Assnora

The village of Assnora is known for it's fountain in the valley at the foot
of the Ambexim hill. During the hot month's of April and may, families from
other villages used to stay in Assnora to take baths from the fountain and
the river and also to enjoy plenty of cheap fruits like *karandas*, *
podkovans*, cashew, mangoes, jackfruits and jambuls, etc.

The river par is the gift of Assnora This was the only soothing place for
all the landlords of Bardez. They would spend the hot months on the banks of
this river, staying in hired houses.

--
From The Flying Fox

Pilerne

Though just five km from Panjim and nine from Mapusa has been a neglected
village lacking even the basic necessities. Surrounded by the progressive
villages of Porvorim, Sangolda, Saligaum, Candolim, Verem, and Betim. This
village in previous generations had contributed immensely to Goan society. A
few Muslims lived in the ward Maina, where there is a fountain. Here the
horses of Adil shah, the sultan of Bijapur, who had his sovereignty over
goa, were brought to bathe and drink water. This was via Betim, climbing the
slope called ghodde gahnt (ghodde means horses), near the present bamboo
motels and getting down in Pilerne at manxer at the sluice gate between the
branch of the river Sinkerim and the rivulet Rio dos Ribeiros which
irrigates the fields of Pilerne.

Formerly there were no rice fields in Pilerne. The bed of the river was
converted into cultivating fields by the Gaunkars of Carambolim. They were
brought by the Pilernkars to do this work that took some decades. Since they
stayed in Pilerne for long, they did not render any service to the
communidade of Carambolim, the pilernkars enrolled them in their communidade
as the fourth vangod. Giving them the name of furtadores or furtados which
in Portuguese means thieves. The patron saint of Carambolim was St. john de
baptist. The furtados had great faith him. So they decided to rob his
statue from Carambolim and brought it to to Pilerne.

Sinquerim

One of the most privileges villages of Bardez is Sinquerim. Just as Assnora
is the northeast corner village of Bardez, and was the limit of the velha
Conquistas(old conquests of the Portuguese), so was Sinquerim the southwest
corner, facing the estuary of the river Mandovi.

Due to it's strategic position, a fortress was built there. Which was used
by the Portuguese to keep the political prisoners. The fort is known by the
name Aguada (name given by the Portuguese. Agua means water and Aguada means
watery place). As there was a nice fountain of crystalline potable water,
the Portuguese ships received sufficient water from there. Sinquerim was
famous not only for it's fort but also for it's church, which is a national
monument. It's patron it st. Lawrence who guides and protects the mariners.
The feast of this saint is celebrated on 10th august every year. The newly
married go there and pray for begetting sons.

Sinquerim and it's fort, the lighthouse on that hill and the subterranean
cave under the lighthouse, have many stories and legends. Soon after the
independence of India, the Portuguese forces started their vigilance with
great intensity.

Saligaum

Saligaum is surrounded by the villages of Parra, Calangute, Pilerne,
Sangolda, Guirim and Nagoa.

There is a seminary in Saligao of our lady. Saligao's ancient history is a
matter of conjecture. Saligao has many rich persons who amassed wealth in
Africa. The Saligao church, dedicated to the mother of Jesus is simply copy
of the famous Notre dame de Paris. All admire it's turrets and minarets.
It's the only church in Bardez and perhaps in Goa with such an impressive
structure. The feast is celebrated on the first Sunday of may every year.
People of misalign are considered to be very cunning and are called cole
(foxes).

Formerly Saligao has vast sugar cane plantations. Different kinds of jaggery
were prepared out of these cane juices. Every year on January 6th the feast
of Reis is celebrated in Verem. On the occasion a fair is held with
different food items; bellios being a specialty from Saligao.

Nerul

the village of Nerul in south Bardez is known for its groundnuts, sweet
potatoes, watermelons and salt. It's sandy soil gives good yield of
vegetable products. The land was reclaimed from the bed of the river and
therefore the alluvial soil is fertile.

Those who live near the shore are mainly occupied in fishing, others in
agriculture, salt extraction, toddy tapping and menial work. Once there were
industries like boat building, salt extraction, etc. Nerul contributed
substantially to the export of salt of around 30- 50 thousand tonnes that
Goa exported in those days. Entering the village from Verem, one encounters
pretty cottages on both sides of the road. Just before reaching the church,
visitors encounter some imposing mansions having Portuguese influence on
architecture and their interior resemble European designs. The villagers
make their living by selling fish, rearing cattle, extracting salt, renting
fruit bearing trees and selling fruits.

Candolim

Candolim is known not only for it's beach of golden sands but also for the Taj holiday village where a lot of high class tourists stay and as such it is considered a good tourist spot. During the Kadamba rule in Goa, Candolim had *patshalas* imparting education in Sanskrit literature.

Calangute

sandwiched between the villages of Arpora ans Anjuna, in the north and
Candolim to the south, lies the crowded village of Calangute with it's beach
of golden sands. It is now dirtied because of constant garbage from low
class tourists. Its coastal belt is full of swaying palm trees producing
large coconuts that are considered to be the best in Bardez, if not in goa.

Since time immemorial this place has been the bathing place for the whole of
Bardez, during the hot months, of march, April, may and October. Young and
old especially those with arthritis or rheumatic troubles go there to take
salt baths and enjoy the refreshing breeze. The village has some old manors
belonging to families with glorious traditions.

Reis Magos (Verem)

the village of Reis Magos, also known as Verem is on the southern side of
Pilerne. It is just opposite Miramar on the other side of the Mandovi. In
the estuary of this river, during low tide, the villagers go to catch
cockles, mussels and oysters. It has a cool refreshing coastal belt between
the hillock of Nerul and the Mandovi where the villagers of the neighboring
villages bathe. The Franciscans who had their rectory there in the
17thcentury baptized the primitive inhabitants. The navy acquired the
full
hillock on the eastern side of Reis magos and have taken possession of the
quay at Verem.

Siolim

The village of Siolim surrounded by the villages of Camurlim, Cunchelim and
Arjuna is well known for its supply of cashew and palm Feni to the whole of
Bardez. The church in Siolim was built on the ruins of a Hindu temple.
Siolim is an ideal village. Many foreigners who go to the Pernem beaches,
stay in here as accommodation is cheap. Though Siolim has no beach, the
margin of the Chapora river gives the tourists plenty of opportunity to
while away time, angling or cruising the river in small fishing boats with a
rod in their hands.

--
From The Flying Fox

Anjuna

Arjuna is famous for its beach where tourists go in the thousands during the
months of September to may. Every Wednesday, a flea market is held. Where
the sellers are mostly foreigners. Here they sell anything from electronic
items to drugs. Goa to the tourists is s complete new experience, a new
world where everybody takes things easily.

The Portuguese named the beach Praia De Santo Antonio. There are many
palatial houses in Anjuna. As also a large number of low houses squatting
like ducks, white and clean. They are white washed every year before
Christmas.

Colvale

Colvale is a small village separated from Pernem Taluka by the Chapora
river. Though it has no beach, many visitors go there to admire the beauty
of the river. The river is a great source of income especially to the fisher
folk. During low tide in the dry season, plenty of shellfish are found along
empty spaces of the river. The shells of cockles are burnt in a special
furnace and brought to Mapusa where they are in a great demand for the
whitewashing of houses. Besides fishing, there are many toddy tappers here.
Toddy from the trees is used to make fine vinegar that is used in cooking.
Toddy is mostly used for making jaggery and is preferred dot the jaggery of
sugar cane.

Camurlim

the pacific and little known village of Camurlim ha to its northern side the
river Chapora. It is surrounded by the Oxel ward of Siolim, Cunchelim , part
of Tivim and Camurlim. Formerly it was a part of Camurlim ad the faithful
had to go to the Colvale church for religious obligations.

The narrow river Chapora, muddy and ugly, flows lazily through paddy fields
and vast stretches of grass that is used in mat making. Through rich coconut
grooves and hamlets of various descriptions.

Revora

Revora is next to Colvale on the border of the river Chapora. Kersarpal,
Pirna and Tivim surround it. There are more Hindus in Revora compared to
catholics, but there is harmony. Revora is a picnic spot, washed by the
limpid water of the river. Which in one way or the other is a source of
income for the villagers who live along it's banks. The palm lined plains
and the wooded hillock create an illusion of lethargy, but in reality, the
village is full of song, dance and merriment. Revora had a very old church
built by the Franciscans of the17th century. It could not stand the ravages
of time and now a new church of a modern architecture has been built in it's
place.

Parra

Parra is a village adjacent to Arpora. It is a sandy place ideal for the
cultivation of watermelons, and onions. It has a church dedicated to st Anne
and our lady of good death. Built in 1649, it was destroyed by the forces of
Sambhaji. And later rebuilt in 1688 by collecting donations from the
devotees. The sandy soil of Parra makes one believe that it might have been
the bed of a river in olden times. There are four small lagoons and three
springs. Elders say that there is a mile long tunnel from Ganesh tolli to
dhobi tolli. In the tunnel which is contagious to the Narayan tolli, the
devotees hid some idols during the Portuguese persecution.

Pirna

Most of the villagers are farmers. Besides agriculture, they rear cattle.
There is a class of Dhangars who keep large flocks of sheep. There are
Hindus engaged in carpentry, making furniture which they sell for the Reis
magos feast. And Milarges feast in Mapusa. There are blacksmiths who make
different implements which are sold in Mapusa every Friday. They are expert
in the roofing of tiles houses. Pirna is a small village with exquisite
vegetation. It's hillocks are covered with a variety of different kinds of
hills. Lime, matti, kindal, nanao, kumto, hed, sailo, sisso all timber trees
which the carpenters use. Along the streams where the soil is fertile,
evergreen forests are found. The mining activities has had serious
ecological disturbances. For every ton of ore extracted, two and half ton
is generated as waste which is dumped in any available space.

Sangolda

Sangolda is a picturesque village with its beautiful greenery. Poets and
artists of every age and time have lavished this village with endless praise
for it's natural beauty and serenity. Fringed with palm trees, endless
grooves of verdant mango and jack fruit trees inter spread with vast paddy
fields, this slumbering village also has a wooded hill with a balmy breeze
fragrant with the aroma of wildflowers contributing to the charm of
Sangolda.

Between Guirim and Sangolda there is a hill that is known as Monte de
Guirim. On the top of the hill is an English medium school. The school is a
boon to both the villages.

Assagao

Assagao was formerly known as fulancho ganv because plenty of flowers were
supplied from the village to the Mapusa market. Though the place is full of
hillocks and dales, almost every house has a garden with dahlias, roses and
other kinds of flowers. There is a home for the aged in Assagao.

Bastora

Bastora is a small village having Pomburpa, Ucassaim, Mapusa and Guirim as
it's neighbors. Most of the houses in this village are on the base of a
hillock. Beautiful attractive cottages are seen along the road that from
Guirim crosses Bastora to go to Ucassaim. Like the other villages of Bardez,
it claims a sizable gentry.

Guirim

Guirim is situated to the south of Mapusa just a kilometer away. The village is has huge tracts of rice fields located on both sides of the Mapusa - Panjim highway. It has a hillock known as 'Monte de Guirim' (Hill of Guirim). Atop this hillock is situated a well known school run by Catholic Priests. The hillock also has a small chapel. Those who work in Mapusa and want to enjoy the city life without its din, bustle and pollution, live in Guirim. Guirim is bordered by the villages of Sangolda, Porvorim and Bastora.

Ucassaim

Ucassaim is surrounded by the villages of Castor, Achinola and Moira. Today
we can see in this village the remnants of it's pristine glory, and grandeur, standing like mute yet paradoxically eloquent witness of it's fabulous past.