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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. |
 |
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).
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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. |
