An Insight :
Silver sands, sparkling blue waters, the sky mirroring the sea below, white
churches resting against green paddy fields and coconut trees lining the
coastal streets. Goa – a place you can fall in love with at first
glance. There's much more to Goa than sun, sand and sea. The allure of Goa
is that it remains quite distinct from the rest of India and is small enough
to be grasped and explored in a way that other Indian states are not. Ruled
by the Portuguese till 1961, Goa still retains its indo-portuguese character
-- very visible amongst its architecture as well as its people. Goa's
tourism byline of "Goa - 365 days on Holiday" is absolutely true.
Lets Explore Goa :
» Panjim, Goa - Called Panjim by the Portuguese,
Panaji, which means "the land that does not flood" is the state
capital of Goa. Unlike many capital cities, Panaji has a distinct unhurried
character. It is situated on the southern banks of the Mandovi River, which
makes this town all the more charming.
The European Ambiance typical of a Goa town, Panaji is built around a
church facing a prominent square. The town has some beautiful Portuguese
Baroque style buildings and enchanting old villas. The riverside, speckled
with brightly whitewashed houses with wrought iron balconies, offers a fine
view.
» Anjuna Beach - With its fluorescent painted palm
trees and infamous full moon parties, ANJUNA, 8-km west of Mapusa, is Goa at
its most "alternative". Designer leather and Lycra may have
superseded cotton Kaftans, but most people's reasons for coming are the same
as they were in the 1970s: dancing and lying on the beach slurping tropical
fruit. While browsing in the area have a day trip to the famous flea market.
» Baga Beach - Baga Beach, Goa Baga, 10-km west of
Mapusa, is basically an extension of Calangute; even the locals are unable
to decide where ends and the other begin. Lying in the lee of a rocky,
wooded headland, the only difference between this far northern end of the
beach and its more congested center is that the scenery here is marginally
more varied and picturesque.
» Calangute Beach - "A Topping On Tourist Pie"
A mere 45 minute bus ride up the coast from the capital, Calangute is Goa's
busiest and most commercialized resort, and the flagship of the state
government's bid for a bigger slice of India's package-tourist pie. In the
1970s and early 1980s, this once peaceful fishing Village epitomized Goa's
reputation as a haven for hedonistic hippies.
» Cathedral Church, Goa - The Portuguese Viceroy
Redondo commissioned the Se, or St. Catherine's' Cathedral, southwest of St.
Cajetan's, to be "a grandiose church worthy of the wealth, power and
fame of the Portuguese who dominated the seas from the Atlantic to the
Pacific". Today it stands larger than any church in Portugal, although
it was beset by problems, not least a lack of funds and Portugal's temporary
loss of independence to Spain. It took eighty years to build and was not
consecrated until 1640.
» A Cross Shaped Church - This is the largest
church among the group of churches in Old Goa. Built on a raised plinth of
late rite, covered over with lime plaster, the church has, besides the main
altar, eight chapels alongside the aisles and six altars in the transept.
Where is Goa?
» By Air - Dabolim, Goa's airport, is situated at a
distance of around 29 km from Panaji on the coast near Vasco da Gama. Goa is
connected by air to Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Cochin
and Mumbai by regular domestic flights. Several International charter
flights from the UK and western Europe also operate to Goa during the peak
season from October to April.
» By Rail - Goa is best connected by rail to
Mumbai. Trains are also available from Delhi, Bangalore, Cochin etc.
» By Road - Overnight bus service connect Goa with
Mumbai, approx 500 kms/12 hours.
