Saint Paul's Church - A very beautiful old Portuguese church.

Saint Paul’s Church, Union Territory of India is located on the island of Diu off the west coast of India. Diu came under the control of Portuguese colonists in the early 16th century. It was named after Saint Paul, also known as the Apostle of Jesus to the Gentiles & is still a functioning architecture and one of three churches in Diu built by the Portuguese. It is considered one of the finest examples of Baroque architecture in India. It is located next to the Diu Castle, the island’s last remaining fully functional church. Completed in 1610, it has a magnificent baroque facade and a very fine selection of wood paneling and furniture inside, including a 400-year-old pulpit.

Attraction

Saint Paul's Church Built in the Baroque architectural style, this 400-year-old church of St. Paul bears a strong resemblance but with better workmanship and design than the Basilica of Bom Jesus in Goa, which was built by the Portuguese in 1605 AD. Famous throughout the world for its stunning architecture by Indian craftsmen, the church boasts of rich wood carvings, gorgeous facades, intriguing volutes and shell-like motifs. The front elevation or facade is also said to be the most elaborate of all Portuguese churches built in India. The Feast of the Eleven Thousand Virgins to mark the beginning of the school year and the other on January 25 to mark the conversion of St. Paul are two important religious events associated with this church, and many Christians attend these joyous events. Sitting in absolute silence in the heavenly beautiful church lit up with light is definitely a soul-soothing experience.

History

The church is located at the mouth of the Gulf of Cambay and was built in 1601 AD. Built in the style of a similar basilica church called Bom Jesus Basilica of Goa, its construction was completed in 1610 AD and is dedicated to Our Lady of Immaculate Conception. Built in the Baroque architectural style, the church bears strong resemblances and strong similarities in design to the Basilica of Bom Jesus in Goa, built in 1605 AD, by the Portuguese during their colonial rule of the territory which was also built. The interior of the church is decorated with intricately carved woodwork which is considered to be the most elaborate of any Portuguese church in India. Its interior has elaborated and impressive designs with delicate volutes and shells. The front elevation or facade is also said to be the most elaborate of all Portuguese churches built in India. The altar with the statue of St. Mary is carved from a piece of Burmese teak and lined and lit with 101 candles. Above the altar, there is a “blue-white barrel-vaulted nave decorated with priceless old paintings and statues. The church is said to be an innovative design of Jesuit architecture, ideal for India. The unique aspect is the façade, with its plain walls and intricate ornamentation. Although the front of the church is a replica of the Basilica of Bom Jesus, the church has an additional third floor and compartments made of buttresses are also seen in the Bom Jesus Church. The church has exquisite carved decorations in white stucco, mainly attributed to the craftsmanship of Indian artisans, which is characteristic of most churches in Goa. It is assumed that Indian silversmiths known for their fine craftsmanship influenced the decoration of the façade. This has been attributed to the fact that the Jesuits in India could not find local artists who could recreate the original Jesuit architectural designs. Hence, religious idols made of ivory and objects made of silver have a local flavor.

Inside/Outside Views

Saint Paul's Church Famous throughout the world for its stunning Jesuit architecture by Indian craftsmen, the church boasts of rich wood carvings, gorgeous facades, intriguing volutes and shell-like motifs. Visitors especially admire the intricate woodwork inside the church. There are also some fine examples of stucco decoration, carved by Indian silversmiths. The altar is made of a single piece of Burmese teak wood and contains a statue of the Virgin Mary. The church congregation has about 450 members.

How to Reach

By Air: Diu Airport is the best way to reach Diu. This is the fastest way. If you are wondering how to reach Diu quickly, there is no better way than flight. Air India operates 4 times a week flights from Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Airport to Diu Airport. These flights operate on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. So, plan your Diu trip according to the flight schedule. Alternatively, there is a helicopter service that operates between Daman and Diu – the two Union Territories, thus cutting the 13-hour road journey into an hour of helicopter travel. Chopper is available from Monday to Saturday and costs around Rs 3000 for one person. You can hire a taxi to reach your desired place from the airport.

By Rail: There is no railway station near Diu. The nearest railway station to Diu is Veraval, which is about 90 km from Diu by road. It has rail connectivity with Ahmedabad, Mumbai and other nearby cities. It is a budget-friendly way to travel to Diu. Somnath Express (09252, 19221, 19222) and Veraval Express (16334) are some of the popular trains that reach Veraval. Hire a taxi to reach your desired place from the station.

By Road: There are 24 bus departures and arrivals from Diu that you can choose from. By bus, Diu is connected to Gujarat by a bridge. Thus, it is quite well connected to all major cities like Veraval, Rajkot, Porbandar, Daman etc. Gujarat state buses, as well as private buses, make travelling to Diu even easier. One can easily reach Diu by hiring a cab or taxi.

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