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Mapusa
Mapusa is pronounced as Mapsa in Goa. This place is the administrative headquarters of a taluka named Bardez and it stands on a very long ridge, which is running right from western side towards the eastern side. It has the fertile agricultural land as well as some land occupying flat valley floor up to the town edge.
It may take the name from formerly extensive low land that is seasonally flooded, which is spread covering the valley floor, and thus it is originated from the word maha-apsa means the great swamps. This is very small town and it is blend of both the residential as well as the commercial establishments.
From this place the beaches like Vagator, Chapora as well as the Anjuna are very nearby. This town is having very attractive and beautiful layout as it is full of gardens and the church. Mapusa is also very famous because of the colourful Friday market in this town.
Ready Goan pork sausages and the plants saplings are easily available in the town market at bargains. Junk jewellery as well as the Feni is also added attraction of the town market. There is a weekly Fair and it is held on every Friday of the week at the modern stream lined market.
There are many exotic weekly bazaars held in the town and it is one of the bigger urban centre in the North Goa. One can see on each Friday all the territory Goans come here to buy or to sell something like dried salt fish or high yielding milch cows.
West Coast road which link Goa and Bombay on the north side and Mangalore on the south side will enhancing the position of Mapusa as a strategic and important place in the total Goa north network. There is Hindu and Christian feast day, which is held 16 days after Easter at Our Lady of Miracles.
Sightseeing in Mapusa
St. Jerome's Mapusa
St. Jerome's Church is also well known as the Milagres Church and it was found in the year 1594. It was found to be on the remains of chief pagoda of the place and the idol was shifted to Dargalim. This church was rebuilt in the year 1674 and one more time in the year 1839, when it was destroyed by fire.
There is a main attraction and that is the Our Lady of Miracles, where one can see the statue with a child Jesus and it clothed in the golden cloths and this is placed above the main altar to give a prominent look. The St. Jerome's church ceiling is elaborately patterned with strips of wood. Hindu as well as the Christians holds Our Lady of Miracles with a great respect.
One can enjoy the breathtaking trip to St. Jerome's Church located in the town Mapusa. This is a small church but with its scrolled gable and windows balconies in the fagade has belfry at the rear. The main altar is to Our Lady and those on both sides of the St. John and St. Jerome church.
One can also see the wooden ceiling which is very interesting. The church is located near the Shanteri Temple and so is respected by Hindus also.
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