Panaji
 Panaji welcomes the tourists not with tourist sites but with its character. Apart from being the capital of Goa, it is also the focal point of tourism in Goa and a small and charming city on the banks of silvery Mandovi River. Panaji has beautiful, red-roofed houses, built in the Latin style. But the city does not lack in modern infrastructure and you can find modern houses, well laid gardens, statues and avenues lined with Gulmohar, Acassia and other trees.
How to reach -
By Road: Bangalore- 598 kms, Belgaum-157 kms, Bombay- 594 kms, Gokarn-154 kms, Hospet- 315 kms, Hubli-184 kms, Hubli-184 kms, Karwar-103 kms, Kolhapur- 246 kms, Malwan-150 kms, Mangalore- 371 kms, Mysore- 696 kms, Pune- 458 kms, Ratnagiri- 263 kms, Vengurla-73 kms etc.
By Rail: Nearest railhead is Vasco-da-Gama and Margoa.
By Air: Goa (Dabolim Airport) is well connected with major towns.
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Mapusa
 A small town clustered around the Mount (Alto) is Mapusa. It forms the hub of north Goa with an even blend of residential and commercial establishments. Its 13 kms away from Panaji, a sharing taxi or a bus will take you there. Known popularly for its Friday market, people from all over Goa come here to buy and sell their wares. You will also get plants and saplings, ready spiced Goan pork sausages, dried fish and prawns, clothing, junk jewelry, and the famous country liquor, all sold at the most reasonable prices you could possibly find.
Mapusa market was first heard in the 1580 by a Dutch Chronicler, who even described it as the "Bazaar Grande". The popularity of Mapusa as a market center grew out of ancient festivals in honour of the God Kanakeshwar Baba, venerated at the Bodgeshwar Temple. The festivals attracted large crowds seeking to fulfill their individual wishes, which needed pots and oil lamps as offerings to propitiate the Gods. Both Mapusa's location at the hub of commercial activity and its proximity to a place of religious pilgrimage have caused the Mapusa market to grow to its current size and scope.
How to reach -
By Rail: Mapusa is the pass through point for all buses travelling to and from Goa to Mumbai, Pune and a number of other destinations. So the bus stand near the main square at the entrance to the city is a busy hub of activity with hundreds of travel agents stalls for inter-state travel bookings.Most local buses for all the nearby beaches surrounding areas leave from the Kadamba bus stand on the southwest edge of town.Motorcycle taxis are also available near the main town square and are often the quickest mode of transport to the beachside. Tourist Taxis charges are considerably more, so it is best to share the fare with four or five other travellers if possible.
By Road: The Konkan Railway coming in from Mumbai stops for a few minutes at the Tivim (Thivim) railway station which lies at a distance of 12 kms from Mapusa. There are rickshaws and tourist taxis available here to take you to the nearest beach hotel or resort.
By Air : The Dabolim airport is the nearest airport from Mapusa.
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Margao
 It is a typically crowded Goan town, with chaotic, noisy traffic and quite a few architectural reminders of its Portuguese past. Margao is Goa's second largest town and a bustling commercial centre.Margao has an old-worldly charm about it because of its Portuguese churches, and some magnificent specimens of old Portuguese houses complete with shady balcaos (porches) and oyster-shell windows in its Borda area.
The town has an excellent market area stretching from the south edge of the main square to within a stone's throw of the old railway station. The colonial style red washed Municipal building built in 1905 and the Library lie on the park's south side. From this main square, bylanes lead to the bazaar and the area that used to be the fish market.
How to Reach -
By Rail : Margao's new Train station, for quite a few long distance express services on the Konkan Railway, lies 3 kms south of the town centre. There is a 24-hour Information Centre and round-the-clock pre-paid auto rickshaw stand outside the exit.
By Road : Local private buses to Colva and surrounding villages make stops at various places inside the town. Long distance buses to Panaji, Vasco and destinations outside Goa, stop and leave from the main Kadamba Bus Stand, 3 km away on the outskirts of the town.
By Air : The Dabolim airport is 28 km from Margao.
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Colva Beach
 Colva beach is the pride of Salcete.Here, sand, sea and sky blend in enchanting natural harmony unspoilt by men.Colva is the oldest and largest - of south Goa's resorts. Its leafy outlying vaddos, or wards, are pleasant enough, dotted with colonial lection of concrete hotels, souvenir stalls and fly-blown snack bars strewn around a bleak central roundabout. Colva is pleasant and convenient place to stay, swimming is relatively safe, while the sand, at least away from the beachfront, is spotless and scattered with beautiful shells.Tranquil ambience is the longest beach in Goa
How to reach -
By Road : Buses ply regularly to Colva beach from the KTC bus stand, 3 km north of Margao city. One can also avail taxi or autorickshaw services from the town.
By Rail : The nearest railway station to reach Colva beach in Goa is at Karmali, 11 km away from Panaji. Panaji is 40 km away from Colva.
By Air : The nearest airport to reach Colva beach in Goa is at Dabolim, which is 29 km away from Panaji and 68 km from Colva. The nearest railway station to reach Colva beach in Goa is at Karmali, 11 km away from Panaji. Panaji is 40 km away from Colva.
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Vasco-de-Gama
 Vasco da Gama, 29-km by road southwest of Panjim, sits on the narrow western tip of the Marmagoa (also known as Mormugao) peninsula, overlooking the mouth of the Zuari River. Acquired by the Portuguese in 1543, this strategically important site was formerly among the busiest ports on India's west coast.
It remains a key shipping centre, with container vessels and iron ore barges clogging the choppy river mouth, but holds nothing of interest for visitors, particularly since the completion of the Konkan Railway, when Goa's main railhead shifted from here to Margao. The only conceivable reason one might want to come to Vasco is to catch a bus to Dabolim airport, of Bogmalo beach, 8-km southeast.
How to reach -
By Road : Arriving by bus from Panjim or Margao, you'll be dropped off at the Interstate Kadamba Terminus, 3-km east of the town centre. Local minibuses ferry passengers from here to the more central market bus stand.At local minibuses ferry passengers from here to the more central market bus stand, at the top of the square, where buses from Dabolim airport also pull in. Auto-rickshaws, and Ambassador and motorcycle taxis, hang around on the corner of Swatantra Path and Dr. Rajendra Prasad Avenue, near the station and the small cycle rental stall.
By Rail : Vasco is laid out in a grid, bordered by Marmagao bay to the north, and by the railway line on its southern side. Apart from the cluster of oil storage tanks, the town's most prominent landmark is the railway station at the south end of the main Dr. Rajendra Prasad Avenue.
By Air: The Dabolim airport is located at a distance of just 4 kilometers from Vasco Da Gama and has flights plying from major metros of India regularly.
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Arambol
 Situated around 50 km north of Panaji, Arambol a small remote fishing village has one of the most charming beaches of Goa. The place has two beaches, more popular is the main beach (Harmal beach), the northernmost beach in Goa. Every tourists dream, the beautiful beach is secluded and has a primitive, untouched feel to it. The second, more picturesque beach lies beyond the rocky headband and can only be reached on foot and is bordered by steep cliffs on both sides.
The main beach, on a long stretch of curving sand is good for swimming. It is a place ideal for people looking for peace and tranquility. A hot spring near the main beach which feeds into a freshwater lake, producing silt on the lakeshore said to be good for the skin, that some are fond of smearing on their bodies. On its immediate north there are several attractive, relatively quite bays and fresh water pools also good for swimming separated by rocky headlands. The headlands are made of basalt and are clearly visible for miles along the coast. A well made track runs round the headland to the second beach which is even more secluded and little used. The coastal path again continues round the next headland to the Terekhol beach, the northernmost tip of Goa on the Maharashtra border.
Arambol village is quiet and friendly, with just a few hundred locals mostly fishing people. The place is ideally peaceful allowing you to have a close experience of local life and culture. The relaxed environment coupled with peace and tranquility attracts many vacationers from other beaches of Goa. The Harmal beach is 2.5 km from the village bus stop, down a road passing village houses sheltered under coconut trees.
The rocky headland or the cliffs near the beaches are popular for paragliding. Dolphin watching boat trips and paragliding are amongst the fun activities on this beach. Boat trip to Anjuna beach are also available. A few shops sell clothes, junk jewelry and handicrafts from across Goa and India. Some good cafes along the main beach and on the headland to the north serve up tasty dishes from the cuisine of Italy, Goa and India.
How to reach -
Air : Goa's international airport, Dabolim, is 29 km from the capital Panaji. Indian Airlines has direct flights from Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai daily.
Rail : Goa's two main stations are at Margao and Vasco da Gama. Vasco-da-Gama and Margoa are connected by train with Bangalore, Belgaum, Hospet and Hyderabad and via Miraj to Bombay, Delhi and Agra.
Road: Goa is well connected by NH17A with Maharashtra and Karnataka state. There are regular bus services to Mumbai, Bangalore, Hampi and other destinations from the Kadamba bus stand at Panaji. There are buses available to and fro between Panjim and Arambol every thirty minutes until noon, and every ninety minutes thereafter and between Mapusa and Arambol which takes three hours. The bus stand here is on the main road.There is a faster private minibus service from Panjim daily with a stop opposite to the tea stalls at the beach end of the village.From the main road, there is a bumpy side road which leads 1km to the village, past a large school and a church.The main beach is 200m further to the north of the village.
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Basilica of Bom Jesus
 9 km east of Panaji, along the Mandovi river, lies the town of Old Goa, once the centre of power for the Portuguese in India and the Far East. Old Goa was virtually abandoned in 1843, when the capital was shifted to Panaji. All that remains now is a handful of cathedrals and churches, a monastery and a convent. But, deserted though this area may be, it isn’t forgotten- and here, among the ruins of an empire, lie some of India’s greatest churches- and among the best known of them is the Basilica of Bom Jesus. The Basilica is a World Heritage monument, and next to it is the Professed House- the `Casa Professa’ of the Jesuits. An impressive edifice with a façade of black granite, the Professed House was built in the late 16th century and is linked to the Basilica by a colonnaded arcade.
Renowned throughout the Catholic world, the 16th century cathedral of Bom Jesus (`Good Jesus’ or `Infant Jesus’) has beautifully gilded altars and is decorated with frescoes and inlay work. The church was India’s first Minor Basilica, and is considered one of the best examples of baroque architecture in India. It’s an opulent structure which incorporates white marble, and is best known for the tomb of St Francis Xavier, which it houses. The embalmed body of the saint, who died in 1552, was gifted to the church by Cosimo de Medici III, Grand Duke of Tuscany. Today, the body lies in an airtight glass coffin positioned in a silver casket crafted by a 17th century Florentine jeweller.
Till some years back, the body of St Xavier was ritually exposed- in its coffin- once every decade, to allow pilgrims to view it. The saint is believed to have miraculous powers of healing, and pilgrims would come from all over the country to offer prayers. The prayers and the pilgrimages still continue, although church authorities have decided not to display the body any more, to guard against deterioration.
When to go -
Goa is best visited in the winter, between October and March, when the weather’s pleasant. December, especially, is a good time to visit the Basilica of Bom Jesus; special ceremonies to honour St Xavier are held on December 3.
The Basilica is open to visitors from 9 am to 6.30 pm on weekdays and from 10 am to 6.30 pm on Sundays. Masses are held at 8 am and 9.15 am on Sunday and at 7 am and 8 am on weekdays.
Accommodation
The possibilities for accommodation in Goa are virtually limitless, stretching all the way from snazzy resorts and upmarket hotels to affordable guesthouses, cottages and local inns. Budget options include dormitories and hostels, or homestays, which can be a great way to see Goa up close. The only thing to keep in mind is that Goa’s immense popularity makes accommodation scarce during the peak season; book well in advance.
How to reach -
By Road : One can avail the local bus services of Old Goa to reach the Basilica of Bom Jesus. There are also options of taxis and auto rickshaws. Conducted tours from Panaji feature the Basilica of Bom Jesus church.Alternately, you can hire a car or take a taxi, including the interesting motorbike taxis.
By Rail : The two railway stations- at Vasco da Gama and Margao- also have a number of trains arriving at Goa from the rest of the country. In addition to that, there are bus networks which connect the state to other cities and towns in Western and Southern India.
By Air : The domestic airport at Dabolim (30 km from Panaji) has frequent flights from Mumbai, Chennai, Delhi, Bangalore and Kochi, besides chartered flights from overseas.
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Dona Paula
 Panaji, the capital city of Goa is the charming little travel hub for the tourists coming to Goa. Though, it does not possess several world renowned monuments, its bears an ambience which has a captivating charm. Panjim or Panaji is one of the India''''s smallest and pleasantest state capitals and is located on the south bank of the wide Mandovi River. The town has preserved its Portuguese heritage appreciably well and parts of it still contains narrow winding streets, old houses with over hanging balconies, red-tiled roofs and numerous small bars and cafe''''s. The charm of Panaji is a that it is very small city, and has little scope for growth as it is bounded by Altinho (a hillock), on one side, the Arabian sea on the other Mandovi River on the third side, and Ourem Creek on the fourth so the city will always retain its charm and beauty.
Sightseeing at Panjim -
The Idalcao Palace : The Idalcao Palace was once the castle of the Adil Shahis of Bijapur. It served as the Viceregal Palace until 1759 after the Portuguese rebuilt it in 1615. In 1843 it housed the secretariat and now it is the Passport office.
Our Lady of Immaculate Conception : Our Lady of Immaculate Conception is Panaji's main church, which was built in 1541 and enlarged in 1619. It is designed after the church at Reis Magos, and the second largest bell in Goa that was salvaged from the ruins of the Augustian Monastery in Velha Goa is now placed here.
Braganza Institute : The main attraction of the Braganza Institute is a blue tiled frieze depicting the Portuguese colonisation of India.
Jama Masjid : The Jama Masjid located in Panaji is one of the few mosques in coastal Goa. It was built after the Inquisition.
The Chapel of St Sebastian : The Chapel of St Sebastian is a relatively new structure that was built in the 1880''''s. It has the crucifix that was originally in the Palace of Inquisition in Velha Goa.
Mahalaxmi Temple : A Hindu temple, the Mahalaxmi Temple speak volumes of the Hindu population living here.
How to Reach -
By Road : Panaji is well connected to all the major cities of the Goa and nearby states.
By Rail : Panaji is connected with Mumbai (Bombay), Delhi, Pune, Secunderabad, and Jaipur. Madgaon is the nearest railway station.
By Air : Goa is connected by Indian Airlines, Jet Airways, and Sahara Airlines flights from Mumbai (Bombay), Bangalore, Cochin, Delhi, Chennai (Madras), Mangalore and Trivandrum. Dabolim Airport is the nearst aiport from the city of Panaji.
Shopping in Panajim -
The exclusive shopping items are handicrafts like pottery, shell work, furniture, brass work, papier mache. You can find all this things from the handicraft emporia in Panajim.
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Pernem
 Sandwiched between the Chapora and Arondem rivers, the predominantly Hindu Taluka of Pernem --in the Novas Conquistas area - is Goa's northernmost district and one of its least explored regions.
Apart from the fishing village of Arambol, which attracts a trickle of backpackers seeking a rustic alternative to the resorts south of the river Chapora, the beautiful Pernem coastline of long sandy beaches, lagoons and coconut plantations has few settlements equipped to cope with visitors. However, the picturesque, if bumpy, journey north from Arambol to Terekol fort, on the Maharashtrian border, provides ample incentive to spend a day away from the beach.
How To Reach -
By Road : Pernem is connected to the state capital Panaji by the National Highway 17. The NH 17 connects Goa to Mumbai. If you are planning to reach Pernem from the beaches of Anjuna, Vagator, or Chapora, you will have to travel a few kilometers inland to pick up the Main Calangute Road to the river crossing at Siolim.
By Rail : The Pernem station lies on the Konkan railway network and is located at a distance of about 4 km east from the town. Pernem is the last station in Goa for trains leaving for Mumbai.
By Air : Dabolim is the nearest airport to Pernem.
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Ponda
 The city of Ponda lies about 28kms south-east of Panaji and 17kms north-east of Margao and is also the capital of Ponda Taluka .The town was born after the Portuguese took over the area in 1791 from the Raja of Sonda and annexed it along with Quepem, Canacona and Sanguem forming the New Conquests.It began as an administrative center with the establishment of administrative offices and court and soon became a commercial center. Most of the area known as Ponda
today was a part of "Quela" village. It lies strategically along the
main Panaji-Margao highway and is also connected to the neighboring state of Karnataka via the Ponda-Belgaum highway or the NH-4.
Today it is an industrial city with many large factories and industrial estates
nearby. Goa''s only engineering college, the Goa College of Engineering is located
at nearby Farmagudi.
Ponda taluka is most famous for its temples, most of which have made the area
their home for centuries following displacement from their original sites elsewhere
in Portuguese occupied Goa during the early days of the Inquisition.
Ponda is also the gateway to Goa''s wildlife sanctuaries, both the Bondla and
the Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary and also the Dudhsagar Waterfalls.
How to reach -
By Road : Ponda is connected to state capital Panaji (28 km) by the National Highway 4A. The NH 4A also connects Ponda to the neighboring state of Karnataka. Buses ply regularly between Panaji and Margao via Ponda.
By Rail : The Margao (17 km) railway station is the nearest railhead to Ponda.
By Air : The Dabolim airport is the nearest airport to Ponda. |
Goa, the coastal paradise popular for its silver sand beaches, cosmopolitan lifestyle, fenni, fairs and festivals. Fairs and Festivals are a part of life in Goa. Come & Enjoy your travel to Goa and be part of the festivity. 