Shri Saptakoteshwar Temple – The Living Religious Heritage

Heritage Conservation  | Cultural & Religious Connect  |  Art Conservation

Location – Narve, Bicholim, Goa  Client – Department of Archives & Archaeology, Government of Goa

 

Shri Saptakoteshwar Temple is a landmark heritage conservation project by the Department of Archives and Archaeology, Government of Goa. This temple is an important historical landmark which was undertaken for restoration in the year 2018 which marks the completion of 350 years of the Temple Jeernodhar by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

 

The historicity of the temple is not only confined to the singular edifice but also lies in the surrounding peripheral remains and antiquities. Row of ruinous Laterite arcades, the Tali on the North-East side, Deepmaal in the front open space of the temple along with many other known-unknown elements are very much part of the intrinsic value of the site as a whole. The temple and the archaeological remnants in its vicinity is a testimony to the glorious history of Narve village. The restoration works are being executed in a systematic way with implementation of conservation best practices to reinstate the heritage character of the temple.

 

The uniqueness of the project is seen in the first conscious effort to revive and conserve the traditional wall art of Goa namely Kaavi in its authentic form and character. It also aims to revive the cultural connect which the temple has, with its original location at Koti Tirth on Divar (Deepavati) Island, Naroa.