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Museums in Goa

Visitors to Goa mostly spend their time on beaches and water sports activities. But Goa is also filled with historical cathedrals, temples and museums. The top-visited museums in Goa are: the Goa State Museum, the Naval Aviation Museum and the National Institute of Oceanography.

Some more museums worth mentioning are Palacio Do Deao, Wax World Museum, Archaeological Museum Of Goa, Goa Science Centre, The Figueiredo Mansion.

Goa State Museum

The Goa State Museum (or State Archaeology Museum, Panaji) was started in 1973 in a small Archeology & Museum unit in the Department of Archives and shifted to the present museum complex in Pato in 1996. The complex houses about twelve galleries that exhibit stone & bronze sculptures, statues of various Christian saints, terracotta objects from the Indus valley civilisation, musical instruments, coins & currency notes, freedom struggle photographs, paintings, furniture, etc.

Address: EDC Complex, Pato, Panaji, Goa, India.

Photo Credit: Flickr / Aaron C / CC BY-SA 2.0

The Naval Aviation Museum

The Naval Aviation Museum is located at Bogmalo, near Vasco da Gama, Goa. It is dedicated to the Naval Aviation history of India. The indoor gallery features historical weapons, naval armament - bombs, autocannons etc., models of INS Vikrant and INS Viraat, uniforms of Indian naval and air forces. The aircrafts, aircraft engines are displayed at the outdoor exhibit.

Address: Naval Aviation Museum, Bogmalo Road, Dabolim, Goa, India.

National Institute of Oceanography

The National Institute of Oceanography (CSIR-NIO) was founded on 1 January 1966. It is a research organisation that focuses on scientific research and studies of oceanographic characteristics of the Indian Ocean. The headquarters are in Dona Paula, Goa, and regional centres are in Kochi, Mumbai and Vizag.

Address: Dona Paula Rd, Dona Paula Jetty, Panaji, Goa, India.

The Archaeological Museum & Portrait Gallery

Inaugurated in 1964, The Archaeological Museum & Portrait Gallery attracts tourists who want to explore Goa's history and culture. The museum is situated in the convent section of the Church and Convent of St. Francis of Assisi. There are eight galleries in the museum displaying palaeolithic tools, coins, woodenware, sculptures from the Chalukyan era, portraits and ancient maps.

Address: Old Goa, Goa, India.

The Museum Of Christian Art

The Museum of Christian Art is located in the Convent of Santa Monica in Old Goa, Goa. Depicting the Indo-Portuguese cultural art travelled over the years, the museum's main aim is to preserve Goa Portuguese heritage for future generations. Sacred art objects created by Hindu art sculptors form the main attraction of the museum.

Address: Annex Convent of Santa Monica, Ella, Old Goa, India.

Goa Chitra Museum

The Goa Chitra is a contemporary museum located in the village of Benaulim, Goa. It has a collection of over 4000 artefacts focusing on traditional agrarian technology and lifestyle. The collection includes pottery, milk churning tools, musical instruments, farming tools, ancient carts etc.

Address: Benaulim, Goa.

The Houses of Goa Museum

The Houses of Goa Museum is a treat for architecture lovers. The ship-shaped building features various artefacts resulting in the evolution of architecture in Goa. These include huge door keys, wooden panels, different building materials, and a slideshow presentation about the artefacts and architecture.

Address: Near Nisha's Play School, Torda, Salvador do Mundo, Bardez, Goa, India.

Museum of Goa, Daman and Diu

Situated within Panaji, the Museum of Goa, Daman & Diu devotes itself towards the archaeology in Goa and surrounding areas of Daman & Diu. It features textiles, sculptures, antiquities, artefacts, ivory carvings, and manuscripts.

Address: Directorate of Archives, Archaeology and Museum, Ashirvad Building St. Inez, Panaji, Goa, India.

Calizz Museum

Calizz Museum is a private collection of Laxmikant Kudchadkar, where he has tried to recreate Goan history viz. Portuguese and Pre-Portuguese by renovating old Goan homes. Each house is decorated with utensils, antiques, furniture and household ware particular to the era to which it belonged. A careful distinction has been made between typical Hindu homes and the Goan-Portuguese style of architecture.

Address: Bammon Vaddo, Candolim, Bardez, Goa, India.

Big Foot Museum

Big Foot Museum is a museum and a theme park located in Loutolim, South Goa. It is a museum dedicated to rural Goan life featuring life-size statues and sculptures, Goan handicrafts. The art gallery displays paintings of local artists and the main attraction is the sculpture of Sant Mirabai, listed in the Limca Book of Records.

Address: Loutolim, Goa, India.

Ashvek Vintage World

Ashvek Vintage World was opened in 2004 in South Goa, India. It exhibits vintage and classic cars and bikes, including 1886 Benz Patent-Motorwagen, DKW Munga, 1939 Mercedes Benz 170V and many more.

Address: 8WCR+FH5, Nuvem, Goa 403713, India.

Museum of Goa

The Museum of Goa (MOG) is a contemporary art gallery in Calangute, Goa. This privately owned gallery was founded in 2015. It organises exhibitions, art courses, plays, workshops, lectures and talks.

Address: Pilerne Industrial Estate, near Calangute, Goa, India.

The Art Chamber (Galeria de Belas Artes)

The Art Chamber is an art gallery in Calangute, Goa. Also known as Galeria de Belas Artes, The Art Chamber is established in 1997 by Rudolf Ludwig and Yolanda de Sousa Kammermeier. Works of various Indian and International artists are displayed here. Due to its proximity to the Calangute beach, the place attracts many tourists.

Address: Castelo Vermelho, Gauravaddo 115/A, Calangute, Goa.