Its bright whitewashed contours and pointed terracotta roof are reflected in the placid emerald pond that flanks it, creating a sense of calm that is almost ethereal. Remnants of octagonal pillars run alongside and a complex of gardens and fountains surround the Safa Masjid.
A vestige of the 27 mosques whose domes once rose above Ponda’s skyline, Safa Masjid survived the colonists’ Inquisition. While the water tank usually lines the entrance of a mosque, the one here is located south of the prayer hall, giving rise to the theory that the tank lined another structure, whose magnificence the Safa Masjid only hints at.
The interiors of the mosque, called Shahouri Masjid, are intricately engraved with Islamic arches. The chambers of the water tank are rumoured to contain secret tunnels that connect to a neighbouring reservoir.
The Safa Masjid is perhaps the most important monument for Goa’s Muslim community, and hosts religious celebrations every year.