Beaches
Anjuna
Anjuna was once the most celebrated of Goa's beaches, where the hippies would hang out. Their departure has done nothing to rob the wide shelf of sand of its beauty and almost every visitor heads here, for it is one of the most picturesque beaches.
Calangute
Calangute was the first hippie beach resort at the height of the Flower Children era. Today the hippies have mostly turned into yuppies. But the beach is unchanged - pristine, serene golden sun and sand. The beach is about four miles long and covered with palm trees.
Baga
Baga lies between Anjuna and Calangute., where Anjuna is in the north and Calangute is in the south. Baga is also termed as the extension of Calangute. It is difficult to make out where one ends and the other begins. Baga is a comparatively clean beach.
Dona Paula
On the other side of this headland is the little bay and tiny beach of Dona Paula. Water scooters and speed boats buzz across the bay, at the drop of a hat; guides will embroider on the woeful tale of a star-crossed maiden who fell in love with a handsome man below her status. Conventions could not be breached in those distant days and so she leapt into the sea.
Candolim
Candolim is a popular beach. Its immediate hinterland gives you the quietly disciplined feel of a coastal village in Spain, which is warm, friendly and happy to mind its own business. Its foreshore slopes and the waves break at a meter.
Churches
Church of St. Francis of Assisi, Old Goa
Church of St.Francis of Assisi situated in Old Goa is a 17th century piece of religious art. A beautiful octagonal tabernacle richly decorated in an ornate style has two statues, one of St. Francis of Assisi and the other of Jesus on the Cross. Vows of poverty, humility and obedience of St. Francis of Assisi are written right below these two statues.
Chapel of St. Catherine, Old Goa
Chapel of St. Catherine situated in Old Goa is dedicated to St.Catherine. It stands as a living monument of the conquest of Goa by Alburquerque. At one entrance of the chapel, you will see a statue of Our Lady of Piety. There is also a beautiful altar dedicated to St.Catherine upon which stands another statue of Our Lady Of Piety.
Basilica of Born Jesus, Old Goa
Basilica of Born Jesus, is situated in Old Goa. Born Jesus means Infant Jesus or Good Jesus. Inside the basilica, you will see a beautiful display of architectural pieces in wood, stone, gold and granite. Immediately to the right is the altar of St.Anthony and to the left is a wooden statue of St. Francis Xavier.
St. Cajetan Church, Old Goa
St. Cajetan Church is situated in Old Goa. The amazing feature is the high vault on which the words of Christ "My House Is A House Of The Words Of Christ" are inscribed. The church has alters dedicated to the Holy Family, Our Lady Of Piety and St.Clare and to the right are the altars dedicated to St. Agnes, St.Cajetan and St. John.
Chapel and Tomb of St. Francis Xavier
Chapel and Tomb of St. Francis Xavier is a plain chapel with only one altar and is built of laterite plastered with lime mortar, with tiled roof supported by wooden rafters.
Waterfalls / Lakes
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 one of the highest waterfalls in India. They are spectacular enough a sight to entice a steady stream of visitors from the coast into the rugged Western Ghats. After pouring across the Deccan plateau, the headwaters of the Mandovi River form a foaming torrent that splits into three streams then cascades down a near-vertical cliff face into a deep green pool. Water plummets hundreds of feet in large volume, in cascades, forming one of the most spectacular of all natural phenomena in Goa and a lifeline of our ecosystem in one of our sanctuaries.
Mayem Lake
Goa has some more things to offer. 35 km from Panaji, this artificial lake surrounded by rolling green hills is an ideal picnic spot. For those interested in a rustic Goa experience, rural Goa is verdant more so than the bustling city of Panaji or Mapusa or even Margoa. Mayem Lake is a calm spread of water, home to geese and pedal boats with cottages nestled in wooden slopes. Boating is popular here.
Wild Life Preserves
Bhagwan Mahavir Sanctuary, Molem
Bhagwan Mahavir Sanctuary is Goa's largest wildlife preserve with an area of 240 sq.km, sited 60 km from Panaji. It is located close to the Molem village at the foot of the Western Ghats. This sanctuary lies on the eastern border of the state. It is 60 km away from the state capital, Panaji. The sanctuary is situated amidst nature's splendor. Evergreen forests and deciduous trees encompass this preserve.
Molem National Park
This national park is in the heart of the sanctuary. Herds of deer and gaurs (Indian bison), clusters of monkeys, Malayan giant squirrels, cobras and pythons can be seen in this place. One might even spot elephants and tigers. The sanctuary is also home to a few black panthers. The best time to visit the sanctuary is either early in the morning or late in the evening.
For excursion through the sanctuary the forest department has made arrangements for jeeps. But one has to contact the Range Forest Officer for the services. But to be able to get a glimpse of the wildlife, you might have to spend a couple of days here. While at the sanctuary one must take some time of to visit the Dudhsagar waterfalls, the 13th century Mahadev Temple at Tambdi, Surla, which is just 12 km away.
Bondla Forest
Bondla Forest is 38 km away from Margao. More than a sanctuary it is an ideal jungle resort and a major attraction for school going children and nature lovers. Mini zoos, sprawling deer park in natural habitat, botanical and rose gardens attract people throughout the year. Up in the foothills of the Western Ghats, Bondla is being promoted by the Department of Tourism and is a good place to see sambar and wild boar among other things. It's the smallest of the Goan wildlife sanctuaries but the only one at present that has accommodation for those wishing to stay more than a day. The Zoological Park and gardens at Bondla remain closed on Thursdays.
Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary
Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary is the second largest of the three wildlife sanctuaries in Goa, with an area of 105 sq km. It is located at about 60 km from Panaji, in Canacona taluka in South Goa, nearly 3 km off the Panaji-Mangalore National Highway No.17. It is covered with dense forest and varied wildlife, fauna and reptiles. The ancient Jeevottam Partagal Math, noted for Vedic studies, lies in the vicinity of the sanctuary.
Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary
Located at the western tip of the island of Chorao along river Mandovi near Panaji, the sanctuary is spread over 1.78 sq km and is completely covered with mangrove species. Varieties of local as well as migratory birds frequently visit the area. This Sanctuary can be visited any time of the year with the permission of the Chief Wild Life Warden, Forest Department, Junta House, Panaji, Goa. The sanctuary is approachable by walk after crossing over by ferry from Ribandar to Chorao. There are some private parties who can take tourists around in their canoes fitted with outboard motors.
Places of Worship
Shri Datta Mandir, Dattawadi
Shri Datta Mandir is located at a distance of 37 km from Panaji at Dattawadi, Sanquelim, and 40 km from Margao.This century old temple of trimurty has a backdrop of a beautiful hillock covered with dense groves of areca palms. The most important festival, which is attended by devotees from all over Goa, is Datta Jayanti that falls in the month of December. The deity is believed to have cured many people of unsound mind. The entire interior is made up of white marble.
Shri Bodeshwar Temple, Mapusa
It is a small shrine dedicated to Kanakeshwar Baba or Bodgeshwar, locally known as Bongini. The God is called Agngavani i.e. to whom vows are made and who fulfills desires of the devotees. On the fulfillment of desires, people offer gifts to God as promised by them earlier. A very big fair is held in the month of December/January when thousands of devotees flock to this temple.
Shri Mahalaxmi Temple, Panaji
Shri Mahalaxmi Temple is located at the Altinho foothill of Panaji and was built on contributions made by devotees in 1817. The deity is Goddess Mahalakshmi, the Hindu Goddess of Wealth, made of black stone, with four hands and is placed in a silver canopy. This is the peaceful or satvik form of Devi. According to the Shakti cult (worship of power), Mahalakshmi is the original Goddess who takes forms according to three aspects or gunas viz. Brahma (peaceful, calm form or satva), Vishnu (creative action or rajas) and Shiva (destruction or tamas). The deity originally from Mayem in Bicholim taluka was transferred to the present site.
Shri Damodar, Zambaulim
Shri Damodar temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is situated on the bank of the Kushavati River, which is said to have medicinal properties. The main festival celebrated at this temple is Holi. Lots of devotees from all over Goa join in the celebrations. This colourful event is celebrated with pomp and gaiety for several days.
Shopping
The streets and lanes of Goa's coastal regions overflow with handicraft boutiques and makeshift market stalls that offer inexhaustible shopping possibilities.
Local Festivals
The locals festivals of this region are:
- Mahashivratri
- Ram Navami
- Ganesh Novidade
- Shigmotsav or Shigmo
- Kalas Utsav
- Chaitra Purnima
- Zatra
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