Rachol: Village of Scenic beauty

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Name: Leanne Braganca
Roll no: C19-4228


One of the famous Village of Goa is Rachol which is known by almost everyone. It is mesmerizing and culture-oriented Village Situated in Salcete Taluka in South Goa. The beautiful village is not far from south Goa’s Commercial and cultural capital, Margao City. It also lies to the close proximity to villages like Lotulim, Ambora, Raia and Maina. A lot of Old Goan Families live here in their magnificent homes.

 OUR LADY OF SNOWS CHURCH


Our Lady of Snows Church is believed to be the first church build in Salcete taluka in 1565 after the entire village was Christianized and therefore it is the oldest church. This church is famous for its ‘konsachem fest’. This church is also famous for the 1st Friday mass which takes place every month.
Then there is this ferry next to Our Lady of Snows Church that connects Rachol to the village of Shiroda. It is said that the trade of merchandise used to take place through this river.






RACHOL SEMINARY


The famous Rachol seminary is situated here. This place is a great source of historical evidence and helps to construct brief history of Goa. Rachol Seminary is also known as ‘Raiturchi Patriarkal Siminar’ in Konkani.

 There is an underground path (tunnel) inside the seminary. My mum told me that one day a man went inside that tunnel and never returned back. So,one day a priest decided to go in and check it out but he also never came back. Later people had closed that tunnel with a giant rock as a precautionary measure so that no one enters it. 

Goan Diocesan have 3 Seminaries to become a priest wherein they have to join the Saligao Seminary and after 3 years they go to Niwas in Mapusa and then come back to Saligao for 1 year for orientation and then they join the major Seminary that is the Rachol Seminary, where the actual formation of priesthood Starts. Where they Study about Priesthood for about 7-9 years. They are thought 3 years of Philosophy, 1 year of reasoning, 4 years of theology and 1 year of deaconate.

RACHOL FORT GATE


According to the information provided by My Friend who is a History Student, that Rachol was a Muslim ruled place in early histories. It was ruled by Ismail Adil Shah of Bahamani. Later it was captured by Krishnadevaraya of Vijayanagar. There is also an old ancient Arc which was a part of the Rachol Fort.

Another famous structure of rachol is the rachol fort . Historical record state that the fort once surrounded the entire hill upon which the seminary now stands.Unfortunately, most of the fort has been destroyed by the ravages of time. The only thing that stands till date is the gateway which leads to the seminary.  The fort contains within it a chapel and church dedicated to St. John the Baptist.

I would like to conclude that Rachol is a beautiful village which is filled with swaying coconut trees and beautiful green fields that create a joy in the minds of the visitors.





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