Walk
leisurely on the sun kissed beaches, listen to the murmuring winds,
watch the sun drawing patterns in the sand through the shades of the
trees, let the cool seas wash your feet or simply lie back and enjoy the
Goan drink- Feni. The tiny piece of paradise- Goa, lies in the West Coast of India and is spread over an area of 3,702 sq. kms. With a coastline of 105 kms it is washed by the Arabian Sea. Goa's outstanding attractions are its serene and scenic beauty, diverse landscape- wide, sandy, palm - fringed beaches, clean waters, delicious food and hospitable people with a rich cultural milieu.
Goan culture is a confluence of many religions, faiths and traditions. People from various religions live in absolute communal harmony and participate wholeheartedly in the religious festivals of others. The Portuguese invaders destroyed many temples and mosques. As a result most of the temples are relatively new, though some date back to over 400 years.
Old Goa
Old Goa - is located nine km east of Panajim and is famous for its churches and cathedrals. The Archaeological Survey of India has given some of the old buildings a facelift by converting them into museums maintained. The spiritual heart of Christian Goa, Old Goa has been given World Heritage Status by Unesco for its extraordinarily grand churches and convents.
Basilica of Bom Jesus
The
1605 church of Bom Jesus, "Good" or "Menino Jesus",
is known principally for the tomb of St Francis Xavier. In 1946, it
became the first church in India to be granted the status of Minor
Basilica. On the west, the three-storey Renaissance facade combines
Corinthian, Doric, Ionic and Composite styles. The church can be entered
from beneath the choir, supported by columns. On the northern wall, in
the centre of the nave, is a cenotaph in gilded bronze to Dom Jeronimo
Mascaranhas, the Captain of Cochin and benefactor of the church. The
main altar, beautifully engraved in gold, projects the infant Jesus
under the protection of St Ignatius Loyola. Vasco Da Gama
Vasco Da Gama - is on the narrow western tip of the Mormugao peninsula, overlooking the mouth of the Zuari River. Acquired by the Portuguese in 1543, the port town of Vasco-Da-Gama - popularly known as Vasco - was formerly among the busiest ports on India's west coast. It remains a thriving and key shipping centre, with container vessels and iron-ore barges crowding the river mouths. Vasco is Goa's most cosmopolitan city.
Dudhsagar Waterfalls
Measuring a mighty 600m from head to foot, the famous waterfalls at Dudhsagar on the Goa-Karnataka border, are some of the highest in India, and a spectacular sight. It 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 fans into three streams, then cascades down a near-vertical cliff face into a deep green pool.
which
is at the top of the rocky flattened top of the headland, is the
best-preserved Portuguese bastion in Goa. Built in 1612 to protect the
northern shores of the Mandovi estuary from Dutch and Maharatha
invaders, it is made picturesque with several natural springs. These
springs were the only source of drinking water available to ships
arriving in Goa after the long sea voyage from Lisbon. On the north side
of the fort, a rampart of red-brown laterite juts into the bay to form a
jetty between two small sandy coves. Anjuna beach
Anjuna beach - attracts a motley crowd of tourists. It is famous throughout Goa for its Wednesday flea market and has retained an undeniable charm.
Best time to visit
June To Mid September
Trekking Season: May To Mid-October
Mountaineering Season: Mid-May To Mid-October
Available Tour Packages
|
||||||||||||
