Goa Sightseeing : Places to visit in destination Goa

Places to visit in the city Goa

DONA PAULA - Goa

With its aura of romance and myth, the Dona Paula Beach is thronged by tourists not only in search of their deceased beloved, but also to indulge in water sports on the clear waters. The beach is named after Dona Paula de Menezes, the daughter of a viceroy who threw herself off the cliff when refused permission to marry a local fisherman named Gaspar Dias. The Dona Paula Sports Club provides facilities for cycling, motorboat rides, water-scooter, windsurfing, toboggan, ski-biscuit, toboggan, water-skiing, parasailing, skibob, sports fishing, snorkelling, harpoon fishing, yachting, and kayaking on the beach.

OLD CITY & CHURCHES - Goa

Old Goa is only nine kilometres east of Panaji. Founded in 1510 by Alfonso de Albuquerque as the old capital, the place is replete with churches like the Se Cathedral, the Convent and Church of St. Francis of Assisi (largest Christian church in Asia), Professed House and Basilica of Bom Jesus, the Church and Convent of St. Monica, the Church of St. Cajetan and the ruins of the Church of St. Augustine.

PANAJI - Goa

Too small and mellow for a state capital, Panaji is situated on the south bank of the Mandovi River. The place became capital of Goa in 1843, replacing Old Goa. Unlike most parts of India, people here are friendly, perhaps an effect of long relations with people from other parts of the world. The city is charming and the colonial effect is evident in the city landscape

. In Panaji, one must visit the church dedicated to our Lady of Immaculate Conception, and the Chapel of St. Sebastian. The Goa State Museum, the Secretariat, the statue of Abbe Faria in the capital is a must see for lovers of art

. Visit a Goan market and you will discover the essence of the land. There is fish in plenty, woven baskets and earthen pots, pickles and preserves, tender coconuts and bananas and, if you’re lucky, even blue china and bronzed candelabras!

MAPUSA BAZAAR - Goa

Mapusa, which is the main market town in north Goa, may well be the primal site of the oldest weekly fair on the Konkan coast. It witnesses the weekly and happy conclave of buyers and sellers from all over Goa on Fridays. The Mapusa weekly fair is the logical sequence to the ancient festivals in honour of Kanakeshwar Baba, venerated at the Bodgeshwar temple.

PONDA - Goa

Antruz, the inspired name of the Ponda subdivision, was the redoubt where the Hindus, displaced by the Portuguese from the coast, barricaded themselves between rivers and hills to hold their sway. Here they preserved their culture and further enriched it. From this area came Kesarbai Kerkar, one of India’s greatest singers; as also Dinanath Mangeshkar, the father of Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhonsle; and such other singers as Jitendra Abisheki, Mogubai Kurdikar—a great singer herself and the mother of the incomparable Kishori Amonkar. The area has several Hindu temples such as Sri Ganapati Temple and Mahalaxmi Temple.

SHRI MANGESH TEMPLE - Goa

Most of the temples in Goa have deities brought from Mithila region in Bihar to which the Saraswat Brahmins of this region are believed to belong. The ancient Mangesh Temple is situated on the banks of the river Gomati or Zuari as it is called today. Lord Mangesh is worshipped here in the shape of a Shiva linga. The linga is said to have been consecrated on the mountain of Mangireesh (Mongir) on the banks of river Bhagirathi by Lord Brahma himself, from where the Saraswat Brahmins brought it to Trihotrapuri in Bihar. They carried the linga on to Gomantaka and settled at Mathagrama, the present-day Madgoa, and established their most sacred temple.

SHRI SHANTA DURGA TEMPLE - Goa

The Goddess of peace, Shanta Durga or Shanteri, resides in her holy abode at Kapilpura or Kavele in Antruz. This deity is believed to have been carried by Loma Sharma when the Saraswats came to Goa from Tiruhut in Bihar.

SHRI RAMNATH TEMPLE - Goa

The temple of Shri Ramnath is situated at Ponda around 33 km from Panaji. Apart from the main temple, there are four other temples, namely of Shri Betal, Shri Shantadurga (Shanteri), Shri Laxminarayan, and Shri Sidhanath. All these temples together constitute Shri Ramnath Panchayatan.

CALANGUTE - Goa

Calangute Beach is situated some 15 km north of Panaji. This is a 7-km-long beach and the scenic natural beauty of the peaceful coastal countryside has turned this beach into one of the most popular destinations in the world. The real discovery of this beach was done by the Hippies who loved its pristine surroundings and blissful serenity and golden sands. They spread the word around and the beach saw hordes of European tourists coming. Tourists even now trudge down the dusty, weather-beaten roads in search of that idyllic coastal Goa.

ANJUNA - Goa

Also known as the freak capital of the world, Anjuna beach is just the right place for lazing holidaymakers. The place comes live with its ever-famous full-moon parties and the Wednesday flea market to take one on to a trance trip. The beach is most popular among the local populace who love its 20-km-long virgin white sands, fringed and sun drenched.

MIRAMAR - Goa

Miramar or Gaspar Dias is one of the beach that are much nearer to Panaji and ignored by many tourists. This should come as a blessing as the crowd here is lesser than other popular beaches in Goa. But this small beach can be used for little beyond sunbathing, since the undercurrents and flow are dangerous.

VAGATOR - Goa

Overlooked by the 500-year-old Portuguese fort, the Vagator beach with its soft white sands, the black lava rocks, the coconut palms, and the lush green landscape leaves each visitor awestruck. The beach is located north to the Anjuna and despite being disturbed by the hustle and bustle of tourists, life goes on peacefully here in the background.