Built Over 400 Years Ago, This 'Haunted' Church In Goa Hosts 'Three Kings Feast' Every Year

When people think of Goa, they usually imagine beaches, shacks, nightlife, and sunsets by the sea. But hidden away in South Goa, the legendary Three Kings Chapel feels completely different from the Goa most tourists know. Over 427 years old, this tiny white chapel is surrounded by ghost stories and home to one of Goa's most beautiful annual feasts.
Three Kings Chapel is peaceful and eerie at the same time. During the day, it feels calm and spiritual, with stunning views of the Arabian Sea. But in the evening, it carries the kind of mystery that has made it famous as Goa's 'haunted church.'

Goa's 427-Year-Old 'Haunted' Church

The Three Kings Chapel was built in 1599 by Father Goncalo Carvalho during Portuguese rule in Goa. Built in classic Portuguese Baroque style, the chapel is small, simple, and elegant. Part of its magic is the location. It sits on a hill in Cuelim, near Cansaulim village in South Goa. Reaching it involves a short climb, and once you get to the top, the view of the Arabian Sea, villages, and lush trees is breathtaking.

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Why Is It Called Goa's 'Haunted' Church?

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

The chapel's haunting reputation comes from an old local story that has been passed down for generations. According to legend, many years ago, three Portuguese kings ruled this hill. They were powerful but always fought among themselves because each wanted complete control.

The oldest king, determined to rule alone, invited the other two kings to the chapel for a meal he had already poisoned. The two younger kings ate the meal and died. But the eldest king soon realised what he had done. Some say he was filled with guilt, and others believe that he feared the local people would punish him for his betrayal. So he drank the remaining poison himself and died too.

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Locals believe the spirits of the three kings never left the hill. For years, people have shared strange stories. Some hear footsteps when no one is around, and others see shadows near the chapel walls. Many people in Goa still avoid visiting the chapel late at night. But at the same time, that mystery is exactly what draws travellers here.

The Annual Grand Feast At The Chapel

For most of the year, the chapel is peaceful and quiet. But every year on January 6, the chapel hosts the famous Feast of the Three Kings, one of Goa's oldest and most special Christian celebrations. The feast celebrates the Biblical story of the three wise men, also called the Magi, who travelled to visit baby Jesus after his birth.

The festival marks the end of the Twelve Days of Christmas, and the celebration here is unlike anything else in India. The most exciting part is the royal procession, where three boys between 8 and 12 years old are chosen from the nearby villages to represent the three kings.

The boys are dressed in royal robes with beautiful crowns. Accompanied by music, prayers, brass bands, and cheering villagers, they travel up different paths of the hill. Slowly, the three processions move toward the chapel from different directions.

A special mass is held, after which the boys continue to St Thomas Church for blessings. The entire event is organised by local village families known as the vangodds, whose ancestors helped establish the chapel centuries ago. 

Every Traveller Should Visit This Chapel At Least Once

This place combines history, spirituality, folklore, architecture, nature, and mystery all in one visit. If you visit during the feast, you get to witness one of Goa's most colourful and meaningful cultural traditions.

If you visit on an ordinary evening, you can spend time taking in the views and watching the sunset over South Goa. Photography lovers will love this place because every corner looks stunning. And if you enjoy ghost stories, this is one of India's most famous 'haunted' landmarks to explore.