Soul Travelling specialises in offbeat tourism and its latest venture will take you on a walking trail through Raj Bhavan Goa in Dona Paula, home to the state governor.
Close to the jetty in Dona Paula, an elite neighbourhood in the Goan capital of Panaji or Panjim, is a unique heritage site. The official residence of Goa’s governor, Raj Bhavan Goa (known as Palacio de Cabo during the Portuguese reign) is set on a sprawling 88-acre estate, tucked away amidst intense green enclaves on a cape that extends into the Arabian Sea lustily lashing at the shore.
Join Soul Travelling in their newest venture — a walking tour of the governor’s residence palace — in collaboration with the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC). Popular as ‘Palacio do Cabo’, Raj Bhavan Goa used to be open for walks till 2019 but was shut down for public visitors at the onset of the pandemic. The tour is back, however, in an even better version. Now, you can sign up for a peek inside this well-guarded heritage property!
Fringed by soft sandy beaches and tropical forest covers, the estate is home to a number of residential suites along with several landmarks which are now open for public viewing. This two-storeyed, Portuguese-style structure with red-tiled roofs has its origins as long back as in the early 1540s.
Begin your trip with a dedicated tour expert from Soul Travelling who refers to a map from 1881, pointing out the governor’s residence, one of the most crucial and least accessible fortresses in the region. Explore the grandeur and architectural beauty of the oldest Raj Bhavan in the country through its checkpoints. This is certainly one of the best walks to take in Dona Paula, nay entire Goa.
Highlights of the Raj Bhavan Goa walk:
Canon Point
Down the estate, on the western end, Cannon Point is just a three-minute drive from Raj Bhavan Goa through its lush forests. This tiny park, featuring manicured lawns and well-lit pathways is as picture-perfect as it gets. Two old cannons, which were located and lifted from the shore waters, are placed on pedestals here. This viewpoint offers a stunning view of the shimmering coastline, going all the way north to the newly renovated Aguada Jail.
Grotto
A short distance from the chapel, laterite steps lead down to a grotto that features an altar dedicated to Santa Paula. Legend has it that her status was actually washed ashore from a place unknown. It was thrown back into the sea by the villagers but it kept coming back. It was then placed in the grotto. Every year on August 2, the Feast of the Grotto is celebrated where a large number of believers, living in the Raj Bhavan campus, as well as the nearby villages, arrive to ask for her blessings.
Our Lady of the Cape Church
Small yet extremely elegant, the laterite stone chapel is a humble structure with its main altar is made of wood with intricate carvings and painted in white and gold. Believed to be the first structure built on the estate in 1500s, originally erected as a shrine, then turned into a chapel, then a monastery, before finally getting included in the governor’s residence premises.
The Estate
The Raj Bhavan Estate, comprised of a spur surrounded on three sides by sea, sprawls over an area of about 88 acres. One massive laterite stone wall serves as the boundary the east. On the seashore, there are masonry walls, which have withstood the onslaught of time for over four centuries. The flat table land of the spur has steep slopes, buildings, gardens, lawns, and the remaining is full of vegetations, consisting of large number of species of trees, plants, shrubs, creepers, etc. Adding new species of trees in large number has been an annual phenomenon. There is a kitchen garden, where seasonal vegetables are grown.
Read more.
Panjim: A guide to experiencing the best of Goa’s capital city