Tambdi Surla Mahadev Temple Goa - 1

Our visits to Goa have been generally for relaxation and seeping in the idyllic atmosphere around our favourite beach Bogmalo. In the last trip to Goa in October 2008 our main aim was to enjoy water sports activities and we did the same on the Colva beach – Para Sailing, Water Scooters, Boat Rides.

When we again decided to visit Goa in the first week of June 2010 it was mainly to enjoy the pre monsoon showers in the lush green surroundings and see the rough seas with huge heaving waves.

As always the 10 hour drive from Pune to Goa was very enjoyable - and this I always look forward to. On the way we hardly found any rains and our expectations of finding rains in Goa were totally dashed by the time we entered Mapusa. Goa did experience some intermittent showers, but at this moment it was totally dry and hot. It was the cool air of the air conditioner which made the hot and humid atmosphere bearable. Our hopes of finding cool cool rain showers were already dashed we chilled out by visiting some nearby beaches in Vasco but only in the evenings when the heat was bearable.

Discovering Tambdi Surla Mahadev Temple:

It was Sunday morning and we decided to give a visit the major tourist attraction of Calangute and Anjuna beaches in north Goa . So by the late morning we had already piled up in the Tata Sumo and moved towards Panaji.We were a few kms out of vasco when the plans were changed and we decided to visit the ancient Mahadev Temple at Tambdi Surla some 80 kms from Vasco. The hot sun and extremely warm and humid climate made us decide in the favour of the ancient temple hidden in the deep jungles.

We took the road going towards Belgaum and started moving towards the Karnataka border. After 1 and half hour drive we reached the Tambdi Surla Village located inside deep forest, in fact the forest around is a wildlife sanctuary and a part of Mollem National Park.

There were huge trees everywhere and the cool atmosphere was very refreshing. Even in height of summer there was dense green foliage all around. Due to its remoteness this place had a very old ... very ancient feel around, as if time had stood still here for centuries , there were very few tourists and this made the experience more enjoyable.

As we walked towards the temple complex we crossed a small bridge built across a stream which had some water and some kids were enjoying themselves in the cool waters. We could easily see that in monsoons this stream must be turning into a rushing torrent as the rainfall in these parts is very heavy.

A few meters ahead we got the first glimpse of the magnificent temple sitting alone in a wide open space surrounded on all sides by thick jungle. The construction style had a similarity with Narayaneshwar Shiva Temple which we often visit in Narayanpur near Pune. Both these temples are built in  Hemadpanthi Style which was in vogue at that point of time in history in this region.

By the grace of Bhagwan Mahadev this ancient temple has been very well preserved, not just from the ravages of time but also from the Muslim and Portugese invaders, otherwise it would never have been possible for us to see this stunning example of ancient Indian architecture. Credit must go to the Archealogical Survey Of India for maintain the structure and putting this ancient temple on the tourist map of Goa.

This was one the most picturesque settings for a temple I had ever seen. A beautifully carved Shiva Temple, built in bluish grey granite, sitting in a wide open courtyard, giving you a clear view from all possible angles from all four sides, and surrounded by tall green ancient trees. The wide open space and the unobstructed views of the temple and the surrounding jungle give you a very good photo opportunity. After Darshan of Bhagwan Mahadev I did not lose any time and started with the photo shoot. I have tried to cover outsides and insides of the temple trying to give you an idea of the beauty of this ancient religious structure.

The carvings were really fascinating, check the photographs and enjoy.

Tambdi Surla Mahadev Temple Goa

Note:Due to the number of photographs and easier loading of the pages on slow internet connections this post has been divided into 3 parts, you can visit other 2 parts by clicking on these links - Part 2 , Part 3.

Part - 2
Part - 3