Derived from the name Dipavati meaning a small island in the Konkani language- the Divar Island is situated in the Mandovi River in the Indian state of Goa. At a10 kilometer distance upriver from Panaji, the Divar Island connects old Goa to the south east side, Ribandar and Narve on the North side. All of this happens by a ferry only.
Connecting the Divar to the city of Panaji is a launch that heads into the village of Vanxim. The Konkan rail line passes through the village and the train station is at Carombolim. The train ride to the village is extremely beautiful. You will find beautiful paddy fields, forest clad hill, roadway running along hill side, and more all of these natural image contributed towards a typical Goan scenic view.
Hindu pilgrim centre
A lot of modernization has impacted the scenicsurrounding of the typical Goan countryside but there is still enough to salvagefor onlookers before all is lost. The island of Divar was considered as an important site for Hindu pilgrims making the spot a place of pilgrimage. The island hosts the three temples that belong to Saptkoteshwar, Shri Ganesh, Shri Dwarkeshwar and others. These temples saw destruction by the Portuguese zealots during the 16th century when the Portuguese tried to Christianize Goa.
Ganesh Temple
Presently the region on the hilltop housing the cemetery used to initially house the Ganesh Temple. Razed by the Portuguese, the idol from the temple was relocated in Khandola village in Marcel. This ancient site in Konkan is called the Porne tirth and is even treated with utmost religious importance even today. The temple had seen several wars and faced destruction and reconstruction. It was finally destroyed by the Portuguese in 1540. The temple used to attract over 30000 pilgrims from Goa itself during the annual procession it celebrated until its destruction.
Divar Island holds significant importance because of the religions that left their imprints and are till date being followed. Father Francisco Sousa, Jesuit priest made a documentation about the religious importance of Divar island. Dominated by Hindu Brahmins as well as Christian believers the island had the linga made of five metals- gold, silver, copper, iron and bronze. The temple later found a new location in Bicholim.
The people who originally lived in the island once dominated the island in old Goa but a deadly plague made them leave the island reducing their population to a substantially high number. Tourists visiting the Divar Island will find Urak a mild version a cashew feni. Divar Island is a small village but has surprisingly high number of bars. These bars serve the Urak or cashew feni with scrumptious seafood accompaniments. Tourists will find themselves being served late nigh drinks in the bar for all those seeking an all-night trance.