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Goa Museums

The museums of Goa embody an effort to preserve the unique culture and heritage of the state. The chequered history of the state marked by invasions and occupations finds an expression through the artifacts preserved in the Goa museums. Besides a plethora of archeological relics, the museums in Goa also house exquisite art and crafts and both traditional and modern paintings. Given below are some famous museums in Goa:

Archaeological Museum

Location Old Goa, North Goa district

Highlights Antiques, sculptures, portraits, armory belonging to the Portuguese rule; sculpture of Hindu deities, sati and hero stones.

Timings From 10.00 am to 5.00 pm; Open daily except on Fridays

Archeological Museum Old GoaThe Archaeological Museum of Goa was set up in 1964 under the auspices of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). The Convent of St. Francis of Assisi, which was lying in a state of dereliction since it was closed by the Portuguese government in 1835, was chosen as the museum venue. The museum underwent an extensive renovation regime in 1981-82.

The 8 galleries of the Archaeological Museum in Old Goa display portraits and sculptures from the prehistoric to the late mediaeval period. Apart from these relics, the museum houses a plethora of artifacts belonging to the Portuguese period in Goa. The statue of Portuguese visionary Alfonse Albuquerque and portraits of the governors resplendent in their official insignia are major attractions of the Archeological Museum.

Among the priceless collection of paintings in the museum, the portrait of Vasco da Gama, the Portuguese explorer who reached India in 1498, is noteworthy. Besides there are antiques from Hindu period, sculpture of Hindu deities, and many sati and hero stones. The Archaeological Museum also boasts of an impressive collection of Portuguese arms like rifle, swords and daggers, etc.

How to Reach the Old Goa Archaeological Museum

The archaeological museum can be reached by the local transport (buses, taxis) available in the Old Goa town.

Goa State Museum

Location EDC Complex, Patto, Panaji

How to Reach Local transport in Panaji

Highlights Twelve galleries displaying over 8000 articles.

Known as much for its impressive architecture as for the splendid collection of ancient artifacts and sculptures, the Goa State Museum has done much to preserve the heritage of the state. The humble origins of the museum can be traced to 1973 when the Archeology and Museum unit was set up in the Department of Archives in Goa.

This unit was accorded the status of a full-fledged museum in 1977 and was subsequently shifted to the new museum complex at Pato which was inaugurated by the President of India on 18th June 1996. The State Museum of Goa houses an eclectic collection of over 8,000 items including stone sculptures, wooden objects, bronzes, paintings, manuscripts, numismatic collection, and anthropological objects.

The museum has been divided into twelve galleries for facilitating the classification and display of the artifacts. While the Sculpture Gallery features stone sculptures and copper inscriptions, the Contemporary Art Gallery displays paintings and sculptures of eminent Goan and Indian artists. The Unique Freedom Struggle Gallery houses rare photographs that elaborate the freedom struggle of Goa.

Museum of Christian Art

Location Convent of Santa Monica, Old Goa

Established in 1994

Highlights Rosaries made of gold and precious stone, image of St. Francis Xavier, ivory image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd.

Timings Open everyday from 9.30 am to 5 pm.

Christian Art Museum GoaThe Museum of Christian art is a unique repository of the exquisite church art that blossomed during the Portuguese era. The only one of its kind in Asia, the Christian Art Museum was set up in 1994 in a joint collaboration between Calouste Gulbentian foundation of Portugal and the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), New Delhi.

Originally located at the famous Rachol Seminary at Rachol near Margao, the Museum of Christian Art did not strike a chord with the tourists because of its remote location. In order to unleash the true potential of the museum, it was relocated within the precincts of the convent of Santa Monica, Old Goa, contiguous to the Old Goa world heritage monuments.

The Museum of Christian Art has done a yeoman's service in preserving the priceless collection of Goa's Christian art and craft. The fabulous array of art objects includes rosaries and other items made of gold and precious stone. Goa's patron saint, St. Francis Xavier, is shown in silver plaques and on the panels of a silver casket. Among the elegant ivory images, the 'Good Shepherd' depicting Jesus as an allegorical shepherd watching his flock is a prime attraction.

Naval Aviation Museum Goa

Location Bogmalo road, Dabolim, 6 km from Vasco da Gama

Established in October, 12, 1998

Attractions Vintage aircrafts, weapons and armaments, photo gallery

Timings Open from 10.00 am. to 5.00 p.m. on all days except Mondays.

The Naval Aviation Museum is a glorious tribute to the origin and evolution of the Indian Naval Wing. Showcasing a multitude of warbirds that served the duty of the land, the Naval Aviation Museum is the only one of its kind in the whole of Asia. Inaugurated on October 12, 1998, the Naval Aviation Museum is divided into two sections, an out-door exhibit and a number of indoor galleries.

Starting off with a humble collection of six vintage naval aircrafts, the museum has metamorphosed into India's second largest aviation museum with twelve aircrafts on display. Among the aircraft collection, the piece-de-resistance is the giant Lockheed L-1049G Super Constellation borrowed by the Navy from the Indian Air Force. Other aircrafts include Sea Harrier, Sea Hawk, Sealand, Alize, Dove, Vampire and Hughes.

If the outdoor exhibits swell your heart with pride, the indoor galleries are no less impressive. Step inside and massive replicas of aircraft carriers INS Vikrant and INS Viraat will welcome you. The weapons and armaments galleries display a variety of bombs, torpedos, sensors and cannon used by naval aircraft over the ages. The archive section features a photo gallery where old photos are on display profiling the Naval Aviation History from 1959 onwards in pictures and footnotes.

How to Reach the Naval Aviation Museum in Goa

The Naval Aviation Museum is situated along the Vasco-Bogmalo road, six kilometres from the city of Vasco-da-Gama.