Safa Masjid

Safa Masjid in Shahapur, Ponda, is the oldest surviving mosque in Goa. It was built in 1560 by Ibrahim Adil Shah, the ruler of Bijapur, when Ponda was under Adil Shahi control. The mosque is a modest rectangular building on a raised platform, with a sloping tiled roof and pointed arches that show the blend of local and Islamic styles. Beside it lies a large stone water tank with arched niches, used for ritual ablutions. The mosque was once surrounded by gardens and other buildings, most of which were destroyed during later conflicts. It is protected as a monument by the Archaeological Survey of India. The site is peaceful and rarely crowded. It is worth the trip as a reminder of Goa's pre-Portuguese Islamic heritage.