Rang7 Guides
Rang7 members have created & contributed 308 Destinations, 77 Festivals, 47 Monuments, 39 National Parks and 58 Other Guides. Go ahead and Explore now!
Goa
[ Edit ] Overview
A former Portuguese colony, Goa is known for its beaches, greenery, temples, world heritage sites and laid back life-style. A harmonious blend of tradition with contemporary lifestyle can be seen in the peaceful co-existance of Hindu, Christian and Muslim cultures in the state. The centuries old Portuguese influence is still evident in the grand old buildings and churches. While several industrial enterprises have come up in recent times, tourism is still the most important source of income.
[ Edit ] History
Goa’s history dates back to the 3rd century BC when it was part of the Maurayan empire. Later the Satavahanas of Kolhapur came into power followed by the Chalukyans of Badami, then the Shilharas, the Kadambas and then the Chalukyans of Kalyani. In 1312 Muslim invaders came to Goa. In 1370 the Vijayanagar empire forced them out and ruled Goa for nearly 100 years after. In 1469 the Bahmani Sultans conquered Goa but after the dynasty fell apart the Adil Shahis of Bijapur took over. Later in 1510 the Portuguese arrived in Goa. After 450 years Goa became part of India in 1961.
Quick Facts
[ Edit ] State
Goa
[ Edit ] Location
West coast of India.
[ Edit ] Best Time To Visit
September-May.
[ Edit ] Tourist Offices
Goa Tourism Development Corporation Ltd.
Trionora Apartments, Dr Alvares Costa Road,
Panaji, Goa- 403001
[ Edit ] STD Code
083
Sightseeing
[ Edit ] Beaches of Goa
more[ Edit ] Calangute
Calangute in North Goa is famous for its beaches and is packed with tourists during the peak season. Baga beach and Candolim beach are located near Calangute.
[ Edit ] Churches & Convents of Goa
more[ Edit ] Mapusa
Mapusa, in north Goa, has some interesting old structures. Its proximity to the north Goa beaches has made it popular on the tourist map. Every Friday Mapusa holds the famous Mapusa market where locals and visitors come to buy and sell their wares. Anjuna and Chapora beaches are located close to Mapusa.
[ Edit ] Margao
Margao is the second largest city and the headquarters of the South Goa District. The commercial capital of Goa, Margao is among the oldest recorded towns in Goa. The town is surrounded by fertile lands making it an important agricultural market. Its Portuguese past is visible in its churches, mansions, houses and dark rosewood style furniture. Margao has not been much of a tourist destination in comparison to many other parts of Goa. So a lot of it is quite untouched by tourists and is a perfect base from where one can enter into rural untouched villages of the district. Some of the major attractions at Margao are Colva Beach, Benaulim Village and Beach, Church of Holy Spirit and Damodar Temple. more
[ Edit ] Nightlife
Goa has many bars and night clubs. Being a big holiday destination the mood in the city is very relaxed. The laws in Goa are very liberal when it comes to alcohol but at the same time they are very strict when it comes to drunk driving. It is said that every third house in Goa is a bar and restaurant.
[ Edit ] Panaji
Panaji, also known as Panjim is the capital of Goa. The third largest city in Goa today, Panaji used to be a simple fishing village. The city has a lot to offer by way of tourist attractions. Dona Paula, Aguada Fort, Fontainhas and Sao Tome are some of the popular tourist destinations at Panaji. more
[ Edit ] Ponda
The town of Ponda is located in the south Goa district. It is renowned for its numerous Hindu temples. The architecture of Hindu temples in Goa display an interesting blend of European baroque with Muslim and Hindu architectural styles. The main attraction here is the Safa Shahouri Mosque built in the 1500’s. Some of the popular temples here are Shantadurga temple and Shri Ramnath temple at Quela; Shri Nagueshi temple at Bandora built in the 1700’s; the 18th century Shri Lakshmi Narasimha temple at Velinga village and Shri Mahalsa temple in Mardol village.
[ Edit ] Tamdi Surla Temple
[ Edit ] Things to do
- Relax on the beach or go for a swim in the sea. The beaches also provide ample opportunities for a variety of water sports like water scooters, scuba diving, parasailing etc.
- Visit some of the ancient cathedrals and heritage buildings.
- Visit the spice plantations at Savoi Verum, 10 km north of Ponda.
[ Edit ] Vasco da Gama
The city of Vasco, as it is commonly known as, was named after the Portuguese explorer, Vasco da Gama. The city is not big on the tourist map as there is very little to do here. There are two beaches at Velaso and Bogmalo but they are not always safe to swim in as the water has a lot underwater currents.
Planning a Trip
Getting There
[ Edit ] Air
Dabolim airport is connected to all major Indian cities.
[ Edit ] Rail
The 2 main railway heads are Margao and Vasco da Gama.
[ Edit ] Road
The NH 17 from Mumbai (Bombay) to Kochi (Cochin) runs along the length of Goa from north to south. There is a good road over the Western Ghats via Ponda connecting the state to Bangalore, Hyderabad and Pune.
[ Edit ] Getting Around
The best way to get around Goa is to rent a motor bike. The other way is to rent a car. Other than those there is a choice of renting a motor bike taxi or public transport.
[ Edit ] Other Information
[ Edit ] Shopping
Items of interest to travelers include traditional handicrafts, hand painted ceramics, antiques, local wines, cashew nuts, Goan sweets, inexpensive clothes and beach wear. The colorful weekly markets in different places attract bargain hunting tourists in large numbers.
Anjuna Market
Every Wednesday, Anjuna flee market comes alive with street traders from all over Goa coming to sell their wares. The colorful and crowded market sells everything from clothes, jewellery, spices, handicrafts, souveneirs etc. Bargaining is a must here. Its not uncommon to be charged 2 or 3 times the actual price.
Ingo’s Saturday Night Bazaar
The bazaar starts at around 6 pm every Saturday and goes on until late. You can shop, eat, drink and enjoy some entertainment in the form of live bands, fashion shows etc. You have to bargain hard to get a good price.
[ Edit ] Food
[ARCHIVES ]
