CONSERVING THE CULTURAL LANDSCAPE ALONG THE RIVER MANDOVI ESTUARY IN GOA
– Noah Anand Fernandes
M.Arch(Conservation),
SPA Delhi.
Historically the Mandovi River was a highly productive agrarian landscape which was developed on the saline tidal flats of the river. During the 16th century, the Portuguese maritime empire captured the city of Goa with an aim to establish a base for their operations western coast of India; this had an impact of the landscape around the Mandovi river in Goa. The Portuguese establishment of the city at Old Goa in the year 1510. This was followed by the arrival of the Missionaries who converted the local people, this brought about a change in the society. Despite the change of religion, the local people still held the values and customs of their previous culture, this brought about as a synthesis of two cultures and the resulting hybrid culture manifested itself in the art, architecture, culinary traditions. The Portuguese introduced European elements in the landscape which conclusively suffered adaptation to local conditions. It is this landscape that brought about elements which eventually defined Goan architecture. The presentation proposes a method of understanding and appreciation of the historic cultural landscapes and their conservation through the case of the landscape along the river Mandovi in Goa.