GoaCity » Entertainment » Exhibitions

Museums in Goa

Goa State Museum

The Goa State Museum 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 civilization, musical instruments, coins & currency notes, freedom struggle photographs, paintings, furniture, etc.

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

Photo Credit: Creative Commons/AaronC's Photos

The Archaeological Museum & Portrait Gallery

Inaugurated in 1964, The Archaeological Museum & Portrait Gallery is located in Old Goa and attracts every tourist who loves to delve deep into local history. The museum categorizes exhibits into eight separate galleries highlighting collections dating back nearly 2,000 years back. Main exhibits include palaeolithic tools, ceramic, coins, bronze, stone, & 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 one of its kind with displays mainly concentrating on exhibits discovered at Portuguese churches and private contributions made by families. Depicting the Indo-Portuguese cultural art travelled over the years, the museum’s main aim is to preserve Goa Portuguese heritage for future generations to come and to develop a liking among the Goans towards their rich history. 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.

The Naval Aviation Museum

The Naval Aviation Museum located at Dabolim in Goa is dedicated to the Naval Aviation history of India with displays including historic weaponry, aircraft, photographs, sensors & safety equipment and artefacts related to Goa’s freedom struggle. It is divided into two departments, an outdoor exhibit, and indoor galleries with a separate multimedia section for kids.

The second-largest Naval Aviation Museum in India, portraying India’s naval strength and its rich history, the museum complex overlooks the picturesque Bogmalo beach making it popular among tourists.

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

The Houses of Goa Museum

The Houses of Goa Museum can be visited by those interested in traditional Goan architecture but with a twist. The building complex is built in the shape of a ship with highlights including various artefacts resulting in the evolution of architecture in Goa. Prominent among these include huge door keys, wooden panels, different building materials, and a slideshow presentation about the same.

Address: Arch.Gerard Da Cunha, Architecture Autonomous, Nr. 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, Hindu artifacts, ivory carvings, and manuscripts.

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

Calizz Museum

Calizz Museum is a private collection of Laxmikant Prabhakar 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.

Best Art Galleries in Goa

The Big Foot Art Gallery and Handicrafts Centre

Exhibits: Displays include traditional and modern Indian artworks, local artist’s paintings, exhibitions of local Goan school children, handicrafts made by Goan craftsmen from the bamboo stem, seashells, cane, etc and handmade garments.

Address: Loutolim, Goa, India.

The Art Chamber / Galeria de Belas Artes

Exhibits: Also known as Galeria de Belas Artes, The Art Chamber is located a short walk away from the Calangute beach. Established in 1997 by Rudolf Ludwig and Yolanda de Sousa Kammermeier, works of various Indian and International artists are represented here. Due to its proximity to the beach, the place attracts many tourists. At the backside of the complex, there is a restaurant by the name I-95 frequented by many Mumbaities and Bangaloreans.

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