About Goa
The word ‘Goa’ ignites a sense of fun and frolic in our mind. Located on the west coast of India, Goa India has climbed to the status of one of the best tourist destinations in the world. Smallest state in India in terms of area and fourth smallest in India in terms of population, Goa is a dream destination for tourists. Hence, people, especially tourists are very curious about Goa. There are several reasons for Goa to get such a status. Presence of some exotic beaches along with a number of natural tourists spots have made it a sought after tourist destination. Moreover, the fun and frolic one get to enjoy in Goa is simply superb. Goa also has a number of beautiful churches and other places of worship.
Goa tourism
Goa tourism has come a long way since it first attracted the tourism sector’s attention. Blessed with unending natural beauty along with a number of man made marvels, Goa has got everything to offer a great tourist experience. Since its inception as a renowned tourist destination, Goa tourism has been serving a huge number of domestic as well as international tourists.
Tours to Goa is often embedded with visit to some of the best beaches along with visit to churches and other religious places. Goa also has a number of beautiful waterfalls which also draw a large number of tourists. Another key aspect of Goa tours is the party life of Goa. Presence of a number of casinos, pubs and night clubs imparts a colorful nightlife to Goa. The happening nightlife of Goa is often the main attraction for tourists going for a trip to Goa. There are many Goa tour packages available in the market. You can select the one which suits your needs in the best possible way.
Goa Beaches
Goa is most famous for its exotic beaches. Goa beaches enjoy world fame as the tranquil beauty with clear waters is a treat to watch. The best part of a Goa beach is that it not only offers you a relaxing atmosphere but also a lot of fun experience with its water sports facilities. There are many beaches in Goa. Therefore, if you are visiting Goa beaches, it is always better to carry Goa map beaches to provide you a complete picture of the beaches of Goa. The map of Goa beaches is very much helpful for tourists who are visiting Goa for the first time. Some of the most prominent in the list are as follows:
- Anjuna Beach – Anjuna Beach is one of the best beaches in Goa and is known for its exotic beauty along with being a hub of full-moon beach parties. Lots of people visit the beach to pay a visit to the famous Albuquerque Mansion built in 1920. Other attractions include the Chapora Fort and the Mascarenhas Fort.
- Arambol beach – The particular Goa beach is situated a few kilometers away from the city of Mapusa. It offers a number of places of tourists’ interest. It is a great place for tourists, specially the nature lovers. The beach offers a vast coastal stretch with some exotic beauty. Other attracts of the Arambol beach are hot water springs, nearby fresh water pool and plenty of shops serving great sea food.
- Baga beach – A 30 kilometer stretch of coastline with an unmatched scenic beauty, the Baga beach is a great experience for tourists. Moreover, the water sports facilities along with lots of eateries and entertainment options make it a even more favorite beach among the tourists.
- Benalium beach – Benaulium beach in Goa is one of those beaches which offer undisturbed beauty of nature. A fishing village and a rice farming village till a few years back, the beach currently offers tranquil beauty. Located in close proximity to the Maragao, tourists get the advantage of having a shopping are nearby.
- Calangute beach – Calangute beach of Goa is also known as ‘Queen of Beaches’. The particular beach in Goa offers a distinct character golden sands, colorful crowds, canopy of palm trees make it a vibrant beach full of life. From fried prawns and beer to trinkets made of sea shells, the Calangute Goa also has enough room for a splendid dining experience.
- Dona Paula beach – Dona Paula’s scenic has earned it a status of being the location to a number of Bollywood movies. However, the attraction of the beach is not confined to the beauty alone as the beach also has attractions like water sports, National Oceanography Institute and the Cabo Raj Niwas. Presence of these places nearby to the beach makes it a popular beach in Goa.
- Colva Beach – Tourists who just wish to spend an isolated holiday experience in Goa will find this beach most suitable. Far away from the hustle and bustle of other beaches, this Goa beach offers a serene beauty. However, keeping in mind the increasing popularity of the Colva Beach, the time will come very soon when it will also be crowded like popular Goa beaches.
- Candolim Goa – Candolim beach is another isolated beach that offers you a quiet relaxing experience, very different from the crowded beaches of Goa. The particular beach in Goa offers yoga and meditation session which provides the much needed relief from the hustle and bustle of daily life. You can also enjoy the thrill of fishing in this beach.
- Panjim Beach - Panjim Beach is also a popular beach in Goa and that perfectly suits the need of the leisure travelers. Offering a beauty that can mesmerize tourists who have been to the best of tourist places in the world. The Panjim Goa is a great tourist attraction as it is also equipped with a number of eateries, where you can enjoy a number of delicious sea foods. Hence, before making your trip to Goa, make sure that Goa Panjim beach features in the list of tourist spots, you will be visiting.
- Vagator beach - Located in north of Goa, the Vagator beach is located 24 kilometers away from Panaji. Having soft white sands and lined up by coconut palms, the beach offers breathtaking natural beauty. The serene beauty of the beach has made it one of the most popular beaches in Goa.
Things to do in Goa
Goa offers a perfect combination of exotic beaches, natural beauty, religious tourists’ spots, happening nightlife and facilities for different kinds of adventure sports. Hence, Goa is not all about spending a leisure holiday by relaxing in the beaches and enjoying serene beauty. Goa sightseeing helps you explore Goa far beyond the beaches. There are lots of others attractions in Goa.
Churches of Goa
Visiting the churches in Goa is also a great experience as visiting the churches built with a Portuguese architecture is an enriching experience. Moreover, the calm ambiance of the churches provides the much needed break to the tourists from the hustle and bustle of Goa tour. There are many churches in Goa and each of them draws a huge number of tourists from different parts of the world. Moreover, the churches in Goa are not only a favorite tourists spot for the Christian community. It is visited by a people from various religions that actually serve a bigger purpose. Some of the renowned churches of Goa that are one of the most favorite places to visit in Goa are as follows:
- The Rachol Seminary
- The Se Cathdral
- Church of Our Lady if Rosary
- Basillica of Bom Jesus
- Church of St. Francis of Assisi
- Royal Chapel of St. Anthony
- Church of Holy Spirit
- Chapel of St. Catherine
Adventure sports in Goa
The presence of a number of beaches in Goa also helps the purpose of adventure sports. And water sports. Among the many water sports in Goa, snorkeling in Goa is a great way of experiencing the thrill of adventure sports. The sport is mainly meant for exploring underwater life. However, before enjoying the thrill of snorkeling, you must be war a number of gears like gloves, masks, fins, wet suit and other accessories. It is a great fun to get close to the underwater life as you will discover some breathtaking beauty that lies beneath the blue waters of the Arabian Sea. There are many package tour Goa available in the market and most of these tour include enough time for adventure sport as a tour to Goa is almost incomplete without an experience of adventure sports.
Nightlife in Goa
There are many things to do in Goa but one thing that makes Goa so famous is its bustling nightlife. With a number of discos, bars, clubs and casinos, you can expect a gala time in Goa. The casinos of Goa are famous through out the world. Many tourists from different part of the world visit Goa only to enjoy its nightlife. Some of the most famous casinos of Go area as follow:
- Treasures Casino Majorda Beach Resort
- Renasisance Goa Resort and Casino
- Holiday Inn Goa Resort Haciencda De Oro Casino & Pub
- Kings Casino
- Casino Pride
- Casino Royale
Partying in Goa
There are many clubs in Goa as well that also plays an important role in making the colorful nightlife of Goa. For instance the Club Cabana Goa that offers a great private party experience. Equipped with swimming pools and indoor and outdoor areas, Club Cabana is famous for offering lavish theme for disco nights. Moreover, there is splendid bar in the club that offers a wide variety of drinks. Most of the parties held here are always teeming with life and activities and offers a great place to chill out. Hence, Partying in Goa gts redefined once you visit the Club Cabana Goa.
Shopping in Goa
Shopping experience in Goa is also great as there are number of shopping arenas which not only sells the leading brands of the world but also some exquisite products that are found in Goa. You may very often come across various products that have a Portuguese aura thus carrying forward the Portuguese legacy. Hence, shopping is also an integral part of Goa holiday and most of the Goa packages include a visit to these shopping areas where you can shop your heart out.
How to explore the best of Goa
Though Goa is a small state in comparison to various other states of India yet it boasts a huge number of tourist spots. Hence, it is often confusing for the tourists to visit the various places and make the most of their stay in Goa. A comprehensive Goa map can come of great use to you for this purpose. The Goa India map will help you identify your location in Goa and will leas towards your desired places in the best way. A Goa map with distance will also help you to chalk out your tour in a better way as you will be able to get an idea about the time needed to visit a particular tourist spot. These is a fact that has been realized by the tourists off late but nevertheless, tourists currently carry Goa maps even if they are under a particular Goa Package. This helps them to know more about instead of following the package blindly.
Moreover, there are many tourists who visit Goa without the help of any travel agent or does not prefer a package tour Goa. For these types of tourists, a map of Goa state is of great help as by taking the help of this map, he/she can make his own Goa trip. Moreover, Goa being a renowned tourist destination has a number of Goa tourist map which act as an efficient Goa tour guide. The benefits of these maps lie in the fact that you might never realize that you are in a place which has as a high density of tourist spots. However, if you are carrying a Goa road map, he/she may well get the knowledge of nearby tourist spots.
Location of Goa
Goa boasts a strategic location in the western part of India. Bounded by Mahrashtra on the north, Arabian Sea on the west and Karnataka on the east and west, Goa boasts a great location. The perfect location of Goa acts even more in favor of its tourism value as it is very easily reachable from various major cities of India. Here are the details:
- Chennai to Goa distance – 736.16 kilometers
- Bangalore to Goa distance – 578 kilometers
- Distance between Mumbai and Goa– 593 kilometers
- Distance between Delhi and Goa – 1910 kilometers.
How to reach Goa
Goa is well connected to other parts from India through a number of airlines, railways and road network. Hence, it is never much of a problem to reach Goa from various parts of India.
By air: Dabolim Airport is the most prominent Goa airport that is well connected to different parts of India by a number of major airlines. The large number of flights to Goa from different major cities of India makes it well connected to other parts of India. For instance, major domestic airlines like Jet airways. Jetlite, Kingfisher, Indian airlines, Spice jet operated regular flights to and from Goa. Though there are number of International airlines that also ply on Goa route but you may also take the help of Delhi to Goa flights or Bangalore to Goa flights or Mumbai to Goa flights as these airports are very well connected to not only different parts of India but also to foreign countries. Hence after reaching any other major cities, all you need to do is to board a flight to Goa and reach your dream destination. However, before planning your tour, try to get a comprehensive idea about the flights Goa so that you can reach Goa within minimum time.
By rail: Railway also plays an important role in connecting Goa to other parts of India. The nearest railway station to Goa is the Madgaon Railway Station and all of them. Located just 2 kilometers from the city center, the station is used by a huge number of passengers in order to access Goa. Equipped with a number of facilities like tourist information center, refreshment room, mobile trolley, telephone booth, parking stand and a cyber café, it provides the right sort of welcome to tourists. Though Madagaon Railway Station is the most important railway station but there are other railway stations in Goa as well. Some of the other Goa railway station name are as follows:
- Canacona
- Gohad Road
- Majorda
- Vasco da Gama
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