Until 2000, few outside Goa had heard of Canacona. This southernmost region of the state has it all: lush fields, forests, mountains, rivers, and secluded beaches. For long it had remained outside the ambit of the mass tourism circuit due to its relative remoteness and lack of facilities. But that changed in 2004 when the movie The Bourne Supremacy came along, with its opening sequence of Matt Damon gamboling on Palolem beach. The last remaining citadel of Goa’s pristine wilderness had crumbled. Today it has turned into a playground for the coarse proclivities of the tourist hordes.
A couple of weeks ago, I went on a lark through Canacona. It was a glorious monsoon morning when I got to the tiny hamlet of Loliem. The noted Hindustani vocalist Anjanibai Lolienkar of Agra gharana was born here. Later, I stopped by the village of Painguinim (Poinguinim), home to the old temple of Parashurama, avatar of Lord Vishnu, whom legend associates with the origin of Goa. I will have more material on these villages and their socio-religious traditions in future postings.
Damodar Temple in Loliem, Canacona
5D Mark II, 24-105L
Goddess Aryadurga in Loliem
5D Mark II, 24-105L
Monsoon lushness in Painguinim, Canacona
5D Mark II, 24-105L
Temple of Parashurama in Painguinim, Canacona
5D Mark II, 24-105L
Puno Fato Velip in Barcem, Quepem
5D Mark II, 70-200L f/2.8 IS II
Farming in Barcem, Quepem
5D Mark II, 70-200L f/2.8 IS II
Hey Rajan
You make it sound like Canacona is from Mars and us Canaconkars aliens when you say ‘Until around 2000, few outside Goa had heard of Canacona.” 🙂
May be you forget that the guys who rocked the progressive students union (remember 50% concession on bus fare for students)were largely Canconkars — firebrands Prashant Naik, Sandesh Prabhudesai, Mohandas Lolienkar and Ulhas Naik besides a host of others. That is just in case you did not know or forgot the mighty contribution/sacrifices of Cancona’s freedom fighters. 🙂
TM
Thnx for the photos. I being a daughter-in-law of prabhudesai boruskars from painguinim, canacona loved these photos. can I post the aryadurga, loliem photo on my facebook wall ?
Thnx again for lovely pics !
Next time you visit Loliem/Canacona, you could click some other beautiful places! Of course the coastal belt/sea shores, have been sold out and are no more accessible to the common man!
I love your photographs. When I look at them I realize that the photography is an art! The photo of the recently renovated Shri Damodar temple is excellent. The village of Loliem in Canacona taluka has remained so far away from the mining operations and that is the reason one can find it close to the Nature God!
The politicians have an eye on the two plateaus in the village and they have been trying hard to acquire them on one or other pretext!I am sure Lord Damodar and Lord Parashurama will take care of the village!
The colors are perfect!
dear rajan you have not mention any thing about maxem there is a temple nirankar temple then there is the maxem and galgibaga river where you can get aview of the konkan railway.
anthony
Dear Rajan,
Once again …Thanks for your pics. The green paddy fields with the lush coconut plantations bring back so many memories.