British Cemetery, Dona Paula

While the rest of the country was under the British rule Goa was under the Portuguese rule yet one wonders how a British cemetery came to Goa. The British cemetery is located in the Dona Paula and in the immediate neighborhood of the Cabo Raj Niwas.

A Piece of History

The history of the one British remains in Goa is very interesting. The tombs are dedicated to the British who died in Goa in the 19th century. The earliest tomb here is dated to December 19, 1808. The historic British cemetery was built to serve the British contingent stationed in Portuguese Goa from 1799 to 1813.

Entrance of British Cemetery – Dona Paula, Goa (Photo: Rohan Lobo)

The cemetery has a simple architectural style with a huge gate. It has 56 gravestones of sepulchral relics and 47 well preserved tombs are found at the site, the tombs date from 1808 and to 1912. The last burial at the cemetery is dated to August 10, 1912 which is of an employee of the Madras Southern Maratha Railway Henry William Mayne.

British Cemetery – Dona Paula, Goa (Photo: Rohan Lobo)

It seems that British officers who were employed in British Portuguese collaborative effort of the railways were also buried in this cemetery.

Reaching here

The Cemetery is situated at a distance of 7 km from the capital of Goa, Panaji and 4 kilometers from Miramar. It is easily approachable by road transport and can be clubbed with a day trip.

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