In the heart of Goa’s historical landscape stands the ‘Aguad Interactive Museum: Goa – The Land, The Struggle and The People ‘—the state’s latest museum, breaking ground with its fusion of digital storytelling and Goa’s rich heritage.
Housed in the repurposed cells of the centuries-old Aguad Port and Jail Complex, this cultural space offers an immersive journey through Goa’s history, utilising cutting-edge technology and interactive formats.
The rise of such innovative museums, including the Museum of Goa, Goa Chitra, and Houses of Goa, signifies a burgeoning frontier in Goa’s tourism, enhancing the visitor experience with diverse narratives and cultural exploration.
Goa’s newest museum at Aguad, innovatively merges digital storytelling with heritage. Operating from repurposed jail cells, it immerses visitors in Goa’s history using cutting-edge tech. Museums like Goa Chitra enhance the state’s tourism narrative.
Commissioned by the Goa Tourism Development Corporation and designed by Oorja Interactive and Delta Technologies based out of Maharashtra and Delhi respectively, the museum is a testament to Goa’s heritage, celebrates history and resonates with the state’s contemporary spirit. It promotes responsible tourism, providing unforgettable experiences for all visitors.
The Aguad Interactive Museum’s inaugural exhibit, The Land, invites exploration of Goa’s landmarks, offering insights via the ‘Discover Goa’ console. It provides a glimpse of Goa’s past with an Indo-Portuguese home exhibit, blending history and interactive engagement seamlessly.
In ‘The Struggle’ room at the Aguad Interactive Museum, Goa’s freedom struggle takes centrestage. The exhibit includes an Interactive touchscreen with profiles of over 1000 freedom fighters jailed at Aguad, offering attendees a chance to pay homage to their loved ones.
The museum’s exhibit on Operation Vijay features an immersive multimedia presentation detailing Goa’s Liberation-related events. ‘Message in a Bottle’ lets visitors pick virtual messages from the sea, revealing freedom fighters’ thoughts. This innovative exhibit mirrors the historical practice of stranded sailors sharing messages in bottles, offering a poignant connection to Goa’s past.
The museum’s popular Freedom Fighters Wall showcases an interactive touchscreen featuring profiles of over 1000 freedom fighters and martyrs jailed at Aguad. Visitors can pay their respects by viewing photographs and learning about their sacrifices.
“The museum offers both entertainment and education, taking visitors on a journey through history while delighting them with the use of innovative storytelling methods. The user-friendly interactive mechanisms ensure a seamless experience for all,” said Naveen Chopra, Group CEO, Waterfront Experiences, the agency in-charge of maintenance and upkeep of the digital museum.
The third room, ‘The People’, immerses visitors with Goa’s ethnography and anthropology. It includes enthralling kiosks like as ‘Once Upon a Time’, which investigates prehistoric findings, ‘Goenkar’, which recognises prominent Goans who have left their mark on the soil and the lyrical ‘Music of Goa’, which allows visitors to play music from past eras. Traditional Goan festivals are showcased through an interactive kiosk.
Aguad Interactive Museum: Goa – The Land, The Struggle, The People stands as a remarkable ode to Goa’s intricate past, celebrating both its historical significance and its contemporary essence. It is a destination that embraces its rich legacy while paving the way for Goa’s future as a cultural hub.
