Destinations
Palolem Beach
most picturesque beaches in the state. Enclosed by a thick forest of coconut palms, Palolem is popular amongst family vacationers as well as backpackers and young crowds. The beach is as perfect for a quiet laid-back holiday as for partying.
The north side of the beach is where one can find family vacationers enjoying their quiet and relaxing holiday. In the centre and south of Palolem Beach, backpackers and young crowd can be seen hanging out at the beach shacks or enjoying watersports.
Baga Beach
One of the most happening beaches in Goa, Baga Beach is where you will find water sports, fine dining restaurants, bars, and clubs. Situated in North Goa, Baga Beach is bordered by Calangute and Anjuna Beaches. Watersports are the major attraction of Baga Beach. Parasailing, wakeboarding, windsurfing, kite surfing, jet skiing are some of the top watersports activities to enjoy in Baga Beach. One can also go for dolphin spotting tours and island trips from the beach.
Baga also boasts one of the best nightlife scenes in Goa, the famous Tito’s Lane has some of the best bars and clubs. One unique attraction at Baga Beach is an indoor snow park that has a play area, sledding area, and ice bar. For shopaholics, there is a Tibetan Market on the Baga Road.
Dudhsagar Falls
The magnificent Dudhsagar Waterfall is perched in the high peaks of the Western Ghats and is a sight to behold especially in the monsoons when it is in full and furious flow. From a distance, the waterfall appears like streams of milk rushing down the mountainside. The exhuberent and spectacular waterfall is located in the Sanguem taluka.Measuring a mighty 600m from head to foot, this waterfall on the Goa-Karnataka border, attracts a steady stream of visitors from the coast into the rugged Western Ghats. After pouring across the Deccan plateau, the headwaters of the Mandovi River form a foaming torrent that splits into three streams to cascade down a near-vertical cliff face into a deep green pool.
Fort Aguada
The Aguada fort is a monument to Portuguese construction and engineering. Although parts of it have fallen to the ravages of time, much of it is intact and it remains the best preserved Portuguese fort in India today.
It is named after the fresh water spring that gave the fort a constant supply of potable water, ‘agua’, Portuguese word for water and ‘Aguada’ signifying a place where water is collected.Fort Aguada is a typical example of Portuguese military architecture.Built of durable laterite stone, so easily available all over Goa, its massive bulwarks which stand fully 5 metres high and 1.3 metres thick, have stood the test of time, lashed as they are by fierce monsoon storms and winds.
The Basilica of Bom Jesus Church
The Basilica of Bom Jesus is a monument typical of the classic forms of plane architecture, introduced by the Society of Jesus, otherwise known as the Jesuits. The façade, which is of granite, represents features of five styles of architecture: Roman, Ionic, Doric, Corinthian and Composite. It is a large single Nave structure built (1595-1605) and paid for with legacies left by Dom Jeronimo Mascarenhas, a wealthy Portuguese Captain of Cochin.
Don’t let its unassuming air fool you, the Bom Jesus Basilica is a World Heritage Monument, and has been christened so by UNESCO.
Chapora Fort
Located 10 km away from the town of Mapusa, bewitching and vivid, Chapora Fort in Chapora Village has remarkably withstood the ravages of time. Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder and one only needs an eye to appreciate the beauty of this secluded ruined Fort.
This fort was shown in the filming of Bollywood movie Dil chahta Hai and became very popular among youngsters as Dil Chahta hai Fort after the movie gained a lot of recognition.Native laterite stone and hilly terrains joined hands to take you back in time, when this fort used to be the pride of Portuguese rulers.
Se Cathedral
The largest church in Asia, Se Cathedral is clearly the top tourist attraction in Goa. Known for its impressive interiors, the mosaic work and the Golden Bell, which is the largest in Goa and one of the largest in the world, Se Cathedral is located in Old Goa. The 17th Century Roman Catholic church is dedicated to St. Catherine of Alexandria and is the cathedral of Archbishop of Goa. It is also one of the churches that has been recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
History of Se Cathedral
Se Cathedral was built to commemorate the victory of Portuguese under Afonso Albuquerque over the Muslim army. The day when the Portuguese won was the feast day of St.
Mangeshi Temple
The Mangest Temple is famous both for its history & architecture, and is counted among the most famous temples in Goa. It is located at Priol in Ponda Taluka, about 21 kilometers from Panaji, the capital city of Panaji. The area surrounding it is known as Mangueshi.
It is the only temple in Goa where Lord Shiva is known as Lord Mangesh. Legend There is a fascinating legend associated with the Mangesh Temple. It is interesting to know that the name Mangesh is not used for Lord Shiva anywhere else in India.According to the legend, Lord Shiva once lost everything in a game of dice with his wife Parvati.
Reis Magos Fort
Standing tall and proud overseeing and protecting the taluka of Bardez, across the river from the capital city of Panaji, this fort was one of the first bastions of the Portuguese rulers against enemy invasion. The structure exudes majesty and grandeur and though it is not the biggest fort in Goa, it still commands respect and awe.Pre-dating even the prestigious and much larger Fort Aguada, and situated at the narrowest point of the mouth of the Mandovi, it’s skilful construction and strategic placement made this fort nearly impregnable and it was an important asset to the Portuguese colonists.The fort has also been skilfully repaired in recent years and partly restored to its former glory.