(TOI Photo)

(TOI Photo)

LISBON: A world heritage monument in Portugal has seen a massive spike in visitors from Asia, thanks to an immaculate tomb within it, of one of the world’s greatest explorers.The world renowned Jeronimos Monastery has recorded “an exponential” increase in people visiting it, mainly from countries like India, Japan and Thailand – thanks to it being explorer Vasco da Gama’s final resting place.Da Gama was the first person to sail directly from Europe to India.In an exclusive interview to TOI, Filomena Matos from the monastery’s education department said they have been witnessing a steady increase in the number of visitors from Goa in India.Interestingly, she added that the tomb has garnered a sudden interest among people from Japan and Thailand visiting it in hordes every day.Matos said the Church also has seen a steady spike in the number of Indians visiting it to pay homage.Tourist records show that in 2012, over 15,000 Indians visited Portugal and spent nearly 2 million euros. They generated 39.528 overnight stays with Lisbon being the main destination, recording 70% of the nights spent by Indians.The Church authorities say majority of these Indians paid a visit to the Church to take a look at the tomb.Matos said it is fitting that the tomb of one of the greatest sea explorers is housed at the monastery, which is the most impressive symbol of Portugal’s power and wealth during the Age of Discovery.King Manuel I built it in 1502 on the site of a hermitage founded by Prince Henry the Navigator, where Vasco da Gama and his crew spent their last night in Portugal in prayer before leaving for India.It was built to commemorate Vasco Da Gama’s voyage.Vasco da Gama’s tomb was placed inside by the entrance, as was the tomb of poet Luis de Camões, author of the epic The Lusiads in which he glorifies the triumphs of Da Gama.Interestingly, several motifs around the monastery are that of elephants with real ivory tusks made in 1572.“During the discoveries, Queen Catherine was mesmerised by elephants of India. The discovery of India was so great and elephants were such fascinating that the Queen decided to symbolise it by creating motifs of elephants carrying coffins,” Matos said.“Since Da Gama died in Cochin in 1524, he was buried there. Later his remains were returned to Portugal and taken to the Convent of Our Lady of Relics at Vidigueira. Only in 1880 were his remains moved to the Monastery of Jerónimos. The Church was considered the national pantheon,” Matos said.In 1497, Vasco Da Gama was appointed to command an expedition equipped by the Portuguese government, whose intention was to find a maritime route to the East.Setting off in July 1497, da Gama’s expedition took advantage of the prevailing winds by sailing south down the coast of Africa, then veering far out into the Atlantic and swinging back in an arc to arrive off the southern African coast.This established a route still followed by sailing vessels. The expedition then rounded the Cape of Good and, after sailing up the coast of east Africa, took on an Arab navigator who helped them reach the Indian coast, at Calicut (now Kozhikode) in May 1498.This voyage launched the all-water route from Europe to Asia.Da Gama returned to Portugal. The king immediately dispatched another expedition to secure a trading post at Calicut. After hearing of the massacre of all those at the trading post, da Gama sailed for India again in 1502 attacking Arab Muslim ships he met on the way. He forced the ruler of Calicut to make peace and, on his return voyage along the east African coast established Portuguese trading posts in what is now Mozambique.Back in Portugal, da Gama was granted further privileges and revenues and continued to advise the king on Indian matters.After 20 years at home, in 1524, he was nominated as Portuguese viceroy in India and sent to deal with the mounting corruption among Portuguese authorities there.Arriving in Cochin, he fell ill and died on December 24, 1524. In 1539, his body was taken back to Portugal for burial.