North Goa

Shree Vittal Mandir, Sanquelim
41 kms from Panaji, situated at Vithalwadi, Sanquelim, Shri. Vithal is the ancestral God of the ‘Ranes’. The main festival is Chaitri (April).

Shri Vithal Temple is yet another of the famous temples located in Sanquelim, the hometown of the Ranes of Sattari who played a key role in Goa’ freedom struggle.

This temple is dedicated to Lord Vithal, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu and originates back to 1942 AD. It was built by the Rane families who migrated from Udaipur about 600 years ago to Sanquelim.

Shree Mahalasa Narayani Temple, Mardol

The Mahalsa Temple located at Mardol in Ponda is one of the most famous temples in Goa. It is also known as the Shri Mahalasa Narayani Temple and is dedicated to the Goddess Mahalasa.

Lakshmi (Mahalasa), the goddess of wealth and prosperity is the presiding deity in this temple. This deity was originally located at a temple in the Salcete taluka. However, in the 16th century, the troops of Adil Shah attacked the temple and razed it to the ground. The deity though was rescued and moved to its present location. In Goa, the goddess Mahalsa is accepted as Vishnu's consort.

The Shri Mahalaxmi Temple is situated at Bandora which is 4kms. from Ponda. Shri Mahalaxmi is the presiding deity and it is considered the abode of the original Goddess of the Shakti cult. The Sabhamandap has a gallery of 18 images, out of 24 images of emanatory aspects of Bhagvata sect, which is considered one of the few galleries of wooden images of Vishnu in India.

Under the Portuguese rule, Portuguese relations with Hindus were not so good. It was during early 19th century, Portuguese were so patient and co-operate with Hindus here in Bandora, that in order to be grateful, Hindus built here a temple called "Mahalaxmi" as she is referred to as Goddess of peace.

The Shri Mahadev Bhumika temple is situated at Sal in the Bicholim district of Goa at a distance of about 25 kms from Mapusa. It is dedicated to Lord Mahadev, an incarnation of Lord Shiva and has Lord Mahadev as its presiding deity.

The temple complex has beautiful natural surroundings and is well known among the people of Goa as it celebrates the three day Gade festival which attracts thousands of devotees from all over.

Shree Laxminarsimha Temple, Nagueshi

Shree Lairai Temple
The temple of Shree Lairai is situated at Sirigao, about 2 kms from the Panaji-Valpoi highway. The temple is unique in North Goa with its combination of northern and southern art. The deity Lairai is famour all over Goa, Maharashtra and Karnataka, for her unique ‘Homakund’. Every year thousands of devotees attend the annual feast of the deity to witness the walking of Dhonds through the sacred fire called ‘Homakund’.