The Shrimad Anant Devasthan, or Anant Temple, is a historic Hindu temple located in Savoi-Verem, within the Ponda taluka. Conveniently located just 28 kilometers from Panjim, you can reach it via the Old Goa Gaundalim Road to Marcel. From there, the shortest route is the Betki Savoi-Verem road. If you’re departing from Ponda, the temple is a mere 11 kilometers away.

Savoi – Verem Village

Savoi and Verem are two different villages. On the way, you will see a lot of kulagars (plantations) and lush greenery which gives you nostalgia. Also if you see unfamiliar birds and animals, then don’t be surprised. It’s a common sight in this village surrounded by dense forest. Looking at this you will get a feel of vintage Goa.

Shri Anant Temple

Shri Anant temple is very famous, one reason is it is the only Anant temple in Goa. The other reason is that the temple is surrounded by water and has a small pond next to it. Locals use it to perform traditional local rituals.

Recently the temple has been renovated and you don’t feel like leaving this place once. The temple is said to have been built in 1540. Its origin is traced back to the 11th century during the Kadamba dynasty.

The temple of Anant is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Ananta is the shesh naag (serpent) and Lord Vishnu is resting on him. Ananta is said to bear the weight of the whole world. In the idol, Sri Lakshmi Devi is seated at the feet of Vishnu. Brahma dev emerges from the lotus growing from the navel of Vishnu. In Hindu Dharma, Lord Vishnu always resides in the water; hence the temple is built on a water body. 

The idol is carved on black granite stone. Locals say that the idol was once found in a boat near Surla village in Bicholim. The villagers then brought it over here to form a temple.

Apart from Shri Anant there are other deities in the complex such as Shantadurga, Kamini, Narayana and Grampurush.

Intricate Architecture

The Anant Temple is a stunning example of traditional Goan temple architecture. It is built on a waterlogged site that adds to its tranquil atmosphere. The complex features a beautifully adorned Deepastambha, or lamp tower, which is especially captivating when lit up during festivals.

The internal sambha mandap has intricate carvings on the wooden pillars. In ancient times there were 8 wooden pillars out of which only 4 survived today. One pillar is silver coated. The other three have carvings of different deities from Hindu mythology. Carving work shows how talented the ancient craftsmen were.

Outer Sabha Mandap is very spacious. There is a small opening in the hall for the visitors to see the underwater. 

If you are dealing with any stress, then spend some time here. I can guarantee all that tension will go away momentarily. The best time to visit is during Aug-Oct because everything surrounding looks lush green which makes the temple look outstanding.