Shri Vitthal Mandir is a delightful shrine located at Vithalwadi, in
Sanquelim, about 41 km from
Panaji, the capital of
Goa. It is situated on the banks of Valvanta River. The temple is dedicated to Shri Vitthal, the ancestral God of ‘Ranes’, who had put up prolonged memorable resistance to Portuguese rule.
The temple was built by the ancestors of the present Rane family, who have migrated to Goa from Udaipur about 600-years ago. The temple, conforming to north Indian architecture, went through a major reconstruction procedure in 1942. The original sanctum sanctorum was however left intact.
An exquisitely carved wooden chariot, representing the chariot of Arjuna of Mahabharat driven by Lord Krishna, is a major attraction of the temple complex.
The main festivities are held during the nine days preceding Chaitra Poornima.
Shri Vitthal Mandir is situated just 6 km from Bicholim. The temple can be easily accessed by road from Panaji and Bicholim.
