Temples: history, architecture and distribution

[Shambhu]

Let me add my little bit about temples in Goa for travellers:

You can go around in a day and visit Mangeshi, Mallikarjun, Shantadurga, Nageshi (main Goan temples). Within a temple complex: expansive open temple tank, tall deep stambh, properties often 2-300 meters away from each other for various dieties. Nice cobbled paths with coconut trees on sides between properties. Portuguese influence can be seen in the whitewashed temple properties, as well as Portuguese coins nailed to the horizontal strip that just precedes the door to the main temple chamber, as well as the presence of chandeliers ala church. But the temples are lovely, and if you sit on the cool marble floor of Mangeshi, you don't feel like getting up. <!--emo&--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->