Beautiful Divar Island holidays
Divar Island in the Indian state of Goa lies across the Mandovi River from Old Goa and is reached by a ferry which leaves a wharf near the Viceroy’s Arch and lands on the southern end of the island. Another ferry links the Narve village on the mainland to the northern end of the island. The countryside of the nearby mainland is very scenic and typically Goan, with paddy fields and wooded hills making the trip to the island an attraction in itself.
Enjoy local festivals with holidays on Divar Island
Divar Island is most famous for its festivals, and well-timed holidays to Divar Island can take in the spectacles of Bonderam, celebrated on the last Saturday of August and Potekar, three days before the start of Lent. Bonderam is celebrated during monsoon season and is a huge draw for local people and tourists alike. The festival is often called either the ‘Feast of the Harvest’ or ‘The Feast of Flags’, as it originated as a protest by locals against the Portuguese method of resolving disputes over land. The Portuguese system involved putting up flags to show who owned what; this didn’t go down well and the local people took to throwing stones at the flags. Now, the festival has the atmosphere of a carnival, where each village decorates a float, everyone dresses up and there is a colourful procession across the island. Potekar is more like a Goan version of trick-or-treating where local young people wear scary masks, costumes and cow bells and go around the villages asking for drinks and treats.
Holidays on Divar Island don’t have to coincide with a festival to be enjoyable. The island has some incredible historic architecture to explore too. There are plenty of beautiful temples, the most famous being the Shri Ganesh Sateri Temple at Sateri Bhat. Two more Temples of Ganesh lie at Navelim and another near the church at Hilltop. Divar Island was an important site of Hindu pilgrimage, though its most ancient temples were destroyed in the 16th century when attempts were made to convert the population to Christianity. The village of Piedade lies at the bottom of a small forested hill on which sits the church Our Lady of Compassion. From the church incredible panoramic views of the island, river and surrounding countryside including Old Goa can be had.
Despite its small size, Divar Island has a friendly nightlife with plenty of bars and restaurants to choose from. The local food is delicious, with seafood being a speciality. You’ll also find that Urak, a drink like a mild version of the Goan cashew feni, is very popular.
Book cheap holidays on Divar Island with lastminute.com
Booking holidays on Divar Island is simple, flexible and affordable with lastminute.com. With beautiful scenery, exciting festivals and intriguing history, India holidays offer something for every kind of traveller.