Goa is the seaside township at Arabian coast, which is one of the most
famous travel destinations in India. The unique aspect of Goa is its
fine blend of modern day entertainment and traditional tourist spots
that makes Goa worthy of planning a trip. Before coming to Goa, it is
always wise to jot down the prime tourist attractions so that while in
Goa there is no chance to get confused about Goa tour schedule or to
prevent the tour to be getting hackneyed due to proper planning. There
are many things to do in Goa and plenty of things to see. While the
beaches are the center of activities, there are different sites, which
are worth visiting; in fact, without enjoying these places Goa tour
cannot be completed.
There are multiple churches in Goa because
of its Portuguese background and most of the Goa residents are Christian
by religion. Apart from religious values some of these churches are
beautiful to visit and some of them are embedded in historical
significances and some churches are wonderful due to their architecture ,
Gothic style etc. Basilica of Bom Jesus, St Anne Church, Reis Magos
Church, St Paul Church, St. Cajetan Church, Church of St Augustine etc
deserve special mention in Goa church list.
Goa Carnival is world
famous for its jovial and merry making ambiance. Although this is
primarily a festival for Christian community, but nowadays it has become
an international festival of Goa and Goa faces lots of tourist flow
during Goa carnival. However, it is worth planning for Goa trip at the
time of Goa Carnival because its all together is a real fun. Besides Goa
carnival, Goa nightlife in different beaches is also exotic and often
allures tourists. In fact, it is always wise to spend sometime in Goa
night parties; it will help in unveiling Goa in its exotic beauty.
Dudhsagar
Waterfall is one of the prime natural wonders and the falls are
considered as one of the 50 best waterfalls around the world. It is a
three-layer waterfall and it gets most forceful at the monsoon. However,
no one should miss Dudhsagar falls while in Goa.
Panji/Panjim
Panaji or Panjim is the Capital city of Goa and is also the headquarters of the North Goa district.
Located on the banks of the river Mandovi, it is a beautiful and a
small city. With an area of 35.99 sq kms, it has a population of
100,000 (approx.). Panaji has a lot of Portuguese influence on its
culture, food and architecture because of the Portuguese reign.
Portuguese liberated Panaji in the year 1961 and it became the Capital
of Goa in the year 1987. People of Panaji are very easy going and peace
loving. Music and dance is an integral part of their lives. Major
languages spoken here are Konkani, Portuguese, Marathi, Hindi and English.
With beautiful and charming locations Panaji invites tourists from
all over the world to explore its charm. It provides a perfect blend of
sun, sand and fun. Panaji has lots to offer, you name it and you've got
it....temples, forts, beaches ........
Location: Capital city of Goa, located on the west coast of India.
Tourist destinations:
- Church Square
- Lady of Immaculate Conception Church
- Adilshah Palace
- State of Abba Faria
- Goa state museum
- Biocholim - Mayem lake
- Menezes Braganza Institute
- Central Library
- Hindu Mahalaxmi temple
- Jama Masjid Mosque
- Chapel of St. Sebastian and the Miramar beach.
Best activities:
Water sports like water skiing, wind surfing, yachting, rafting. Other
activities include Football, Golf, Trekking, Bullfighting and many
more such
adventure sports.
Major Highlights: Nightlife and Goa Carnival.
Nearby tourist destinations:
Dona Paula beach, Anjuna beach, Old Goa, Vasco Da Gama, Mapusa, Ponda,
Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary, Molen and Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary.
Best time to visit: Late September till early March
Major
Tourist Attraction The Church square:
The Church Square is the center of attraction, it forms the heart of
Panaji. It has the church of The Lady of Immaculate Conception which is
absolutely spell bounding and photogenic.
The Archaeological museum:
The museum has been maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India
(ASI) and it has been functioning since 1964 in the abandoned convent
of St. Francis of Assisi. The museum has a good collection of
sculptures, paintings, old coins and other ancient items.
Miramar Beach:
Its the nearest beach from Panaji. It is a marsh beach encircled by
Palm trees. This beach also provides the enchanting view of the Aguada
fort lying across the Mandovi river.
Anjuna beach: This beach is famous for its
Flea market
held every Wednesday. It also provides a mesmerizing view of nearby
Chapora fort and the Vagator. Anjuna Beach is the favorite of all kinds
of tourists.
Biocholim: Biocholim is known for waterfalls and Mayem lake, which is a popular
picnic spot. It has temples like Shri Datta Mandir, Vithal Mandir, Saptakoteshwar temple and Aravlem caves.
Other hot spots in Panaji are the Mahalaxmi temple, the Jama Masjid Mosque, the Menezes
Braganza Institute, the Chapel of St. Sebastian, the Adilshah's Palace and many more such exciting places.
Mapusa/Mapsa
Mapusa or Mapsa as pronounced by the locals, is situated 13 kms away
from Panaji. It is the third largest city of Goa and the capital of
northern Bardez taluka. It is known for its famous Friday market, which
is the hub of shops of all kinds. Local residents and tourists gather
here to shop things ranging from groceries to exotic souvenirs.
With the hustle and bustle of the Friday market, Mapusa has its own
Charm. A small town with fairly modern buildings attracts the attention
of all.
Location: A commercial town in north Goa, situated in the Bardez taluka, 13 kms south of Panaji, on the National Highway 17.
Tourist attractions:
- The Friday market
- Church of our Lady of Miracles
- Shrine of Lord Bogeshwar
- The temple of Lord Hanuman.
Best activities: Shopping, site seeing.
Nearby tourist attractions: Anjuna beach, Baga Beach, Chapora fort, Vagator fort, Sri Kalka mandir, Sri Morji temple.
When to visit: October to March
Major
Tourist Attractions The Friday market:
Mapusa is famous for its Friday market which is a major attraction for
tourists. The market gives a lively look to town. It surrounds the
beach areas of Calangute, Condolim, Anjuna and Baga among others.
The church of our Lady of Miracles:
It is about 2 kms east of market area in Mapusa. It was built in the
year 1594 and is locally known as St. Jerome. The church was
reconstucted in the year 1961. It is famous for its
annual feast and is considered sacred by all communities. Thus, giving a perfect example of communal harmony.
Other attractions are temples and beaches in the nearby area.
Margao
Margao Margao is the second largest city of Goa and is situated 33 kms
away from Panaji. It is the commercial center of southern Goa. With the
opening of Konkan Railways, Margao has gained more significance and is
now the main railway terminal in south Goa . Margao is a typical Goan
town, with Portuguese influence all around. It displays its past
through artistic temples, churches and other monuments. The town has a
old-worldly charm which attracts tourists from far off places.
Margao has an excellent Market area for all those who love to shop and
eat outside. The shady balcos (porches) and oyster- shell windows
attracts one and all.
Location: Margao is situated in the Salcete Taluka, 33 kms from Panaji.
Tourist attractions:
- Beaches
- The Old market
- Pandava Caves
- The Steely Church of The Holy Spirit
- The House of Gables or Sat Burzam Ghor
- Jorge Barreto park
- Rachol Seminary
- Monte Church and the Chandreshwar Bhuthnath Temple
Best activities: Shopping, site seeing.
Nearby tourist attractions: Colvo beach, Benaulim beach, Mobor and Majrda beach, agonda beach, Palelom beach, Canacona beach.
When to visit: October to March
Major Tourist Attraction
The Church of the Holy Spirit:
The Church of the Holy Spirit is also known as The Largo de Igreja. It
is present at the entrance of the city, just north of the Municipal
Garden Square. The church is a beautiful example of Portuguese
architecture, built in 1675, it's still in pristine condition.
The House of Seven Gables or Sat Burzam Ghor: It is within the walking distance of the Church of the Holy Spirit. Sebastino da Silva, emissary and private
secretary
of the Portuguese Viceroy, commissioned this mansion in 1790. Only
three out of seven Gables remain today, but still it maintains a
respectful position in every visitor's heart.
The Jorge Barreto park: The Municipal Garden or The Jorge Barreto Park is surrounded by many restaurants and
office buildings. It is a beautiful park to enjoy and relax.
Arambol
Arambol or Harmal as it is known, is situated in north Goa, 50 kms from
Panaji, the capital of Goa. It is the largest coastal village in
Pernem district and the only one that maintains its natural serenity.
The village is special in many ways. Along with its calm and peace
atmosphere it has some of the beautiful beaches in Goa. Thanks to the
villagers living nearby who opposed many proposals of building luxury
resorts in the area. Vacationers come to this paradise to experience
nature in its purest form. Parties at the beaches are not a regular
thing in Arambol, thus helping it to retain its charm.
This
untouched and primitive destination attracts one and all. It makes one
fall in love with its small fishing boats, soft white sand, village
churches and the Palm trees in rows.
Location: Located in the north of Goa, approximately 50 kms from Panaji, the state capital.
Tourist attractions: The Teracol fort, Freshwater lake, Main beach and the northern beach.
Best activities: Para gliding, swimming, Dolphin watching, boat trips to Anjuna beach.
Nearby tourist destinations: Anjuna beach and Vagator.
When to visit: November to February
Major Tourist Attraction The Teracol Fort:
This fort was built by the Portuguese, for defense purpose. It is
situated on the north side of the estuary of the Teracol river, the
northern boundary of Goa. This beautiful and historic fort has now been
turned into a small luxury hotel.
The Freshwater Lake:
Moving further one can find a small freshwater lake, which extends
along the bottom of the valley into a thick jungle. The lake has
boiling hot springs, lined with Sulphurous mud. It is believed that
this mud has therapeutic effect, when applied over the body.
Vasco-D-Gama
Vasco Da Gama better known as Vasco, is located at the western tip of
Mormugao peninsula overlooking the origin of the river, Zuari. The area
came under Portuguese rule around 1543, and within a few years, it was
transformed into one of western India's busiest ports. It is also one
of the industrial and commercial city of Goa. Thus, it is a key
shipping centre, very important for the economy of Goa, which has a
large number of mines in its interiors. Vasco Da Gama has the Mormugao
harbor, one of the India's natural harbor, at one end and the Dabolim
airport at the other end. Being the cosmopolitan city of Goa, it
attracts tourists in hordes.Vasco is known for it beautiful beaches and
interesting sea food. A small and a beautiful city is worth visiting
on your Goa tour. So, come to Vasco and let your senses relax.
Location: One of Goa's industrial and commercial city, Vasco Da Gama is located 30 kms away from Panaji.
Tourist attractions: The Bogmalo beach, Naval Aviation museum, Sada fort, St. Andrews Church.
Best activities: Fishing, Diving and many more.
Nearby tourist attractions:
Velsao beach, Majorda beach, Colva beach, Church of St. Alex,
Curtorim, Church of Holy Spirit, Rachol Seminary, Rachol, Shree Damodar
Temple, Jama Masjid, Cabo de Rama, Buddhist caves, Rivona.
When to visit: October to March
Major Tourist Attraction Bogmalo beach :
A small village known for its clean and calm atmosphere. One can look
forward to indulge in various activities like fishing, diving and of
course swimming.
The Naval Aviation museum :
This museum was inaugurated in the year 1998 at Dabolim. It is
situated near the Bogmalo beach, thus adding to its attraction. It
contains the history of India Naval Aviation, and also exhibits various
aircrafts, weapons, rare photographs and other artifacts.
The Sada fort :
It was built by the Portuguese at the tip of the land jutting into the
Arabian sea. There is also a small beach at the base of the remains of
the fort which can be reached via steps leading down the steep cliff
side. This is a gorgeous site to visit and relax.
