Golden Goa-India’s star on the western coast

Goa, the sun-kissed land, is best known for its beautiful beaches. It is a tourist spot in India that attracts hoards of travellers and visitors every month. The waterfalls, wildlife sanctuaries and nature trails are great attractions. The Mandovi River, the lifeline of Goa and the Zuari River are the two primary rivers of Goa. There are freshwater islands in the Mandovi River and the biggest are-Divar, Chorao and Vashee near Old Goa.

If you’re the kind who loves cruises, Goa is the place! There are cruises that start from Goa and Mumbai and travel to Lakshadweep, Cochin and Mangalore. There are also river cruises to watch out for. The Goa Tourism Department conducts river cruises on the Mandovi. There are a lot of private boat and yacht operators that offer a variety of tours and rides. The Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary is located on Chirao. Two most common birds there are the Stork and the Black Faced Cormorant. There’s a ferry from the mainland which takes tourists and inhabitants to the islands. The small islands, Chorao and Divar are part of Tiswadi district, on which Goa’s capital, Panaji is located.

If you visit Goa during the Goan Carnival, it is the best time to watch and learn the customs, language and lifestyle of its people. There are many fairs and festivals celebrated all through the year. The flea markets and streets will only add to your shopping sprees. Tents, beach shacks, cottages, homestays, resorts and five-star island resorts… all account for accommodation here. Goan food is very varied and influenced by Portuguese and Dutch styles. One can taste Indian as well as international cuisine in the hotels here.

The Municipal Gardens, situated between the bus terminal and the town centre, is a well-planned garden. It houses an Ashoka Pillar at its centre. The Secretariat Building/Idalcao Palace is the oldest in this part of Goa. This castle built by Yusuf Adil Shah of Bijapur in 1510 was rebuilt by the Portuguese in 1615. In the year 1843, the Secretariat was shifted here and right now it houses the Passport office.

Built in 1540, the church of the Lady of Immaculate Conception stands at the main square in the heart of town. It’s famous for its tall twin towers built in Portuguese Baroque style.

Some of Goa’s famous beaches are the Arambol Beach, Calangute Beach, Anjuna Beach and the Colva Beach. The Jama Masjid is situated outside the Municipal Gardens. It was built by Suleiman Shet and Aba Shet. An interesting feature of this mosque is the absence of a dome for the mosque.

The Dudhsagar falls, at 600m, is the second highest in India. The white misty showers that rise at the bottom of the falls give it the name in Konkani as ‘sea of milk’. Surrounded by the Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary, there are small pools within the vicinity that are ideal spots for swimming. The nearby Mahadeva Temple at Tamdi Surla is also a good visit. There are trains that run three times a week from Margoa to Colem. You can take a taxi or a four-wheel-drive Jeep from Colem to the falls. Bikers, too, find it interesting to ride their Enfields on this route. The river crossings enroute make it an adventurous journey.

Goa has a good climate and it is visited all through the year. It has international flights taking thousands of people to and from Goa. There are well-planned roads and railways through Goa. The network of buses and taxis will help you get around different cities here. Tourists can also hire bikes and vans for use during their stay.