Santa Cruz (meaning holy cross in Portuguese) is the largest village in Goa with a population of 21,000 people different religions and also who trace their origins to different parts of India.

Santa Cruz is bounded north-west with the khazan lands (reclaimed wetlands) (where the Char Khambe[3] or four pillars are located), north with Rio de Ourem (river of gold estuary, in Portuguese).

Among these are, Almacho Khuris (Souls Cross), Char Khambe (Four Pillars), Saint Anthony's Chapel, and its disappearing salt pans (mithagar or mithache agor) which form a part of the reclaimed waterlogged khazan (muddy fields with sludge [4]) lands that are also used for aquaculture, pisciculture and agriculture.

The lakes water was released prior to the monsoon season in late May, and residents of Bandhar were provided with a bountiful harvest in mid May.

The released water flowed under the salt bridge on the road linking Santa Cruz and Taleigao () into the Rio de Ourem.

Around the First World War 1914-1918, during the Portuguese era an earthen dam was built by St Cruz (Calapor) comunidade (land that belongs to the community).

The First shop founded by Samuel and Miguel in 1877 is a notable establishment in Goa, renowned for selling traditional Goan alcohol.

This historic shop has become a significant cultural landmark, attracting both locals and tourists who are eager to experience authentic Goan beverages and ambience.

It has preserved its heritage throughout the centuries, making it a valuable part of St. Cruz's rich cultural and historical landscape.

Santa Cruz shares a border, in the northwest, with Taleigao village, and has an unusual story of how a boundary dispute was settled.

The Taleigaokars (villagers of Taleigao accusing the Calaporkars, their counterparts in Santa Cruz, of encroaching into their territory where there are valuable rice paddy fields.

The Calapor villagers returned on the third day to the disputed territorial location to dig up the coffin, only to observe that the poor man had already died.

On the very location, tradition says, stands the “Almacho Khuris” (Soul's Cross) which faces the Santa Cruz Church, Ilhas, Goa.

The concrete Almacho Khuris monument about 10’ tall commemorates the boundary disputes triumph and tragedy after Christianity replaced traditional symbols.

The Four Pillars or the 'Char Khambe', as they are called in the Konkani language, are painted white,[6] and are located in the khazan lands on the old Santa Cruz–Panjim roads in the marshy area of the Rio de Ourem (Portuguese for 'River of Gold').

During Portuguese rule, freedom fighters gathered here and held meetings and discussions, making it a very important landmark in Goa.

The place, is part of the unique Goan landscape, is very fragile and irreplaceable in nature and any thoughtless human intervention can cause drastic and irreparable consequential damage in the long run.

The site is a low-lying tidal flood plain and is part of the natural drainage pattern during the rainy season on account of the surrounding topography.

The marshy wetland is a host to mangrove vegetation which plays a definite role in the maintenance of vital ecological balance.

[9] In Goa, administration over government functions and agricultural policy of each village is undertaken by a unique, inherited hierarchy called comunidade.

Previously, comunidade were responsible for turning waterlogged lands (khazans) along the coasts into suitable plots for farming and resource exploitation.

This Chapel is surrounded with green rice paddy fields and brackish water (Rio De Ourem) all around it.

The oldest multi story educational complex is located in Primeiro Bairro, near Santa Cruz Church.