Goa

Discover the sun kissed beaches, listen to the murmuring winds, watch the sun drawing patterns in the sand through the shades of the trees,as you plan to explore Goa.. The tiny piece of paradise- Goa, lies in the West Coast of India and is spread over an area of 3,702 sq. kms. With a coastline of 105 kms it is washed by the Arabian Sea. Goa's outstanding attractions are its serene and scenic beauty, diverse landscape- wide, sandy, palm - fringed beaches, clean waters, delicious food and hospitable people with a rich cultural milieu.

Goa has it all, sun, sand and sea. An unique blend of Latin and Oriental, incredibly rich in monuments and historical sites, dazzling variety of exotic flora and fauna, lush green hinterland, rivers that offer water adventure sports that will thrill you beyond expectation.

Goa has a timeless charm.....Its uniqueness lies in the fact that whilst creating a delicate synthesis of various cultures, it has retained its inherent soul.

Goa, certainly is a land of dreams and romance.....a timeless world of gentle hospitable people and unhurried activity.Variously known as "Rome of the East", "Tourist Paradise" and "Pearl of the Orient", the state of Goa is located on the western coast of India in the coastal belt known as Konkan.

The magnificent scenic beauty and the architectural splendours of its temples, churches and old houses have made Goa a firm favourite with travellers around the world.

Getting There :

1. By Air: Dabolim is the main entry point for Goa situated at a distance of around 29 km from Panaji on the coast near Vasco da Gama. Most domestic airlines operate in Goa apart from chartered private airlines operating from UK and Germany. Indian Airlines has direct flights from Delhi and Mumbai daily. Air India also flies to Goa.

2. By Rail: It is not difficult to reach Goa by trains, especially after opening of the Konakan Railway that connects Margao and Vasco da Gama to major cities in India. You can take trains from Delhi 1,874 km), Mumbai (490km), and Bangalore (430 km) to reach Goa comfortably. From the railway stations, you can hire taxis and motorcycle taxis to reach the desired destinations.

3. By Road: Goa, Maharashtra, and Karnataka state transport corporations operate from the Kadamba bus stand at Panaji. Frank Shipping operates a boat service between Mumbai and Panaji. Moving around in Goa is quite easy. One can find bus as well as car rental services. A unique experience is that of the motorcycle taxi. Several ferry services are also available.

Tourist Attractions :

The Bedazzling Beaches of Goa
Colva Beach
Colva is on the northern end of this long, continuous strip of coastline. It is located just 6 km away from the city of Margao. It’s broad and beautiful, has a stream coursing through it and is backed by palms. Sadly, its beauty has made it popular and its popularity has cheapened it: its off-beach shops and restaurants, brightly lit and crowded, give it the feel of a funfair rather than a serene, unwinding beach. This is essentially our domestic tourists’ paddling beach.

Colva is quite a crowded beach. And, to ones surprise a majority of the crowd consists of locals. Though scenically this isn't one the best beaches, it does have a lot of good restaurants. There are a variety of hotels along this beach that suit almost every budget.

Baga Beach
Baga is a small fishing beach with a grove of shady palms close to the water's edge. There are few buses that come all the way to the beach's edge, but none after dark. It's a long walk to the Calangute taxi stand from the beach, so if you plan to stay after sundown, make sure you have your own transport. Baga is really an extension of Calangute beach. But unlike Calangute, which is crowded, steep and marred by dangerous undercurrents, the beach at Baga is flat, safe for swimming, and has clean, white sand. A little creek joins the sea between the beach sands and a hill that is home to the Retreat House.

Baga is very popular with topless sunbathers who strip off to catch some sun, while the locals gawk. You can catch some action of a different kind if you like water sports and fishing. After dark, night-time revellers frequent Tito's - one of the more lively watering holes of Goa's nightlife.

Vagator Beach
Vagator is 22 kms from Panaji. It is a popular beach dominated by Chapora Fort to the north, on its imposing head land and popularly known as 'The Sun Kissing Beach'. To the south of vagator is Calangute beach.

For what the Goa is known very well reflected in Vagator which is one of the most beautiful of the soft golden sand beaches that Goa is famous for. Whenever you see a picture of a beach typically dotted with palm trees and sea green water with people in swimming suit and having fun in water, you will see all this and much more in the Vagator beach. This beach is just like one out of a picture postcard.

The skirt area of the beach is lush green, dotted with coconut palms, friendly farmhouses and pictorial Portuguese bungalows. On the north-west corner of the city are the remains of the Chapora fort. The fort is well preserved and offers some splendid views from its ramparts. A ten minute walk south of the Big Vagator is Ozran, also known as Little Vagator. This end of the beach is relatively secluded and has a row of cafes catering to the tourists who are here during the day.

One who visits Goa cannot miss the Vagator beach. Vagator is a fine vacation option for sea enthusiasts. It is an ideal place for people with small budgets but lots of time with them. It is an attractive little bay between rocky headlands with a series of small beaches with shady palms. Chapora Fort is on a hill at the northern end. Now in ruins, the fort stands on the southern bank old the Chapora River. It was originally made by Adil Shah. Later on the Mughals and Portuguese used it.

Candolim Beach
Candolim Beach is one of most frequented and popular beach of Northern Goa. The beach starts at the footsteps of the highly acclaimed Fort Aguada, built by the Portuguese in 1612.This sandy stretch runs into Calangute Beach, a busy and commercialized center.

The Candolim Beach itself is long and straight, backed by scrub-covered dunes, which is very popular with package tourists. These beaches are quite peaceful than other beaches of Goa as it is a dispersed village with no real center.

Anjuna Beach
This is a popular beach of north Goa. It gets very busy in Anjuna from November onwards with tourists of varied types flocking to this otherwise simple village. The atmosphere here during the peak season surprises as it a favorite destination of the hippies and backpackers since the 70's.

Anjuna gets inundated especially on Wednesdays with folks of backpackers, round-the-world travelers, etc. for the famous flea market that has become a must visit event for anyone traveling to Goa. The merchandise mainly consists of jewellary, clothes, appliqué work, papier-mâché boxes, turquoise bracelets, you name it and you find it there.

The Holy Churches
The churches in Goa largely reflect European architectural styles. The Portuguese introduced Christianity to the Goans. Thus, majority of the churches in Goa were built during the Portuguese regime. Come, have a look at the churches of Goa

St. Catherine's Church
St. Catherine's Church was the first major church built by the Portuguese in Goa. It was built to commemorate the taking of Old Goa on St. Catherine's day in 1510. The original structure was a simple mud structure that was built for immediate use. This was replace by a stone building in 1539 and finally enlarged to its final form in 1550.

Basilica Of BomJesus, Old Goa
'Bom Jesus' means 'Infant Jesus' or 'Good Jesus'. When you set foot inside the Basilica, you will see a stunning display of architectural pieces in wood, stone, gold and granite. If this makes you spellbound, there are plenty surprises in store. Immediately to your right is the altar of St. Anthony and to your left is a wooden statue of St. Francis Xavier.

This is reported to be one of the earliest churches of Goa. the church sits atop the western side of the Holy hill or Monte Santo overlooking the Mandovi river and Divar Island. This is reportedly the very site where Alfonso de Albuquerque guided his troops to victory in 1510 and so says a plaque with the inscription placed in the 1950's. Its status was raised to a church in 1543 and it was entrusted to the care of the Franciscans. It was held in great veneration by the public as it was here that St. Francis Xavier used to teach catechism every evening to the public who flocked together at the sound of a little bell he rang.

Its facade has the appearance of a fortress, having openings in its wall to visualize invaders. Its design is simple, in front of its altar lies the tombstone of Garcia de Sa, one of the early governors of Goa. It is a fine example of true "Manueline" style architecture of the early Portuguese. Its interior is simple and has five altars the main altar of which bears the image of Nossa Senhora de Rozario or Our Lady of the Rosary.

Church of St. Francis of Assisi
Church and Convent of Sao Francisco de Assis, the church was built in 1661, on the site where was an old Francescan's chapel, this church has a beautiful portal in Manueline style. The Convent is today a Museum

Church and Convent of Sao Francisco de Assis, the church was built in 1661, on the site where was an old Francescan's chapel, this church has a beautiful portal in Manueline style. The Convent is today a Museum

Nightlife of Goa
Your best bet for finding a good party is to hang out around whatever appears to be the most popular beach shack of the season, and to get chatting with the locals (but be wary of getting lifts to unknown venues with strangers). Other excellent spots for picking up the scent of out-of-the-way parties are Ingo's Saturday Night Bazaar, the Wednesday Market in Anjuna, or the ever-popular Tito's -- this local institution has been going for years and attracts anyone and everyone who's up for a party. Or check out Kamaki, up the road from Tito's (stay clear of karaoke nights, however). Better by far is Nine Bar, the quintessential Goan sundowner hangout (above Ozran Beach; closes 9pm), where delicious trance accompanies the scene as the sun plunges exotically behind palm fronds and the horizon. On Thursday nights, Axirvaad transforms into an "ethnofunky groove" space where edgy tunes are spun by well-known Mumbai model Ranjeev Mulchandani or touring guest artists.

Goa Beach Shacks
These are the best places to hang around, located on the beach these shacks provide adequate shelter to those who might want stay away from the scorching sun and enjoy the sea-breeze. You can start the day with the breakfast then splash in the waters the whole day or just laze on the beach and return to your hotel late in the evening. Some shacks are well quipped with beach beds, beach chairs, beach umbrellas, masseurs, etc. These places also provide some information about the happenings around the locality.

Towards the evening just before sunset the sky fills with magical wonder, a sight that has left some spellbound. It is a must see phenomenon for anyone visiting Goa and if you are lucky you might see the sun being swallowed by the sea. And to end the day you can dine at the beach at the shack of your choice. Each shack has its own type of music, but at your request you can listen to some of your personal favorites . Shacks are becoming increasingly popular with the tourists as it is here that one can enjoy the beautiful coast of Goa, and get a tan for free. For those who are not accustomed to the heat it is advisable to get under an umbrella for few minutes to prevented sun burn.

Watersports in Goa
Goa is a land bordered by the majestic azure sea and when you reach this beautiful tourist spot of Goa, you can't help but take a plunge into the warm inviting sea. Apart from swimming, you can also indulge in various sports events that are organized in the beach. Look out for those sports that fit you and just take the plunge.

Deep Sea!!
Scuba diving is growing in popularity in Goa. From Dona Paula jetty or from Aqua Marine in Panjim it is easy to take a diver, rent scuba gear and arrange for an instructor.

Once you know how to use the equipment, the wonders of the deep open up. A few islands off the shore from the airport are ideal spots for scuba diving.

Sailing through the water!!
High fliers amongst the speed lovers take to parasailing. The Taj and the Oberoi hotels both have equipment for this exhilarating sport.

There's a rope about 300 feet long attached to the parasail harness at one end and to the speedboat at the other. The sailor is on the shore in a harness. When the boat takes off he just takes one or two steps and he is lifted into the air, the parasail lifting behind him. During the ride you may use water scooters, those noisy little demons of the sea, which accommodate two people and whisk away at great speed. All the thrills of a motorbike with all the softness of an ocean instead of hard tar beneath the feet. Water scooters are readily available at places like the Dona Paula jetty, Cidade de Goa, Majorda, Oberoi and Candolim Beach. Scooters are ideal for children and they can take grandma along too.

Exotic Cities of Goa
Panaji
Panaji, town, capital of Goa state, India. Panaji lies at the mouth of the Mandavi River where it empties into the Arabian Sea, and has been the administrative capital of Goa since 1843, when it succeeded the previous Portuguese capital of Old Goa. The town was originally a small fishing community, growing in importance from 1759 when the viceroy moved to Panaji to escape the disease epidemics of Old Goa. The town has some light industry and is a holiday resort, with its picturesque coastal location, colonial and whitewashed houses, and local places of interest. Landmarks include the Church of the Immaculate Conception and Mahalaxmi Temple. Population (1991) 43,349.

Mapusa
A small town clustered around the Mount (Alto) is Mapusa. It forms the hub of north Goa with an even blend of residential and commercial establishments. Its 13 kms away from Panaji, a sharing taxi or a bus will take you there. Known popularly for its Friday market, people from all over Goa come here to buy and sell their wares. You will also get plants and saplings, ready spiced Goan pork sausages, dried fish and prawns, clothing, junk jewelry, and the famous country liquor, all sold at the most reasonable prices you could possibly find.

Mapusa market was first heard in the 1580 by a Dutch Chronicler, who even described it as the "Bazaar Grande". The popularity of Mapusa as a market center grew out of ancient festivals in honour of the God Kanakeshwar Baba, venerated at the Bodgeshwar Temple. The festivals attracted large crowds seeking to fulfill their individual wishes, which needed pots and oil lamps as offerings to propitiate the Gods. Both Mapusa's location at the hub of commercial activity and its proximity to a place of religious pilgrimage have caused the Mapusa market to grow to its current size and scope.

Mormugoa
Full moon parties, hippie chic, and the spaced-out expat who wants to dance naked on the beach are the images that Goa brings to mind. This attitude has been relegated to the past---gladly---and replaced by a prevalence of backpackers and Indian tourists visiting the colonial ruins and Catholic churches. Mormugao is the premier and oldest Indian port, though there is little to see within the town itself. A visit to Old Goa or the capital city of Panaji are the best bets if you only have a limited amount of time.

Vasco Da Gama
The town of Vasco-da-Gama was originally called Sambhaji. This spick and span, and geometrically planned well laid out coastal town popularly known as Vasco is also the oldest railway terminus for passenger service.

Vasco is a key shipping center, with container vessels and iron ore barges clogging the river mouth, but doesn’t hold anything of interest for visitors. The only usual reasons for tourists to come to Vasco is to catch a bus to Dabolim airport, or the Bogmalo beach that lies 8-km southeast. Its city center is dominated by imposing multi-storied buildings and a church.

Goa's only airport, Dabolim lies at one end of Vasco, and the internationally famous natural port of Mormugao is also close by. The Mormugao harbour is certainly one of the finest natural anchorages on the West Coast of India. Passenger and Cargo ships dock here from all over the world.