ImageCourtesy: Wikipedia
Partying and merry making are considered as the call of the day throughout the year in Goa. But, very few know that it is also a perfect place to find a lively cultural scene, where local artists and creative minds come together to promote international and Indian art. And for all the history that it holds, Goa actually has very few museums and art galleries that display different aspects of it.
Here are some of the best art galleries and museums in Goa that will definitely take you on a ride through the glorious past of Goa in a contemporary way:
Museums & Galleries depicting History of Goa
1) Goa State Museum, Panjim, Goa
The museum was created as an Archaeology Museum unit of the Department of Archives in Goa in 1973 which got shifted to Patto and re-inaugurated in 1996. The museum’s exhibits show the vivid phases in the history of Goa. They are displayed thematically to showcase different aspects of the culture and traditions of Goa.
Location: EDC Complex, Patto, Panjim
Timings: 9 am – 5 pm
Contact: 0832 243 8006
Entry: Free
Courtesy: Wikipedia
2) Museum of Christian Art, Old Goa
The Museum of Christian Art is run in the former colonial capital of Old Goa, home to heritage monuments today. Interestingly, many of the works of Goan Christian art made during the Portuguese era, including some of those on display here, were produced by local Hindu artists. When it was set up, in 1994, it was the only museum of Christian art in Asia.
Location: Santa Monica Convent, Corlim Convent of old Goa, Velha Goa, Goa
Timings: 9:30 am – 5 pm
Contact: 0832 228 5299
Entry: Rs.50 per Adult; Rs.100 for Camera
Courtesy: Goa Tourism
3) Goa Chitra Museum, Benaulim, Goa
Goa Chitra is based in the coastal Goan village of Benaulim. Founded and run by Victor-Hugo Gomes, this museum houses an unique collection and display of traditional farming implements and other ancient tools of trade set up against the scenes created from Goa’s yesteryears.
Location: St.John- the Baptist church road, Mondo Waddo, Benaulim, Goa
Timings: 9 am – 6 pm
Contact: 9850466165 / 0832 6570877
Entry: Rs. 300 per head (Special Discounts for Groups and Students)
Courtesy: Goa.me
4) Naval Aviation Museum, Vasco da gama, Goa
Inaugurated in 1998, this museum is the only Naval aviation museum in all of Asia. The museum displays a number of aircraft that were used by the Indian Navy throughout its history. The interior of the museum is designed to look like the interior of a naval aircraft carrier, INS Viraat and has displays of naval equipment, prominent battles, a simulation room and an extensive granite plaque paying tribute to the martyrs.
Location: Bogmalo Road, Mormugao, Goa
Timings: 10 am – 5 pm
Contact: 0832 258 5525
Entry: Adults – Rs. 30; Students – Rs. 15
Courtesy: Naval Aviation Museum
5) Houses of Goa: Museum, Alto-Torda, Goa
Shaped like a ship, Houses of Goa is a multi-level museum created by Architect Gerald da Cunha to document the rich Portuguese-Goan architecture as a local. From antique furniture to the construction detailings, he delves into different aspects of Goan architecture at every level. The whole story behind the depictions is unwound here with a slide show every evening.
Location: House No. 674, Near Nisha’s Play School, Torda, Penha de França, Goa
Timings: 10 am – 7:30 pm (Mondays Closed)
Contact: 0832 2410711/15/16
Entry: Rs.100 per adult; Rs.25 per child
Courtesy: Traveller from Pune
6) Wax World Goa – Art Gallery & Museum, Old Goa
Old Goa is the home to India’s second wax museum. The museum has over 30 life-size, statues of famous personalities of Indian culture, heritage and religion. One of the main attractions is the sculpting of the ‘last supper’ which is 22 feet in length and weights 500 kilos.
Location: Gandhi Circle, Old Goa, Goa
Timings: 9:30 am – 6:30 pm (Mon-Fri)
Contact: 9970126202
Entry: Rs.30 per head; Rs.10 for cameras
Courtesy: Joe GoaUK
7) Archaeological Museum, Old Goa
Archaeological Museum and Portrait Gallery run by the Archaeological Survey of India, was set up in 1964 and reorganised in 1981–82. It houses some lovely fragments of sculpture from Hindu temple sites in Goa, Sati stones and some prominent statues like the ones of Portuguese poet Luís Vaz de Camões and Portuguese Conqueror Afonso de Albuquerque.
Location: Ella, Off Old Goa Road (route 748), Goa
Timings: 9 am – 5 pm (Fridays Closed)
Entry: Rs. 10 for Adults
Courtesy: Tom Hanslien Photography
8) Ancestral Goa & Big Foot Museum, Loutolim
A miniature Goan village set up to recreate the rural life of old days. It is privately run by an artist called Maendra Jocelino Araujo Alvares. The open-air museum recreates Goan rural life as it was a hundred years ago. The main highlight however at Ancestral Goa is the giant 14 meter sculpture of Sant Mirabai carved in 30 days which holds the Limca Records for being the longest laterite sculpture in India.
Location: Bigfoot, Loutolim, Goa, India
Timings: 9 am – 6 pm
Contact: 0832 2777034 / 2750430
Entry: Rs.50 for Adults; Rs.25 for Children
Courtesy: Travel3sixty
9) Vintage Car Museum at Ashvek Vintage World, Nuvem, Goa
Some things look better with age and Ashvek Vintage World, Goa’s first and only vintage car museum in Goa, bears testimony to that. Besides the preservation of vintage cars, they also take up restoration work. Some of the retro and old-fashioned cars are in excellent condition, so that visitors can not only watch and enjoy the Museum’s collection, but also rent a car they like to make for some unforgettable moments or for solemn event usage.
Location: 12/B, Goulloy, NH17, Nuvem, Salcete, Goa, India
Timings: 9 am – 1 pm; 3 pm – 6 pm
Contact: 9822100339 / 0832 2731312
Entry: Rs.100 for adults; Rs.50 for children
Courtesy: Ashvek Vintage World
10) Mario Gallery – Panjim, Porvorim, Calangute & Margao
One of the greatest cartoonists from Indian History, Late Mario Miranda, was based in Goa. He is best remembered for his paintings and caricatures that captures the spirit of Goa like none other. Mario Gallery is a dedicated space which houses various artifacts and prints of Mario’s cartoons that are both for display and sale. They are one of the top things that you need to shop when in Goa.
Location & Contact:
- Panjim – Near Hindu Pharmacy, Below Aroma Hotel, Duarte Pacheco Road | Ph: 0832 242 1776
- Porvorim – H.No. 674 Torda, Salvador do Mundo, Bardez | Ph: 0832 241 0711
- Calangute – Pedru Martina, Opposite Toto’s Bar & Retaurant, Gauro Vaddo, Calangute | Ph: 0832 652 1611
- Margao – Raghunath Esquire, Close to Axis Bank, Pajifond, Margao | Ph: 98813 61905
Timings: 10 am – 1:30 pm; 3pm – 7:30 pm
Courtesy: Goa.me
Contemporary Art Galleries & Museums in Goa
11) MOG – Museum of Goa, Pilerne
A privately owned contemporary art gallery in Pilerne Industrial Estate which has no permanent collection. Funded and founded by artist Subodh Kerkar, MOG opened its doors in November 2015. It intends to be a platform for contemporary Indian and international artists, building a cultural network for exchange and interaction.
Location: 79, Pilerne Industrial Estate, Pilerne, Bardez, Goa
Timings: 10 am – 6 pm
Contact: 77220 89666
Entry: Rs.100 for Indians; Rs.300 for Foreigners; Rs.50 for Students
Courtesy: Goa Streets
12) Sunaparanta – Goa Centre For The Arts, Altinho, Panjim
Sunaparanta, a not-for-profit art gallery set up in a beautiful Portuguese house, is a hub for creativity. It’s a place where both contemporary and traditional art is made accessible to the Goan public. The Centre’s creative programme includes gallery exhibitions, education and activity classes, interactive workshops, book readings and other public events.
Location: 63/C-8, Near Army House, Altinho, Panjim, Goa
Contact: 0832 2421311
Courtesy: Saurabh Dalvi
13) Cube Gallery, Moira, Goa
Designed and built by Sonny Singh, an architect and artist of international reputation, the Cube Gallery defies easy comparisons. It serves as an exhibition hall and creative nerve centre for a growing community of artists, both new and mid-career. As you walk through the cubic themed gallery, be ready to get mesmerized by some unique and eclectic pieces of art by budding artists.
Location: 430/1 Calizor Vaddo (Next to main Moira Church), Village Moira, Goa
Timings: 11 am – 6 pm
Contact: 9422806748 / 0832 2470415
Courtesy: The Cube Gallery Facebook
14) Carpe Diem, Majorda, Goa
“Carpe Diem” which popularly translates into “Seize the Day”, is exactly that. Located in a 260-year-old ancestral house in Majorda, it provides the ideal launchpad for creative explorations as well as a venue for performances by both first timers as well as professionals. They are very popular in South Goa for the weekly workshops on different forms of crafts.
Location: 81/2, Godinho (Jaques Godinho) House, Gomes Waddo, Majorda, Goa
Contact: 88888 62462
Timings: 10 am – 7 pm
Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons
15) Kala Academy, Panjim, Goa
Kala Academy in Panjim has a gallery dedicated to the work of contemporary Goan artists, both amateur and professional. The Academy takes an active part in discussing the future of Goan art by holding seminars and workshops. They also run an ‘Artists’ Camp’ whereby art students and the public have the opportunity to see professionals in action and take part in master classes.
Location: Dayanand Bandodkar Marg, Campal, Panjim, Goa
Timings: 9:30 am – 1:15 pm; 2 – 5:45 pm
Contact: 0832 242 0450
Courtesy: Giovanni da Cunha
16) Gallery Gitanjali, Panjim, Goa
Gallery Gitanjali is a part of Three Heritage Hotels – the Panjim Inn, Pousada and People’s, located in the charming Latin Quarter of Fontainhas in Panjim. Traditional art shares wall space with edgy contemporary work while a mixed media installation sits alongside Gond and Bhil tribal art. The gallery is known for a large collection of Scandinavian art from the 50’s to the 90’s including lithographs, serigraphs, linocuts, woodcuts and etchings.
Location: Opp.Panjim Inn, Near People’s High School, Fontainhas, Panjim
Contact: 88060 35195
Courtesy: Gallery Gitanjali Facebook
Visit these galleries in Goa to increase your understanding on the true history and art scenario of Goa. You can also experience the local way of life in Goa by visiting the villages and the hidden parts of Goa listed as tips on Lokaso Android App. Download now by pressing the button below.
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