About Goa

Beach Fun in Goa

   

General Information about Goa:

Area	3,702 sq. kms.
Altitude	Sea Level to 1,022 mts.
Capital	Panaji
Population	13,42,998 (2001 Census)
Climate	Max. 32oC  Min. 21 oC
Rainfall	320 cms. From June to September.
Languages Spoken	Konkani, Marathi, English, Portuguese and Hindi
Literacy Rate	75.5%

BEACHES IN GOA:

Anjuna Beach:

Adjacent to the Chapora Fort these beaches were frequented by the early European travellers commonly called the "hippies".

• Vagator Beach: It is a popular beach dominated by Chapora Fort in the north, on its imposing head land, To the south of Vagatora is Calangute Beach.
• Calangute Beach: One of Goa's well liked beaches also popularly known as the queen of Goan beaches. The beach is frequented till the late hours of the night not only by locals by by tourists too.
• Sinquerim, Candolim, and Baga Beaches:

At Baga a fresh rivulet by the same name meets the sea and is bounded to the North by a wooded escarpment

• Arambol beach:
  along the Goa border is Arambol with its fresh water lagoon. Due to its isolation not many tourists have been able to reach this beach.
• Miramar beach:
  On the outskirts of the capital city is the small Miramar beach earlier known as the Gaspar Dias beach. Due to its proximity to Panjim, locals as well as tourists putting up in the capital crowd the beach in the evenings.
• Dona Paula:
  At the place where two of Goa's famous rivers meet the Arabian sea is the Dona Paula bay. Named after Dona Paula de Menezes, this place is called the Lovers Paradise due to a myth which has been attached to this place.
• Bambolim beach:
  is an ideal picnic spot for the locals. While most of the beaches that can be frequented are in the North, South Goa too has some of the State's enticing beaches.
• Colva beach:

Rivaling the Calangute beach in the north is the Colva beach in the south. Known for its white sand, or silver sands, this beach is the longest in Goa.

• Bogmalo beach:
  Close to the port city of Vasco is another ideal beach for picnickers. The Bogmalo beach though small caters to the leisurely needs of its visitors. The Bogmalo Oberoi hotel is situated on this beach.
• Palolem and Agonda:
  Way down to the southern tip of Goa at a distance of around 75 km are two beautiful beaches of Palolem and Agonda. Both beaches are relatively deserted due to their distances from the main cities but are known for their enchanting beauty and serenity.
• Terekhol:
  At the tip of Goa is the Terekhol fort which has a small beach. Due to lack of proper transport, this place is frequented by people who wish to spend a few days at this fort which has been converted into a guesthouse.

Spend time on Goa's most beautiful beach in Palolem and get stunned by the amazing white sand. A place of glorious sunsets and spectacular sunrises. Stay in palm huts on the beach as there is a campfire at night and you have dinner underneath the spectacular stars. Also enjoy the traditional folk dancing. From the southern state of Karnataka it is the the nearest, reasonably well-known Goan beach of white sand facing a blue bay between two headlands.

Varca, Cavelossim, and Mabor are the most beautiful beaches south of Benaulim. These beaches are much cleaner and quieter than most of the famous beaches of Goa. There are numerous beach shacks offering a variety of Goan dishes and seafood at reasonable prices. There are several food joints around Dona Sylvia where you can get entire package of good food, good drink, nice service, and a pleasant service in quite reasonable rates. There are facilities for Dolphin watching at Betty’s Place as well as boat trips for Dolphin watching up river Sal.

	Dudhsagar Waterfalls The most impressive waterfalls of Goa lie on its eastern border with Karnataka. Measuring a mighty 600m from head to foot, the famous waterfalls at Dudhsagar, on the Goa-Karnataka border, are some of the highest in India, and a spectacular enough sight to entice a steady stream of visitors from the coast into the rugged Western Ghats
Arvalem Waterfalls Arvalem Waterfalls cascades down from the mountains, from a height of 50 mt, this waterfall is a amazing experience. The spot can be best viewed after the monsoons

Backwaters of Goa - Aldona River
Bird watching in Goa

Forts in Goa
	Fort Chapora- The Portuguese had won their rule in Goa but the threat from the Muslim and Maratha rulers went on. To protect themselves from this risk, the Portuguese built the Chapora fort in 1617.
	Aguada Fort A spring within the fort provided water supply to the ships that called there, giving it the name "Aguada" (meaning 'water' in Portuguese). On the northern side, it provides a harbour for local shipping

Carnival in Goa.
	Although introduced by the Portuguese who ruled this territory for over 50 years, from 1510 to 1961, the three-day festival primarily celebrated by Christians, has absorbed Hindu tradition-bound revelry and western dance forms, and stimulated by the artistry of the Goan genius turned into a pageantry of singular effervescence.
Among the various colourful feasts and festivals that Goa celebrates -with great eclat, Carnaval and Shigmo are the most famous, awaited by the population with intense enthusiasm. Unlike 'Shigmo' which is also celebrated in some parts of India, although under different appellations, Carnaval is Goa's own, unique, and the Union Territorys contribution to India's other expressions at untrammelled revelry.

Temples in Goa.
	Sri Manguesh temple at Mangueshi in Ponda Taluka, the most prominent among temples, is situated along the National Highway-4A about 23-km from Panaji. This temple is famous for its pristine glory, which attracts thousands of visitors every year and is gifted by the Welcome Gate, an elegant lamp tower, a "Noubatkhana" overlooking the temple tank and the "Agrashalas" on three sides.
	Shri Shantadurga Temple, Kavlem Built in 1738 by king Shahu of Satara, this temple is the largest and most famous in Goa. This temple is dedicated to Goddess Parvati, the wife of Lord Shiva. Being the most powerful of all goddesses, she also takes on a violent form and is then referred to as Durga. Legend has it that once during a quarrel between Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu, she appeared in the form of Durga and helped to amiably resolve the fight.

Churches in Goa.
	Basilica of Bom Jesus Visitors from India and overseas flock to the Basilica of Bom Jesus in Old Goa, built in 1605, and now declared a World Heritage Monument. The church houses the sacred relics of St. Francis Xavier, patron saint of Goa, who died while on a sea voyage to China on December 2,1552. The Se Cathedral nearby is dedicated to St. Catherine, as it was on her feast day, 25th November 1510 that Alfonso de Albuquerque conquered Goa.
	Mary Immaculate Conception Church, Panjim Complete with tiny electric bulbs, the entire Church is lit up in the eeriness of the night The locals celebrate the Feast of Our Lady Of Fatima which is usually celebrated at the end of May(acc. to the Church calendar). The reason being that a beautiful image of Our Lady Of Fatima is placed on the altars of the Church.
The feast of The Immaculate Conception is celebrated every year in Margao and Panjim on 8th Dec. In Panjim there is a 3 day fete where people from all walks of life come to witness the sheer splendor of the Church and also to dabble in a few pricey bargains in the stalls.
	Mae De Deus Church - Saligao Mae De Deus Church is situated at Saligao and is a historically & architechturally significant heritage building in Goa.

How to get to Goa??

By Air :
Direct flights from Mumbai, Cochin, Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, Trivandrum, Kuwait and Chartered Flights from U.K and Germany operated by Indian Airlines, Air India and private operators.

By Road:
National highways NH 4A, NH 17 and NH 17A connect Goa to Major towns.

By Rail:
A broad Gauge rail line connects Goa with Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore and other Towns.