Influenced by over 450 years of Portuguese rule and Latin culture, Goa presents a somewhat different representation of the country to foreign visitors. Major tourist attractions include: Bom Jesus Basilica, Fort Aguada, a wax museum on Indian culture and a heritage museum. The Churches and Convents of Goa have been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Demographics
As of 2013 Goa was the destination of choice for Indian and foreign tourists, particularly Britons, with limited means who wanted to party. The state was hopeful that changes could be made which would attract a more upscale demographic.
Beaches
Goa's beaches cover about 125 kilometres (78 mi) of its coastline. These beaches are divided into North and South Goa. North Goa is more commercial and touristy with an abundance of mostly low and medium budget tourist accommodations; whereas South Goa is where most higher–end hotels and private beaches are located. A notable exception in South Goa is Palolem Beach which features basic accommodation and is one of the most visited beaches in Goa. The further north or south you go, the more isolated the beaches get. Some of the more popular beaches are Colva, Calangute, Baga and Anjuna. These beaches are lined with shacks that provide fresh sea food and drinks. Some shacks arrange special events to attract more customers.
Beaches in Northern Goa
Anjuna
Arambol
Baga
Bambolim
Calangute
Candolim
Chapora
Dona Paula
Miramar
Morjim
Sinquerim
Vagator
Beaches in Southern Goa
Agonda
Benaulim
Bogmalo
Canaguinim
Cavelossim
Colva
Majorda
Mobor
Palolem
Wildlife
Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary, Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary and Mollem National Park, Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary, Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary and Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary harbour Goa's rich bio-diversity. Foxes, wild boars and migratory birds are also found in the forests of Goa. The avifauna includes kingfishers, mynas and parrots. The famous Dudhsagar Falls, India's fifth tallest at 310 metres, is located inside Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary at the Goa - Karnataka border.
The renowned Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary is located on the island of Chorao. The Endangered Olive Ridley Sea Turtle can be found on Morjim Beach in Pernem, Northern Goa and Galgibaga Beach in Canacona, Southern Goa. The turtles are listed in Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife Act. Morjim Beach is also host to a number of migratory birds during late September to early April. The area surrounding the shore at Tembwada in Morjim also abounds in various species of birds. A number of international bird watching tours are organised in the area.
Museums
The Goa State Museum set up in 1996 aims at centralising and preserving antiquities, art objects and objects of cultural importance, depicting the different aspects of the Goan History and Culture. It is located at Patto in Goa's capital city of Panaji.
The Naval Aviation Museum near Dabolim is one among three of its kind in India.
Goa Science Centre, located at the Miramar beach in Panaji. was opened in December 2001 and it houses many wonders of Science and Astronomy.
Archaeological Museum and Portrait Gallery located in Old Goa is run by the Archaeological Survey of India.
The Museum of Christian Art has a number of paintings, sculptures and religious silverware dating back to the 16th century.
'Ancestral Goa' is dedicated to the preservation of art, culture and environment and was established to preserve Goa's past and its rich traditions. This magnificent project is the result of a lot of meticulous research, planning and hardwork. Located in Loutolim, it opened to the public in April 1995.
A special attraction of this project is the sculpture of Sant Mirabai strumming on her tambori and measuring 14 meters by 5 meters which was chiseled in Greco - Roman style from a vast expanse of laterite stone by Maendra Jocelino Araujo Alvares in just 30 days.
The Big Foot Cross Museum is located at 'Ancestral Goa' in Loutolim. It is an unusual collection of crosses, from all over the world.
The Pilar Museum is located on the Pilar hillock where the Pilar Seminary is also located. The Museum was founded by Fr Costa, and highlights various finds on and around the Pilar hillock and now preserved in the seminary museum.
The 'Wax World' Museum, inaugurated in 2008 is located in Old Goa contains exquisite wax statues. The statues have been sculpted by Shreeji Bhaskaran, who owns the museum and is also responsible for giving India its first wax museum located at Ooty, Karnataka, which was set up in March 2007.
'Goa Chitra', established by Victor Hugo Gomes, is an ethnographic museum in Benaulim showcasing traditional Goan farming implements and other Goan antiques.
Heritage Homes
Another major tourist attraction in Goa is its heritage homes.A legacy of the Portuguese colonial regime of more than 450 years, some of these palatial homes are now converted into hotels while many are still inhabited by the people. The popular heritage homes in Goa are:
The Fernandes house, also known as 'Voddlem Ghor' in Cotta is an architectural marvel in Chandor.
The Menezes Bragança House in Chandor was built circa 1730. It was once owned by Luís de Menezes Bragança, Tristão de Bragança Cunha, Beatriz de Menezes Bragança, and her sister Berta Menezes Bragança.
The Vivian Coutinho House in Fatorda is among the few Goan houses with decorative Azulejo tiles.
Forts
The landscape of Goa is dotted with several forts. Fort Tiracol, the seventeenth-century Portuguese Fort Aguada, and Chapora Fort, to name a few.
Goa Beach Tourism
Dona Paula Beach
Agonda Beach
Anjuna Beach
Arambol Beach
Calangute Beach
Colva Beach
Dona Paula Beach
Miramar Beach
Palolem Beach
Vagator Beach
Bogmalo Beach
Baga Beach
Chapora Beach
Benaulim Beach
Cavelossim Beach
Majorda Beach
Varca Beach
Velsao Beach
Candolim Beach
Goa Tourist Places
Panjim
Panjim is the most famous tourist destination in Goa, in terms of beaches, churches, carnivals and natural beauty.
Vasco
As the name suggests, Vasco-da-Gama city inherited its name from the Portuguese explorer and the former viceroy, Dom Vasco-da-Gama.
Margao
Margao, another town with Portuguese flavour and an old world charm, is an important commercial centre as well.
Mapusa
Mapusa is a fairly small town with mostly modern buildings spread around the slopes of a little hillock called Altinho.
Lakes and Waterfalls in Goa
There are number of lakes in Goa along with fresh water springs, waterfalls, etc. These lakes are located in a serene place, away from the crowd, and are favorite tourist destination for tourists. Lakes of Goa are as follows:
Arvalam Waterfall in Goa
Dudhsagar Waterfall in Goa
Mayem Lake in Goa
Kesarval Spring in Goa
Carambolin Lake
Cutorium Lake
Goa Wildlife Sanctuaries
Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary
Distance :52km from Panaji, 38km from Margao
Salim Ali Bird SanctuaryAway from the coast, the Goan landscape breaks into the dramatic and green foothills of the Western Ghats. These foothills shelter the Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary; the smallest wildlife reserve in Goa, which occupies an area of 80sq. km. The sanctuary has the sambar, gaur (Indian bison) and wild boar, amongst others animals. Elephants have been spotted here at times. Perhaps they come in from across Karnataka to enjoy the sea breeze and check out Goa. The sanctuary houses a botanical garden, a rose garden, a small deer-park and a zoo, which was initially established to shelter orphaned animals.
Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary
At the confluence of the Mandovi and Mapusa Rivers lies the Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, spread across an area of 2sq. km. in the Charoa Island. The wildlife sanctuary supports rich mangrove forests, which are home to a host of birds, a sizeable population of flying foxes, jackals, crocodiles, turtles and some other life forms endemic to coastal wildlife.
The Mandovi-Zuari Wildlife Sanctuary
has a stretch of rich mangrove swamps, considered to be amongst the most important in the country. Spread over a vast area, this wildlife sanctuary is home to about 20 different species of mangroves that include the rare Kandelia candel species. The swamps support a large variety of fish, birds, jackals, snakes, and crocodiles, to name a few.
Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuaries
Distance : 60km from Panaji
Getting to the Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary is a little tedious; but if you are in the mood to be in the middle of woods and discover the quieter side of Goa, the journey is well worth the trouble. Catigao is Goa’s second largest wildlife reserve. The 105sq. km. of forested land provides shelter to a number of birds and animals. If you go with the intention of seeing some of India’s legendary fauna here, then you could be in for a disappointment, as spotting the more famous wild animals is not extremely common. But the expansive forestland is a welcome change.
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