Beautiful views of golden sand on the beaches, blue waters of the sea, the
sylvan forests, Palm-swathed hills, islands, and riverine waters are some of
visual wonder which Goa generously and continuously keeps unfolding. Add to
this the tang of fish-curry rice, the pleasure of discovering a crab under a
stone, the moistened sips of cocum, and walking on a beach full of crisp
seashells. This is where the mind stops thinking and the heart begins to
talk! In monsoon this hundred-kilometre coastline becomes a fantasyland. On
one side stands the palm trees swaying in the wind, and on the other is the
vast Indian Ocean greeting you. This and much more is the attraction of Goa.
Situated on the western coast of India, Goa is split into North Goa with
Panaji the capital city and South Goa with Vasco da Gama and Margao in it.
Historically, a part of the Mauryan Empire in the 3rd century BC, it has
been under the influence of Satavahanas, Adil Shahi Dynasty of Bijapur,
Chalukyans, Vijaynagar, and finally under Alfonso de Albuquerque the
Portuguese who invaded Goa in 1510. They ruled till 1961, when the Indian
forces liberated it amd made it a part of the Republic of India.
DONA PAULA - The Dona Paula Beach with its aura of romance and myth
is crowded with tourist's indulging in water sports on the clear waters.
Named after Dona Paula de Menezes, the daughter of a viceroy who jumped off
the cliff after being refused permission to marry Gaspar Dias a local
fisherman. The Dona Paula Sports Club offers facilities for cycling,
windsurfing, toboggan, motorboat rides, water-scooter, ski-biscuit,
toboggan, snorkelling, harpoon fishing, water-skiing, parasailing, skibob,
sports fishing, yachting, and kayaking on the beach.
OLD CITY & CHURCHES - Old Goa, nine kms east of Panaji, was founded
in 1510 by Alfonso de Albuquerque as the capital, is replete with churches
like Se Cathedral the Convent, Professed House and Basilica of Bom Jesus,
Church of St. Francis of Assisi (largest church in Asia), the Church of St.
Cajetan, the Church and Convent of St. Monica and the ruins of Church of St.
Augustine.
PANAJI - Small and mellow for a state capital, Panaji is located on
the south bank of the Mandovi River. It became capital of Goa in 1843. The
city is charming with an evident colonial effect to its landscape. In Panaji,
the church devoted to our Lady of Immaculate Conception, and the Chapel of
St. Sebastian are worth visiting. The Goa State Museum, the Secretariat, the
statue of Abbe Faria are popular amon artlovers. Visit a Goan market to
discover the essence of the land. Fish, woven baskets, earthen pots, tender
coconuts and bananas, pickles and preserves, and, even blue china and
bronzed candelabras!
MAPUSA BAZAAR - Mapusa, the main market town in north Goa, could be
the ancient site of the oldest weekly fair on the Konkan coast. It witnesses
on Fridays happy conclave of buyers and sellers. The weekly fair is the
logical sequence of ancient festivals in tribute of Kanakeshwar Baba,
acclaimed at the Bodgeshwar temple.
PONDA - Antruz, the inspired name of Ponda subdivision, is where the
Hindus, barricaded themselves between rivers and hills against the
Portuguese to hold their sway. Here they conserved their culture and further
enriched it. From this area comes some of India's greatest singers including
Kesarbai Kerkar, Dinanath Mangeshkar (father of Lata Mangeshkar and Asha
Bhonsle) Jitendra Abisheki, Mogubai Kurdikar, Kishori Amonkar. The area has
several important Hindu temples like Sri Ganapati Temple and Mahalaxmi
Temple.
SHRI MANGESH TEMPLE - Most temples in Goa have deities from Mithila
region in Bihar, home to the Saraswat Brahmins of this region. The ancient
Mangesh Temple on the banks of the river Gomati or Zuari, has Lord Mangesh
being worshipped as Shiva linga. The linga believed to have been sanctified
by Lord Brahma himself on the mountain of Mangireesh (Mongir) next to
Bhagirathi river . The linga was carried on to Gomantaka and settled at
Mathagrama, the present-day Madgoa.
SHRI SHANTA DURGA TEMPLE - Shanta Durga or Shanteri, the Goddess of
peace, resides in her holy residence at Kapilpura or Kavele in Antruz. This
deity was carried by Loma Sharma on its way to Goa from Tiruhut in Bihar.
SHRI RAMNATH TEMPLE - The temple of Shri Ramnath, situated at Ponda
33 km from Panaji, has four other temples, namely of Shri Shantadurga (Shanteri),
Shri Betal, Shri Laxminarayan, and Shri Sidhanath. All these together
constitute Shri Ramnath Panchayatan.
CALANGUTE - Calangute Beach, situated 15 km north of Panaji, is a
7-km-long beach. The scenic natural beauty of this peaceful coastal
countryside has has made it one of the most trendy destinations in the
world. The beach was discovered by the Hippies. Tourists tramp down the
dusty, weather-beaten roads searching the idyllic coastal Goa.
ANJUNA - Anjuna beach is the right place for lazing holidaymakers.
The place with its full-moon parties and the Wednesday flea market to takes
one on to a trance trip. The beach is most popular among locals who love its
20-km-long fringed and sun drenched virgin white sands.
MIRAMAR - Miramar or Gaspar Dias, beach close to Panaji, is among the
ignored ones by tourists. So thecrowd here is lesser than other popular
beaches. But this small beach offers only sunbathing, as the undercurrents
and flow are dangerous.
VAGATOR - Overlooked by the Portuguese fort, the Vagator beach with
its soft white sands, the coconut palms, the black lava rocks, and the lush
green landscape leaves each visitor mesmerized. The beach is located north
of Anjuna and despite the hustle and bustle of tourists, life here goes on
peacefully in the background.
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