Today we visited Sant Simao Church at Batim Hillock and the huge deep wells On can see this Church (I thought it was a Chapel) from Curca bridge- see pic. I don’t know how old is this church nor I could find any of its history on the net. If you do find any, please let me also know. I guess, this is the only church of Goa with no inhabitants (Except the newest Sharma Bungalow which is built in the name of Farm house?). It also appears that, there was a village or town here which may have abandoned for some reasons (like people abandoned Santana church due to spread of Plague which/church is not very far from here) Offcouse, the church also has no cemetery of its own. However, it does look like it had one next to it (to its left/rear) as I noted some mud heap/dump/excavation in which I noted some pieces of bones such as human skull. I wonder how old are these bones? See pic. Next interested part of the church is, it has not one but two deep wells (I only knew there was one). One is adjacent to the church wall (right) and the other one is about 18 meters away (same side). When I looked inside the well, I could not believe it, the depth of the well, so deep that it must be about 21-25metes below the ground. All the under ground seems rocky (hollop) throughout the depth of the well. It seems, in recent times, some iron rods/steps are installed (to go down/up) and the gap between each steps is about 60cms and I have counted about 35 steps from above water level. The well must be as old as the church and the church could be about 350-400 years old (I could be wrong).
The well next to the church wall, is also very deep, it’s like a well within the well. About 19 steps down in the square rocky carvings, there is a round well which has it’s own steps about 10 and the depth of this well could be 17-20 meters. Both wells has electric pumps and pilgrims seen drinking (holy) water from this well. See pic. Imagine having two deep wells and that too up on the hill! How did they do that? It is really amazing. When you do visit Goa, please make it a point to visit here, you will be amazed too (trying to make a short video on these wells). I was in the UK at the time when there was a claim that Our Lady appeared to one Goan-Canadian lady here at this church and since then more and more people, including foreigners come here, particularly on first Saturday of the month like today (6/2/10). A huge cross is installed at the place (see pic). When we arrived there around 3pm, a group (probably from outside Goa?) was out there in the hot sun saying rosary and prayers all in English. See pic. Outside the church (façade) there are two images together (see pic) probably St. Simon and St. Jude. Inside the church, the main altar is dedicated to Our Lady (See pic) and the two saints on frontal side walls/glass one each side. About 11 years ago, the Church surrounding was a jungle now cleared. Now, let’s see the pics The church with a group praying out in the sun http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoaukchurches2/4334703083/sizes/l/ The two Saints (church façade) http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoaukchurches2/4334706181/sizes/l/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoaukchurches2/4334707071/sizes/l/ Huge cross with pilgrims http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoaukchurches2/4335448592/sizes/l/ A view from Curca bridge http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoaukchurches2/4335443024/sizes/l/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoaukchurches2/4335442020/sizes/l/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoaukchurches2/4334699903/sizes/o/ The well (the other well also partly seen where some people sitting) http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoaukchurches2/4334704291/sizes/l/ well2 http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoaukchurches2/4335977466/sizes/l/ Inside the church http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoaukchurches2/4334708735/sizes/l/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoaukchurches2/4334707837/sizes/l/ Main altar http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoaukchurches2/4335453364/sizes/l/ Our Lady – close-up http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoaukchurches2/4335453770/sizes/l/ Human bones /Skull (actually, pulled up from the mud and broken it into two, just to see it was a bone.. http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk24/4335952444/ deep well 1 http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk24/4335950418/sizes/l/ Deep well 2 next to the church http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk24/4335208221/sizes/l/ Sharma’s Farm House? (taken from inside the car) http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk24/4335210709/sizes/l/ Farm house windows close-up http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk24/4335955010/sizes/l/ Well, how to get there? If coming from Panjim, take bambolim Military-Curca road. One can reach there via Santana Church (Talaulim) If from Margao/Vasco then take road ( after Pilar) to Curca and at Batim junction take left towards Batim Church. And it will take you there. There is a spring (Zor) towards your left and soon after that there is a tar road (towards right) which will lead to the Church. (You will also see Sharma’s Bungalow (or farm house? See pic towards your left and little further take right as the road towards left goes to Old Goa, we were told. If you wish to see inside of the church (nothing much interesting) then make sure you go there on first Saturday of any month at around 3pm. Rosary starts at this time followed by mass . Four wheelers including mini buses go directly up to the church. If asking locals, then please say ‘Sant Simao Igorz’ If by public transport, get down at Pilar and take motor bike pilot probaly charge 150 return. There may be bus from Panjim (not sure) to Santana/Maina. But again, one will have to walk about 30 minutes from main road to the church. Hope some of you don't find me boring. [email protected] for Goa & NRI related info... http://in.groups.yahoo.com/group/GOAN-NRI/ For Goan Video Clips http://youtube.com/joeukgoa In Goa, Dial 1 0 8 For Hospital, Police, Fire etc The INTERNET now has a personality. YOURS! See your Yahoo! Homepage. http://in.yahoo.com/
