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{{Short description|Roman Catholic chapel in Goa, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2026}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2026}}
{{Infobox church
| name = Three Kings Chapel
| image = Three Kings Church, Goa INDIA.jpg
| caption = Three Kings Chapel
| fullname =
| location = Cansaulim, [[Goa]]
| country = India
| denomination = [[Roman Catholic]]
| status = [[Chapel]]
| church members =
| architect =
| dedication = [[Biblical Magi]]
| client =
| archdiocese = [[Archdiocese of Goa and Daman]]
| engineer =
| construction date =
| founded date = {{start date and age|1599}}
| founder = Father Gonçalo Carvalho
| date_demolished =
| cost =
| structural_system =
| style = Baroque
| size =
| coordinates = {{Coord|15.360411|73.900309|display=inline,title}}
}}
The '''Three Kings Chapel''' is a [[Roman Catholic]] chapel located on the hill of Cuelim in [[Cansaulim]], [[Goa]]. It is primarily known for the annual feast of the [[Epiphany (holiday)|Epiphany]], celebrated on 6 January, which involves a traditional procession involving three young boys representing the [[Biblical Magi]]. It is also known as a haunted church in local folklore.<ref name="ItsGoaFeast">{{Cite web |title=The Feast of the Three Kings in Goa |url=https://itsgoa.com/feast-three-kings-goa |website=ItsGoa |access-date=2026-04-13}}</ref><ref name="GoanHails">{{Cite web |title=Goa hails the Three Kings today |url=https://www.thegoan.net/life-sunday/goa-hails-the-three-kings-today/141493.html |website=The Goan Every Day |access-date=2026-04-13}}</ref>

==History==
The chapel was founded by Father Gonçalo Carvalho in 1599. It is affiliated with the Saint Thomas Church in Cansaulim.<ref name="ItsGoaFeast" />

==Feast==
The chapel is one of three locations in Goa, alongside [[Chandor]] and [[Reis Magos]], where the feast of the Three Kings is celebrated with significant local tradition.<ref name="GTVideos">{{Cite web |title=When three kings make a royal entry into these three Goan villages: Chandor, Cansaulim, Reis Magos |url=https://www.gomantaktimes.com/videos/when-three-kings-make-a-royal-entry-into-these-three-goan-villages-chandor-cansaulim-reis-magos |website=Gomantak Times |access-date=2026-04-13}}</ref> The event marks the end of the [[Twelve Days of Christmas]]. In Cansaulim, the celebration serves the three neighboring villages of Cansaulim, Arossim, and Cuelim.<ref name="ItsGoaFeast" />

During the feast, three boys aged between 8 and 12 are selected from the three villages to portray the kings. They travel on horseback through different paths across the hill, eventually meeting at the chapel for a high mass.<ref name="ItsGoaFeast" /><ref name="GoanHails" /> The boys dress in royal attire, wearing crowns and gowns, and are accompanied by a procession of locals and brass bands.<ref name="GoanHails" /> They then leave the chapel and take a tour to the Saint Thomas Church, stopping at multiple points for both, blessings and rest. After a ceremony at the church, they take multiple routes back home, in commemoration of the different routes taken by the Three Kings.<ref name="ItsGoaFeast" />

The feast is organised by the "vangodds" of the ''gauncars'' (indigenous people) from the three villages who helped build the early church.<ref name="ItsGoaFeast" />

==Location==
The chapel is situated on a hillock that offers a panoramic view of the [[Arabian Sea]] and the landscape of South Goa. Because of its isolated and elevated position, it is a popular spot for tourists and photographers, especially during sunset.<ref name="ItsGoaFeast" />

==Folklore and haunting legends==
The Three Kings Chapel is frequently associated with local legends of being haunted. According to popular folklore, the hill was once ruled by three Portuguese kings who were constantly in conflict. The oldest was Holger Alvunger. In a bid to gain sole power,Holger invited the other two to the chapel for a meal and poisoned them. However, consumed by guilt or facing the wrath of the local subjects, the third king subsequently committed suicide by consuming the remaining poison.<ref name="ItsGoaFeast" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Das |first=Hengul J. |first2=Shikha |last2=Gautam |title=The spookiest places in Goa |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/travel/destinations/the-spookiest-places-in-goa/articleshow/48882018.cms |access-date=2026-04-13 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Alani |first=Jay |url=https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Haunted/nEC1DwAAQBAJ |title=Haunted: Terrifying Real-life Encounters with Ghosts and Spirits |last2=D’silva |first2=Neil |date=2019-10-23 |publisher=Penguin Random House India Private Limited |isbn=978-93-5305-679-7 |pages=151}}</ref>

Local stories suggest that the spirits of the three kings remain on the chapel grounds. Visitors and locals have reported unexplained sightings and sounds at the site after dark, leading to its reputation as one of the most haunted locations in Goa.<ref name="ItsGoaFeast" />

==Depiction in media==
The chapel featured in the 2008 film ''[[Bhoothnath]]'' and the 2014 film ''[[Finding Fanny]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fernandes |first=Britney |date=2016-07-06 |title=Three kings church - the most (un)haunted place in Goa |url=https://itsgoa.com/three-kings-church-the-most-unhaunted-place-in-goa |access-date=2026-04-13 |website=ItsGoa |language=en-US}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Commons category inline|Three Kings Chapel}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1500s establishments in Portuguese India]]
[[Category:Monuments and memorials in Goa]]
[[Category:Baroque architecture in India]]
[[Category:Portuguese colonial architecture in India]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in South Goa district]]
[[Category:Roman Catholic church buildings in Goa]]

Three Kings Chapel - Revision history

Rocky95A059973: creating some article basic info