The Church of Nossa Senhora de Belém (Our Lady of Bethlehem) cuts a smart picture in the diffuse light of the setting sun. Located in the Goan village of Chandor – corruption of “Chandrapur,” the ancient capital of the Bhojas (4th – 6th century AD) and the Kadambas (10th – 13th century AD) – the church was built in 1645. After the frontispiece gave way in 1949 “it was reconstructed in Neo-Gothic style, but the nave and sanctuary of the church retain their Mannerist character.” (vide The Parish Churches of Goa – A study of façade architecture by José Lourenço.)
Nossa Senhora de Belém in Chandor, Goa
5D, 24-105L
by Rajan P. Parrikar
3 comments
I’m from Chandor. As a child the pillars were not there. I see the church has beeen renovated.
Looks beautiful.
Isabella.
isabella, i am sure you are right..the pilars do look out of place and kind of ugly..perhaps it s a post liberation addtion..
i remember rajan posting a picture of some temple in hampi ( i think) where the ASi added a garish pilar to support the temple that was an ugly eyesore..
IMO, the church needs rows of tall ashoka trees to frame it.