Walking With the Caveman: History and Heritage Tour

The mysteries and secrets of the historic village of Chicalim were revealed to a group of selective people on 22nd December, 2019 during the History and Heritage Walk aptly named ‘Walking With The Caveman’ at Chicalim.

In a first of its kind in Goa and India, Mr. Cyril A. Fernandes organised this unique Heritage Walk with 48 local and other individuals from across Goa.

Rev. Dr. Bolmax Pereira, the local Parish Priest, was the special resource person who led the participants through the village of Chicalim in a two-hour walk wherein the walkers travelled through time unravelling the past and present of the history and the biodiversity-rich village of Chicalim. Incidentally, Fr. Bolmax has completed his PhD on the subject “Wetlands of Goa”.

Beginning from the Naquelim ward, where exists three megalithic underground pits (discovered in 1970), Dr. Bolmax led the walkers to the 17th Century ruins of the erstwhile St. Bartholomeu Church, the first church built in Chicalim. Later, the participants covered the Khazan land and its network which feeds the local fields and water-bodies of Gina-Penta, Deussa and Igreja wards.

Highlights from the caveman's walk

The heritage enthusiasts then savoured the view of the exotic Vareg Island that is a marine biodiversity marvel that helps in naturally breeding the endangered Window–Pane Oysters besides other shellfish like tisreos, kalvam, which are extracted by the locals sustainably.

Walking through the Chicalim village, the participants got to see some exquisitely designed Portuguese-era houses, some 500 hundred-year-old, the Lotus Pond and finally the tour concluded at the 18th century St. Francis Xavier Church which was built to replace the old St. Bartholomeu Church.

In between the walk, the participants got to interact with the local farmers, who follow traditional forms of farming to grow vegetables. In a ‘tete a tete’ with the local cultivators, the farmers shared their experiences of farming and the gains and pains they face in continuing such activity, especially in view of lack of support from the local authorities. The local farmers then presented to each walker one bundle of their day’s fresh product ‘Tambdi Bhaji’ as a token of appreciation.

The heritage tour concluded with a festive fellowship merging with the spirit of Christmas. Each participant was given a brochure providing the history and heritage of each site visited during the said tour and a certificate. The participants expressed their appreciation at such novel ideas introduced in such tours in India for the first time ever.