You can never tire of spending Christmas and New Year in Goa. There’s always something fresh and charming about this time to make you want to return again and again to this beautiful seaside resort destination.

An unmissable part of this allure is, of course, its festivals, long embedded in its vibrant cultural heritage.

Follow the offbeat track to explore this unique slice of Catholic Goa. Standing atop the Cuelim Hill in Cansaulim the Three King’s Chapel, also known as Our Lady of Remedios Chapel, is a huge draw for adventure and paranormal enthusiasts; it becomes even more crowded during the annual Three Kings Festival. The lovely, whitewashed chapel, which is closed all year round, is open to the public only during the festival. The site is pretty deserted at night, adding to its paranormal hype.

January 6, 2026, marking the Feast of the Epiphany, is slated to bring a new energy to this part of Goa’s traditional Festival of the Three Kings— celebrated in a very special way in the villages of Cansaulim, Arossim, and Cuelim. Cansaulim in South Goa is not only known for its scenic setting— there’s another enticement here for those who love all things spooky!

The Three Kings Festival, strangely enough, doesn’t celebrate its legend of three kings, intrigue and murders. Rather it revolves around the Biblical story of the three kings (or wise men, according to some stories), who followed the ‘Star of Bethlehem’ in search of Jesus, believed to be the saviour. Three young lads are chosen from the villages of Cansaulim, Arossim, and Cuelim for this grand fiesta. They are dressed in rich robes and golden crowns. Riding horses they carry the traditional gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, which the legendary kings had brought to offer the baby Jesus. The three boys, who represent these kings, lead the colourful procession to the beautifully decorated Chapel with its wonderful art and stained-glass windows— it all culminates in an atmospheric well-attended High Mass.

For the locals, it’s a big deal for a boy to be chosen from their families, for this special event which attracts huge throngs in the festivities. It’s a wonderful way to do a deep dive into local culture, in one of its most significant spiritual traditions. The church, with its panoramic views, has been central to the community since it was established in 1599 by Fr. Gonzalo Carvalho.

Did you know that the Three Kings Chapel is steeped in mystery, myth and hauntings? It’s believed to be the most haunted place in Goa. And thereby lies a tale—which dates to the times when Goa was ruled by the Portuguese.

Local lore has it that there was once a king— Holger Alvunger, by name, who was very antsy about a treaty which declared that the territories of Goa would be shared by two other Portuguese kings.  Infuriated by this he could no longer contain his rage. So, one night he invited the two other contestants in this treaty to share with him a delicious supper at Our Lady of Remedios Chapel located atop Cuelim Hill. Innocently the duo joined him for dinner, oblivious of the fact that he had craftily poisoned the food that was served to them.

But King Holger Alvunger did not live long to enjoy his victory. When people learned of his heinous act he was disgraced, publicly humiliated. So ashamed was he that he drank the same poison, which sent him packing to join the two kings he had murdered. Though the villagers buried all three kings at the church itself, the chatter, that their spirits are still restless and wander around the place, has never quite been laid to rest! Those who have had the guts to hang around at night have returned with stories of a strong otherworldly ‘presence’ at the site…

So do go and discover a very different way to enjoy Goa’s Feast of the Epiphany and sink into a special local experience of hauntings and feastings and haunting in this remote spot on Cuelim Hill in Cansaulim.