Top Holiday Destinations in Goa
Goa Tour
Goa, situated on the west coast of India, is one of the most delightful states of India. Formerly a Portuguese colony, it is endowed with a variety of attractions including palm fringed beaches, miles of golden sands, lush green country-side, an incredible mosaic of cultural heritage, magnificent churches, temples, forts and monuments and a unique cultural synthesis of the east and west. With its tropical climate, Goa is a tourist destination for all seasons. Goa is a treasure trove of culture, music, dances and art forms that can be enjoyed during local festivals and celebrations. Animal lovers can visit the State’s wildlife sanctuaries It is often said that ‘Goa never stops partying’. The city is known for its vibrancy that attains its pinnacle in the annual Goa Carnival festival.
Goa Sightseeing
BAGA BEACH
At a distance of 15 km from Panjim Kadamba Bus stand, Baga beach is located in North Goa. This beach is bordered by Calangute Beach to its south and Anjuna Beach to its north. Baga Beach starts right where Calangute ends. Named after the Baga Creek that merges into the Arabian Sea on the northern part of the beach, this is one of the most popular among Goa beaches. Baga Beach is famous for its beach shacks and the delicious sea food that is offered there. The night life at Baga is even more exciting than its days. Baga Beach is the home to some of the hottest night clubs like Tito's and Mambos which are always crowded with the dance freaks.
BASILICA OF BOM JESUS
The Basilica of Bom Jesus is dedicated to St. Francis Xavier. The Construction of the church began in 1594 and completed in May 1605. The church is called 'Bom Jesus' meaning 'good Jesus' or 'infant Jesus'. This church is the first Minor Basilica in India and is regarded as one of the best examples of baroque architecture. The imposing facade built out of black granite in an exquisite combination of the Doric, Corinthian and composite styles, is remarkable for its simplicity. It measures 183 ft in length, 55 ft in breath and 61 ft in height. The main altar is 54 ft high and 30 ft broad. The interior of the church is built in Mosaic-Corinthian style. There are paintings of events from the life of St. Francis Xavier.
BENAULIM BEACH
At a distance of 36 km from Panaji Kadamba Bus Stand, 6 km from Margao Railway Station and 4.5 km from Colva beach, Benaulim Beach is known for its calm and peaceful environment located in South Goa. The best thing about Benaulim Beach is that it is still rather undiscovered by domestic tourists even though it is a famous beach for fishing. This beach gets fairly crowded in the evenings and on weekends. This Beach is right place for picnic and one can just relax the day off soaking in the sun. Moreover, one can see bull fighting at Benaulim Beach between the months of October to March. Watching the bull fight at the beach adds delight to traveling in Goa. .
LADY OF IMMACULATE
The Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception is the first church and one of the oldest churches in Goa. It was built in 1541. Praca de Flores'' which means the ''Square of Flowers'' was added in 1843. The Panjim Church is placed on the hillside and just high above the Idalco Palace built by Adil Shah. Standing on the gallery of the church, you can see the entire view of the lovely Panjim city. The interior of the church is simple. The church has a couple of altars. The main altar is dedicated to Mary Immaculate, on the left is Jesus crucified and to the right is Our Lady of the Rosary. Beautiful statues of St. Paul and St. Peter are seen beside the altars. The St. Xavier's Chapel is another attraction of the church.
DUDHSAGAR WATERFALLS
At a distance of 71 km from Panjim Kadamba Bus Stand, 50 km from Margao Railway Station and 10 km from Kulem, Dudhsagar Falls is the largest and highest fall of Goa. It is one of the must visit Goa tourist places and is often represented in promotion of Goa Tourism. Dudhsagar Falls is another popular attraction not to miss in a Goa tour packages. Dudhsagar falls is a four tiered waterfall located on the Mandovi River in Goa. This waterfall is amongst India's tallest waterfalls with a height of 310 m (1017 feet) and an average width of 30 m (100 feet) at it's peak.
SE CATHEDRAL
The Se Cathedral is dedicated to St. Catherine. It is also known to be the oldest and the most celebrated religious buildings in Goa and has the prestige of being the seat of Archdiocese of Goa. According to history, Alfonso Albuquerque in 1510 defeated the Muslim army on the feast day of St. Catherine of Alexandria and took possession of Goa. The construction of this imposing church began in 1562 during the reign of King Dom Sebastiao and substantially completed by 1619. The main altars however were not finished until the year 1652. It was consecrated in 1640.
