Places to visit in the city Goa
DONA PAULA - Goa
 With its aura of romance and myth, the Dona Paula Beach
is thronged by tourists not only in search of their deceased
beloved, but also to indulge in water sports on the clear
waters. The beach is named after Dona Paula de Menezes,
the daughter of a viceroy who threw herself off the cliff
when refused permission to marry a local fisherman named
Gaspar Dias. The Dona Paula Sports Club provides facilities
for cycling, motorboat rides, water-scooter, windsurfing,
toboggan, ski-biscuit, toboggan, water-skiing, parasailing,
skibob, sports fishing, snorkelling, harpoon fishing, yachting,
and kayaking on the beach.
OLD CITY & CHURCHES - Goa
 Old Goa is only nine kilometres east of Panaji. Founded
in 1510 by Alfonso de Albuquerque as the old capital, the
place is replete with churches like the Se Cathedral, the
Convent and Church of St. Francis of Assisi (largest Christian
church in Asia), Professed House and Basilica of Bom Jesus,
the Church and Convent of St. Monica, the Church of St.
Cajetan and the ruins of the Church of St. Augustine.
PANAJI - Goa
 Too small and mellow for a state capital, Panaji is situated
on the south bank of the Mandovi River. The place became
capital of Goa in 1843, replacing Old Goa. Unlike most parts
of India, people here are friendly, perhaps an effect of
long relations with people from other parts of the world.
The city is charming and the colonial effect is evident
in the city landscape. In Panaji, one must visit the church dedicated to our
Lady of Immaculate Conception, and the Chapel of St. Sebastian.
The Goa State Museum, the Secretariat, the statue of Abbe
Faria in the capital is a must see for lovers of art. Visit a Goan market and you will discover the essence
of the land. There is fish in plenty, woven baskets and
earthen pots, pickles and preserves, tender coconuts and
bananas and, if you’re lucky, even blue china and bronzed
candelabras!
MAPUSA BAZAAR - Goa
 Mapusa, which is the main market town in north Goa, may
well be the primal site of the oldest weekly fair on the
Konkan coast. It witnesses the weekly and happy conclave
of buyers and sellers from all over Goa on Fridays. The
Mapusa weekly fair is the logical sequence to the ancient
festivals in honour of Kanakeshwar Baba, venerated at the
Bodgeshwar temple.
PONDA - Goa
 Antruz, the inspired name of the Ponda subdivision, was
the redoubt where the Hindus, displaced by the Portuguese
from the coast, barricaded themselves between rivers and
hills to hold their sway. Here they preserved their culture
and further enriched it. From this area came Kesarbai Kerkar,
one of India’s greatest singers; as also Dinanath Mangeshkar,
the father of Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhonsle; and such
other singers as Jitendra Abisheki, Mogubai Kurdikar—a great
singer herself and the mother of the incomparable Kishori
Amonkar. The area has several Hindu temples such as Sri
Ganapati Temple and Mahalaxmi Temple.
SHRI MANGESH TEMPLE - Goa
 Most of the temples in Goa have deities brought from Mithila
region in Bihar to which the Saraswat Brahmins of this region
are believed to belong. The ancient Mangesh Temple is situated
on the banks of the river Gomati or Zuari as it is called
today. Lord Mangesh is worshipped here in the shape of a
Shiva linga. The linga is said to have been consecrated
on the mountain of Mangireesh (Mongir) on the banks of river
Bhagirathi by Lord Brahma himself, from where the Saraswat
Brahmins brought it to Trihotrapuri in Bihar. They carried
the linga on to Gomantaka and settled at Mathagrama, the
present-day Madgoa, and established their most sacred temple.
SHRI SHANTA DURGA TEMPLE - Goa
 The Goddess of peace, Shanta Durga or Shanteri, resides
in her holy abode at Kapilpura or Kavele in Antruz. This
deity is believed to have been carried by Loma Sharma when
the Saraswats came to Goa from Tiruhut in Bihar.
SHRI RAMNATH TEMPLE - Goa
 The temple of Shri Ramnath is situated at Ponda around
33 km from Panaji. Apart from the main temple, there are
four other temples, namely of Shri Betal, Shri Shantadurga
(Shanteri), Shri Laxminarayan, and Shri Sidhanath. All these
temples together constitute Shri Ramnath Panchayatan.
CALANGUTE - Goa
 Calangute Beach is situated some 15 km north of Panaji.
This is a 7-km-long beach and the scenic natural beauty
of the peaceful coastal countryside has turned this beach
into one of the most popular destinations in the world.
The real discovery of this beach was done by the Hippies
who loved its pristine surroundings and blissful serenity
and golden sands. They spread the word around and the beach
saw hordes of European tourists coming. Tourists even now
trudge down the dusty, weather-beaten roads in search of
that idyllic coastal Goa.
ANJUNA - Goa
 Also known as the freak capital of the world, Anjuna beach
is just the right place for lazing holidaymakers. The place
comes live with its ever-famous full-moon parties and the
Wednesday flea market to take one on to a trance trip. The
beach is most popular among the local populace who love
its 20-km-long virgin white sands, fringed and sun drenched.
MIRAMAR - Goa
 Miramar or Gaspar Dias is one of the beach that are much
nearer to Panaji and ignored by many tourists. This should
come as a blessing as the crowd here is lesser than other
popular beaches in Goa. But this small beach can be used
for little beyond sunbathing, since the undercurrents and
flow are dangerous.
VAGATOR - Goa
 Overlooked by the 500-year-old Portuguese fort, the Vagator
beach with its soft white sands, the black lava rocks, the
coconut palms, and the lush green landscape leaves each
visitor awestruck. The beach is located north to the Anjuna
and despite being disturbed by the hustle and bustle of
tourists, life goes on peacefully here in the background. |
