Ruins of the Convent and Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel (Nossa Senhora do Carmo)

Tucked away in the village of Chimbel, Goa, lies the poignant and historically rich ruins of the Convent and Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, or Nossa Senhora do Carmo. This site, shrouded in dense natural vegetation and overshadowed by ancient trees, is a testament to the complex and vibrant history of the region. Once a thriving hub for the Tertiary Carmelites, the first native Catholic order in India that welcomed non-Brahmin priests, this 18th-century chapel and convent now stand as a fragile yet resilient reminder of Goa's cultural and architectural heritage. The single-nave church, adorned with traditional stucco patterns and inverted shell niches, whispers tales of its past as a home for destitute women, orphaned girls, and even Goa's first mental health hospital. As you wander through the ruins, the air thick with the scent of old stone and verdant growth, you can almost hear the echoes of a community that once thrived here, their stories etched into every crumbling brick and overgrown arch.