Lingmala Waterfall

The Basilica of Bom Jesus, consecrated in May 1605 AD in the UNESCO World Heritage town of Old Goa in North Goa in Goa, is one of the most revered Catholic pilgrimage shrines and architectural treasures in Asia.

Constructed by the Jesuit Order in unplastered reddish laterite stone and polished black basalt, this monumental Baroque edifice translates from Portuguese as the "Basilica of Good Jesus," revered as India's first Minor Basilica and the supreme example of Portuguese Renaissance and Baroque stonecraft.

It's the home of the sacred incorrupt body of Saint Francis Xavier (Goencho Saib) enshrined in a 1698 Florentine silver casket atop a three tiered Italian jasper mausoleum, a colossal gold leaf Baroque high altar honoring Saint Ignatius of Loyola, delicate wood carved choir galleries, and the adjacent Sacred Art Gallery.

It represents a rich spiritual and artistic sanctuary where centuries old Jesuit missionary history, world class Italian Renaissance sculpture, soulful multifaith devotion, and sacred Goan traditions unite along the banks of the Mandovi River.

Located in Old Goa (Velha Goa), it sits just 10 km east of the state capital Panaji, 14 km from Karmali Railway Station (KRMI), 26 km from Goa International Airport (Dabolim, GOI), and 48 km from MOPA Airport, easily reached by tourist taxi, auto, or city bus.

The Sacred Relics of Saint Francis Xavier (Goencho Saib)

Saint Francis Xavier, the pioneering co founder of the Society of Jesus, died on Shangchuan Island off China in 1552. His body was miraculously found incorrupt before being transferred to Goa in 1554.

The sacred relics rest inside an intricately embossed silver casket crafted by Goan silversmiths between 1636 and 1637, placed upon an Italian marble and jasper mausoleum gifted in 1698 by Cosimo III de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany, and sculpted by Florentine master Giovanni Battista Foggini.

Truth is, every year on December 3rd, the grand Feast of Saint Francis Xavier draws hundreds of thousands of devotees of all religious faiths who come together to offer prayers to Goencho Saib (Lord of Goa).

Baroque Architecture & The Golden High Altar

The exterior facade presents a masterful three tiered composition blending Ionic, Doric, and Corinthian classical orders, crowned by the radiant Jesuit emblem "IHS" (Iesus Hominum Salvator).

Inside the vast nave, the soaring main altar is covered entirely in shimmering pure gold leaf, featuring a majestic 3 meter gilded statue of Saint Ignatius of Loyola gazing upward toward the Holy Trinity in profound adoration.

Sacred Art Gallery & The Old Goa Heritage Walk

Sacred Art Gallery: Adjoining the basilica, this museum houses historic oil paintings of Christian saints, antique liturgical vestments woven with gold thread, and 17th century woodcarvings.

Se Cathedral & Church of St. Francis of Assisi: Directly across the cobblestone square stands the massive Se Cathedral (famed for its Golden Bell) and the Convent of Saint Francis of Assisi, forming an unmatched historical ensemble.

After exploring the spiritual halls of the Basilica of Bom Jesus, drive west along the Mandovi River to visit Panaji's colorful Latin Quarter of Fontainhas, Miramar Beach, and the historic battlements of Fort Aguada.