 The origin of Christianity in India dates back to Portuguese and British Rule in India. The Catholic Churches and Cathedrals made by them boast of the grandeur of their lifestyles and the dedication of the missionaries. India houses many ancient churches all over the country but especially in South India, from architectural point of view there are some exceptional constructions and designs, which reveal a fusion of European and British architecture.
The presence of a mark of Christianity in the form of these churches has made the church tours in India quite popular. The purpose behind the church tours in India has been the study of their architectural beauty and the influence of Christianity in India. The church tours in India are organised in the southern states of India. The church tours in India familiarise the tourists with the Portuguese and British influence in the architecture of churches in India. The concept group tour in India is incomplete without a church tour in India as they form a principle part of Indian culture.
The major churches in India are: St. Joseph Cathedral and Medak church in Andhra Pradesh; St. Cathedral, The Church of St. Francis of Assisi and the Basilica of Bom Jesus in Goa; St. John's Church in Wilderness and the Christ Church in Himachal Pradesh; Santa Cruz Basilica Church and St. Francis Church in Kerala; Holy Christ Church and Mount Mary Church in Maharashtra;
Christ the King Church and Velankanni Church in Tamil Nadu; and All Saints Cathedral and Kanpur Memorial Church in Uttar Pradesh.
These churches in India were established during the Portuguese and British regime in India. The basic motive of colonisation of various places at that time was to propagate Christianity amongst the natives of the colony to increase the Christian community. Though Christianity came to India traditionally with the arrival of the apostle St. Thomas, followed by the Syrian Christians on the Malabar Coast; the Portuguese gave the outstanding backing to Christianity making it to penetrate its firm roots Goa.
When one is on Church tours in India under the concept group tours in India, then, the special mention of the churches of Goa is quite necessary. It is the only state featuring the maximum churches in India that showcase the Gothic and European architectural buildings in India. The churches in Goa made using laterite during the 15th-17th century under the Italian and European influence in their architecture.
The Baroque style, a popular Italian (Roman) architectural style was contrary to the standardised style of architecture with its way of constructing sinuous frontages, overburdened decorations, with absolute disregard of well laid principles of construction. The Church of St. Cajetan, Church of Bom Jesus and Se Cathedral are the live examples of Baroque style of architecture. The other popular style of architecture known as the Manuline style of architecture with the Portuguese origin failed to make any headway as its style with windows nearer to the ceiling was not suitable for the tropical climate of Goa. Then also in the 16th century, the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary, the earliest among the existing churches in Goa was built in Manuline style as an experimental structure. The bejewelled entrance of the Church of St. Francis of Assisi is also in Manuline style.
|
