Goa Unveils Sacred Temple Trail With Ekadasha Teertha Spiritual Tourism Initiative

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Goa is bringing all of its pilgrimages together as Ekadasha Teertha, their new initiative being launched to further foster their spirituality and culture. This initiative will create a well-defined pilgrimage tour and begins with a one-day spiritual tour where women will visit four key temples.

The initiative features a carefully designed route connecting 11 revered temples in Goa, offering visitors an opportunity to explore the state’s religious traditions through an organised journey. To encourage wider participation, Ekadasha Teertha provides a 50% concession for senior citizens, ensuring that elderly travellers can experience Goa’s spiritual treasures in a more affordable and convenient way.

Speaking on the broader vision behind the initiative, Hon’ble Minister for Tourism, Shri Rohan A. Khaunte, said, “Goa’s identity is deeply rooted in its centuries-old traditions, its historic temples and its unique heritage. The Ekadasha Teertha Yatra reflects our vision of presenting a more holistic experience of Goa, where visitors can immerse themselves in the State’s rich spiritual and cultural legacy. As we continue to diversify Goa’s tourism offerings, such initiatives reinforce our commitment to sustainable, experience-led tourism that celebrates the soul of Goa.”

The inaugural tour began at Tambdi Surla and took participants to four prominent temples across Goa. The spiritual journey included Shree Mahadev Temple at Tambdi Surla, Shree Devkikrishna Devasthan in Marcel, Shree Mahaganapati Devasthan at Khandola and Shree Anant Devasthan in Savoi-Verem. The carefully planned one-day circuit allowed travellers to experience several important places of worship in a single journey, supported by organised transport, facilities and coordinated travel arrangements.

Hon’ble Chairman of Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC), Shri Kedar J. Naik, said, “The Ekadasha Teertha Yatra is designed to make Goa’s spiritual and cultural heritage more accessible through a curated and organised travel experience. The successful first tour is an encouraging step towards taking this initiative to more visitors and enabling them to discover Goa beyond its conventional tourism offerings.”

For the 27 women who participated in the tour, the experience was also an opportunity to step out together and discover Goa’s lesser-explored spiritual destinations. One participant said, “We never imagined that we would get an opportunity to participate in Ekadasha Teerth Yatra. Through this initiative, we were able to visit four temples in a single day, something we never thought
would be possible. We truly enjoyed the journey and the experience of visiting these sacred places together.” Another participant highlighted the comfort and sense of togetherness during the journey, saying, “As women, it was especially nice to step out together, meet other women and share this experience. The arrangements and facilities were very good, and everything was organised well throughout the journey. We would be happy to be part of more such initiatives in the future.”

The Ekadasha Teertha initiative aims to inspire visitors to explore a different side of Goa by moving beyond its popular beaches and traditional attractions to discover the state’s temples, customs and spiritual legacy. Through structured pilgrimage tours and a 50% concession for senior citizens, the programme focuses on creating a more inclusive and accessible experience for a wider range of travellers.

The completion of the first spiritual tour marks the start of the initiative’s wider expansion, with more visitors expected to participate in the 11-temple circuit and explore Goa’s rich religious and cultural heritage in the months ahead.