Tuesday 3 May 2016

Places to visit in Goa


Agonda Beach

There are a number of breathtakingly beautiful beaches in India. Amongst the various beaches in India is the Agonda Beach. The Agonda beach is a small, picturesque and secluded beach 37 Kms from the town of Margao where nature lovers can find peace of mind. Agonda Beach is a three-kilometer long and lonely beautiful cove of white sand that is fringed with palms and casuarinas. It is dominated by a large hill to its south. There are very few facilities available here with few tourists, no souvenir stalls, and no restaurants. It is also not safe to swim out too far on this beach.

It is relatively deserted in comparision with the other beaches in India's beach capital of Goa owing to its distances from the main cities and is the next beach after Palolem while driving towards Panaji.

Places Around Agonda Beach
The fort of Cabo de Rama is not too far from Agonda beach. It is as yet undiscovered by most visitors. The fort is named after Lord Rama, the central figure of the Hindu epic Ramayana. According to local legend, Rama stayed here with his wife Sita during the period of his 14-year exile. The atmosphere of the fort creates a sense of history and drama that takes you back in time.



Anjuna Beach


Best time to visit October to March

Popularly known as the freak capital of the world, Anjuna is just the right place for lazing holidaymakers. Besides the calm waters of the Arabian Sea lapping softly on the Indian shore, Anjuna comes live with its ever-famous full-moon parties and the Wednesday flea market to take one on to a trance trip. Anjuna is a small village in north Goa, on the shores of the Arabian Sea. It lies 18 km away from Panaji (the old name for Panjim), the capital of Goa.

Tourists Attractions
The key attractions of Anjuna Beach are the magnificent Albuquerque Mansion built in 1920 (flanked by octagonal towers and an attractive Mangalore tile-roof), the Mascarenhas Mansion, and the Chapora Fort.

Wednesday Flea Market - Every Wednesday, at around 11 a.m., Anjuna breaks into a riot of colors. Lines of vehicles full of tourists start virtually raising clouds of dust in this area. Whatever one needs, from a used paperback to a haircut, one would find it here. The flea market is a heaven for hardcore shoppers and good bargainers, to bid on wonderful blends of Tibetan, Kashmiri and Gujarati trinkets and handicrafts, European snacks, cassettes of a noisy brand of music called 'Goa Trance', artificial ornaments carvings and T-shirts. An elephant ride and a photograph with a fake sadhu or a fake snake charmer can also be found here.

The Acid House Party - Anjuna is also known for its full-moon (acid house) parties. Held for and by young tourists, these parties have attracted thousands of tourists. The trance party with dance, frolic, and merriment goes all night besides the fire.

Mascarenhas Mansion - With riches and classic 'balcoes' (balconies) at Anjuna stands the monumental Mascarenhas Mansion. The L-shaped seat along the length of the porch is of expensive wood. It has some of the finest stained glass floral etchings.

Best Time To Visit 
Goa has a consistent climate throughout the year with just meager fluctuations in the temperature. December and January might require light woolens, but April and May are warm. The period from June to October brings heavy rain, almost up to 320 cm. The temperature during the summers ranges from 24°C to 32.7°C and during the winters it ranges from 21.3°C to 32.2°C. Because of its pleasant climate, Anjuna can be visited at any time of the year. However, tourists should beware the heavy rainfall between June and October. The period from November to February is the best time to visit Anjuna.

History
Anjuna Beach has been the haunt of the flower generation in the sixties and is still popular with the younger generation. It claimed popularity for its Trance Parties and the Hippies who tried to synthesize the spiritual traditions of the East and the art, ideas and the music of the West. Sometime in the late 1950s to mid-1960s, the area was "discovered" by a group of travelers, including "Eight Finger Eddie," and a small international psychedelic scene began to meet there to party during the dry season.

Places Around Anjuna Beach
In the vicinity of Anjuna are the Chapora Fort and the Albuquerque Mansion. To the east is a mountain. Anyone tired of the party and interested in returning to civilization can climb the mountain to get to Baga where one can catch a ferry out. Panjim too is not far away. The Chapora Fort gives a splendid view of the nearby Anjuna and Vagator beaches. The fort has been well preserved except a few interesting ruins. Once, it was a domain of the Muslim rulers before the Portuguese wrested it. In 1683, the Marathas hijacked three priests from the Chapora Fort and made them Hindus.

Shopping
The Wednesday flea market is a shoppers' paradise, where one can buy anything on a bargain.

How To Reach
By Air - The nearest airport is at Dabolim, which is 29 km away from Panaji and 47 km from Anjuna.

By Rail - The nearest railway station is at Karmali 11 km away from Panaji and 29 km from Anjuna.

By Road - There are buses every hour to Anjuna from Mapusa (8 km). For tourists arriving from Mumbai, Mapusa is the jumping-off point for the northern beaches. There are frequent local buses to Panaji, which is just 18 km away. One can also hire a motorcycle or a taxi from Mapusa to reach Anjuna.




Benaulim Beach

Bullfights can be seen at Benaulim from early October to late May. The bullfights are usually held in an old rice field with no fences or barricades just outside a village, to the beat of taped Konkani music.

A walk on the beach is full of delights. Shimmering silver carpets of bangdde (mackerels) lie drying on the golden sands. Fishermen's motor trawlers lie anchored in a line offshore. Tourists in colorful dresses throng about and several of them can be seen sunbathing in the glorious sun. Trinket stalls and drink stands on the golden sands make a moonlit evening on the Benaulim Beach utterly romantic.

Fairs & Festivals
The Beach Bonanza fair that is held on successive Sundays from mid-April onwards on the Benaulim beach is a must not miss! Frenzied visitors dance in merriment and other entertainment.




Bogmalo and Majorda Beaches

Bogmalo and Majorda are broad, flat and open beaches that lie close to the port city of Vasco and are ideal for picnickers. Though popular, they are less heavily frequented among the prominent beaches of Goa.

Tourists Attractions
There are small clusters of beach shack restaurants and a few fishing villages scattered under the coconut palms here. The Bogmalo beach though has the Bogmalo Oberoi hotel located on it and caters to the leisurely needs of its visitors. Shipwrecks stuck in the silt can be seen from here.

The Majorda beach and the Majorda Beach Resort lie to the south of Bogmalo. The best Goan toddy can be found here, as well as the best European breads. According to the Goan version of Ramayana, Lord Rama was kidnapped as a child and brought up at Majorda. Later, in pursuit of Sita, he camped at Cabo de Rama, a headland that lies further south and where there is now a fort.




Calangute And Baga Beach


Best time to visit December to Feburary

Calangute and Baga Beach are amongst the popular beaches in Goa. On the shores of the Arabian Sea, under the shade of palm trees, bathes the Queen of Beaches-Calangute. In a green semi-circle, the villages of Arpora-Nagoa, Saligao and Candolim do their bit to enhance the divine beauty of Calangute. There are picturesque agors (saltpans) at Agarvaddo, Maddavaddo is full of madd (coconut trees), Dongorpur skirts a bottle-green hillock and Tivaivaddo laces the beach. In Gauravaddo lived the gaudds or milkmen ran dairies. The Calangute Beach has a massive stretch of 7 km.

Best Time To Visit Calangute And Baga Beach
Calangute and Baga Beach can be visited at any time of the year, though the monsoon months, which bring heavy rains, are best avoided. The period from November to February is the most pleasant for a visit to Calangute and Baga beach.

History Of Calangute And Baga Beach
Calangute seems to be a distortion of the local vernacular word-'Koli-gutti', which means land of fishermen. Some people connect it with Kalyangutti (village of art) or Konvallo-ghott (strong pit of the coconut tree) because the village is full of coconut trees. With the advent of the Portuguese, the word probably got distorted to Calangute, and has stuck till today.

Calangute became a traveler's cliché in the '60s and early'70s. It was the hippies who discovered the pristine surroundings and blissful serenity and golden sands. The hippies also spread the word around and brought hordes of European tourists. Decades later, tourists still trudge down the dusty, weather-beaten roads in search of that idyllic coastal Goa. On this lovely beach, Goans and tourists spend summers, bathing in the quiet solitude of the sea, sun and sand.

Tourists Attractions Of Calangute And Baga Beach
There are a number of tourist attractions in Calangute and Baga beach. Fun in the sun, sand and sea along with great opportunities for feasting on fresh seafood and feni is what a day on the Calangute beach essentially means. Frolicking families, eager hands making sand castles, colorful crowds surging towards the sea, hippies busy remembering the good old times and the young and old alike lazing on the golden sands are some of the images that characterize this Queen of Beaches. This picture of a perfect tourist haven is completed with shacks and stalls under the shade of palm trees selling everything from fried prawns and beer to trinkets made of seashells. The rainbow hued canvas of Calangute has welcomed everyone to it always though it became popular across the globe only after the hippies discovered it in the '60s.

The St. Alex Church
As the vast traffic on the CHOGM road reaches the village, the Church of St Alex greets with its two towers and a magnificent dome gracing the façade. The inside of the church is a display of the line and beauty of its architectural style and ornate altars. In 1996, Calangute celebrated the fourth centenary of its parish church.

The Kerkar Art Complex, is the one and only of its kind on this beach. It is a popular center for exhibitions of arts and crafts of local artists. On Thursdays and Fridays, connoisseurs of Indian classical music and dance can be an audience to various concerts.

Places Around Calangute And Baga Beach
Medicinal Springs
The narrow road leading past the Bom Viagem Convent along the cashew-covered foothills, leads to the springs at Mottant. This is an ideal spot for picnics and bathing, as the water is believed to be medicinal.

Baga Retreat House
Overlooking the village and the Arabian Sea, at the Baga hilltop is the Baga Retreat House dedicated to St Francis Xavier. It was known as the Casa de Retiros.


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.

15 Kms from Panjim in the Bardez taluka.

Comparing to its surrounding beaches, Candolim is very quite, this is due to the fact that they didn't built resort all around the beach. It's a subtle mixture of people taking break from the Rajneesh Ashram in Pune, Tourist for long and short term period, and nature lover's. For the moment the village remains little more than a ribbon development of small hotels and cafes.

Tourists Attractions
Quincy corner: Nice place in Candolim, where you can listen to ambient music in a delightful decor of palm tree and coconuts, very away from the road, and people Many nice sharks in Candolim from Bistro sun and sea-side to pete's cafe. the oceanic, sea-side, mama cecilia are nice and away from the crowd If you want to listen to reaggae music try Pedro shack's, just down the Goan heritage hotel, sometimes they make nice parties also there.




Colva and Benaulim Beaches

With the white powder sands on the shores of the Arabian Sea, Colva is the most popular beach among the Goans. Among the best beaches, Colva is Goa's longest beach with 20 km of virgin white sands, palm fringed and sun drenched.

Colva is a small village in south Goa on the shores of the Arabian Sea. It lies 39 km away from Panaji (the old name for Panjim) the capital of the Indian state of Goa. Two km further ahead from Colva is Benaulim.

Best Time To Visit
Goa Has A Consistent Climate Through The Year With Just Meager Fluctuations In The Temperature. December And January Might Require Light Woolens. April And May Are Warm. The Period From June To October Brings Heavy Rain, Almost Up To 400 Cm. The Temperature During The Summers Ranges From 24°C To 32.7°C And During The Winters It Ranges From 21.3°C To 32.2°C.

History
Unlike Anjuna or Calangute, Colva Beach gained popularity only lately. It was little disturbed and life moved on quietly. But those are the things of the past. Over the years, many hotels and buildings have sprung from nowhere. It is developing at a good pace.

Tourists Attractions
Tour to Colva and Benaulim Beaches Nossa Senhora de Merces (Our Lady of Mercy) Church

The church is famous for its annual religious event-Fama of Menino Jesuse (Child Jesus)-since the 17th century. The predominantly Catholic community celebrates it on the third Monday of October every year. It is one of Goa's most popular feasts and a big fair is held on the occasion.

On the Beach - While taking a stroll on the Colva Beach, silver carpets of bangdde (mackerels) can be viewed shimmering on the golden sands for drying. Fishermen's motor trawlers can be seen anchored in a line offshore.

Tourists-Indian and foreigners, as well as locals-can be seen in colorful dresses, coming either for a walk or 'for a change of air'. Many tourists can be seen having a sunbath on the golden sands.

The trinket stalls and the drink stands on the golden sands under the moonlight make the evening on the Colva Beach utterly romantic.
Places Around Colva-Benaulim- Beaches
About 2 km away from Colva is the Benaulim, which is more peaceful and serene than Colva. Benaulim provides an escape to see nature in its full bounty with meager tourists, yet to disturb its peace. One can still see the old Portuguese houses.

Fairs & Festivals
The Bull Fight - From early October to late May, from 4 pm onwards, one can see the bull fights at Benaulim. On the beat of taped Konkani music, the bullfights are usually held in an old rice field with no fences or barricades just outside a village.

The Beach Bonanza fair is held on successive Sundays from mid-April onwards, where frenzy visitors in merriment participate in live music, dance, and other entertainment.

Fama of Menino Jesuse (Child Jesus)

Celebrated on the third Monday of October every year, Fama of Menino Jesuse is among the most popular festivals of Goa.

The festivities start at eight in the morning to extend until nine in the evening. On the fama day, the miraculous image of Infant Jesus is specially brought down from the left side altar of the church, for public veneration and umao (kissing). The priest hurriedly passes by a long and virtually unending queue of devotees touching the statue to their eager lips.

How To Reach
By Air - The nearest airport is at Dabolim, which is 29 km away from Panaji and 68 km from Colva.

By Rail - The nearest railway station is at Karmali, 11 km away from Panaji. Panaji is 39 km away from Colva.

By Road - There are frequent buses from Colva running to and from Margao (also Madgaon; 6 km away) from where one can take a bus to Panaji, which is 33 km further ahead.




Dona Paula Beach

With the romance and myth attached to it-haunted by Dona Paula de Menezes-tourists throng the Dona Paula Beach not only in search of the deceased beloved, but also to indulge in water sports on the clear waters. The Dona Paula Beach offers an opportunity to the tourists to have a sunbath and buy cheap seaside goods from local vendors.

Seven kilometers west of the Indian state of Goa's capital Panjim (Panaji), Dona Paula Beach is nestled on the southern side of the rocky hammer-shaped headlands that divide the Zuari and Mandovi estuaries. Providing a good view of the Mormugao harbour, this beach is fringed by palm trees and casuarina groves. The proximity of the beach to the capital city makes it a popular tourist sight.

Best Time To Visit
The climate is equable and moist throughout the year. While it is pleasant and temperate from October to May, June to September are the rainy months. Temperature variations throughout the year are mild. May is the warmest month with a temperature of around 30°C and January is coolest with a mean daily temperature of 25°C. Due to its proximity of the sea, the territory is generally humid and even during the summer months humidity is generally above 60 percent.

History
The Dona Paula Beach is named after Dona Paula de Menezes, the daughter of a viceroy (in colonial India), who threw herself off the cliff, when refused permission to marry a local fisherman, Gaspar Dias. Dona Paula Beach is also referred to as "Lovers' Paradise."

The Dona Paula Beach has been an attraction for tourists due to a myth attached to the place. According to this myth, Dona Paula is entombed in the Cabo Chapel of the Raj Bhawan and is supposed to be seen emerging from the moonlit waves wearing only a pearl necklace. Several tourists as well as locals guided by this myth visit the beach for a glimpse of Dona Paula.

This beach has also been the location for many Indian movies, the most famous being Ek Duje Ke Liye. Given this dual attraction, Dona Paula Beach is a popular tourist spot.

Tourists Attractions
Water sport facilities are the key attraction of this beach. The Dona Paula Sports Club offers water-scooter, cycle, and motorboat rides. Other water sports include windsurfing, parasailing, water-skiing, toboggan ski-biscuit, skibob, sports fishing, snorkeling, harpoon fishing, kayaking, and yachting.

Set up in the 1960s, the National Oceanography Institute delves not only upon marine biology, but incorporates almost all the major branches of coastal and marine oceanography. The major attraction of the institute is its Marine Biology Museum and Taxonomy Reference Center.

The Cabo Raj Niwas (the Governor's House) is half a kilometer away from the National Oceanography Institute. It houses the tomb of Dona Paula de Menezes in the Cabo Chapel. The Raj Bhawan offers an excellent view of the nearby coastline and the Aguada Fort.

Places Around Dona Beach
There are several places of tourist interest situated near the Dona Paula Beach. These include the Reis Magos Church and the Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary. Approximately 10 km from the beach is one of the oldest churches built in Goa, the Reis Magos Church. It is dedicated to the three Magi (the wise men of the East)-Gaspar, Melchior, and Balthazar who, according to a legend, were guided by a star to Bethlehem to greet the newborn Jesus. This church was once the residence of all dignitaries and a mission center of the Franciscan order.

The Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary is situated on the western tip of the island of Choro, along the Mandovi River, about 9 km from Dona Paula Beach. Spread over 2 sq km, this sanctuary is a mangrove forest. Local and migratory birds are found here all through the year. However, permission of the Chief Wildlife Warden is required for visitors.

Two other beaches are also within the proximity of the Dona Paula Beach. These are the Miramir beach, which lies 4 km north of Dona Paula, and the Vainguinim Beach, which is situated 1 km west.

Fairs & Festivals
The festivals of Janmashtami and the Feast of St. Lawrence are particular to the Dona Paula Beach. In addition, the beach also has a colorful water sports festival in November. The highlights of this festival are the water scooter and cycle races and surfing competitions.

How To Reach
By Air - The nearest airport is at Dabolim, which is 29 km away from Panaji and 36 km from Anjuna.

By Rail - Goa is connected with Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Mangalore, and Thiruvananthapuram by train. The nearest railway station is at Karmali, which is 15 km from the beach.

By Road - The Dona Paula Beach is well connected by road. Seven kilometers from the capital city, regular bus and taxi services are easily available. The Kadamba Transport Corporation (Government of Goa Undertaking), and Maharashtra and Karnataka State Road Transport Corporations operate buses from and to Goa.

Local Transport - Bus, taxi, auto-rickshaw, and motorcycle services are the available means of local conveyance in the area. A bus or motorcycle-taxi from Panjim or the ferry service from Mormugao can be availed of to reach the beach. In fact, buses to Dona Paula leave every fifteen minutes from Panjim's Kadamba stand.




Majorda Beach

Majorda Beach is a fresh and very less frequented, Majorda lie close to the port city of Vasco and are ideal for picnickers. Though popular, they are less heavily frequented among the prominent beaches of Goa. There are small clusters of beach shack restaurants and a few fishing villages scattered under the coconut palms here.

Location
The Majorda beach and the Majorda Beach Resort lie to the south of Bogmalo. The best Goan toddy can be found here, as well as the best European breads. According to the Goan version of Ramayana, Lord Rama was kidnapped as a child and brought up at Majorda. Later, in pursuit of Sita, he camped at Cabo de Rama, a headland that lies further south and where there is now a fort.



Palolem Beach

The Palolem Beach is just the kind of beach you are likely to come across in glossy paged brochures. White sands, coconut palms and a gentle ocean breeze make this beach one of exceptional beauty. However, there is hardly any development here and travelers should be warned that they would find none of the facilities that are available on the other beaches. The accommodation available is rustic but the atmosphere is undeniably relaxing and enchanting.

Location
The Palolem Beach is located between two headlands, and is the beach that is closest to Karnataka. It has interesting little wooded islands on the northern headland and you could try to persuade a fisherman to ferry you across. You could go with them and try spotting dolphins. A few shacks selling seafood snacks, souvenirs, and bright, informal clothes have been set up here ever since. Palolem has some beautiful beach huts and family rooms to live in. Try to avoid the weekends, as there is a big crowd of picnickers who throng the beach on weekends. Palolem is 37 kms from Margao and 3 km away from the Cancona Railway Junction, which now on the Konkan Railway, and is the railway station closest to this beach. The capital of Panaj is more than 70 km away.




Sinquerim Aguada Beaches

The Sinquerim Beach is the first tourist beach of North Goa and is also close to Fort Aguada, the famous and best preserved of all Portuguese coastal forts. The Aguada Bay, which is divided into two parts, the Caranzalem Bay and the Sinquerim Bay is formed by two headlands, Cabo and Aguada. The Aguada Bay is dominated by the battlements of the old fort and tends to be more popular with affluent tourists who avail the facilities offered by the Fort Aguada Hotel Complex that is a luxury establishment.

History of Travel Beaches in India
The Fort of Aguada was built by the Portuguese to control the entry of any enemy into River Mandovi and to protect old Goa from any attack. The fortification skirts the seashore, and its center lie a circular lighthouse tower. The Fort is currently the Central Jail, Goa's largest prison.

Tourists Attractions in Travel Beaches in India
The beach is good and clean stretch of sand and an ideal place for swimming. The Aguada hotel complex is built around the remnants of the fort with the hotel built on the cliff. However, the complex itself is cut off from the beach since there are no private beaches in India. The hotel has been constructed in three parts, consisting of expensive cottages on the upper reaches of the hillside, the fort jutting out to sea, and a delightful Goan village, with individual cottages. Drawn by the clientele of the hotel, Aguada beach has cafes, and itinerant vendors who sell everything from Kashmiri carpets to massages. The complex also offers a good range of water sports with two or three water sport companies operating from here.

The Aguada Beach lies at the southern end of a very long stretch of beach that extends up to the mouth of the Baga River. Individual segments of this extensive stretch of sand have been given separate names as according to the villages that lie behind them, such as Sinquerim, Candolim, Calangute and Baga.



Terekol Beach

The Terekol Beach lies on the north bank of the Terekol river and is located in the northern most part of the state of Goa, near the Maharashtran border. Terekol is a wild, beautiful, unspoiled and completely uncommercialised region in Goa.

A fort that was originally a Maratha fort is located here on a piece of high ground facing the sea. It is lapped by the sea on one side, and has a dry moat surrounding it on the other three sides. The Portuguese captured it in 1776 and built a church here. The fort is now a hotel, the Hotel Tiracol Fort Heritage. It offers some very stark but beautiful views. The area surrounding the fort also makes for some good rides on a motorcycle, and you could stop for a swim on deserted Querim Beach. There is very little to see or do at the fort itself, apart from admire the views, for this is one beach that is yet untouched by commercialization.

One can look across to Querim Beach from the battlements of the fort. It takes twenty minutes to cross the Terekol River on an ancient Goan ferry that operates every 30 minutes. Terekol is surely one of the last untouched and peaceful spots in Goa.




Vagator Beach

The soft white sands, the black lava rocks, the coconut palms, the lush green landscape, nature playing its own music, and the sea turning from aquamarine to emerald green-Vagator and Chapora, overlooked by the 500-year-old Portuguese fort, leaves each visitor awestruck. Yet to be disturbed by the hustle and bustle of tourists, life goes on peacefully, in the background, in Vagator and Chapora. The world-famous Anjuna Beach lies to the south of Vagator.

Located in North Goa, Vagator and Chapora are 24 km from Panaji, the capital of the Indian state of Goa. It lies on the northern edge of Bardez taluka.

Best Time To Visit
Goa has a consistent climate through the year with just meager fluctuations in the temperature. December and January might require light woolens. April and May are warm. The period from June to October brings heavy rain, almost up to 400 cm. The temperature during the summers ranges from 24°C to 32.7°C and during the winters it ranges from 21.3°C to 32.2°C.

Tourists Attractions
Chapora Fort
Hiking up, the lava-bedecked black rock stepping-stones lead to the 500-year-old Portuguese fort, popularly known as the Chapora Fort. It utters the reminiscence of the old Portuguese times giving a splendid view of the sea and hills covered with coconut trees and rice fields. The remaining battlements and fortifications take one down the memory lane, into the times when Royalty ruled the Vagator hue.

Rural Life
The gentle lapping seawater changing colors from aquamarine to sea emerald, the tiny cottages with gardens garlanded by colors of lemon, purple and fuchsia, flags and crosses take one on a honeymoon fantasy.

Life goes on peacefully in Chapora: with salty fishermen carrying home their heavy fishing nets and kids playing among the dry docked boats. A bare feet stroll on the beach with the mesmerizing warm setting sun and the gentle breeze carrying little drops of the salty water from the sea; it's a dream come true.

An unknown visitor has carved out a human face on the rocks, near the Vagator Beach, making it an ideal background for a snapshot pose.

How To Reach
By Air - The nearest airport is at Dabolim, which is 29 km away from Panaji. Panaji is just 22 km away from Vagator.

By Rail - The nearest railway station is at Karmali, just 11 km away from Panaji.

By Road - Vagator is at a distance of 9 km from Mapusa, and 22 km far from the state capital Panaji. There are frequent buses to Panaji and Mapusa from Vagator.




Chapora Beaches

The quieter environs of the Vagator and Chapora beaches are a pleasant change after the lively and activity filled Anjuna Beach. The villages of Vagator and Chapora have lush green landscapes fringed with coconut palms, soft white sands, black lava rocks and a beautiful sea that turns from aquamarine to emerald green with the movement of the sun. The beaches are overlooked by a 500-year-old Portuguese fort and life goes on peacefully and uninterruptedly here.

Tourists Attraction
The Vagator beach is the most photographed beach in Goa. Its northern half fronts a bay that curves from the headland to the hillock crowned by the Chapora Fort. Between the headland and the hillock, surf spreads in skirts of white lace and the palms stand far back from the water. At the tip of the headland are groups of sea-washed rocks popular with honeymooners and others who want to be left alone. To the south of the headland are more outcrops of rocks cupping little pockets of sand and interesting tidal pools. And on the headland you'd find snack stalls, coconut sellers, and persuasive peddlers of trinkets and shells.

Vagator and Chapora have a rich rural life. Chapora is a fishing village that has retained its old ways of life, and have stories galore for those who want to listen to fish tales! The large population of fishermen can be seen in their traditional attire, and colorfully dressed women can be seen haggling for fish on roadsides.

These beaches are pure and uncorrupted and don't offer any modern tourist entertainment pastimes or big shopping complexes. But fish, coconuts, bananas, 'Bebinca, a Goan delicacy made from tender coconuts, candelabras made of exquisite blue china, and artifacts like woven baskets and earthen pots can be found in plenty here.

There is not too much of choice for staying at Vagator and Chapora, except a few guesthouses, or houses on rent. It is better to book in advance during the peak tourist season, since everything can already be booked by the time you arrive.





Varca & Cavelossim Beaches

Varca & Cavelossim are a 10 km strip of pristine beach south of Benaulim, with a number of hotels of varying degrees of luxury. This stretch has been patronized by the affluent tourists and can almost be called Goa's up market resort beach. These beaches are much cleaner and quieter than most of the famous beaches of Goa. They have a number of beach shacks offering a variety of Goan dishes and seafood at reasonable prices. Several food joints around Dona Sylvia offer entire packages of good food, drink, and a pleasant service at rather reasonable rates. There are also facilities for Dolphin watching at Betty's Place as well as boat trips for Dolphin watching up the River Sal.





Dudhsagar Waterfall Goa

Introduction
The Dudh Sagar waterfall is situated in the Indian state of Goa around 60 km off Panaji, the capital of the state. It is connected to the other places in the state like Panaji and Margao with a road and railway network.

In the days gone, by there lived a powerful and rich king on the top of a mountain in the Western Ghats along the Goan frontier. He lived in a lavish palace made of pure ivory and embedded by precious stones. And around this palace, there were luxuriant gardens abounding in a vast variety of flowers.

At one end of the forest, which fringed the king's palace, there was a picturesque lake. In the panoramic setting of this lake, the king's daughter, accompanied by her ladies-in-waiting, went to bathe and to sip sugared milk which one of her maids served to her in a pure gold jug.

One day, while she was sipping at the milk, a prince, who was passing by, stopped on hearing the sound of people nearby. Immediately, the princess poured the milk in the pond to shield her body from the glances of the stranger. It is believed that the sugared milk that was poured by the virtuous and modest princess still comes flowing down in torrents along that side of the mountain.

Tourists Attractions
Perched on the lofty peaks of the Western Ghats, the Dudh Sagar waterfalls offer unrivalled beauty, and amazing scenery full of exquisite charms when in full flux after the monsoon showers. Like an idyllic Eden cradled luxuriously in the mountains, the Dudh Sagar waterfalls, which from a distance appear like milky streams, gradually climax into a gushing cascade as they come into full view of the onlookers.

Undoubtedly there are other wonderful waterfalls in the rest of this wide world, but the Dudh Sagar waterfalls with their strange, mystical fascination are a dream come true. The uneclipsed vision, furnished by this native waterfall as it plunges over crag-covered precipes and stupendous steeps, belies description.

How To Reach
Dudh Sagar is situated around 60 km off Panaji. Buses and taxis are available from Panaji to reach Dudh Sagar.





Calangute Market Square

About nine miles north from the Goan capital, Calangute – the Queen of Beaches - is a highly commercialized but captivating resort that offers good sunbathing in the quiet solitude of the sea, passable swimming along with great opportunities for feasting on the most delicious food along the coast. Calangute is possibly a distorted form of the local vernacular word—‘Koli-gutti', meaning land of fishermen.The beach stretches for about four miles and is covered with palm trees. There is something about Calangute that attracts people across the globe to it always though it owes its immense popularity to the hippies who discovered this lovely beach in the ‘60s.

This picture of a perfect tourist destination is completed with the beach stretch being lined with shacks and stalls selling a huge variety of things ranging from fried prawns and beer to trinkets made of seashells. One can even find hawkers selling sarongs or astrologers who are ever-ready to read the fortune of visitors.

The Saturday bazar held in the Beach of Calangute, near the post office boasts of a variety of good deals for shoppers. Fish, meat, and grocery are available if you stay there for a long time. You can also come across textiles, pottery, and other provisions.

The road from the town to the beach is packed with shops selling a wide range of items, namely souvenirs, metal crafts, leather items, clothes and jewelry, which are not only from Goa, but from other parts of the country also.

In the center of Calangute, there is a nice Tibetan market. It offers all kinds of gems and silverwork, wooden statues of the Buddha and other Hindu deities. Kashmiri merchants also frequent Goa with carpets, embroidery, and other merchandises. The quality of the goods is generally high. But bargain hard and don't be afraid to walk away from a heavy sales pitch because there is always a chance that you might find the same stuff at one of the other flea markets.

So all tourists having a passion for handicrafts of different genres of art and culture, flock to the market of Calangute Square as there is no dearth of handicraft stalls at this place.




Anjuna Market

Goa's Anjuna beach is not only famous for its picturesque beauty but also for the markets in Anjuna beach. Also known as Anjuna Market, the markets of this beach are filled with Kashmiri stalls and coffee shops. On Wednesday, a flea market is held in Anjuna Beach. Amidst the picturesque beaches, the palm tree lined shores, the market sells different kinds of things from junk jewellery to colorful sarongs.

There is a typical Western Jewellery available in Anjuna Market. Created by the foreigners, Goa is the only place in India where this is available. The beaches light up with the colorful life of Goa.The Anjuna beach also has stores which are experts in making body tattoos. Made with colors, these Anjuna Market's tattoos last for about a few weeks. There are also haircutting shops and Ayurvedic shops, nose and body piercers to lure the tourists. You can bargain the price and then go for the wackiest of hairdos, funkiest of tattoos and coolest of junk jewellery.

The Flea Market of Anjuna beach makes it the most happening place in Goa. The swanky teenagers and tall unkempt hippies are generally found in Anjuna Market. The two most famous stores in Anjuna Market is the Oxford Stores and the Orchard stores. From tasty delicacies to choicest garments, everything is available here. So from the quoted t-shirts, to sarongs and chillums to cashew nuts, the flea markets of Anjuna Beach are the most favorite tourist destination for the junk buying traveler.Tourism of India.com offers online information on Anjuna Beach and other tourist attractions of Goa. To know more about the tourist attractions of India , please, enter your queries in the form below.




Church of Mary Immaculate Conception

Goa is famous for its historic churches, forts, traditional homes, colorful festivals, lush green countryside, rich flora and fauna, fabulous cuisine, and exotic beaches. The magical land of Goa is decked with popular tourist destinations like Dr. Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, Tambdi Surla and Tiracol Fort, the Calangute Beach, the Baga Beach, etc. The Churches in Goa, as well, are a big crowd puller among the tourists from world over.

Churches in Goa
If you want a bit of history and culture then there is no better place to visit than the churches of Goa. The magnificent churches in Goa are mainly a legacy of Portuguese colonization, and in fact one of Vasco da Gama's main motives for finding the sea route to India was to seek Christians and spices. With a considerable population of Goans being Christians, the Church is an important factor in Goa's social, cultural and religious life. Some of the major churches in Goa are the Basilica of Bom Jesu, Se Cathedral, Church of St. Francis of Assisi and the Church of Mary Immaculate Conception.

Church of Mary Immaculate Conception
Situated in Panjim in Goa, the Church of Mary Immaculate Conception is said to have been in existence by 1541, though its early church was re-built in 1619. After Panjim became the capital of Goa in 1841, the great bell of the Church of Our Lady of Grace in Old Goa (the Bell of the Inquisition) was transferred to this church from Aguada, and is now reputed as the world’s 2nd largest bell.

The interior of the church is quite simple in design. The main altar is dedicated to Mary Immaculate, while the other two heavily gilded and carved altars are dedicated to Jesus Crucified and Our Lady of the Rosary. Adjoining to these alters are the marble statues of St Peter and St Paul. The Chapel of St. Francis Xavier is posited in the south transept of the main altar with a glass-encased statue of him.

It is during the feast days when it is ideal to visit the church. The locals celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima at the end of May. The Feast of the Immaculate Conception is celebrated every year in Margao and Panjim on 8th December.



Gokarna Beach

Formed at the centre of confluence of two rivers Gokarna with its number of temples, alleys and vast expanse is a curious mixture of tradition and beauty. For Indian tourists it is a religious place while the international tourists come here lured by the vast stretches of beaches of Gokarna. Hindus perform their last rites in Gokarna and it is considered equal to visiting Kashi.

The city of Gokarna is not only famous for the beautiful beaches but has its religious importance. The temples of Gokarna are Mahabaleshwara, Bhadrakali and Venkataramana which are all temples of Lord Shiva and Goddess Kali.

The beautiful unexplored beaches of Gokarna lure the tourists from world over. The picturesque beauty of the beaches are simply breathtaking.

There are 4 beaches in Gokarna and they are the Kudle beach, Om Beach, Paradise Beach and the Half Moon Beach. Surely a paradise on earth these beaches are not visited by the fun seeking party animals but the people who wish for some seclusion and privacy , this is the perfect locale for them.

Far away from the bustling cities, revelry and carnivals, the beaches in Gokarna are the ideal vacation for all you nature lovers and peace seekers out there. A stroll in these serene locales will make you fall in love with nature once more. You can enjoy a bit of swimming and sun bathing in the blue waters of Gokarna.

One can visit the place during all the seasons. The festival of Maha Shiv Ratri however takes place during February to March. So if you wish to be a part of the colorful festivities of Gokarna, then February and March are the best time to visit the place.

One can avail hotels and accommodation facilities at cheaper rates and Gokarna is even linked by major railway stations.

Tourism of India.com offers online information on Gokarna and other tourist attractions of Goa. To know more about the tourist attractions of India , please, enter your queries in the form below.



^GOA^





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