Top 10 Places to Visit in Goa
1. Fort Aguada
Fort Aguada is located at 18 km from Panjim. The fort was constructed in 1612 to guard against the Dutch and the Marathas. It was the most prized and crucial fort for the Portuguese and covers the entire peninsula at the southwestern tip of Bardez. The fort is so named after the Portuguese Word for water i.e. ‘Agua’ and used to be a replenishing source of freshwater for sailors. In fact, it has the capacity to hold 2,376,000 gallons of water and was one of the biggest freshwater reservoirs of Asia The Aguada fort have also numbers among its splendours a four storeyed lighthouse. This lighthouse was built in 1864 and is the oldest of its kind in Asia. It once used oil lamps to emit a beacon of light once every seven minutes, which was later upgraded to emit light every 30 seconds
Opening hours: 9:30 am – 6:00 pm (all days)
2. Calangute Beach
Calangute is situated 15 km from Panjim. The beach is the largest in North Goa and visited by thousands of domestic and international tourists alike. It is one of the busiest and most commercial beaches of Goa and top ten bathing beaches in the world. The Calangute Beach is also known for its water sports activities like parasailing, water surfing, banana ride and jet-skiing.
3. Candolim Beach
Candolim Beach is situated at 12.6 km from Panjim. It is one of most visited and popular beaches in North Goa. Candolim is very famous for its pristine touch and a lot of amusement options all around. Located very close to Baga, this beach is counted amongst the loveliest spot for honeymoon couples, friends or families. Lot of water activities like water-skiing, parasailing, bump rides, jet-skiing, catamaran sailing, banana ride and wind surfing can be done here.
4. Anjuna Beach
Anjuna Beach is situated at 18 Km North of Panjim. It is beautifully embellished with picturesque sceneries and so the place is reckoned among the hottest tourist destination of India. It is a perfect paradise for beach lovers. The beach is famous for its golden coastline, nightclubs, beach shacks, water sports, full-moon parties and flea markets.
5. Coco Beach
Coco Beach is situated at 10.8 km from Panaji. Coco beach has a steep gradient and is most often explored by river cruises that sails along the Mandovi river. Due to the combined aquamarine life of the sea and the river combined, Coco Beach is a popular fishing hub. There are regular boat rides into the Mandovi river and most notably, into the bay, where tourists can engage in one of Coco’s most popular attractions, wild dolphin spotting.
6. Baga Beach:
Baga Beach is located in North Goa and is famous for its nightlife activities as it is home to some entertaining beachside bars and nightclubs. Here, you will find many revelers engaged in partying all night. In daylight, the beach is known for its never-ending water experiences, sunbathing and soaking up in the live atmosphere. It is also famous for its designer stores and street-side markets.
7. Benaulim Beach:
Benaulim Beach is located at 30 km south of Goa’s capital, Panjim and about 2 kilometres south of Colva. It is a fishing beach, which is known for its calm and relaxed nature. It is a clean, windswept beach where you can see many fishing boats and trawlers. The beach is sandy – there are no rocks here. The place has brilliant scenic beauty and the architectural grandeurs of its churches, old houses, and temples; simply become the famous attractions of Benaulim. It’s one of the evergreen destinations of Goa, which is also popular as heaven for tourists.
8. Palolem Beach:
Palolem Beach is located in Canacona in South Goa. It is a stretch of white sand on a bay in Goa, South India. It’s known for its calm waters and for its nightlife, including “silent discos” where party goers wear headphones. Lined with palm trees and colorful wooden shacks, the beach faces Canacona Island, known for its resident monkeys. To the south, turtles nest at Galgibaga Beach. Inland, Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary is home to birds, wild boars and gaur. Itis mainly famous for scenic view and otherworldly party vibes. However, many people also come here for enjoying watersports and the Goa culture at the beach.
9. Goa Chitra Museum
Goa Chitra is an ethnographic museum in Benaulim .The museum is based in the former Portuguese colony of Goa. It has a large collection over 4000 artefacts focusing on Goa’s traditional agrarian technology and lifestyle. It is an unique collection and display traditional farming implements and other ancient tools of trade set up against the concept of the museum is in holding with the philosophy that resources in today’s world should not be wasted if their use is not necessary. Goa Chitra believes in reviving age old traditions through the museum display each program thus allowing the younger generation to share the wisdom of the past which would otherwise be irretrievably lost. This we hope will create awareness about nature, its influences, and benefits on human life.
10. Big foot Museum
Big Foot Museum is located at Loutolim, 9 kms from Margao and 29 kms from Panajim. At ancestral Goa there are a number of places to visit such as an art gallery where one can see work done by local children and artists of State and National fame. There is a handicraft centre where one can get some locally made Goan artifacts, Big Foot dance floor, Big Foot restaurant, a cross, a spring known as Boca da Vaca, a bird habitat, a spice yard, rubber plantations and lots more. A miniature Goan village set up to recreate the rural life of old days. It is privately run by an artist called Maendra Jocelino Araujo Alvares. The open-air museum recreates Goan rural life as it was a hundred years ago. In this model village one can also see different miniature houses that showcase traditional occupation and social classes such as fishermen, Goan artisans, a Music school known as Escola da Musica, farmers, liquors shops, the village market, and a feni distillery.
11. Indian Naval Aviation Museum
The Naval Aviation Museum is a military museum located in Bogmalo, 6 km from Vasco da Gama, Goa. The museum was inaugurated in October 1998. This museum contains exhibits that showcase the evolution of the Indian Naval Air Arm over decades. The museum is divided into two main parts, an outdoor exhibit and a two-storey indoor gallery.. The museum displays a number of aircraft that were used by the indian navy throughout its history. These are displayed outside in the museum’s open air gallery. The museum also houses a photo gallery that commemorates all the major naval battles that have taken place since the formation of the Indian Navy. The freedom struggle of Goa, notably the ‘Operation Vijay’ is depicted by a stunning series of black and white photographs
12. Abyss marine fish Aquarium
Abyss Marine Fish Aquarium is located at national highway Verna-Goa in South Goa. Aquarium consists of wide range of attractive marine live fish and the traditional activities of Goan fishermen families in statue format. There are some 60 different varieties of fish at Abyss. Carefully preserved and kept in impressive aquarium in a lively ambience. You can watch attractive, unique, harmful and sophisticated fish which moves in closed aquariums. there are some small open aquariums which allow visitors to view the fishes from a closer point. Lobsters, starfish, parrotfish, catfish, lionfish, sea cucumber, finger star fish and many more beautiful varieties you get to see here, fish displayed here
13. Dona Paula Bay
Dona Paula Bay is 7 km from Panaji. Dona Paula Bay is where two of Goa’s famous rivers Zuari and Mandovi meet the Arabian sea. it’s also called the Lovers Paradise. The beach is named after Dona Paula de Menzes, daughter of a viceroy (in colonial India), who threw herself off the cliff, when refused permission to marry a local fisherman, Gaspar Dias. The beach has also been the location for many Indian movies. Given this dual attraction, Dona Paula Beach has become popular among the tourist spots in Goa
14. Cabo de Rama Fort:
Cabo de Rama Fort is Located in the Canacona region of South Goa. It is a 17th-century Portuguese fort associated with the legend of Ramayana. It is believed that Lord Rama, Goddess Sita and Lord Lakshmana lived in the fort during their 14-year exile. Portuguese claimed the Cabo de Rama Fort after defeating the King of Soonda and subsequently renovated it. In the past, the fort has switched hands between Hindu, Muslim monarchs and the Portuguese and witnessed many battles in history. The present rickety structure with turrets and rusty cannons is a leftover of the Portuguese. The Portuguese equipped it with 21 guns and military barracks, as well as commandant quarters and a chapel. It was abandoned when the Portuguese left this place. Later, this fort housed a government prison till 1955 and was abandoned again. Today, this fort is in ruins, but is a popular tourist attraction of Goa.
15. Dudhsagar Waterfall:
Dudhsagar Falls (literally Sea of Milk) is a four-tiered waterfall located on the Mandovi River in the the border of the Indian state of Goa and Karnataka. It is 60 km from Panaji by road. The Dudhsagar waterfall measures an impressive 310m (1017ft) in height and about 100ft in width. The waterfall splits into three streams as it pours over the near-vertical cliff face, thus forming a truly magnificent sight. This water fall is also known as Tambdi Surla to some of the local people.
16. Tropical Spice Plantation
Tropical Spice Plantation is located in keri 6 km off ponda. Tropical Spice plantation can also be reached from Panjim via Mardol. Tropical Spice Plantation is spread over large tract of verdant land, which offers the perfect setting for you to soak in a pure unadulterated nature. Mother nature has generously blessed this land with all the elements of a perfectly refreshing ambience. The cover of greens, the vegetation, the chirping of birds and the innocent and tranquil stream make it a breath taking destination. This tour is a perfect day out with nature and taste the real food.
17. Old Goa Churches:
It is UNESCO World Heritage Site and located at 9 kms from Panjim city. The Basilica of Bom Jesus was Built in 1594 and consecrated in 1605, the building of this church coincides with the beginning of Christianity in India. this is the only church in Old Goa that is not been plastered on the outside. The facade of the church has triangular roofing which is delicately carved with the initials ‘IHS’, which is an abbreviation for Jesuit emblem meaning ‘Jesus, Saviour of Men’. Inside, the floor of the Basilica is made of marble mosaic with precious stones, giving it a solemn appearance. The Basilica of Bom Jesus is over 408 years old and is open to the public everyday.
18. Grande Island
The Grande popularly known as the Grande island Or Bat Island, it is one of the most exotic location for watersports like snorkeling dolphin spotting, and scuba diving in Goa. The island can be reached through a short boat ride which is organized by several centers and small companies in the city of Panaji itself. The one-day trips start with a jetty ride where you can witness the famous Aguada Fort, lighthouse, Central Jail, etc. from the middle of the sea. Another most popular activity to do from the boat is dolphin spotting.
