Photo Credits: pg 4- go here
Historical evidence proves that the old inhabitants of Divar Island were originally located in Old Goa but had to leave due to a disastrous plague that vastly influenced the population of the state. Divar was said to be inhabited by Hindus and hosted the temples of Shree Saptakoteshwar, Shree Ganesh and Shree Dwarkeshwar. But in the 16th century during Christianization of Goa many of these locals were shifted by the Portuguese to different localities and were asked to take the Ganesh idol along with them. Divar Island is said to be one the first places the Portuguese tried to convert into Roman Catholics.
Divar is not only known for its rich historical background but also the festivities that light up the place. On the fourth Saturday of August, the people of Divar bring in ‘Bonderam’, a festival similar to carnival. It is celebrated in memory of the fury of the villagers over the Portuguese system of resolving disputes. Visiting Divar on this joyous occasion is a must as you soak in the ambience and tap your feet to the melodious music while watching the colorful floats pass by. The fun does not end here, if you step into Divar three days before Lent begins, you will witness a horrifying start on seeing the youth dressed up in masks, costumes, cowbells roaming around the village demanding food and drinks from locals and scaring children. This festival is known as ‘Potekar’ and is very similar to Halloween.
Located approximately 10 km upriver from Panjim. The Konkan Railway passes through the village and the nearest stop is Carambolim. The drive to the village is scenic and is a must visit to soak in Goan beauty.
Aravalem Caves and Waterfall
Aravalem, a nondescript village in North Goa near Sanquelim town is not on every tourist’s radar. But here’s our recommendation. Make time to get there. The village can make for a nice afternoon outing, especially because of the two jewels in this otherwise dusty village’s crown.
On reaching there, the first place to visit is the waterfall, where water cascades from a height of 50 mts. It’s a site of religious significance so please do help in keeping the sanctity of the site. The best time to visit the falls is the monsoon season, but the cool and quiet of the tree-shaded valley and the mild jostling of the waterfall, would work well for those who seek some calm any time of the year.
While the waterfall may not be as majestic as Dudhsagar water falls located in South Goa, the Aravelem caves however are a different class altogether.
Legend has it that the caves were carved into rock by the Pandavas, when they were living in exile.
However, science dates them back to 6th century AD. The caves have five compartments and some Shivalingas. What’s interesting also is a large statue of the Buddha in the vicinity.
How to get there: Buses ply from Panaji to Sanquelim every few hours. The site of the caves is en-route. Alternately one can opt to hire a taxi or bike to commute to the historical site and back
