GOA

BEST SEASON: July to September and November to mid February
LANGUAGE SPOKEN: Hindi & English
CLOTHING: Summer- Cotton
STD CODE: 0832

INTRODUCTION

Goa is definitely the best tourist place for India. "The pearl of the east," Goa is known for its Gothic churches, crumbling forts, palm-fringed beaches, coconut groves, ferry rides, bubbly folk music… the list is endless! With its 131-km-long coastline, Goa is an important locale in every tourist's itinerary. Sun, sand and sea being the major attractions, Goa is a perfect heaven for the ones who need and want relaxation. Goa Beach Resorts always add to the fun.

PLACES TO VISIT

Goa has a large number of interesting tourist sites such as forts, churches, waterfalls, seminaries, and caves. However, the most prominent of them all are undoubtedly its long and lovely beaches.

Anjuna Beach in Goa
Anjuna is a small village in north Goa the hat is popularly known as the freak capital of the world. Its full-moon rave parties and the Wednesday flea market that takes one back to the hippie days have gained international fame.

Colva and Benaulim Beach in Goa
Colva and Benaulim are two famous beautiful beaches that are still somewhat untouched by the fast paced life.

Mapusa Beach in Goa
Mapusa must be visited for its weekly Friday market which is full of souvenirs and fascinating articles like wooden carvings, coir mats, wood furniture, straw hats and freshly baked bread. It is also more typically Goan, with fish, fruit, vegetables and other fresh produce sold alongside tourist goods.

Vagator and Chapora Beaches in Goa
Vagator and Chapora are quaint fishing villages where the sea turns from aquamarine to emerald green, and a 500-year-old Portuguese fort, leave each visitor amazed.

Dudhsagar Waterfall in Goa
The Dudhsagar waterfall and Arvalem waterfalls attract numerous tourists every year. The rock-cut caves of Khandepar and Arvalem are also worth a visit, as are the Pilar monastery, Saligao seminary, and Rachol seminary.

Basilica of Bom Jesus in Goa
The Basilica of Bom Jesus is a World Heritage Monument and houses the remains of St. Francis Xavier, patron saint of Goa, in an airtight glass coffin inside a silver casket.

Cathedrals of Saint Catherine and that of Saint Francis of Assisi in Goa
The Cathedral of Saint Catherine was completed in 1619 and is the largest Christian church in Asia.

Se Cathedral Church in Goa
The Se Cathedral is dedicated to St. Catherine, on whose Feast Day Alphonso de Albuquerque conquered Goa.

Church of St. Cajatan in Goa
The Church of St. Cajatan was built by an Italian architect in 1651, and was modeled on St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. A theological college is housed here now.

Temples in Goa
Most of the temples in Goa have deities brought from Mithila region in Bihar to which the Saraswat Brahmins of this region are believed to belong. The temples of Shri Mangesh, Shri Shanta Durga and Shri Ramnath are all instances of beautiful temple architecture.

Goa has a large number of other interesting tourist sites that make for excellent travel opportunities such as the Baga Beach, the Church of Our Lady of Rosary, the Reis Magos Church or Church of the Three Magi Kings, the church of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception, etc.

EXCURSIONS

WILDLIFE SANCTUARIES IN GOA
The wildlife sanctuaries of the state of Goa do not have as much variety of flora and fauna, and are smaller than many of the other Indian sanctuaries, but a more peaceful atmosphere and better tourist facilities more than make up for that. Bondla is renowned for its gardens, mini zoo, and deer park, and is a real treat for the children. The Molem Wildlife Sanctuary is the biggest of three wildlife sanctuaries in Goa. Dandeli is another place worth visiting that is located on the Goa-Karnataka border and known for its beautiful landscape, apart from the rich flora and fauna.

MAYEM LAKE
The Mayem Lake is the favourite escape of the local Goans who pack their picnic baskets and set off to this delightful haunt.

TEMPLE OF TAMBDI SURLA
The Temple of Tambdi Surla is one of the few religious structures in the state that survived Portuguese onslaught.

HOW TO REACH

By Air - Goa's international airport is located at Dabolim, at a distance of 29 km from Panaji, on the coast near Vasco Da Gama. Goa's two main railway stations are at Margao and Vasco Da Gama. Reaching Goa by train is easy from Mumbai (490 km), Bangalore (430 km), and Delhi (1,874 km).

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.

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.

DISTANCE