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 waying palms,
miles of golden sands, lush greenery, azure of Arabian Sea, soothing
sunshine,
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lovely
countryside and abundant seafood… yes, of course you are in Goa, the most preferred beach destination in India.
A vast stretch of the undulating Goan coast offers numerous
alluring little coves and bays each completely different and each with
its own special charm. Along the coast are picturesque villages with
tall white washed churches and red tiled houses that |
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nestle into the lush green of the Goan
countryside. In the northern part of Goa are some of the finest beaches,
edged by tall laterite cliffs including Sinquerim, Calangute, Baga,
Anjuna,
Vagator, and Chapora with an old fort overlookingthe beach. The Arambol
Beach has a delightful fresh water pond at the base of a verdant slope.
The southern beaches with their expanses of sparkling white sand and calm
sea comprise of Bogmolo, Velsao,
Uttorda, Majorda, Fatrade, Colva, Benaulim, Cavelossim, and Mabor. The
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Tiny bay at Palolem is quite breathtaking and definitely merits a visit.
Besides its magnificent tropical beaches, Goa treasures much
more to enchant you. It is a land of |
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incredible cultural heritage with old
churches in Portuguese tradition, magnificent temples and
monuments, quaint homes,
lively & colourful bazaars, and
above all a
delightful laissez faire attitude.
For 450 years, Goa remained a Portuguese colony, hence a unique cultural
synthesis of east and west is clearly seen everywhere. The capital city of
Panjim & Old Goa are the perfect examples of this rare
blend of yesterday and tomorrow. Located |
along the river
Mandovi, Panjim has several squares with tiers
of white washed red
tile-roofed buildings rising up the hillside giving it a Mediterranean flavour.
Panjim is noted for its fine buildings. Once the Governor's residence, the
present Government Secretariat is located along the river and was built at
the site of the palace of Adil Shah, the ruler |
of Bijapur. The
Church of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception dominates the city square
and its
steps
zig-zag up the hill. The old Latin quarter of Fontainahas has immense old
world charm. Its little lanes and stairways going up the hill are lined
with quaint street houses with wrought iron balconies and carved pillars.
The little Chapel of San Sebastian blends into these surroundings.
Nine km east of Panjim is Old Goa, popularly known as a noble city
full of imposing churches and cathedrals. During Portuguese reign,
it was said to rival Lisbon in its magnificence. Splendid church
architecture can be witnessed in the buildings of the Se |
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Cathedral, the
Church Of Francis of Assisi, and Church of Our Lady of the Rosary. Out of
which the Se Cathedral is the largest of the churches in Old Goa that
houses a famous Golden Bell, one of the best in the world. The famous
Church of St Cajetan was modelled on the original design of St Peter's in
Rome.
The most famous throughout the Roman Catholic world is Basillica of Bom
Jesus, which enshrines |
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the miraculously preserved remains of St. Francis Xavier housed in a
silver ornate casket. Halfway
up
the nearby Holy Hill is the massive Convent of St. Monica constructed in
1627 AD, and at the top are the majestic ruins of the St. Augustine's
Church.
Tired of sightseeing and looking for a lively experience? Come to
Wednesday flea market of Anjuna, a Goa experience in concentrated form.
It's a wonderful blend of Tibetan & Kashmiri traders,
colourful Gujrati tribal women, and blessed-out 1960s-style hippies.
It's quite a scene. Whatever you need, from a used paperback to a new
swimsuit, you'll find it here- though you have to bargain hard to get a
reasonable |
deal. Traditional style fishing boats are available for
transport to the market from Baga beach.
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When it comes to arts & crafts, Goa is a must check out point for every
art enthusiast. The excellent souvenirs that you can take away along with
include creative pottery, shell work, furniture brass work, bamboo work,
and papier-mâché.
One of the best times to visit Goa is during exuberant
Goa Carnival, which epitomizes the fun-loving culture that is
characteristic of Goa. Held in the month of February, just before |
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Lent, this three days event is a time for lively processions, floats, the
strumming of guitars and graceful dances. |
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USEFUL INFORMATION |
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Getting there &
away |
Goa is well
connected by air with Bangalore, Chandigarh, Chennai, Cochin, Delhi,
Kozhikode, and Mumbai. Being International airport, charter flights to
Goa operate directly from UK & Germany. It is also well linked with
the major cities by rail & road. |
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Further Connections |
Mumbai, Hampi,
Badami, Mangalore, Cochin, Kozhikode, Bangalore. |
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Climate |
Being the tropical
beach destination, there is little seasonal variation in the climate.
The temperature remains almost the same throughout the year. Rainy
season is from June to September. |
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Best time to visit |
From October till
March. However Goa in monsoons is also very enchanting. |
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Important |
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1. |
However Goa is
friendly and liberal, don't prance around in Birthday suit
whenever the mood takes you. Always keep local sensibilities in
mind. |
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2. |
Don't walk
alone along the beach at night, as the same may invite robbers &
criminals. However, Hotels' private beaches are safe. |
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TOURS TO GOA |
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TOURS WITH GOA EXTENSION |
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