St. Cruz, Goa
St. Cruz or Santa Cruz is a village located next to the city of Panaji, capital of the Indian state of Goa. It is located on the island of Tiswadi, one of the talukas in the state of Goa.
Population
Santa Cruz is the largest village in Goa with a population of 21,000 people different religions and also who trace their origins to different parts of India.| Year | Calapor | Cujira | Santa Cruz |
| 2001 | |||
| 2011 | 14077 | 1229 | 15306 |
| 2021 |
Location
Geographically, it is situated in the North Goa district in the Sub-District of Ilhas de Goa or Tiswadi taluka or sub-district.Santa Cruz is bounded north-west with the khazan lands , north with Rio de Ourem. Its neighbouring villages are Merces village which stretches from the north-east to the east, Bambolim which stretches from east to the south and Taleigao which stretches from the south to the west. Panjim, the capital city of the state of Goa located on the largest of the islands, is to its northwest.
Village geography
This village is sub-divided into 11 wards, each of which has its own individuality within the village. These include Bandh Vaddo , Bondir, Cabesa Ward, Primeiro Bairro, Segundo Bairro. St. Agostinho was the first part of the village, its earliest settler was JL De Araujo.Places of interest
Santa Cruz has several places of interest. Among these are, Almacho Khuris, Char Khambe, Saint Anthony's Chapel, and its disappearing salt pans which form a part of the reclaimed waterlogged khazan lands that are also used for aquaculture, pisciculture and agriculture.Santa Cruz Market
Santa Cruz Market is a village market on Pinto Road off the Old Hwy near the Santa Cruz Church. Local residents usually go to the market for fresh vegetables, fruits, meat and seafood. Processed meats such as sweetbreads and Goan sausages are also available.Bondava Lak/Bondvol Lake
This is a small man made lake in Bandhar part of Santa Cruz village. This lake is also called as Bondovonnchem Tollem, and Bonda Lake. It was created during the Portuguese era, Bondvol lake was the main source of irrigation to Bandhar area of St. Cruz and its surrounding areas when agriculture was the main occupation. Following development the lake water was also used for drinking. The lakes water was released prior to the monsoon season in late May, and residents of Bandhar were provided with a bountiful harvest in mid May. The released water flowed under the salt bridge on the road linking Santa Cruz and Taleigao into the Rio de Ourem.Around the First World War 1914-1918, during the Portuguese era an earthen dam was built by St Cruz comunidade. The lake has a catchment area that is 12.14m deep and 180m long. Over the years, over 100 species of birds have nested and migrated near lake Bondava/Bondval.
JL GOA
The First shop founded by Samuel and Miguel in 1877 is a notable establishment in Goa, renowned for selling traditional Goan alcohol. This historic shop has become a significant cultural landmark, attracting both locals and tourists who are eager to experience authentic Goan beverages and ambience. It has preserved its heritage throughout the centuries, making it a valuable part of St. Cruz's rich cultural and historical landscape. Visitors to the shop can enjoy a variety of traditional Goan spirits, offering a unique glimpse into the local traditions and lifestyle.Almacho Khuris
Santa Cruz shares a border, in the northwest, with Taleigao village, and has an unusual story of how a boundary dispute was settled. The Taleigaokars kasti/cashti in place. Goa is a land of tambdi mathi and tambdi kasti. On the very location, tradition says, stands the “Almacho Khuris” which faces the Santa Cruz Church, Ilhas, Goa. The concrete Almacho Khuris monument about 10’ tall commemorates the boundary disputes triumph and tragedy after Christianity replaced traditional symbols. Hence, every Calaporkar villager is referred to as “Bhenddak Kiddo.” The Almacho Khuris is a historic border dispute monument which lies on a bandh between villages of Santa Cruz and Taleigao.Char Khambe
The Four Pillars or the 'Char Khambe', as they are called in the Konkani language, are painted white, and are located in the khazan lands on the old Santa Cruz–Panjim roads in the marshy area of the Rio de Ourem. This road is now named as Vasantrao Dempo Marg. During Portuguese rule, freedom fighters gathered here and held meetings and discussions, making it a very important landmark in Goa. It was built in 1896.The khazans — which refer to low-lying land situated near creeks or river side which is normally below high tide level—is situated on the St Cruz stretch. The area is surrounded by rice paddy fields on both the sides. It is one of the busiest roads in Panjim. With the hustle bustle all day long, the four pillars about 15' tall each, two on each side of the road may appear to be just another structure. Physically, the site act as a buffer between the hectic urban environment of city of Panjim and the serene village environs of Santa Cruz. The place, is part of the unique Goan landscape, is very fragile and irreplaceable in nature and any thoughtless human intervention can cause drastic and irreparable consequential damage in the long run. The site is a low-lying tidal flood plain and is part of the natural drainage pattern during the rainy season on account of the surrounding topography.
The marshy wetland is a host to mangrove vegetation which plays a definite role in the maintenance of vital ecological balance. The place is also a popular habitat to a wide variety of local and migratory birds and is a bird-watcher's delight. It is quite common to find researchers and bird lovers from distant countries here, with their trained cameras. This place finds mention on the Internet along with the Karmali lake, Chorao, Mayem lake and others in Goa.
But for the locals here, they are not just structures. There are sluice gates at this structure, which controlled the flow of marine water for the salt pans, which are on the south. The north area is an estuary with plenty of flora and fauna. This area is believed by some locals to be haunted, with the haunting at its peak on full moon nights. According to the commuters who have travelled via the stretch, there is an eerie feeling that prevails at the spot. They have also claimed to have sighted some apparitions in the nights. Locals say that the area is cursed and this is one reason for the numerous accidents taking place here. Other sightings reportedly include those of a lady dressed in a white saree and supposedly asking for a lift. People also claim of hearing cries and have even had a sudden breaking down of bikes as soon as they reach the Char Khambe.
In Goa, administration over government functions and agricultural policy of each village is undertaken by a unique, inherited hierarchy called comunidade. This structure is one of the longest-established in India. Previously, comunidade were responsible for turning waterlogged lands along the coasts into suitable plots for farming and resource exploitation.