Ancestral Goa Big Foot

Ancestral Goa, widely known as Big Foot, is an open-air heritage museum in Loutolim, Salcete. It was created by the Goan artist Maendra Jocelino Araujo Alvares in the 1990s to recreate village life in Goa as it was over a century ago. Visitors walk along a trail past life-size models of traditional occupations such as fishing, toddy tapping, pottery and farming, along with houses and shops. The site gets its popular name from a legend about a large footprint on a rock, linked to a story of a generous man blessed for his virtue. One of its highlights is a large laterite sculpture of the saint Mirabai, carved by the artist himself. A small handicrafts centre and a spice section are also part of the site. Guided tours explain the stories behind each exhibit. It is worth the trip for an engaging introduction to rural Goan culture.