Panaji

Lovely state capital has retained its Portuguese heritage in a lived-in, knock about kind of way and exudes an aura more reminiscent of the Mediterranean than of India. 

It includes the Chapel of St Sebastian which contains a striking crucifix that originally stood in the Palace of the Inquisition in Old Goa. The Church of the Immaculate Conception, consecrated in 1541, is Panaji's main place of worship, and it was here that recently arrived sailors from Portugal gave thanks for a safe passage. 

Seven kilometers west of Panaji, the Dona Paula Beach is nestled on the southern side of the rocky hammer-shaped headlands. This beach is fringed by palm trees and casuarinas groves. The proximity of the beach to the capital city makes it a popular tourist attraction.

The Cabo Palace

The Cabo Palace fortress housed the Franciscan monastery, which later (1594 AD) became the official residence of the Governor of Goa. Holding the most panoramic view one can witness in Goa with the Indian Ocean towards the west, the Bay of the river Mandovi and Fort Aguada on the north and the busy port of Mormugao.

Colva and Benaulim

Colva and Benaulim, thetwo famous beaches located on the golden shores of the Arabian Sea in south Goa. They are still somewhat untouched by the vagaries of the fast life encountered elsewhere in Goa. It lies 39 km away from Panaji. Two km further ahead from Colva is Benaulim.

Anjuna

Anjuna is popularly known as the freak capital of the world, it is just the right place for lazing holiday makers. 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 back to the hippie days.

Chapora & Vagator

This is a fascinating part of the Goan coastline and more genuinely salubrious than Anjuna. The village is on the estuary of the Chapora River and is overshadowed by a rocky hill which supports a well-preserved Portuguese fort. There are sandy coves, pleasant beaches and rocky cliffs at nearby Vagator.

Dudhsagar waterfall

The Dudhsagar waterfall and Arvalem waterfall attract many tourists every year. The rock-cut caves of Khandepar and Arvalem are also worth mentioning. The Pilar monastery, Saligao seminary, and Rachol seminary attract the religious minded travelers.

Temples of Goa

Despite the Portuguese influence that dominated Goa over the centuries, it is fascinating to see how such a large number of Hindu temples have survived here. Among the oldest temples in Goa are the Mangeshi Temple of Priol, the Shanta Durga Temple at Kavele, the Ganapati Temple at Khandole, the Mahalaxmi Temple at Bhandiwade and the Sri Nagesh Maharudra Temple at Bandora.

When to Go

Goa's beachnik lifestyle is best experienced during the winter months between October and the end of February.

Transport and Communication

Air: Goa is connected by Indian Airlines flights to Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, Delhi and Cochin. Recently, some International flights to Gulf countries have been introduced. Most private airline operators operate their flights to Mumbai, Delhi and other destinations.

Rail: The Konkan Railway, connects Mumbai to Mangalore via Goa. The existing Vasco-Miraj line is converted into broadguage which facilitates direct rail journey from Goa to New Delhi.

Road: Goa is connected by road to all the major towns in India. Reliable and safe bus services are available to Mumbai, Pune , Bangalore, Mangalore and Kolhapur.

Sea: Catamaran Services operated between Goa to Mumbai on a regular basis with a travel time of around seven hours, except in the monsoon season when it suspends operations.

Goa is a tiny emerald land on the west coast of India. Goa is situated towards the southern end of Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra.

Goa is best known as a tourist paradise, both in India and abroad. Lavishly gifted by nature for its scenic beauty, virgin beaches girdling its 105-km long palm-fringed coast.

HISTORY
Goa's history dates back to the 3rd century BC, when it formed part of the Mauryan empire. Over the next 100 years, Goa's harbours were important landing places for ships carrying Arabian horses to the Vijayanagar cavalry at Hampi. Goa was captured for Portugal by Afonso de Albuquerque in 1510 to which Daman and Diu were added later. It was liberated from Portuguese yoke on December 19, 1961 and the territories incorporated into the Indian Union.

For over 25 years, Goa Daman and Diu were a Union Territory when it became the 25th state of the country on May 30, 1987. The overland districts of Daman and Diu were delinked from Goa and are now a Union territory.