The Department of Management organized a field trip for FYBBA students to Chandor village, Rivona Caves and Rock Engravings at Usgaimal site on 4thMarch, 2023. The purpose of the trip was to provide students with a unique on-field learning experience and broaden their knowledge and understanding of the Cultural Heritage of Goa. 28 students were accompanied by two faculty members Mr. Sameer Kapadi and Ms. Karuna Ballikar.
The trip began at 8:30 am when all the students gathered at the College to board the designated bus. The journey to Chandor took approximately 30 mins, during which students relaxed and enjoyed the bus ride.
Chandor village, located in South Goa, is known for its historical and cultural significance. It was once the capital of the Kadamba dynasty, and later, a center of Portuguese culture. The village is home to several heritage sites that provide a glimpse into its rich history and cultural traditions. Upon arrival at Chandor village, Mr. Sameer Kapadi spoke to students about the ancient history of Chandor and how things were back then.
The team first visited the relics of a huge Nandi Bull from the 11th century amidst the temple remains of Isvorachem, an ancient Shiva Temple. Next, the students walked to the St. Tiago Chapel in Cotta. It was built in the year 1604, much before the Chandor Church was built. This Chapel was once a Shiva Temple which the Portuguese during their conquest to promote Christianity & Inquisition converted to a Chapel. Some of the original Temple remains can be still sighted at the site. Mr. Sameer Kapadi explained the legend of the Curse of the Queen on the town…. “every woman who gets married in the village will become a widow.”
While entering one could see the stone on which the Queen committed suicide by beating her feet on a stone outside the temple. The stone with her footprints is still maintained and is kept at the entrance of St. Tiago Chapel.
To a large extent, people still believe in the curse, though not many speak about it openly.
The team then headed to Menezes Braganza House, a Portuguese-style mansion that was built in the 17th century. This historic mansion is huge and is filled with beautiful antique furniture, art & historic artifacts. It features a large ballroom with marble floor, but the high point is the small family Chapel, which contains a carefully hidden fingernail of St. Francis Xavier, the patron saint of Goa.
The next stop was Fernandes Heritage House. Built in the pre-Portuguese era, it houses a secret 500-year old passage that was used by the family to hide. It has a secret basement hideaway, riddled with gunshot holes, and an escape tunnel. The Fernandes family helps preserve the local cultural heritage.
The next destination was Rivona caves also known as the Pandava caves. Right at the entrance of the Rivona caves, lies a 16th century stepped well, which sports an idol of Lord Hanuman. The caves are also considered one of the few examples of Buddhist influence visible in Goa today. After having lunch and spending quality time of fun, jokes and songs together, the team headed to see the rock engravings at Usgaimal. It was seen that the rocks had carvings of around one hundred distinct figures, which included images of bulls, spirals, lines and human figures. Situated on the banks of the riverKushavati, this site is believed to date back 6,000-7,000 years.
The field trip provided students with several educational benefits; they were able to learn from a knowledgeable tour guide, who provided them with relevant information and historical context. Overall, the field trip was fun, a great learning experience & a huge success, which helped them develop a positive attitude towards education. The trip provided students with an opportunity to learn outside of the traditional classroom setting and also helped students develop a deeper understanding and appreciation of the Cultural Heritage of Goa.
