Location: West of India
Famous As: state of sea beaches.
Capital: Panjim
Places of Interest: Churches, Beaches
Altitude: Sea level to 1022 Mts.
Temperature: summer: Max. 33, Min. 26, winter Max. 31, Min. 20
Ideal Time to Visit: October to May (Peak season December to
February)
Language: Konkani is the official language of Goa, other languages
are English, Kannada, Marathi.
An Over all View of Goa
Goa, also known as "Rome of the East".
Goa a perfect celestial home for the wanderlust tourist is also known as
Konkan. The city located on the seacoast of western India is arrayed with
vast golden sand beaches making a perfect palm fringes lines, a panoramic
luster for the visitor.
Amidst seas and the lush green forested hills Goa offers blazing sands,
swaying coconut palms, and delicacies of fresh seafood. Goa has lot more in
its stores to offer its visitors from luxury hotels and budget guesthouses
to refreshing chilled beer. Goa's magnificent beaches are filled with
enduring hawkers during the day and Rave parties at night. For those who
intent to discover the real India, Goa is the ultimate destination for a
luxurious holiday break on the southern trail.
Historic Perspective
Thronged by gift of nature, Goa is also festoon with its opulent cultural
and historical heritage. It is hardly surprising that the Portuguese who
came in search of spices in 16th century decided to put down roots in this
tropical paradise. The rule of Portuguese in Goa gives an integral blend of
Indian and Western ether that can be easily visible in its structures.
Panaji, the capital of Goa is a magnificent specimen of Goa's architecture
splendor.
Goa the most extensive beach resort in the country can easily be accessible
from Mumbai by of airways or waterways. Goa's coastline provides endless sun
drenched crescent of sand. Beside fabulous beaches Goa is also a major halt
for water sports. Para sailing, yachting, windsurfing, and deep sea diving
are some of the more popular water sports facilitated by the Government of
Goa.
Charms of Goa
Famous church
Goa, Jewel of India, is ornamented with the most extensive group of
churches and cathedrals built during 16th to 17th century AD at Old Goa with
holding the intense religious history of the diverse people who lived here.
Hence a pilgrimage to Goa is a unique experience.
Se
Cathedral
One of largest church, built during the 16th century is built in Tuscan
style. In one synagogue is kept the Cross-of Miracles, said to have grown in
size and have properties of healing. The cathedral is dedicated to Saint
Catherine and it also houses a celebrated bell called as the Golden Bell
because of its sound.
Convent & Church of St. Francis of Assisi
It treasures the portraits of the Portuguese viceroys and images from Hindu
temple. The exquisite church showcases marvelous aesthetic artwork and
woodcarving. The floors are illuminated with intricate tombstones depicting
scenes from the life of St. Francis. The monastery at the back of this
church is now the Archaeological Museum.
The Church of St. Alex
Curtorim- 9 km. from Margao, the Church of St. Alex is one of the oldest
churches in Goa, built in 1597.
Basilica of Bom Jesus
It contains the tomb and mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier, is a famous
structure in the Roman Catholic world.
Beaches
Goa a celestial home of a cool blue sea that stretch itself to join the
widespread blue sky. The golden sands on the beach lined with luxuriant
green palm and coconut trees are spectators to this mystical merger. This is
Goa, the paradise of the east. Beaches in Goa are among the peerless beaches
in the world and plays a major role in proclaiming tourism in Goa.
Colva Beach
Colva Beach earns the title of a Queen. The beach 6km. from Margao has
exquisite sand, coconut trees and glistening blue waters. With 40 km of
persistent white sand border with coconut palms along the whole of its
length and a warm, calm sea, it is a heaven on the land of Goa.
Miramar
3 km from Panjim City, Miramar is the nearest beach. It is a beautiful
golden beach with swamp sand surrounded by the row of palm trees. One can
also enjoy the sight of Agauda Fort lying across the Mandovi River.
Anjuna Beach
Lies at a distance of 50km is an enchanting beach in north of Goa. It is
both rocky and sandy beach lying just adjacent to Chapora Fort. The beach
has an imposing Albuquerque Mansion built in 1920, haunch by octagonal
towers and ravishing Mangalore tile-roof and a sweet water tank right on the
shore.
Polema beach
About 37km from Margao lies Polema beach attracting the tourist throughout
the year by its tiny bay and tranquil splendor. A beach offers safe swimming
along with other water sports like Para-sailing, yachting and windsurfing.
Candolim
At a distance of 13km the beach is fully equipped with all the
international class facilities for para sailing, water-skiing, scuba diving,
fishing, and windsurfing. A 17th century Fort is also major attraction of
the beach.
Panjim
Beach
Panjim the capital city of Goa is thronged with private houses and
government buildings that date back to Portuguese times. Signs in Portuguese
are still seen over shops, cafes, fountain structures and administrative
buildings. Amidst the heart of the city rises in resplendence, the
whitewashed church of the pristine inception founded in 1540.
Excursions
Excursion tours can be organized from Goa for Mumbai 594 kms. one of the
most important commercial city of India. For Agra to see India's portrait of
a true love story the Taj Mahal. Other important excursions from Goa are
Banglore-598kms, Mysore-696kms, Pune-458kms, Hubli-184, Kolhapur-246kms and
Ratnagiiri-263kms.
Entertainment
Goa also has an enchanting nightlife in its various discotheques, eating
joints, nightclubs and pub joints. Goa offers apical class casinos with
popular games like baccarat, craps, blackjack and roulette.
Rave Parties: During New Year and Christmas times the most popular Rave
Parties are held. The parties are organized every night and are full of fun,
cheering pass times for every tourist. The whole city is embellished with
music, lights, dance fun, enthusiasm and entertainment during the festivity
time.
Goa carnival is celebrated through out the year, a festival of fun, dance
and music. The festival is celebrated in entire Goa over a period of 2 days
during the time of Easter.
Street plays, songs, dances, and spontaneous mocking are performed before
fervent, responsive audience. Pontoon depicting favorite cradlesong and
nursery rhymes make a capricious and resplendent sight on the streets. Many
cultural programs are held and are judged by specially selected people. King
Momo distributes the prizes to the winners. The contestants wear colorful
costumes and elaborate masks.
Goa a shopping Hub
For travelers, a visit to Goa is not complete unless they take back a
memento of their memorable vacation from this dazzling paradise. The local
handicrafts of Goa and popular souvenir items includes brassware,
terracotta, shell work, crochet, bamboo work, papier-mâché,
etc. These are easily available in the Government Emporia and also at shops
and stalls near the popular tourist spots. Goa is also famous for its
delicious cashew nuts, which is on the shopping list of every traveler to
Goa. The Wednesday Market at Anjuna Beach very popular among foreigners is a
remarkably vivacious hub where souvenirs, beachwear, trinkets and
handicrafts are sold at bargain prices.
Water Sports
Water sports in Goa are organized by various hotels an by GTDC, Agua Sports
Assn,Goa Yatching Assn and Dona Paula Sports Club. Some of the major water
sports are Windsurfing, Dinghy Sailing, Water-skiing, Para-sailing.
Getting
Around
Air
Dabolim Airport is the main airhead of Goa and it is connected by Indian
Airlines and Air India to Mumbai, Bangalore, Cochin, Delhi, and Ahmedabad.
Private Airlines also operates flights to Goa.
Rail
Vasco-da-Gama and Margoa are connected by train with Bangalore, Belgaum,
Hubli and Hyderabad and via Miraj to Mumbai, Delhi and Agra.
Road
Goa is connected to all its cities and other important placed by proper
road network. Panaji, the capital of Goa, is connected by road to
Bangalore-598 kms, Mumbai-594 km, Gokarn-154 km, Hubli-184 km, Kolhapur-246
km, Mangalore-371 kms, Mysore-696 kms and Pune-458 kms.
Sea
Ship services between Mumbai and Damania organizes by Goa.
