Sanquelim is a village situated in the Bicholim taluka in North Goa. It is known as the hometown of the Ranes of Sattari who played a key role in Goa’ freedom struggle. Sanquelim is very famous for some of its Hindu temples. There are also a number of places to visit around Sanquelim which include the Arvalem waterfalls which are just 2 kms from Sanquelim. Also one can find the Arvalem Caves nearby.
Shri Datta Mandir at Sanquelim is celebrated for the miraculous cure for mental troubles which the deity, the Hindu Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwar, is said of offer. 37 kms at Dattawadi, Sanquelim, and 40 kms. from Margao the century old temple of trimurthy (Hindu) has a back drop of a beautiful hillock covered with dense groves of areca palms. The most important festival, which is attended by devotees from all over Goa, is Datta Jayanti which falls in the month of December. The deity is believed to have cured many people of unsound mind.
The Shri Vithal temple is yet another of the famous temples located in Sanquelim. This temple is dedicated to Lord Vithal, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu and originates back to 1942 AD. It was built by the Rane families who migrated from Udaipur about 600 years ago to Sanquelim. The temple is built on the banks of the Valvanta river and was reconstructed in 1942 although the sanctum-sanctorium was not altered. The main festivities of the temple is usually held for 9 days during the Ashadi Ekadashi and Kartik Ekadashi, the principal festival dedicated to Lord Vithal. A huge chariot exquisitely carved in wood symbolizing the chariot of Arjuna driven by Lord Krishna in Mahabharata is the center of attraction in this magnificent temple.