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The most
comprehensive beach resort in the country, Goa
is approachable from Bombay by air. Goa’s
coastline provides endless sun drenched
crescents of sand. Vagator, Anjuna, Baga,
Calangute and Candolim stretch out in an
unbroken palm fringed line. Other beaches are at
Miramar and Colva. Parasailing, yachting,
windsurfing, and deep sea diving are some of the
more popular water sports, facilities for which
are available. In addition, every sort of
accommodation fringes the beaches, from deluxe
resorts to budget lodgings Inland, 451 years of
Portuguese rule has imbued Goa’s towns and
villages with a unique culture. Whitewashed
chapels and churches that dot the landscape are
surrounded by sleepy villages and rice fields.
Panjim, the capital city, and Margao, an
important town, have private houses and
government buildings that date back to
Portuguese times. Old Goa, now deserted, has a
collection of Goa’s largest churches: Se
Cathedral with its Iberian exterior, Bom Jesu
which enshrines the mortal remains of St.
Francis Xavier and the starkly beautiful Convent
of Saint Monica are a few of these. Mapusa, a
market town, comes alive every Friday with a
quaint pavement bazar.
Hotels
Deluxe – The Fort Aguada Beach Resort and
The Aguada Heritage,The Taj Holiday Village,The
Oberoi Bogmalo Beach Resort,Majorda Beach
Resort,The Leela Beach, Goa Renaissance Resort,
Cidade de ’Goa, Old Anchor.
Standard – Whispering Palms, Dona Sylvia,
Fidalgo, Baia Do Sol, Mandovi, Dona Paula,Golden
Goa, La Paz, Nova Goa.
Budget – GTDC runs tourist hostels at Panaji,
Calangute, Mavem, Tirekhal Fort, Molem, Mapusa,
Margao and Vasco da Gama.
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Altitude: Sea level to 1022 mts.
Climate (°C):
Summer: Max. 33, Min. 26
Winter: Max. 31, Min. 20
Rainfall: June to September (350 cms).
Best Season: October to May (Peak
season December to February) |
How
to get there
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Air:
Goa (Dabolim Airport) is connected by
Indian Airlines and Air India to Mumbai,
Bangalore, Cochin, Delhi, Madras and
Ahmedabad. Private Airlines such as East
West, Goa Way also operate flights to Goa. |
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Rail:
Vasco-da-Gama
and Margoa are connected by train with
Bangalore, Belgaum, Hospet, Hubli and
Hyderabad and via Miraj to Bombay, Delhi
and Agra. |
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Road:
Panaji, the capital of Goa, is connected
by road to Bangalore-598 kms, Belgaum-157
km, Bombay-594 km, Gokarn-154 km,
Hospet-315 km, Hubli-184 km, Karwar-103
km, Kolhapur-246 km, Malwan-150 km,
Mangalore-371 kms, Mysore-696 kms,
Pune-458 kms, Ratnagiri-263 kms,
Vengurla-73 kms etc. |
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Bus
Service: Kadamba Transport
Corporation. MSRTC and KSRTC operate
frequent bus services between Panaji,
Vasco, Margao and to Bangalore, Belgaum,
Gokarn, Hubli, Karwar, Kolhapur, Malwan,
Mangalore, Miraj, Mysore, Pune, Ratnagiri
and Vengurla. |
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Sea:
Ship services between Bombay and Goa
organised by Damania. |
Internal
Distances: Panaji to Baga beach (18 kms),
Bondla (55 kms), Calangute (16 kms), Dabolim
Airport (29 kms), Mapusa (13 kms), Margao (33
kms), Old Goa (10 kms), Terekhol (42 kms),
Vagator (22 kms), Vasco-da-gama (30 kms), Ponda
(28 kms).
Local Transport: Local buses, auto-rickshaws
and motor-cycles/taxis available.
Excursions
From Panaji:
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Dona Paula Bay
(7 kms)
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Old Goa (10 kms)
with its Basilica of Bom Jesus
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Se Cathedral
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Archaeological
Museum and other churches
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Mangueshi Temple
(22 kms)
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Shantadura
Temple (33 kms)
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Calangute (16
kms)
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Baga Beach (18
kms)
From Mapusa:
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Beaches of
Calangute-8 kms
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Baga-10 kms
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Arambol/Harmal-31
kms
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Anjuna-8 kms
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Vagator-9 kms &
Mandrem-30 kms (both via Pernem).
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Temples of Shri
Dutta & Shri Vithal at Sanguelim (25 kms)
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Temple of Sapta
Koteshwar at Narve (24 kms)
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Temple of
Kalikadevi at Kansarpal (14 kms).
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Church of Mae de
deus at Saligao (10 kms)
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Church at Monte
de Guiri (2 kms).
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Mayem Lake (21
kms)
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Arvalem
Waterfalls (29 kms).
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Terekhol Fort
(30 kms).
From Margao:
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Beaches of Colva
(6 kms)
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Benaulim (8 kms)
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Majorda (8 kms)
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Varca (10 kms)
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Cavelossim (15
kms)
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Mobor (18 kms)
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Betul (16 kms)
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Agonda (40 kms)
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Palolem (47 kms)
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Cabo de Rama (21
kms).
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Ranchol Seminary
(8 kms).
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Shree Damodar
Temple at Zambaulim (22 kms)
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Shree
Shantadurga Temple at Fatorda (18 kms).
-
Cotigao Wild
Life Sanctuary (33 kms)
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Dudhsagar
Waterfalls (59 kms by train)
From Vasco:
From Ponda:
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Bondla wildlife
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Molem wildlife
etc
- Temple or
Tambdi Surla (70 km) dating back to the 12th
century in Sanguem. Mayem Lake (35 km) from
Panaji, a popular picnic. spol. The Molem
Wildlife Sanctuary is a route to Belgaum.
Water Sports
Such as windsurfing, Dinghy Sailing,
Water-Skiing, Parasailing etc. are organised by
various hotels & by GTDC, Agua Sports Assn,Goa
Yatching Assn & Dona Paula Sports Club. |