11 highlights of the National Museum of Customs & GST in Goa

1. CUSTOMS HOUSE MUSEUM BUILDING

A customs house has existed on this location for over four hundred years, and has evolved into its current two-storeyed, indigo-blue heritage monument on the banks of the Mandovi river.

2. KEYS

An original pair of old keys is on display with ‘Alfandega’ inscribed on them, which means ‘Customs House’ in Portuguese.

3. NATARAJA

In 1973, this replica of Lord Shiva as the Lord of Dance was recovered by customs officers from inside the packaged bookcase of an imminent royal family. On closer inspection, it was found to be a priceless Chola bronze from the 11th -12th century CE.

4. AMIN PILLARS

These replicas are 2nd century BCE, red sandstone pillars belonging to the Surajkund temple in Haryana and were at the heart of a complicated, decade-long recovery that involved Interpol, Scotland, India’s CBI and customs officials.

5. AIN-I-AKBARI MANUSCRIPT

This museum gem is one of the 16th-century handwritten and illustrated manuscripts of Abul Fazl’s account of Mughal administration under Emperor Akbar’s rule, rescued by Patna Customs at Raxaul, Bihar, on the India-Nepal border.

6. OLD MAP OF GOA

Don’t miss the mounted wall print of an illustrated map of Goa dated circa 1590, from the Dutch merchant Linschoten’s travel journal, ‘Itineraries.’

7. BATTLE OF WITS

Customs officers were locked in a battle with smugglers who constantly tried to outwit officials including hiding gold, diamonds, arms and cash in the soles of their shoes, walking canes, music equipment, books or photography cases.

8. SMUGGLER'S CAR

Currency, gold, diamonds, watches and narcotics were the most common items found smuggled in car headlamps or car engine cavities.

9. JAMBALA IDOL

One of the museum’s treasures is this gilded idol that was seized from a bag atop the roof of a bus travelling from Kathmandu to New Delhi, by two customs officers.

10. BRASS DANCING MEN

Among the museum’s collection of seized metal objects is a fascinating twin set of dancing men, with intricate facial details.

11. SEIZED ANCIENT COINS

This small selection is from 5600 antique coins from the Yaudheya, Chola, Mughal and British period, among others, seized at Delhi International Airport in 1994, en route to Hong Kong.

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