Destinations of Goa

The 'Queen of Beaches', 'The Land of Temples and Churches' Goa is home to many exciting tourist destinations for the travellers coming for a Goa tour. The beaches, religious monuments, historical monuments, wildlife and bird sanctuaries, art galleries and museums and the towns and villages of yesteryears comprise of today's dream destination Goa. The Goa tour can incorporate the following tourist places in Goa.

Beaches in Goa

The 105kms long Konkan coast of Goa is dotted with numerous beaches divided into the north and south region of Goa. These beaches remain undisturbed and untampered by the urban pollution and provide you ultimate relaxation and tranquility. The beaches in North Goa cover Anjuna, Baga, Vagator, Sinquerim, Candolim, Calangute, Morjim and Arambol beaches. Colva, Benaulim, Cavelossim, Varca, Velsao, Majorda, Betalbatim, Mobor and Betul are the beaches lying in South Goa. The Majorda beach is the largest one with a stretch of 20 kms connecting it to the Cabo de Rama. There are also massage centers, gyms, swimming pools, Internet cafes, nightclubs, etc. by the beachside.

Churches in Goa

The Church of Our Lady of Rosary on Monte Santo in Old Goa is the oldest surviving Church in Goa built in 1510 - 1550 AD. Again in old Goa, Basilica of Bom Jesus; the Se Cathedral; Church of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception; the Church of St Cajetan; the Augustine Church of Our Lady of Grace and Rachol Seminary built in 1550 - 1660 AD belong to the Baroque period, which coincided the Renaissance period in Europe. Church of St Francis of Assisi at Old Goa, one of the famous churches of Goa was built in 1660 - 1760 AD known to be the Indian Baroque Period.

Forts in Goa

The most famous forts in Goa include the Aguada Fort, the largest Portuguese fort in Goa, built in 1609-12 to fortify Old Goa; Cabo da Rama fort associated with the epic of Ramayana where Lord Rama spent few days with Sita during his exile from Ayodhya; Chapora Fort near Mapusa, built in 1617 by the Portuguese on a Muslim site and Terekhol Fort on the Terekhol River built by Maharaja Khem Sawant Bhonsle in the 17th century.

Museums in Goa

The popular museums and art galleries in Goa are the State Archaeology Museum in Panaji opened on 29th Sept 1977 with seven galleries namely the Banerji Art Gallery, the Religious Expression Gallery, Sculpture Gallery, the Contemporary Art Gallery and the Western Bronzes Gallery, the Christian Art Gallery and the Cultural Anthropology Gallery. A vast collection of more than 8000 objects includes wooden objects, bronzes, paintings, anthropological objects, clay models, sculptures, manuscripts, numismatic collection etc.

Wild life and Bird Sanctuary

The most important must visit in Goa is the Dr. Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary in Chorao island along the river Mandovi. A bird-watchers' paradise for the tourists, this sanctuary has a variety of indigenous and migratory bird species. The other wildlife sanctuaries that can be visited in Goa are Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary, Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary and Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary.

Lakes and Waterfalls in Goa

The Dudhsagar Waterfall and the Mayem Lake are the two picturesque tourist spots in Goa. The best time to visit Dudhsagar Falls, located on the peaks of Western Ghat in Sanguem Taluka, is during the monsoons when water is in high flow. Its name is derived from Konkani words meaning 'Sea of Milk'. Mayem Lake is located in North Goa in Bicholim Taluka near Mapusa. The lake is ideal for bird watching and boating.

Towns and Short Excursions in Goa

The tourists must visit the six principal towns of Goa - Panaji, Mapusa, Dona Paula, Margao, Ponda and Vasco - that display different hues of the traditional culture of Goa. The other short excursions from Goa include the Rock Cut Caves of Khandepar of 12th century, which are 36 kms away from Panaji in the Khandepar village in Ponda; and the 5th-6th century Rock Cut Caves of Arvalem, also called the 'Pandavs Caves' where the Pandavas stayed during their exile according to the legend.