When it comes to four-star hotels, Goa is a bright spot in the world for hospitality in accommodation. Our hotels offer a unique combination of old-world comforts and new-world technologies, and the guests are treated to a luxurious blend of both. There are immensely beautiful details that suggest a real world-class excellence in design, making for an experience that will refresh the body and spirit. In recent years, Goa has been a splendid destination for world-travelers looking for a perfect spot where urban life is vibrant and the natural splendors are evident. It has also been considered an excellent destination for counter-cultural travelers, and has a reputation for being very welcoming to other cultures and other ideas.
The history of Goa beyond the recent past is a fascinating and complex one, as evidenced by Richard Zimler’s novel, Guardians of the Dawn, which takes a close look at Goa in the times of the Inquisition. This event has had a deep impact on Goa, and is not necessarily included in many official histories. By most accounts, however, the Inquisition in Goa lasted from 1560-1812, with a brief pause during 1774-1778. The Inquisition coincided with the time of Portuguese colonization of the place, and during this time, the official priests recommended that the Inquisition come to Goa because of what they considered to be barbaric religious practices.
Most of the records were destroyed after 1812, leaving much room for debate and discussion, but the records that remain show that there were at least over a hundred deaths, and some 16,000 trials. Other evidence suggests that thousands suffered execution in Goa’s Inquisition. There are accounts by numerous historians, as well as comments by writers like Voltaire, who were avid in condemning the actions that were done in the name of conversion here. Hindus as well as Jews suffered here, along with Muslims and people who were believed to be relapsed Christians, making it one of the most barbaric and cruel events in the history of the Inquisition. To know these events is important in cultural and historical understanding, and it also suggests that the current climate in Goa, which is very open to travelers, come after a long and difficult price.
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