The Indian state of Goa is the Asian "Ibiza", a place of relaxed relaxation, nightly parties, freedom and a sense of never-ending celebration. Some foreigners are so inspired by this atmosphere that they move to Goa for good. They can be seen on the shores of the beaches of Arambol and Palolem, meditating on the sunset and doing blissful "doing nothing."
But relaxation should not be limited to the beach and parties. The state has a lot of striking colonial attractions, there are charming towns with architecture in the Portuguese style. Old Goa is included in the UNESCO list and is a must-see. Also in Goa there are several picturesque nature reserves. You can diversify your vacation by walking through the traditional markets, where interesting souvenirs and handicrafts of local craftsmen are sold.
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What to see and where to go in Goa?
The most interesting and beautiful places for walking. Photos and a short description.
Panaji city
Panaji is the capital of the resort state of Goa. At first it was a small village, but after the transfer of the residence of the Portuguese governor here in the 18th century, the city began to develop actively. Monuments of colonial architecture of past centuries, which are of historical interest today, are still preserved on the territory of Panaji. The population of the city, together with the suburbs, barely reaches 100 thousand people.
Fontaines quarter in Panaji
The old city quarter, where the houses of the descendants of the Portuguese colonialists are located. The main development of the area was carried out about 170 years ago after Panaji was declared the capital of Goa. The historic facades of the Fontaines houses are painted in bright colors, which gives the quarter an interesting flavor. The houses are built in a mixed style of Portuguese and traditional Indian architecture.
Market in Anjuna
Anjuna is a small town on the coast of Goa, famous for its flea market. The bazaar appeared in the 60s. XX century in the midst of the hippie era. It all started with the fact that representatives of this subculture gathered on one of the local beaches for round-the-clock songs and dances. Sometimes they had to sell some of the things in order to get money for a further carefree existence. This is how the famous Anjuna market appeared.
Arpora Night Market
The market is located between the villages of Anjuna and Arpora. It is not just stalls where you can buy interesting things and bright souvenirs. This is a whole authentic fair with a booth where people dance, sing, watch impromptu performances, eat and have fun. There are disco bars along the edges of the market, and a special stage for concerts and performances has been built in the central part.
Naval Aviation Museum
The museum is adjacent to the Goa airport. By the way, the Dabolim air harbor itself is actively used by the Indian Air Force. The exhibits of the museum are European, Russian and American planes and helicopters of the last century. The collection is not very large, barely one and a half dozen copies, but this makes it no less interesting. All aircraft are located on an open-air site.
Spice plantation
The state of Goa has very favorable climatic conditions, so spices are grown here on an industrial scale for the whole of India and for export to other countries. Spice plantations are a popular tourist attraction, and organized excursions are brought here. The fields are located near the city of Ponda, which is about 40 km away. from Panaji. Some plantations have a developed tourist infrastructure with restaurants, shops and hotels.
Basilica of Bom Jesus (Old Goa)
Portuguese basilica of the 17th century located in Old Goa. The main architectural style of the building is the magnificent colonial baroque. The marble floor of the church is decorated with semi-precious stones, valuable paintings hang on the walls, in the middle of the temple there is a 3-meter statue of Ignatius Loyola - the grand master and founder of the Jesuit order. The Basilica is one of the main architectural landmarks of Goa.
Cathedral of Saint Catherine (Old Goa)
Large Catholic Cathedral, which is the largest Christian temple in India. It was erected to commemorate the Portuguese victory in the Battle of Goa in 1510. This event coincided with the day of St. Catherine, so it was decided to lay the cathedral and name it in honor of this saint. The construction was completed in 1619. The cathedral was erected in the architectural style of the Portuguese Manueline.
Church of St. Francis of Assisi (Old Goa)
The temple was built in the 17th century, it is part of the complex of the Cathedral of St. Catherine in Old Goa. Inside, the church is richly decorated with frescoes, wood and marble. It should be noted that local masters were engaged in the painting of the walls. First, they created images of the life of St. Francis, weaving characters from Indian mythology into the plot, which made the Portuguese king horrified.
Shantadurga temple
The temple is dedicated to the goddess Parvati, who, according to Hindu beliefs, is the consort of the god Shiva. The building was erected in the 18th century during the reign of Raja Chhatrapati Shahu. The temple complex consists of a main building and several side buildings. All buildings are painted in a pleasant terracotta color. The last large-scale reconstruction of the temple was carried out in 1966.
Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception
The church is located in the center of Panaji, it was built in the middle of the 16th century. The building of the early 17th century has survived to this day, since the original building was destroyed as a result of the constant wars for Goa. The architecture and interior decoration of the church are distinguished by grace and restraint. A system of staircases with figured railings leads to the entrance to the temple, which are in harmony with the church facade.
St. Augustine Church and Monastery (Old Goa)
The monastery complex was built at the very beginning of the 17th century. The monastery existed until the 19th century, after which it was abandoned due to the decision of the Portuguese government to dissolve religious orders. All the interior decoration and property of the monastery was transferred to other churches, sold or lost. In the middle of the 19th century, the main vault of the church fell; by the 20th century, the complex finally turned into ruins.
Fort Aguada
An old Portuguese fortress, erected in 1612 to protect the newly conquered lands from the encroachments of the Dutch. The fort consists of two parts. The lower one is located at the edge of the sea, it served for defensive purposes. The upper one was engaged in serving the garrison of the fort. Nowadays, there is a prison on the territory of the lower part, the rest of the buildings of the fortress are open for free inspection.
Fort Flight Magos
The fort was built in 1550 (according to other sources - in 1490). At the beginning of the 18th century, the fortress managed to withstand the onslaught of the Marathi, which captured all the surrounding lands and were preparing to push the Portuguese from their firmly occupied positions. Within the fort there was a garrison, an armory, a prison and underground storage facilities. During construction, the building was equipped with many secret passages. Today, there is a museum on the territory of the fortification.
Bhagwan Mahavir Nature Reserve
Natural park covering an area of 240 hectares. It is home to several popular attractions such as the 12th century Mahadev Temple and the largest waterfall in India, Dudhsagar Falls. The reserve is home to panthers, leopards, bears, porcupines, gauras, lynxes and other animals.A jeep safari is organized for tourists, during which you can enjoy the picturesque landscapes and watch the animals.
Bondla Nature Reserve
A small nature reserve in the jungle that looks more like a garden. Its area is only 8 km². Boars, bison, squirrels and bison are found here. Some animals calmly walk around the territory, others live in open-air cages. Also in the reserve there are many different birds. Tourists can take an elephant ride or admire the ruins of an ancient Hindu temple located within the park.
Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary
The reserve is located on the territory of mangrove swamps. It is home to about 400 species of birds, as well as crocodiles and jackals. In the winter period from October to March, the maximum concentration of birds is observed in Salim Ali, since many flocks arrive here for the winter. Bird habits can be observed from a special tower. During the excursion, tourists are taken on special boats.
Arval waterfall
A powerful waterfall 10 meters high located in the northern part of Goa. At the foot of the rushing water jets, a lake is formed, which is quite suitable for swimming. There is an equipped observation deck next to the waterfall, from where you can explore the picturesque surroundings. Not far from the stream is the temple of the god Rudreshwar, where Hindu funeral rituals are performed.
Arval Caves
The caves are located near the Arval waterfall. It is believed that they originated in the period of the 5th-6th centuries. n. e. The walls of the caves contain inscriptions in Sanskrit dating from the 13th century. According to one version, they were cut through by ancient fans of the pagan cult. Later, the caves were used by adherents of Hinduism, who made inscriptions. Hundreds of monks could have lived in such cave temples.
Dudhsagar waterfall
The waterfall is the most visited natural attraction in Goa. It is included in the program of almost all organized excursions. "Dudhsagar" is translated as "sea of milk". If you look closely, the frothy jets of water from a distance really resemble milk. During the rainy season, Dudhsagar is especially devastating, its streams crashing down into the deep lake at its base.
Agonda beach
The beach is located in the southern part of Goa, which is considered quieter than the "party" northern part. The length of the coastline is about 3 km. There is almost no developed tourist infrastructure on Agonda, there are only residential bungalows and several hotels. Olive turtles, a specially protected species in India, live and lay their eggs on the beach. The place is perfect for a relaxing family vacation.
Palolem beach
Palolem is considered the best beach in the southern part of Goa, so it is very crowded during the high season. The beach is located in a bay, therefore it has a convenient gentle slope into the sea. By Indian standards, it is perfectly clean and there are almost no cows roaming freely, which testifies to the good work of the cleaning service. There are bungalows, budget guesthouses and more expensive hotels along the beach.
Arambol beach
Arambol is located in the northern part of Goa. Unlike other beaches in this part of the state, there is no such large-scale development here. The coastline stretches for as much as 16 km. It is surrounded by picturesque cliffs and dense jungle. Arambol has a free "bohemian" atmosphere, there are many colorful personalities. Once the beach was chosen by hippies, since then it has become a "home" for creative and non-standard people.
Deltin Royale Casino
The casino is located aboard a cruise ship on the Mondovi River. It is considered one of the largest in India and is the largest in Goa. There are 50 tables for poker, roulette, blackjack and 30 slot machines. The casino can also offer a boat trip and dinner at a decent restaurant. You can even come here with children - a special entertainment area is equipped for them.
Night club "Cubana"
A popular nightlife spot on the top of Arpora Hill, where all electronic music and dance lovers strive to get into until the morning. The club is divided into two zones - a bar and a dance floor with a swimming pool. Famous Western DJs perform here quite often. Pool parties are especially popular, as on a sweltering Indian night there is a great desire to freshen up after energetic and exhausting dancing.
