Revitalizing Goa's Heritage Landscapes: A Multidisciplinary Approach

Dr. Gautam V. Desai, Dr. Shashikant Kumar

Abstract: The state of Goa, located on the western coast of India, stands as an exceptional case of cultural hybridity and architectural continuity amidst post-colonial transformation. With a deep historical legacy shaped by the Kadamba dynasty and over 450 years of Portuguese rule, its heritage landscape is rich in urban typologies, sacred spaces, colonial-era architecture, and living traditions. However, post-liberation planning and unregulated tourism growth have caused morphological disruptions, heritage degradation, and socio-spatial inequality. This paper examines Goa's cultural and architectural landscapes through an interdisciplinary framework that integrates architectural conservation, urban design, participatory governance, adaptive reuse, digital heritage, and tourism planning. With the aid of primary case studies-Fontain has in Panaji, Old Goa, Chandor, and heritage temples in Ponda-and analytical tools such as morphological analysis, urban heat mapping, and heritage tourism flows, the study reveals the tensions between growth and preservation. Supported by policy reviews, field observations, GIS data, and tourism statistics from 2010?2023, the paper identifies a need for reclassification of zoning schemes, digitization of heritage assets, legal and financial support for adaptive reuse, and creation of cultural landscape management frameworks. It proposes a replicable model where spatial identity and cultural sustainability can serve as infrastructural components of climate-resilient and equitable planning.

Keywords: Cultural landscapes, heritage architecture, urban morphology, adaptive reuse, tourism planning, spatial justice, Goa, gentrification, digital heritage, urban design, participatory conservation

How to Cite?: Dr. Gautam V. Desai, Dr. Shashikant Kumar, "Revitalizing Goa's Heritage Landscapes: A Multidisciplinary Approach", Volume 14 Issue 7, July 2025, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 1727-1729, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR25726123456, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR25726123456