Loutolim or Loutulim (Konkani: ''Lottli'' pronounced:, Portuguese: ''Loutulim'') is a large village of South Goa district in the state of Goa, India. It is in the

Salcete Salcete or Salcette (Konkani: ''Saxtti''/''Xaxtti'') is a subdivision of the district of South Goa, in the state of Goa, situated by the west coast of India. The Sal River and its backwaters dominate the landscape of Salcete. Historically, ...

sub-district.

History

According to a legend, Brahmins from northern India founded the settlement of Loutolim when they emigrated to Goa after the

Saraswati River The Sarasvati River () is a deified mythological river first mentioned in the Rigveda and later in Vedic and post-Vedic texts. It played an important role in the Vedic religion, appearing in all but the fourth book of the Rigveda. As a phys ...

in their homeland dried up. Beginning in the 1500s the

Jesuits The Society of Jesus (; abbreviation: S.J. or SJ), also known as the Jesuit Order or the Jesuits ( ; ), is a religious order (Catholic), religious order of clerics regular of pontifical right for men in the Catholic Church headquartered in Rom ...

began the Christianization of Goa and in 1567 Diogo Rodrigues, the Portuguese captain of Rachol Fort, ordered the burning and destruction of all the temples in the village. Some Hindu villagers fled to territories governed by the Hindu King, the Sonde Raja, across the Zuari River with their idols, including the idol of Shri Ramnath in what was later known as the '' Novas Conquistas'' (New Conquests). Those who started in Loutolim became Christian. The ''Salvador do Mundo'' (Saviour of the World) church was built by the Jesuits in 1586 for local converts.

Location

Loutolim is located approximately from

Margao Margao (, ) is the commercial capital of the Indian state of Goa. It stands on the banks of the river Sal. It is the district headquarters of South Goa, and administrative headquarters of Salcete sub-district. It is Goa's second largest ci ...

, the headquarters of South Goa district. It has an average elevation of and is situated in

. The river

Zuari The Zuari River ''Zuvari,'' pronounced ) is the largest river in the state of Goa, India. It is a tidal river which originates at Hemad-Barshem in the Western Ghats. The Zuari is also referred to as the Aghanashani in the interior regions. It fl ...

flows along one side of Loutolim and it is surrounded by the villages of Verna, Raia, Camorlim, Borim and Quelosim.

Religion

There is a Catholic church called the Saviour of the World, and a Hindu temple, the Sri Ramnath temple.

Notable sites

Big Foot Museum Big Foot Museum is a museum and theme park in the village of Loutolim in southern Goa, India, dedicated to rural Goan life. It was founded and run by the artist Maendra Alvares. It is privately owned and recreates a Goan village in miniature sho ...

is a museum and theme park.

Notable people

Mario Miranda Mário João Carlos do Rosário de Brito Miranda (2 May 1926 – 11 December 2011), also known as Mario de Miranda, was an Indian cartoonist and painter based in Loutolim, Goa. He had been a regular with ''The Times of India'' and other news ...

(1926–2011): Indian cartoonist.

Gallery

File:MirabaiLaterite.jpg, Laterite sculpture of the poet,

Mirabai Meera, better known as Mirabai, and venerated as Sant Meerabai, was a 16th-century Hindu mystic poet and devotee of Krishna. She is a celebrated Bhakti saint, particularly in the North Indian Hindu tradition. She is mentioned in '' Bhaktama ...

at the Big foot museum. File:Footprint at Big Foot Museum, Loutolim.jpg, The foot imprint at Big foot museum is often adorned with money. File:Exterior Big Foot museum.jpg, The gate outside Big foot museum with the statue of a guarding soldier. File:Cross - panoramio (13).jpg, A typical roadside cross seen across Goa's villages and towns. File:Entrance of Araujo Alvares House - panoramio.jpg, Front facade of Casa Araujo Alvares. File:Church of the Saviour of the World.jpg, Church of the Saviour of the World File:Statue of Savior of the World.jpg , Statue of the Savior of the World located opposite the church File:Sluice Gate in Loutolim.jpg , A very old Sluice located on the Loutolim-Rassiam road File:Fields of Loutolim.jpg , Fields of Loutolim

References

External links

''Casa Alvares'' — Ancestral house of Araujo Alvares
{{Commons category, Loutolim Cities and towns in South Goa district