and short skirts are not allowed. Women must have their shoulders covered. Shoes must be removed prior to entering the temple. Guests are advised that infrastructure is basic and local conditions may be challenging: coaches, guides, hotels, restaurants, equipment, and services are the best-available in the area, but may not be up to the standards of those found on other excursions therefore, we urge flexibility and understanding.