goa travel guide 5

GOA
Goa carnival 2016 visit: http://www.theholidayindia.com/blog/goa-carnival-2016/

• Goa lies between 14 - 16o North latitude and 73-75o
East longitude on the West Coast of India.
• Climate is warm and humid tropical with cool and
pleasant weather in winter months.
• Average annual rainfall is 3000 mm.
• The highest and lowest temperatures are 35o C and
15o C.
• Relative humidity varies from 95% to 51%.
• The terrain is undulating with diverse soil conditions.
• The geographical area of the State is 3,70,200 Ha.

GOA – AT A GLANCE
• One of the smallest states in terms of area (3702 sq km)
• Coastline of over 105 km.
• Population - 1.34 million.
• Population Density - 363 per sq. km. Growth rate -
14.9% (decadal)
• The per capita income at Rs.85,330 is the highest in the
country which is also 3 times the National Avg.
• Urbanization trend in Goa is higher than the national
average of its total population - 49.8%

• With a literacy rate of 82.32%, Goa is the second most
literate state in India.
• Hospitality industry is the best in the country
• Banking Network- 456 Branches
• 7776 Industries-Tourism and hospitality, Mining,
Services- banking, Insurance etc
• 22 Industrial Estates

Roads
• Has 195 km for every 100 sq. km. against
the National average of 50 km of roads for 100
sq. km
• Two national highways NH4A and NH17 225
kms of National Highways
• 8 State Highways – 232 km
• 52 District Roads- 815 km
• Village Roads - 3622 km
Connectivity-Business and Leisure

Airways
Dabolim International Airport
25 km away from the State Capital, Panaji.
Well connected to major cities of India
Chartered flights from European countries
arrive regularly.
Railways
South-Central Railway and
Konkan Railway provide rail
links with major cities.

Water Transport
• A well developed internal water transport network
formed by a grid of navigable rivers 555 kms of
Waterways 46% navigable(253 kms)
• Mormugao Port – one of 12 major Ports of India
Excellent all weather international port with natural
Harbour and container service operations.
• Can accommodate over 50 ships in outer anchorage.
• Has mechanised loading facility for ore and coal, an
oil berth and general Cargo berth.
• 5 Minor ports are also
available along the river.
• Has ISO Certification

Goa Tourist Attractions
• Goa Beaches
• Goa Churches
• Goa Carnival
• Dudhsagar Waterfalls
• Goa Spice Plantations

Goa Beaches
• Goa has a long coastline that makes it the ideal state to
have beaches.
• The beaches of Goa are the perfect destination for a
relaxing vacation and holiday in India.
• Right from lazing around to enjoying water sports and
relishing the exotic sea food of Goa, the beaches have
everything that goes into making your vacation the
perfect one.

Anjuna Beach

Location: 8 kilometers from Mapusa in Goa
Highlights: Flea markets, Chapora Fort, Albuquerque
Mansion, trance parties
• The Anjuna beach of Goa never fails to amuse its
visitors.
• One of the most popular beaches of India .
• The Anjuna beach is famous for its trance parties that
take place almost everyday.
• Tourists amuse themselves by swimming, trying out
adventure sports, shopping at the Anjuna flea market and
trying out the heavenly local cuisines.
• Anjuna beach has a couple of other tourist attractions
nearby too. These include the Chapora Fort and the
Albuquerque Mansion.
• The Chapora fort offers a splendid view of the deep blue
sea and the beach while the Albuquerque Mansion is a
testimony of the Portugal rule in Goa. Goa carnival 2016 visit: http://www.theholidayindia.com/blog/goa-carnival-2016/

Location: Near the Colva beach towards the south of
Goa
Highlights: Private nightlife, water sports, variety of
eating joints
• Benaulim beach is situated quite close to Colva beach,
2km south of Colva.
• Benaulim holds a significant position in Goa's history
because it was at this place that Parashuram's arrow
landed when he fired it into the sea and created Goa.
• The village surrounding Benaulim beach is well
known for handicrafts.
• But facilities are limited at this Goa beach, so it is
always better to make your own arrangements.

Dona Paula Beach

Location: 7 kilometers from Panaji, North Goa
Highlights: Water sports, National Oceanography
Institute, Cabo Raj Niwas
• The Dona Paula beach is one of the most famous
beaches of India.
• The Dona Paula beach of Goa is one of the most
popular beaches that provide opportunities for trying
out water sports in Goa.
• Goa Dona Paula offers the tourists a wide choice of
water sports ranging from water-scooter to cycle to
motorboat rides.
• water sports include windsurfing, parasailing, water-
skiing, toboggan ski-biscuit, skibob, sports fishing,
snorkelling, harpoon fishing, kayaking, and yachting.

• One can tour around Goa Dona Paula and visit the
interesting National Oceanography Institute that
provides a world of information on marine biology.
• Besides all these, Goa Dona Paula is famous for the
Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, where you can spot both
migratory and local birds.

Colva Beach

Location: 6 kilometers from the city of Margao, south
Goa
Highlights: White sandy shores, oldest beach of Goa
best beach resorts in Goa
• The Colva beach is a wonder of nature.
• This beautiful beach extends to nearly 20 kilometers
and is supposed to be the oldest beach in Goa.
• It is a favorite among tourists and they come here to
spend a nice holiday and pamper themselves in the
resorts that are lined up near the beach.
• You will also find some very good hotels near the
Colva beach that provide world class service and
attend to every need of a visitor.
• Colva beach gained popularity with the surge in
tourism in Goa.

• Few years back Goa Colva was a simple village
housing the fishing community.
• The tourist who poured in, enchanted by the beauty of
Colva beach, made their own arrangements of stay, as
in, they made makeshift houses and holidayed on the
beach.
• But now the scenario has undergone a drastic change
and Goal Colva is the main hub of tourism in Goa.
• The beach is now lined with hotels and guesthouses.

Majorda Beach

Location: Majorda beach is located in Salcete district in
Goa
Highlights: European bakeries, beach resorts and luxury
hotels
• One of the most popular beaches, Majorda beach of Goa
is located on the 26 kilometer stretch of fine white sand.
• The Majorda beach also has historical significance in
India. It is believed that Lord Rama (of the Indian epic
Ramayana) was kidnapped when he was a kid and was
brought here.
• This beautiful beach is very popular for its bakery and
it specializes in the baking of European bread.
• The bread is fermented by using the juice of coconut
palm also known as today juice.
• This bread is famous till date and numerous tourists
come here to taste it. Goa carnival 2016 visit: http://www.theholidayindia.com/blog/goa-carnival-2016/

• Apart from this, Majorda is also famous for its huge
variety of sea food that leaves you only craving for
more.
• There are a number of luxury beach resorts and deluxe
hotels located near the Majorda.
• These resorts and hotels offer world class services and
make sure that tourists have the time of their lives
while on this vacation in Goa.

Miramar Beach

• One can find over 500 species of birds like gulls,
plovers, etc.
• Food is available in plenty in the form of small fish,
crabs and other small aquatic creatures.

Location: 3 kilometers from Panaji, capital city of Goa
Highlights: Confluence of Arabian Sea and River
Mandovi, famous spot for viewing migratory birds
• The Miramar beach is located at the confluence of the
Arabian Sea and an estuary of River Mandovi.
• The Miramar beach is also known by the name of
Gaspar Dias.
• The beach was named Miramar by the Portuguese when
they came to India and the name essentially means
"viewing the sea".
• The Miramar beach is a beautiful expanse of fine golden
sands that is dotted with tall coconut trees.
•   Tourists frequent this place during the time the
migratory birds come here.

Calangute Beach

Location: 16 kilometers from the capital city, Panaji
Highlights: Known as the "Queen of Beaches" due to
its increased popularity
• The Calangute beach of Goa is known to be the busiest
and the most commercialized beach.
• This beach is a favorite among tourists who come to
India to visit this paradise called Goa.
• The Calangute beach was discovered by the hippies
who came here during the 1960's and made this beach
their favorite hideout.
• The Calangute beach was known as "kolli gutti" in
local language which means "land of the fishermen".
• Due to the Portugal rule the name got corrupted to
Calangute.

• The beach is lined with local shops and stalls that sell
everything like trinkets, souvenirs, beach wear, exotic
beach stuff, handicrafts, etc.
• The handicrafts sold over here are usually from nearby
states like Karnataka, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra,
etc. So you can expect to find some good ethnic stuff in
the stalls of the Calangute beach.

Basilica of
Bom Jesus

Location: Old Goa, 10 kilometers from the city of
Panjim
Highlights: World Heritage Site, Preserved body of St.
Francis Xavier
• One of the most popular churches in Goa.
• the Basilica of Bom Jesus truly deserves to be given the
status of a World Heritage Site.
• It is located in Old Goa which was the capital city
during the Portugal rule.
• The Basilica of Bom Jesus is famous for the preserved
mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier.
• He was the member of Society of Jesus and came to
India to spread Christianity with the Portuguese.
• The Basilica of Bom Jesus is India's first minor
cathedral and is supposed to be the best example of
decorative architecture in India.

• The name of the Church, Bom Jesus basically means
"Good Jesus" and is used for Jesus when he was an
infant.
• The Bom Jesus church was constructed around 1695
and it became an important milestone in the historical
legacy of Christianity.
• While on a voyage to China from India, Francis Xavier
died on the ship on 2nd December, 1552.
• It is said that the following year when the body of the
saint was being transferred to Goa as per his wishes,
the people were shocked to find his body fresh as ever.
• Every year thousands of devotees visit the Basilica of
Bom Jesus on 2nd December to see the mortal remains
of the saint that is displayed publicly.
• Now, the practice has been stopped to prevent the
body from deterioration.

• The Basilica of Bom Jesus is one of the richest churches
located in Goa.
• The interiors of the church are as beautiful and
extravagant as the exteriors.
• The floor of the church is made of pure white marble,
decorated with semi-precious stones.
• The altar of the church is adorned elaborately and
covered with gold.
• It measures around 54 feet high and is 30 feet broad.
• The church's interior is strikingly charming yet simple
and is built in the Mosaic-Corinthian style.
• The tomb where the body is kept was carved
intricately by Giovanni Battista Foggini, who was a
17th century sculptor.
• The walls are decorated with old paintings of the saint.

Church of
Mary Immaculate Conception

Location: Center of Panaji, Goa
Highlights: 2nd largest church bell in the world,
beautiful display of lights at night
• The Church of Mary Immaculate Conception is one of
the most famous landmarks of Goa.
• This church is supposed to be one of the earliest
churches to be constructed in Goa.
• Tourists come to the Mary Immaculate Conception
Church of India to feel blessed and to marvel at the
magnitude of its construction.
• The decoration inside the church is relatively simple,
still exudes charm and beauty.
• The church that is present here today was supposed to
have been rebuilt in 1619 from an earlier church.
• The Church of Mary Immaculate Conception is famous
for the 2nd largest bell in the world.

Se Cathedral

Location: Old Goa, 9 kilometers from Panaji
Highlights: Largest church in Asia, giant bells and
exquisite architecture
• The Se Cathedral of Goa is dedicated to St. Catherine
of Alexandria.
• This magnificent edifice was built in the 16th century
under the Portuguese rule in India.
• The construction of the church began in 1562 and
finished in 1619.
• It was sanctified in 1640.
• After the construction, the Se Cathedral of Goa was
declared to be the largest church in Asia.
• The architectural style is an amalgamation of Gothic
elements and typical Portuguese style.

• The exterior of the church is constructed in the Tuscan
style while the interiors have been constructed in the
Corinthian style.
• The length of the church is 250 feet and the breadth is
181 feet. The entrance of the church is ornately
decorated and measures around 115 feet in height.
• The church is famous for its giant bell known as the
"Golden Bell".
• The bell is known for its melody and rich tone and is
the largest bell in Goa and one of the best in the world.
• On the right side of the main altar, there is a chapel of
Cross of Miracles.
• It is said that here a vision of Jesus Christ had
appeared in the year 1919.
• They say since then, the cross hung over there has been
growing in size slowly.

Church of St. Augustine

Location: Atop the Holy hill in Old Goa
Highlights: Ancient ruins, 46 meter high tower
• The ruins of St. Augustine church is a very popular
tourist attraction and one of the most spectacular
monuments in Goa.
• The church was built in 1602 with the combined efforts
of 12 Augustinians.
• They also built a convent besides the church. However,
the Portuguese government in India put a ban on them
and they abandoned the church and the convent.
• The Saint Augustine church was considered to be one
of the greatest of three Augustinian churches.
• Now, only the ruins of the front portion of the church
and magnificent tower remain.

• The tower in the ruins of St. Augustine church is the
main attraction.
• This huge tower reaches upto a staggering height of
around 46 meters.
• It had four stories and was originally meant to be a
belfry.
• The church had a giant bell that was removed and is
now at the Church of our Lady of the Immaculate
Conception located in Panaji.
• Around the year 1931, the church began to fall apart
and the façade and half of the tower were lost.
• Thereafter, the church began to deteriorate rapidly and
many parts fell off.
• The portico and the tower are still present and look
absolutely splendid despite being in ruins.

Church of St. Francis of Assisi

Location: Old Goa, 10 kilometers from Panaji
Highlights: Architecture has a combination of Hindu
and Christian elements
• The Church of St. Francis of Assisi is at the same
complex in which Se Cathedral is located.
• The Church of St. Francis of Assisi of Goa was built
during 1517-1521 AD.
• St. Francis of Assissi Church of India has now been
turned into a museum.
• An interesting fact about the church is that the
architectural style of the church has a mix of Christian
and Hindu elements.
• In 1521, the church was consecrated to the Holy Spirit
but was demolished after some time.
• The church that is present here today was built in 1661.

• In 1964, the Indian government converted the St.
Francis of Assisi Church into a museum.
• Ancient relics and old paintings are now displayed
here.
• The interiors of the church are decorated with
depictions from the Bible whereas the walls are carved
with floral designs.
• The paintings in the church have a very distinctive
Indian feel.

goa travel guide 5

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