Goa
Goa Tourist Attractions, Pictures, Photos, Travel Information, Sites to See, Weather, Best time to visit, Shopping, How to Reach by Road by Train, by Air, Flight
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Tourist attractions in Goa are globally famous. Everyone knows Goa tourist attractions are its sunny golden beaches. But beaches are not the only tourist attraction of Goa. Goa is an old city having its own traditions, culture, architecture and its share of monuments. Goa is studded with churches all over due to its past of foreign connection. There is galore of tourist attractions in Goa. There are beaches; temples, churches and villages are not to be forgotten.
Panaji :
It is the capital of Goa and has many tourist attractions of Goa. It is situated on the banks of River Mandovi. Panaji has many renowned Churches and buildings built in Gothic style. The must see of the Panaji are the Chapel of St. Sebastian, The church devoted to our Lady of Immaculate Conception, the Goa State Museum, the Secretariat building, the statue of Abbe Faria.
Old Goa :
Old Goa is the home of many old and famous churches. Convent and Church of St. Francis of Assisi, Church of St. Cajetan, Church of St. Augustine Ruins, Church and Convent of St. Monica, Church of Our Lady of Rosary, Chapel of St. Anthony and Chapel of St. Catherine are among the those old churches. The holy Basilica of Bom Jesus is a famous pilgrimage for Roman Catholics.
Shantadurga Temple:
The beauty of Goa is further accentuated by the auspicious presence of various Gods and Goddesses. The Shantdurga Shrine located within dense forests presents a serene and exquisite picture to the tourists in Goa. Situated right at the edge of the forest the temple has a vast expanse of paddy fields in the front.
The temple has beautifully carved interiors where the marble and glass chandeliers cover and protect the silver work which has been artfully designed and dedicated to the Goddess. The sanctum houses idols of Devi Shantadurga flanked by the Lords Vishnu and Mahadev on either side. The 8 day long Zatra (procession) on wooden chariots is a must see attraction of the temple.
Mahalaxami Temple :
It is the very famous place of worship for Hindus in Goa devoted to Goddess Laxami, goddess of wealth.
Mangeshi Temple :
It is the very famous temple of Goa.
Goa Hotels
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| Goa |
Panaji :
It is the capital of Goa and has many tourist attractions of Goa. It is situated on the banks of River Mandovi. Panaji has many renowned Churches and buildings built in Gothic style. The must see of the Panaji are the Chapel of St. Sebastian, The church devoted to our Lady of Immaculate Conception, the Goa State Museum, the Secretariat building, the statue of Abbe Faria.
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| Famous Old Church at Panaji |
Old Goa :
Old Goa is the home of many old and famous churches. Convent and Church of St. Francis of Assisi, Church of St. Cajetan, Church of St. Augustine Ruins, Church and Convent of St. Monica, Church of Our Lady of Rosary, Chapel of St. Anthony and Chapel of St. Catherine are among the those old churches. The holy Basilica of Bom Jesus is a famous pilgrimage for Roman Catholics.
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| Old Goa Basilica |
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| Church of Old Goa |
Shantadurga Temple:
The beauty of Goa is further accentuated by the auspicious presence of various Gods and Goddesses. The Shantdurga Shrine located within dense forests presents a serene and exquisite picture to the tourists in Goa. Situated right at the edge of the forest the temple has a vast expanse of paddy fields in the front.
The temple has beautifully carved interiors where the marble and glass chandeliers cover and protect the silver work which has been artfully designed and dedicated to the Goddess. The sanctum houses idols of Devi Shantadurga flanked by the Lords Vishnu and Mahadev on either side. The 8 day long Zatra (procession) on wooden chariots is a must see attraction of the temple.
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| Shantadurga Temple - Goa |
Mahalaxami Temple :
It is the very famous place of worship for Hindus in Goa devoted to Goddess Laxami, goddess of wealth.
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| Mahalakshmi Temple - Goa |
Mangeshi Temple :
It is the very famous temple of Goa.
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| Mangeshi Temple - Goa |
Se Cathedral: Very good example of Portuguese-Gothic architecture. It is known to be the largest church in Goa.
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| Se Cathedral - Goa |
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| Se Cathedral Inner - Goa |
Beaches of Goa :
The major tourist attractions of Goa are its beaches. The Calangute, Fort Aguada beach, Vagatore beach, Anjuana beach, Baga beach, Candolim beach, Vasco Da Gama beach, Bogmalo beach, Colva beach, Dona Paula beach, Miramar beach, Majorda beach, Varca beach are the most frequently visited by the tourists and the local both.
Another tourist attraction of Goa is its festive life. Evening cruises in Mandovi River with local songs, exotic Goan seafood, and the Goan festivals are the add-ons of the tourist attractions in Goa.
Goa Hotels
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| Cottages at Goa Hotels |
How to Reach Goa
By Air: Dabolim is the main entry point for Goa situated at a distance of around 29 km from Panaji on the coast near Vasco da Gama.
Most domestic airlines operate in Goa apart from chartered private airlines operating from UK and Germany. Indian Airlines has direct flights from Delhi and Mumbai daily. Air India also flies to Goa.
By Rail: It is not difficult to reach Goa by trains, especially after opening of the Konakan Railway that connects Margao and Vasco da Gama to major cities in India. You can take trains from Delhi 1,874 km), Mumbai (490km), and Bangalore (430 km) to reach Goa comfortably. From the railway stations, you can hire taxis and motorcycle taxis to reach the desired destinations.
By Road: Goa, Maharashtra, and Karnataka state transport corporations operate from the Kadamba bus stand at Panaji. Frank Shipping operates a boat service between Mumbai and Panaji.
Moving around in Goa is quite easy. One can find bus as well as car rental services. A unique experience is that of the motorcycle taxi. Several ferry services are also available.