Collections → Christian Heritage Trail — From St. Thomas to the Portuguese Basilicas

Christian Heritage Trail — From St. Thomas to the Portuguese Basilicas

Six anchors of India's 2,000-year Christian heritage — from the oldest European church at Kochi to the Portuguese basilicas of Old Goa and the Lutheran fort-church at Tranquebar.

Circuit · 6 stops · 1,542 km · 12 days suggested

Kochi (Fort Kochi)

2 days

Kerala

St. Francis Church (1503) — the oldest European church in India. Vasco da Gama was buried here before his remains were repatriated to Lisbon in 1539. Pair with Mattancherry's Paradesi Synagogue.

↓ 67 km to next

Thrissur

2 days

Kerala

Kerala's Christian heart — Our Lady of Lourdes Cathedral, the Vimala Matha Cathedral and many more. Thrissur is also the seat of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church (Mar Thoma Christians).

↓ 607 km to next

Old Goa

2 days

Goa

Basilica of Bom Jesus (1605) — UNESCO. Holds the incorrupt body of St. Francis Xavier in a silver casket; viewed every 10 years. Sé Cathedral, Convent of St. Francis of Assisi all within walking distance.

↓ 9 km to next

Panaji

2 days

Goa

Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception (1541) — the iconic white double-staircase church above Panaji. The original ringing bell came from the ruined Augustinian church at Old Goa.

↓ 757 km to next

Puducherry (Pondicherry)

2 days

Puducherry

Sacred Heart Basilica and Notre Dame des Anges — French-era Gothic and neo-Gothic in pastel-perfect condition. The French Quarter walks like a Catholic European old town.

↓ 102 km to next

Tharangambadi (Tranquebar)

2 days

Tamil Nadu

Zion Church (1701) — India's oldest Lutheran church, founded by the Tranquebar Mission. The first Tamil Bible was printed here in 1715. Inside Fort Dansborg complex.

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