Goa is a state in western India with coastlines stretching along the Arabian Sea. Its long history as a Portuguese colony prior to 1961 is evident in its preserved 17th-century churches and the area’s tropical spice plantations. Variously ruled through the ages by Hindu and Muslim rulers as well as the more recent Portuguese colonists, the land itself has imbibed a variety of customs and traditions which blend those of all the various communities which call it home. Here are some of the Best Museums in Goa.
Goa State Museum
Goa State Museum, also known as the State Archaeology Museum, Panaji, is a museum in Goa. Established in 1977, it contains departments including Ancient History and Archaeology, Art and Craft, and Geology. These are the galleries for lottery machines, sculpture, Christian art, printing history, religious expression, cultural anthropology, contemporary art, numismatics (coins), Goa’s freedom struggle, furniture, natural heritage and for environment and development.
Houses of Goa
An offbeat, ship-shaped museum showcasing the region’s cultural & architectural history. As the name ‘The Houses of Goa Museum’ suggests, it showcases houses of an earlier era. The details of Goan architecture the doors, windows, railings, construction material, furniture, etc.
Indian Naval Aviation Museum
The Naval Aviation Museum is a military museum located in Bogmalo, 6 km from Vasco da Gama, Goa. This museum contains exhibits that showcase the evolution of the Indian Naval Air Arm over the decades. The museum is divided into two main parts, an outdoor exhibit, and a two-story indoor gallery. The museum was inaugurated in October 1998. The Museum initially had a small collection of 6 aircraft of World War II vintage – Sealand, Alize, Dove, Vampire, Sea Hawk, and Hughes Helicopter. Today there are 15 types of aircraft at the museum and wide-ranging exhibits including a scaled model of the aircraft carrier INS Viraat, complete with a ski-jump runway, and Sea Harrier jump jets on its deck.
Museum Of Christian Art
The Museum of Christian Art symbolizes an effort to showcase the richness of Indo-Portuguese Christian Art from Goa Intended to be a representative collection, every object displayed in the museum, reflects the immense wealth of the Churches of Goa. The Museum houses an exquisite and unique collection of Christian art objects in ivory, gold and silver, wood and textiles spanning from the 16th Century to mid-20th Century.
Museum Of Goa
The Museum, founded by Goan artist, Subodh Kerkar, in 2015, seeks to bring art and local history to larger audiences in an attempt to bridge the cultural gap in the country. This modern, 3-story museum offers works by Indian & international artists, plus a cafe & gift shop.
Goa Chitra Museum
An ethnographical museum is a reflection of civilizations, whether or not technically advanced. The Goa Chitra is a museum based in the former Portuguese colony of Goa. It has a large collection—over 4000 artefacts—focusing on Goa’s traditional agrarian technology and lifestyle. Goa Chitra is based in the coastal Goan village of Benaulim.
GOA Science Centre Museum
The Goa Science Centre is a science museum is located on New Marine Highway, Miramar, Panjim. It provides a perfect environment for exploring science through hands-on, sci-fi exhibits. Most of the exhibits in the Science Centre are participatory and self-explanatory. Visitors can operate, handle or manipulate the exhibits themselves and see exciting effects or things happening in front of their eyes.
Archaeological Museum of Goa
Archaeological Museum of Goa. Located at the back of the Convent and Church of St. Francis of Assisi. The museum has a phenomenal collection of stamps, religious artefacts and other such treasures.
Ancestral Goa – Big Foot
The Ancestral Goa theme park is located in Loutolim, a village in the south of Goa. Located about 8km from Margao, this miniature village is easily accessible by road. Big Foot Museum or Ancestral Goa Museum is a place for kids and non-Goans or foreign nationals who are keen to know more about life in Goa couple of centuries back. This museum has much more and offers a peep into Goa’s legends, history, culture and lifestyle.
Indian Customs & Central Excise Museum
It is a first-of-its-kind museum depicting the rich history of the Indian Customs and Central Excise department. The museum showcases an array of seized goods, antiques, and customs heritage. It also displays the craftiness employed by smugglers to avoid customs duties over centuries.
