Goa Travel Guide
About
Goa:
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
Goa 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.
Goa 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.
Goa 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.
Get a Room
Resorts in Goa is plentiful with a variety of hotels, resorts and
guest houses to suit every budget and every taste. There are simple
and bare rooms available for the thriftiest of back-packers and
five-star deluxe luxury suites for those that want to indulge their
fancies.
Almost all round the year, travellers are usually assured of
finding a room - if not in a hotel, then at least in a private
house. However, come the peak season of December and January, you
are likely to experience problems, unless you book your rooms well
in advance.
Just around Christmas until the dawn of the new year, Goa is in
festive mood and plays host to hundreds and thousands of visitors
from all over India and around the world. So accommodation is at a
premium everywhere.
Luxury Hotels
» Taj Holiday Village Sinquerim, North Goa.
» Majorda Beach Resort Majorda, South Goa.
» Taj Exotica Benaulim, South Goa.
» Fort Aguada Beach Resort Sinquerim, North Goa.
» Dona Sylvia Beach Resort Cavelossim, South Goa.
» Bogmalo Beach Resort Bogmalo, South Goa.
» Holiday Inn Resort Mobor Beach, South Goa.
» Renaissance Goa Resort Colva Beach, South Goa.
» Goa Marriot Resort Miramar, Panaji.
» The Leela Palace Mobor Beach, South Goa.
» Cidade De Goa Dona Paula
» Budget Hotel
» Hotel La Flor Margao South Goa.
» Hotel Satyaheera Mapusa, North Goa.
» Hotel Park Plaza Panaji.
» Mayfair Hotel Panaji.
» Hotel Manoshanti Panaji.
» Hotel Bismarck Vasco.
» Hotel Goa International Miramar, Panaji.
» Afonso Guest House Fountainhas, Panaji.
» Hotel Rajdhani Panjim, Goa.
» Hotel Manvin Panjim, Goa.
» Hotel Green Park Mapusa, Goa.
The Myriad Attraction of Goa
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.
