Arch of the Viceroys
| Arch of the Viceroys | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Town or city | Goa |
| Country | India |
| Completed | 1599 |
The Arch of the Viceroys, also known as Viceroy's Arch, was erected in 1599 in Goa, India, by Viceroy Francisco da Gama. They were erected to commemorate Vasco da Gama’s arrival in India in 1498. The arch was located near the Mandovi River. It acted as a ceremonial gate for Portuguese viceroys entering their colonial capital of India, Old Goa. They are constructed with black laterite stone and stands at 12 meters tall with a statue of Vasco da Gama above the key stone.It acted as a gate for the Adil Shah Palace, which served as the home of the Goa Legislative Assembly. The arch was collapsed in 1948 and was rebuilt in 1954. It is now guarded by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) as a national treasure and is located alongside Old Goa’s World Heritage Site with churches as part of Monument of National Importance in Goa.
History
[edit]
The Arch of the Viceroys was constructed in 1599 AD under Francisco da Gama, who was a Viceroy of Portuguese India from 1597 to 1600. It replaces existing Adil Shah arch which acts as a gateway for Adil Shah palace.[1] It was erected to commemorate his grandfather Vasco da Gama, who discovered ocean route to India in 1498.[2] Old Goa was the capital of Portuguese India, and every viceroy entering India will walk through this arch in a ceremonial parades.[3][4] It was later integrated into the Adil Shah Palace gates, it linked Portugal’s rule to the Bijapur Sultanate’s reign before them.[1] A carving was marked on the arch date back to 1640, which marks the Portugal was bifurcated from Spain.[5] The material used for the construction of arch is laterite stone with green granite facing the river, on the top of the arch, there is Baroque flair with carvings like a deer from Vasco’s crest.[6] A statue of Vasco da Gama in kingly robes topped it. A St. Catherine figure, tied to Portuguese triumphs was added to the arch but were later removed.[7] The arch got crumbled in 1948, worn down by monsoons and time. The Portuguese patched it up in 1954, keeping the core design, though St. Catherine’s statue moved to a museum.[8]
Recent Developments
[edit]The Arch of the Viceroys has been taken over by Archaeological Survey of India in 1954 after its renovation and it was made part of Old Goa’s UNESCO zone.[9] The 2010 Ancient Monuments Act banned building within 300 meters, locking in its protection.[10] In 2022, ASI renovated the arch and its surroundings with ₹20 lakh (US$24,000), adding weatherproofing.[11]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Declercq, Nico F. (23 June 2024). The Desclergues of la Villa Ducal de Montblanc, Second Edition Omnibus. Nico F. Declercq. p. 1167. ISBN 978-90-831769-4-9.
- ^ "Archeological Ruins in Old Goa". Goa through Maps. 29 May 2023. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
- ^ Nunes, Judilia (1979). The Monuments in Old Goa: A Glim[p]se Into the Past and Present. Agam Kala Prakashan.
- ^ "The Viceroy's Arch: A Gateway Through Time in Old Goa – GOA – Then & Now". Retrieved 19 June 2025.
- ^ Esteves, Sarto; Sousa, Vatsala de (1983). This is Goa. Source Publishers. p. 16.
- ^ "Viceroy's Arch Goa, India (Entry Fee, Timings, History, Built by, Images & Location) - Goa Tourism". goa-tourism.org.in. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
- ^ Purabhilekh-puratatva: Journal of the Directorate of Archives and Archaeology, Panaji, Goa. The Directorate. 2001. p. 37.
- ^ Hall, Maurice (1995). Window on Goa: A History and Guide. Quiller Press. p. 79. ISBN 978-1-870948-98-2.
- ^ "Prakrit Inscriptions of Bihar and Orissa: Volume 3" (PDF). ignca.gov.in. Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA). Retrieved 19 June 2025.
- ^ Venugopal, Vasudha (18 July 2022). "ASI to get more powers on encroachments once bill becomes law". The Economic Times. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
- ^ "Restoring Basilica of Bom Jesus, and the Role of Archaeological Survey of India | Economic and Political Weekly". www.epw.in. 26 August 2020. Retrieved 19 June 2025.