Submerged village of Kurdi

KURDI VILLAGE

The Selaulim Dam project was envisioned by Goa’s first Chief Minister Dayanand Bandodkar in 1965. In 1970's when the Salaulim dam was built it submerged the villages of Kurdi and Kurpem in Sanguem Taluka. Most of the villagers were into agriculture and farming, the then Government compensated the families with 10,000 square meter of agricultural land and 4,000 square meter of land for housing purpose.

The construction of Salaulim dam began around 1975-1976. As a few areas of the village started submerging, the affected families started migrating to the land that they were allotted at Vaade and Valkini.

The village of Kurdi, with exception of Talsai area, and half of Kurpem is completely submerge from the months of June to mid April. It starts drying up in the heat of mid April and lasts until May or mid June.

Shree Someshwar temple dedicated to Lord Shiva is located in the village of Kurdi and the only structure that still remains intact. The temple stone Nandi was cut and relocated to Vaade.

Hindustani classical singer Mogubai Kurdikar, mother of Kishori Amonkar is from Kurdi and the ruins of her house about 200 mts from the temple can still be seen. Across the landscape one can see a lot of foundation of houses and tulsi pedestals.

Close to the temple, Dolmen, Menhirs and other stone structures can be found.

A few kilometers away from the Shree Someshwar temple was the ancient Mahadev temple constructed during the Kadamba period (10 – 11 Century AD). The temple facing complete submersion was transplanted from its original location to its current location 17 kms away next to the Salaulim dam. It was systematically dismantled piece by piece and rejoined again. The marking made on the temple rocks are still visible. The whole process took 11 years to complete.

Even today, in summers Kurdi and Kurpem have beautiful valleys with green mountainous views.

Traces of village infrastructure mostly belonging to the Portuguese era are still visible. Remains provide information on the village life. Some of the evidences visible even today are :

Tarred road
Culverts and nullahs
Temple
Church
School
A building that once housed a police outpost, grocery shop and a tea shop