Amidst the smoke from factory chimneys, the oil tanks and the factories, it is easy to forget that this industrial clutter that is Vasco, named after the much loved sea farer Vasco da Gama, is a by-product of a wondrous journey of exploration. While industry has become the town’s leitmotif, it is history which rests in its soul.
The taluka has several heritage sites that are dying their own death only due to neglect. The Goa Tourism Development Corporation’s (GTDC) own website makes a special mention of some important tourist destinations in Mormugao and especially about the Mormugao fort.
GTDC also claims in its website that this fortress is one of Goa’s pre-eminent tourist spots and remains exceedingly popular, probably due to the degree to which it has been preserved. However, the ground reality is that the fort, which has its own beauty and heritage, is yet to be explored not only by tourists but many locals who aren’t aware of such a historical fort located in their vicinity.
“It is a fact that the political class is least interested in exploring the port town as a tourist destination. A tourist who lands in Vasco is taken immediately to other places in the State. Its history has never been projected though the port town is steeped in history,” said heritage activist Prajal Sakhardande.
Sakhardande added, “Are you aware that, Adolf Hitler’s spy was caught in the year 1943 at Goa’s first casino which was located adjacent to the TB Cunha Chawk in Vasco? Similarly people may not know that Vasco is one of the most beautiful planed cities of India and was planned by engineer Bismarck Dias during the Portuguese rule. Do the locals have any idea that the gardens in Vasco were built in the year 1939, and the famous heritage clock tower (presently under restoration) was built in the year 1938? Likewise we have 5000 years old underground Chicalim caves facing a threat due to land sharks, Mormugao fort, then the Japanese garden inside the fort boundary, etc and all these sites have very high potential to be developed as famous tourist destinations, but who cares,” Sakhardande told Herald.
“Vasco is most neglected town of Goa. Leaders ruled for years together but did nothing to promote Mormugao as a tourist destination. Apart from Baina beach, no other tourism sites were developed. Today tourist bus operators have even refused to add Vasco to their list of tourist points,” claimed Jayant Jadhav, a GTDC Director.
It’s time that hidden and forgotten gems of Vasco are rediscovered, restored to their former glory and presented to tourists.
