Aldona is a village in the sub-district of Bardez and one of the prominent villages of the State of Goa. It is known for its scenic setting and creatively-built houses. Travel-writer Anuradha Goyal quotes villagers as believing that it is "the most beautiful village in the world" and notes that "a lot of literary giants" choose to live in Aldona.
Geography
Aldona is located at at an average elevation of. Aldona, as a comunidade-village, comprises around 16 wards. Bodiem and Danua wards are separated from the main village area by the Mapusa river, and come under the neighboring village of Tivim's panchayat. Aldona comunidade's other wards are Quitula, Ranoi, Coimawadd, Gutcoi, Udoi, Cottarbhat, Santerxette, Panarim, Naikawaddo, Castelwaddo, Carona, Lankdem, Panth Corjuem and Calvim.
Demographics
, Aldona had a population of 6,320. Males constituted 46% of the population and females 54%. The average literacy rate was 79%, higher than the national average of 59.5 per cent; 49% of males and 51% of females were literate. 9% of the population was under 7 years of age. Aldona is one of the few, if not the only, village which has two comunidades. Following "endless fights for nearly four centuries, culminating in the comunidade's bifurcation into two bodies – Communidade Fraternal of the Brahmins and the Comunidade de Boa Esperanca of the Chardo and Sudra castes."
Religion
The church is dedicated to São Tomé. The parish chapels include those in the localities of Carona, Quitula and Corjuem. It has several vadde, which include Quitula, Goncoi, Udoim, Coimavaddo, Carona, Santerxette, Castel Vaddo, Naikavaddo, Panarim, Maina Vaddo, Cottarbat and Ranoi. Aldona is connected to Corjuem by a state of the art cable-stayed bridge held by six cables from either direction. The current Archbishop of Goa and Daman, India, Filipe Neri António Sebastião do Rosário Ferrão is from Aldona
St. Thomas Church
The Church of St. Thomas remains an awe inspiring presence in Aldona. It was built in 1596 on a high plateau on the banks of the Mapusa River, a tributary of the Mandovi River. A flight of broad steps cut into a cliff lead to an open plain that surrounds the grand white building. Inside, the Church is ornately decorated with symbolic biblical murals and grand statues. The treasures of the church are the subject of a village legend. At one time, the statues of the church were strung with jewellery by villagers as thanks for prayers answered. However, it is said that the Churches were often robbed of these jewels. The Church buildings are white-washed in the tradition of Goan churches. The band stand in the grounds and the cemetery are also white-washed. The gate of the Church graveyard has a sign in Konkani which reads "Aiz Maka, Falea Tuka", prominently displayed at the entrance, which translates into something akin to 'Me Today, You Tomorrow', a poignant reminder of our mortality.
