Private Cultural Tour Ancestral Goa, Shantadurga Temple and Spice Village Including Lunch

Enjoy a full day private tour of cultural Goa. You will explore ancestral Goan history with your guide and learn about the efforts to preserve art, culture and the environment. Visit temples and gain an understanding of the Hindu religion as well as see the influence of the Portuguese. The tour also includes a visit to a spice village where you will unlock the secrets of India’s most prized export.

Highlights
• Ancestral Goa Cultural Center
• Shantadurga Temple
• Mangueshi Temple
• Spice Plantation tour
• Buffet Lunch

You will be picked up from your hotel in Goa in a private air conditioned vehicle for your ancestral and cultural tour of Goa.

Located in the village of Loutolim, the Ancestral Goa cultural center is designed to preserve Art, Culture and Environment. Your guide will share the culture and traditions of the region and the Portuguese influences. You will watch traditional dances and how they make the feni, a local moonshine made from cashews or coconut. Visit Big Foot Cross Museum which houses an unusual collection of crosses from around the world. You will also visit the 250-year-old Portuguese mansion called Casa Araujo and explore its lavish rooms, which include a dining hall and chapel. An impressive doorway leads to a towering staircase that makes this historic structure truly stunning.

After, visit the Shantadurga Temple. This impressive complex was built in 1738 AD and is surrounded by brilliant green foliage. Your guide will explain about the Indo-Portuguese architecture inside. Brilliant stained-glass windows and a golden palanquin known as a palkhi decorate this religious center. Next, head to the 400-year-old Mangueshi Temple. Built to honor the goddess Shiva, the temple and its iconic pillars play an essential role in the community.

After this, drive to a nearby spice village and plantation where you’ll be greeted by a biologist who will explain the vegetation that lives on the plantation. You will also learn about medicinal purposes for certain herbs. You will then have a chance to sample cuisine that uses these flavorful spices for lunch (Beverage excluded). Once you finish your tour, you will be driven back to your hotel in Goa.