ST. SEBASTIAN CHAPEL - MARGAO
Pilgrimage
Distance (From Panjim (Goa)): 36 Kms
Commonly Visited From: Holy spirit Church (300 mts)
Trip Duration (From Holy spirit Church , Including Travel): 30 Mins
Place Location: Aquem, Margao
Transportation Options: Walk/Trek
Travel Tips: This place is usually visited from Holy spirit Church (300 mts).
Following places are near by and can be visited from here:
Monte Church, Aquem (550 mts), Sat Burzan Ghor (220 mts) ,Our Lady of Grace Church (1.1 kms)
At a distance of 36 km from Panjim Kadamba Bus Stand, 27 km from Vasco Da Gama Railway Station and 5.7 km from Margao Railway Station, St. Sebastian chapel at Aquem Alto is located in Margao of South Goa.
St. Sebastian Chapel is locally known as Pandava Chapel, this Chapel has recently been given the status of a church. St. Sebastian Chapel was named as Pandava Chapel because a group of ancient caves were located behind this church. These caves and tunnels were built by the Pandavas for defense from enemies like Shivaji and his warriors. These ancient caves are now heritage monuments protected by the Archaeological Survey of India.
The chapel of St. Sebastian came into existence in its primitive stages in the year 1592 after missionaries converted it from a private Hindu temple. This temple was known as 'Pandavachem deul' owned by Tipu Suntu Naique Sar Dessai, a descendant of the Pandavas, who had converted to Christianity on the 29th of February 1560 along with a thousand other locals from Aquem. He took the name of Sebastiao Coelho and hence the date of the feast of the Patron Saint was fixed on this day. The Chapel was handed over to and maintained by the Comunidade of Aquem from 1562 onwards and later by the collection of funds from the local faithful.
St. Sebastian Church has a rich glorious past. St Sebastian was the saint who saved people burdened with epidemics of pests and plagues through his intercession and miraculous interventions in Goa. It began as a chapel consecrated to the Patron St Sebastian in the year 1562. It has existed for more than half a millennium and continues to exist in all its glory. The chapel was enlarged in 1916. A big granite cross was erected on the top of the Chapel tower on the occasion of the conversion of the deul into the chapel. This cross was later hit by lightning and destroyed in 1958.
Timings: 9 AM - 1 PM and 4:30 PM - 6 PM on all days.
