The smallest Indian state in terms of land area firmly holds its positions in the ranking of the most popular beach destinations in the region. Young people from all over the world fly to North Goa in order to feel the relaxed atmosphere of a not very presentable, but democratic resort in all respects. In the south, on the contrary, respectable Europeans prefer to rest, demanding civilization, cleanliness and service even from India. They do not always succeed, but the beaches of Goa still remain on the lists of the most popular, beautiful and visited. Despite the fact that the state is not the leader in the abundance of attractions, you will find where to go in your free time from the beach and what to see. In Goa, architectural monuments from the times of the Portuguese colonization have been preserved, as well as its own buildings that can cause admiring exclamations of fans of oriental exoticism.
TOP 10 attractions of Goa
Fort Aguada
The conditional border between North and South Goa is considered the fortification of Aguada, located on the outskirts of Candolim beach and built during the Portuguese colonization. The fort stands at the confluence of the Mondovi River into the ocean. In the old days, the surroundings were monitored from here, the fortress defended the approaches to the capital of Old Goa and had reservoirs for storing fresh water supplies. Today, in some of the premises of Aguada, there is a local prison, while the rest are available for tourists.
The architectural dominant of the fortress since 1612 is the lighthouse, built of gray stone and towering over the surroundings.
To get there: by road through Candolim beach.
Cathedral of St. Catherine
The Catholic temple in Old Goa was consecrated in 1640, although construction began a century earlier. The initiator of the work was the Portuguese Viceroy of India. He decided to build a new cathedral on the site of an old clay church that had existed in Goa since the victory of the Portuguese troops led by Alphonse de Albuquerque over the Muslim army. This happened in 1510.
The cathedral was intended to demonstrate the power and grandeur of the colonial power and the construction turned out to be very impressive:
- The temple was built in the style of the Portuguese Renaissance, called Manueline. This direction allowed mixing elements of Gothic, Moorish techniques and exotic motives.
- The dimensions of the cathedral are 76x55 m. Two front towers towered 33 m each, but only one has survived to this day. There is a bell tower on it. The second tower was destroyed by a lightning strike in the second half of the 18th century.
- The Golden Bell is the largest in the area. His voice can be heard several kilometers away. It was cast in 1652, and gold was indeed added to the metal.
The main altar of the temple is dedicated to St. Catherine. Picturesque images depict scenes of her life and martyrdom. The pilgrims also revere the Shrine of the temple the Miraculous Cross, transferred to Old Goa from the Boa Vishta mountain. Legend has it that in 1619 the Savior appeared on the cross, after which the relic began to increase in size.
Basilica of Bom Jesus
Another magnificent example of medieval architecture welcomes guests of Old Goa interested in history and architecture. The Basilica of Merciful Jesus contains the relics of one of the most revered Catholic saints, Francis Xavier. Every ten years, the relic is exhibited for worship, and at this time Goa becomes a place of pilgrimage for believers.
The three-tiered basilica was built at the end of the 16th century. The baroque style fits perfectly into the surrounding landscape, and the church looks especially majestic and imperial against the background of the southern sky. The interiors of the temple are decorated with marble, the floors are inlaid with semiprecious stones, the altars are covered with gilding, and the relics of the saint are kept in a silver reliquary installed in the mausoleum. The reliquary was donated to the temple by Cosimo Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany.
Services: from 10.15 to Sunday in English. language.
Fort Redi
The fortification of the maharaja from the Savant dynasty, important for the defense of their own possessions, was built in the 16th century. Two hundred years later, the fortress surrendered under the onslaught of superior enemy forces, and the Portuguese entered the settlement. Then the fort more than once became the prey of both the Indians and the British, and again the Portuguese, until the jungle took over the stone buildings.
The current state of the fortress resembles pictures from films about lost worlds. Four-handed people reign here, willingly participating in photo sessions of foreign tourists. The place looks very picturesque, according to fans of meditation and oriental practices.
There is a pretty beach close to Fort Redi, which is often visited by lovers of solitude.
How to get there: by taxi from Calangute village in North Goa.
Fort Tiracol
When planning to see the sights of Goa, add to the list another small fortress called Fort Tiracol, especially since the object is located on the way from Calangute to Fort Redi.
Fort Tiracol was built in the 17th century. The fortress included several residential buildings and a chapel surrounded by a high stone wall. A dozen cannons installed around the perimeter served to protect the residents. The location was chosen strategically very well - on a cliff above the local river. Thanks to this location, the entire coastline was perfectly visible.
The Portuguese owned the fort until the middle of the 20th century. Then Tiracol came under the jurisdiction of India, and in recent years its territory was reconstructed and a luxury hotel was built in the fortress. The owners have preserved an authentic colonial atmosphere, and the rooms are decorated with authentic objects of the past centuries - chests, candelabra, muskets and chimney tongs.
How to get there: by ferry from Kerim Beach from 6.30 to 21.30.
Fort Chapora
On the site of the ancient Indian bastions at Bardes at the mouth of the Chapora River, the Portuguese erected a fort to defend their own conquests in western India. It happened in 1717, and the fortress served the colonialists faithfully for a long time. Today only one remains of the powerful fortress walls. The entrance gates have been preserved on it, but the observation towers have turned into ruins. The main advantage of the strategically important place where the Chapora fort was located is nowadays considered to be magnificent panoramas opening from the hill towards the Indian Ocean. Goa is best viewed from a bird's eye view at sunset, when the sun sinks into the ocean.
At the foot of the hill, you will find a picturesque beach, which, however, is considered one of the most dangerous in the state due to the occasional strong currents.
To get there: by taxi or bus from Mapusa.
Spice plantation
India without spices is like a fakir without a cobra, and therefore you simply must see how the most famous spices grow. In Goa, spice plantations are scattered throughout the state and it will not be so easy to choose which plants to get acquainted with.
The most popular excursion with tourists includes a trip to the Sahakari plantation, lunch at a local restaurant, elephant trekking and dancing as an afternoon entertainment. Sahakari is a place where coconuts are grown, and experienced instructors teach all beginners to climb a palm tree for fruits.
The best photo shoots come from the Tropical Spice plantation. A picturesque lake with a bridge perfectly reflects the setting sun at sunset and makes the pictures especially romantic.
Dudhsagar
Among all the waterfalls in India, Dudhsagar looks especially picturesque. It falls down from a height of 310 m in the foothills of the Western Ghats and forms a beautiful cool lake at the place of its fall. Legend says that a local princess bathed in the lake and then drank milk. Once, noticing a stranger watching her, the girl poured milk into the water in order to hide behind its jets. So there was a waterfall, the waters of which are milky white from numerous splashes. The name Dudhsagar is translated from Hindi as "ocean of milk".
On the way to the waterfall, tourists pass through the Bhagwan Mahavir National Park. Its forests are home to many animals that make up the golden fund of Indian fauna.
Market in Anjuna
The village of Anjuna in Goa is a favorite vacation spot for informal youth from all over the world. In the middle of the last century, it was chosen by the "flowers of life", and today the local market has become the legacy of the hippies, where creative people sell their crafts in order to earn a living.
The bazaar is noisy every Wednesday, and on its shelves you can find absolutely everything to become a happy, unencumbered worldviewer.
For ordinary tourists, the market in Anjuna has prepared numerous souvenirs for friends and colleagues: spices and woven bracelets, baubles, national costumes and pashminas, beads and baskets made of palm leaves, Buddhist talismans and dice.
Music lovers can buy discs with recordings of trance and psychedelic music on the market, fashionistas can braid dreadlocks, and everyone who wants to can feel the authentic atmosphere of that Goa, which hippies came to look at and stay forever in the 60s.
Cotigao nature reserve
In the southern part of the state, a few kilometers from the beautiful Palolem beach, there is another attraction of Goa, where tourists with children and animal lovers will certainly go.
The inhabitants of the Cotigao Nature Reserve are cute monkeys who willingly pose for photographers and adore the treat that tourists bring. Previously, Kotigao had no pass from bears and panthers, but in recent years, serious jungle dwellers have stopped appearing on the protected paths.
Whether you love collecting herbariums or simply admiring the lush tropical vegetation, Cotigao is especially for you. The virgin jungle occupies most of the reserve. For those who prefer to assess the scale of the splendor at a glance, there are observation towers on the territory of the park, from where they used to watch leopards, and now - for sunsets and sunrises.
Open from 7 am to 5.30 pm. You can apply for an overnight permit in Panaji at the 3rd Floor, Junta House.
To get there: from Panaji by bus or car.
