Surrounded by marshy waters and mangrove swamps, with sleepy narrow roads criss crossing through abundant greenery, the quaint island of Divar is dotted with elegant vintage villas, churches and temples seemingly
frozen in time.
Accessible only through ferry service, Divar is filled with unadulterated and picturesque beauty. Home to fascinating people, cultures and heritage, the island has a rich history dating back many centuries.
The people of Divar living cordially is a classic example that should be presented to the rest of the country as people here live in not just unity and peace culturally, but also religiously. Ferry ride is the only means to travel to Divar. The people of Divar do not want a bridge as they want to guard their precious culture and heritage.
Shri P.S. Sreedharan Pillai
The Hon'ble Governor of the State of Goa.
(From an interview published in Herald on 12 April 2022.)
We are humbled that the people of Divar have welcomed us as one of their own. We firmly believe that the island of Divar deserves to be declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO so that this unique cultural and architectural place on the planet can be protected from irresponsible and insensitive construction and erosion of its extra-ordinary ecology.
Sumant Batra
Resident of Malar, Divar.
Divar, referred to as Dev-wadi or Divadi by the islanders, is stated to have derived its name from the word Dipavati, meaning ‘small island’ in Konkani. Some islanders though insist that the Island was referred to as Dev-wadi, meaning abode of Gods as it was once venerated by the Hindus as the holy land because of native temple of Shree Saptakoteshwar besides Hatkeshwar Mahadev, Shree Shakti Ganesh, Shree Dwarkeshwar and other temples built on the Island.
Oral history tells that the island was once full of temples and people did not live on this island. It was a pilgrimage place. On the other side of the island, the village that is now called Bicholim was, by some accounts, called Bhatgram. The locals believe this was the village where the priests lived.
A public charitable trust, the Foundation is engaged in documenting the history of Indian cinema and activities to promote literature.
Opening in September, 2022, the Cafe will offer contemporary version of the diverse home cooked dishes from across the country.
The public library houses many out of print and rare books. It is an ideal place for leisure reading and research.