Maruti Temple

North Goa


In the centre of town, the small, pastel-coloured Maruti temple was built in the 1840s at a site where the monkey god Hanuman was covertly worshipped during the more oppressive periods of Portuguese rule. After temples had been destroyed by the Portuguese, devotees placed a picture of Hanuman at the fireworks shop that stood here, and arrived cloaked in secrecy to perform their pujas (prayers).

In April 1843 the picture was replaced by a silver idol and an increasing number of worshippers began to gather here. Eventually the business community of Mapusa gathered enough funds to acquire the shop, and the temple was built in its place.

The intricate carvings at the doorway of the temple are the work of local artisans.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby North Goa attractions

1. Church of Our Lady of Miracles

0.6 MILES

Founded in 1594 and rebuilt several times since, the Church of Our Lady of Miracles (also known as St Jerome’s), around 600m east of the Municipal Gardens…

2. Church of Nossa Senhora, Mae de Deus

3.58 MILES

As you explore the countryside, don’t miss a peek into the Church of Nossa Senhora, Mae de Deus, with its unusual neo-Gothic Christmas-cake style topped…

3. Benz Celebrity Wax Museum

3.71 MILES

This quirky attraction features a wax museum with reasonably accurate figures of Hollywood and Bollywood celebrities, action heroes and sports stars…

5. Casa dos Proença

4.3 MILES

Casa dos Proença is a grand mansion built in the early 18th century by Calangute’s then-wealthiest family. You’ll notice the grand, tower-shaped veranda,…

6. Church of St Thomas

4.35 MILES

Around 5km north of Pomburpa, the large and picturesque village of Aldona is home to the Church of St Thomas, built in 1596, and a grand sight on the…

7. Old Customs Post

4.36 MILES

A relic of Calangute’s past can be found at the old customs post at the market crossroads. Several of these posts were built during Portuguese rule to…

8. St Alex’s Church

4.43 MILES

St Alex’s Church has a magnificently golden and ornamented reredos (ornamental screen) and pulpit.

  • placement: superzone
  • path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [1, 1],
  • targeting:
    {
      "url": "india/goa/mapusa/attractions/maruti-temple/a/poi-sig/1431330/356229",
      "destination": "North-Goa",
      "continent": "Asia",
      "country": "India",
      "region": "North-Goa",
      "position": "superzone"
    }