What to see?
Most of us know Goa only for its beaches. No doubt they are the best but after a little exploration you find, it has much more to offer. Here is a list we prepared for you
1. ,
First is of course, its beaches. They are famous for many things. Fine sand that caress your feet as you walk. Vendors who offer from relaxing massages, different hair braids to temporary tattoos. Boatmen will take you for dolphin and crocodile sighting trips
First is of course, its beaches. They are famous for many things. Fine sand that caress your feet as you walk. Vendors who offer from relaxing massages, different hair braids to temporary tattoos. Boatmen will take you for dolphin and crocodile sighting trips
What to see?
Places to visit
Most of us know Goa only for its beaches but after exploring a little you get to know it has much more to offer
1. Beaches
Goa is a coastal state with approximately 120 km of coastline starting with Arambol beach in the north and ending at Palolem beach in the south. Though there is a long sequence of beaches between the two, the famous and the most loved among them are- Calangute (where our holiday home is situated), Baga Beach, Anjuna Beach, Dona Paula Beach, Colva Beach and Palolem Beach. Of these, Calangute, Baga, Dona Paula and Anjuna beach are situated in North Goa whereas Colva and Palolem are situated in South Goa. North Goa beaches are more popular among tourists than South Goa.
Goan beaches are famous for their superfine sand that caress your feet when you walk barefeet. The North Goa beaches specially Calangute is also famous for watersports like- water scooter, snorkelling, water skiing, sailing wind surfing, parasailing. Other things to pamper you are- beach side shopping (tibetian antiques, kashmiri handlooms,local handicrafts), candle light dinner on the beach in almost every restaurant, dance to your favorite numbers on the beach enjoying the Goan Feni. You can have fun getting temporary tattos painted on you or getting a massage in the Sun.
2. Churches
Every Indian who has watched hindi movies recognises Goa by the Church of Of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception, situated in Panjim, the capital of Goa and abut 16 km from Calangute.
Then there is well preserved mummy of St Francis Xavier at the Basilica de Bom Jesus, in Old Goa, which is 18 km from calangute. The Church also has a museum that displayes Goa's multi cultural past.
Some of the other famous churches of are-
The Rachol Seminary -Originally a Muslim fortress, it was converted into a church by the Portuguese and later, into a prison.
The Se Cathedral- People have had visions of Jesus on the Cross of Miracles in this church and it is supposed to be slowly growing today.
Apart from the religious high they give you, you will also appreciate the art and architecture of the renaissance period displayed in the churches.
3. Temples
Not many people know about the number of old temples that are there in Goa. Prominent among them are
Brahma Temple in the village of Brahma Carambolim (meaning water pot of Braha). Built in 5 AD one of the very few temples anywhere dedicated to Lord Brahma.
Sri Gomeshwari Temple in Old Goa, also built in 5 AD by the Kadamba kings.
Shri Datta Mandir supposed to have miracle cures for mental illness.
Shri Bhagwati Temple, Shri Damodar Madir, Shanta Durga Temple.
4. Aguada Fort
6 km from Calagute , Fort Aguada was built in 1612 by the Portuguese to defend Goa against the Dutch and the Marathas. Strategically positioned at the mouth of Mandovi river, it also had a light house to guide ships. You cant escape the romanticsm of this fort and lighthouse at night . During the end of the portuguese rule, it also served as a prison.
5. Casinos/ Discotheques
When you are indulging yourself whynot go the full length? Try your luck in in the many casinos all over North Goa. There are even floating Casinos on the Mandovi river in Panjim. Famous discotheqes like Titos, Mambos (3 km from the resort) and many more....open air discotheques and music nights on most beaches.....
6. Ancestral Goa Museum/ Big Foot
It gets its name form the large huam foot print on a rock that sits at the centre of the open air museum. It also has the largest latrite structure in India in Limca Book of records.
7. Villages
If you have time we suggest you take a walk into the villages to see how real Goa lives. How they make their famed Kaju Feni, how they fish, what they eat. Trust us, they will never stop surprising you.
We have just listed the "must-sees" in Goa. Things you will not find anywhere else. There are many other places to visit too like the seven rivers of Goa, The Naval Aviation Museum, Arvalam Waterfalls, Arvalem caves,Banastari Bridge, Boca De Vaca Spring, Brithish Cemetry in Goa, Budbudyachi Tali, Cabo De Rama, Cabo Raj Bhavan, Calizz- The Heart of Goa, Carambolim lake, Chapora Fort, Chorao Island, Divar Island, Dhoodhsagar waterfalls, Goa State Museum, Kuskem Waterfall, Lamgau caves,Madei Wildlife Sanctuary, Mapusa Friday Market, Maya Lake, Nanau's Fort, Patto Bridge, Reis Magos Fort, Ruins of colvale Fortress, San Jacinto Island, Spice Plantations is Goa, Tiracol Fort, Vintage Car Museum, Usgalimal Rock Carvings, Wax World Museum, Viceroy's Arch, to name a few.
Most of us know Goa only for its beaches but after exploring a little you get to know it has much more to offer
1. Beaches
Goa is a coastal state with approximately 120 km of coastline starting with Arambol beach in the north and ending at Palolem beach in the south. Though there is a long sequence of beaches between the two, the famous and the most loved among them are- Calangute (where our holiday home is situated), Baga Beach, Anjuna Beach, Dona Paula Beach, Colva Beach and Palolem Beach. Of these, Calangute, Baga, Dona Paula and Anjuna beach are situated in North Goa whereas Colva and Palolem are situated in South Goa. North Goa beaches are more popular among tourists than South Goa.
Goan beaches are famous for their superfine sand that caress your feet when you walk barefeet. The North Goa beaches specially Calangute is also famous for watersports like- water scooter, snorkelling, water skiing, sailing wind surfing, parasailing. Other things to pamper you are- beach side shopping (tibetian antiques, kashmiri handlooms,local handicrafts), candle light dinner on the beach in almost every restaurant, dance to your favorite numbers on the beach enjoying the Goan Feni. You can have fun getting temporary tattos painted on you or getting a massage in the Sun.
2. Churches
Every Indian who has watched hindi movies recognises Goa by the Church of Of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception, situated in Panjim, the capital of Goa and abut 16 km from Calangute.
Then there is well preserved mummy of St Francis Xavier at the Basilica de Bom Jesus, in Old Goa, which is 18 km from calangute. The Church also has a museum that displayes Goa's multi cultural past.
Some of the other famous churches of are-
The Rachol Seminary -Originally a Muslim fortress, it was converted into a church by the Portuguese and later, into a prison.
The Se Cathedral- People have had visions of Jesus on the Cross of Miracles in this church and it is supposed to be slowly growing today.
Apart from the religious high they give you, you will also appreciate the art and architecture of the renaissance period displayed in the churches.
3. Temples
Not many people know about the number of old temples that are there in Goa. Prominent among them are
Brahma Temple in the village of Brahma Carambolim (meaning water pot of Braha). Built in 5 AD one of the very few temples anywhere dedicated to Lord Brahma.
Sri Gomeshwari Temple in Old Goa, also built in 5 AD by the Kadamba kings.
Shri Datta Mandir supposed to have miracle cures for mental illness.
Shri Bhagwati Temple, Shri Damodar Madir, Shanta Durga Temple.
4. Aguada Fort
6 km from Calagute , Fort Aguada was built in 1612 by the Portuguese to defend Goa against the Dutch and the Marathas. Strategically positioned at the mouth of Mandovi river, it also had a light house to guide ships. You cant escape the romanticsm of this fort and lighthouse at night . During the end of the portuguese rule, it also served as a prison.
5. Casinos/ Discotheques
When you are indulging yourself whynot go the full length? Try your luck in in the many casinos all over North Goa. There are even floating Casinos on the Mandovi river in Panjim. Famous discotheqes like Titos, Mambos (3 km from the resort) and many more....open air discotheques and music nights on most beaches.....
6. Ancestral Goa Museum/ Big Foot
It gets its name form the large huam foot print on a rock that sits at the centre of the open air museum. It also has the largest latrite structure in India in Limca Book of records.
7. Villages
If you have time we suggest you take a walk into the villages to see how real Goa lives. How they make their famed Kaju Feni, how they fish, what they eat. Trust us, they will never stop surprising you.
We have just listed the "must-sees" in Goa. Things you will not find anywhere else. There are many other places to visit too like the seven rivers of Goa, The Naval Aviation Museum, Arvalam Waterfalls, Arvalem caves,Banastari Bridge, Boca De Vaca Spring, Brithish Cemetry in Goa, Budbudyachi Tali, Cabo De Rama, Cabo Raj Bhavan, Calizz- The Heart of Goa, Carambolim lake, Chapora Fort, Chorao Island, Divar Island, Dhoodhsagar waterfalls, Goa State Museum, Kuskem Waterfall, Lamgau caves,Madei Wildlife Sanctuary, Mapusa Friday Market, Maya Lake, Nanau's Fort, Patto Bridge, Reis Magos Fort, Ruins of colvale Fortress, San Jacinto Island, Spice Plantations is Goa, Tiracol Fort, Vintage Car Museum, Usgalimal Rock Carvings, Wax World Museum, Viceroy's Arch, to name a few.
8. Saturday Night Market
(3 km from the resort) A market that starts at around 6 pm and goes on till 1 am every saturday night from November and goes on till April next year. You can not only shop for clothes, shoes, hadicrafts, curios, home decor, food etc. but, there is a centre stage with live performance by local musicians, budding talent, belly dancers, comedians, fire jugglers, clowns, classical dancers musicians and many others. Food and drinks a plenty...all in all the saturday nights are most happening at the market....
