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    Tourist Attractions in Goa

    The most interesting and beautiful tourist attractions in Goa. Photos and a brief description.

    Goa
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    About Goa

    The Indian state of Goa is the Asian “Ibiza”, a place of relaxed relaxation, night parties, freedom and a sense of incessant celebration. Some foreigners are so inspired by this atmosphere that they move to Goa for good. They can be seen on the coast of the beaches of Arambol and Palolem, meditating on the sunset and engaged in blissful “doing nothing”.

    But the rest should not be limited only to the beach and parties. There are a lot of bright sights of the colonial era in the state, there are charming towns with Portuguese-style architecture. Old Goa is included in the UNESCO list and is a must-visit. Goa also has several picturesque nature reserves. A walk through the traditional markets, where interesting souvenirs and crafts of local craftsmen are sold, can diversify your vacation.

    Top Tourist Attractions in Goa

    Panaji City

    Panaji is the capital of the resort state of Goa. At first it was a small village, but after the transfer of the residence of the Portuguese governor here in the XVIII century, the city began to develop actively. On the territory of Panaji there are still preserved monuments of colonial architecture of the past centuries, which today are of historical interest. The population of the city together with the suburbs barely reaches 100 thousand people.

    Panaji City
    Fontaines Quarter in Panaji

    Fontaines Quarter in Panaji

    The old city quarter, where the houses of the descendants of the Portuguese colonialists are located. The main development of the area was carried out about 170 years ago after the announcement of Panaji as the capital of Goa. The historical facades of the Fontanes houses are painted in bright colors, which gives the quarter an interesting flavor. The houses are built in a mixed style of Portuguese and traditional Indian architecture.

    Anjun Market

    Anjuna is a small town on the coast of Goa, known for its flea market. The bazaar appeared in the 60s of the XX century at the height of the hippie era. It all started with the fact that representatives of this subculture gathered on one of the local beaches for round-the-clock songs and dances. Sometimes they had to sell some of the things in order to get money for a further carefree existence. That's how the famous market in Anjun appeared.

    Anjun Market
    Arpore Night Market

    Arpore Night Market

    The market is located between the villages of Anjuna and Arpora. It is not just a shopping tent where you can buy interesting things and bright souvenirs. This is a whole authentic fair with a booth where people dance, sing, watch impromptu performances, eat and have fun. There are disco bars on the edges of the market, and a special stage for concerts and performances has been built in the central part.

    Museum of Naval Aviation

    The museum is adjacent to Goa Airport. By the way, the Dabolim air harbor itself is actively used by the Indian Air Force. The exhibits of the museum are European, Russian and American planes and helicopters of the last century. The collection is not very large, there are barely a dozen and a half copies, but this is no less interesting. All aircraft are placed on an open-air platform.

    Museum of Naval Aviation
    Spice plantations

    Spice plantations

    Goa has very favorable climatic conditions, so spices are grown here on an industrial scale for the whole of India and for export to other countries. Spice plantations are a popular tourist attraction, organized excursions are brought here. The fields are located near the town of Ponda, which is about 40 km away. from Panaji. Some plantations have developed tourist infrastructure with restaurants, shops and hotels.

    Bon Jesus Basilica (Old Goa)

    Portuguese basilica of the XVII century, located in Old Goa. The main architectural style of the building is lush colonial Baroque. The marble floor of the church is decorated with semi-precious stones, valuable paintings hang on the walls, a 3–meter statue of Ignatius Loyola, the grand master and founder of the Jesuit Order, is installed in the middle of the temple. The Basilica is one of the main architectural attractions of Goa.

    Bon Jesus Basilica (Old Goa)
    St. Catherine's Cathedral (Old Goa)

    St. Catherine's Cathedral (Old Goa)

    A large Catholic cathedral, which is the largest Christian temple in India. It was erected in honor of the Portuguese victory in the Battle of Goa in 1510. This event coincided with St. Catherine's Day, so it was decided to lay the cathedral and name it in honor of this saint. The construction was completed in 1619. The cathedral was built in the architectural style of Portuguese Manuelino.

    St. Francis of Assisi Church (Old Goa)

    The temple was built in the XVII century, it is part of the complex of St. Catherine's Cathedral in Old Goa. Inside the church is richly decorated with frescoes, decorated with wood and marble. It should be noted that local craftsmen were engaged in painting the walls. At first, they created images about the life of St. Francis, weaving characters from Indian mythology into the plot, which horrified the Portuguese king.

    St. Francis of Assisi Church (Old Goa)
    Shantadurga Temple

    Shantadurga Temple

    The temple is dedicated to the goddess Parvati, who, according to Hindu beliefs, is the consort of the god Shiva. The building was erected in the XVIII century during the reign of Raja Chatrapati Shah. The temple complex consists of the main structure and several side buildings. All buildings are painted in a pleasant terracotta color. The last large-scale reconstruction of the temple was carried out in 1966.

    Church of the Mother of God of the Immaculate Conception

    The church is located in the center of Panaji, it was built in the middle of the XVI century. The building of the beginning of the XVII century has survived to this day, since the original building was destroyed as a result of the constant wars over Goa. The architecture and interior of the church are distinguished by grace and restraint. A system of stairs with curly railings leads to the entrance to the temple, which are in harmony with the church facade.

    Church of the Mother of God of the Immaculate Conception

    St. Augustine's Church and Monastery (Old Goa)

    The monastery complex was built at the very beginning of the XVII century. The monastery existed until the XIX century, after which it was abandoned due to the decision of the Portuguese government to dissolve religious orders. All the interior decoration and property of the monastery was transferred to other churches, sold or lost. In the middle of the XIX century, the main vault of the church fell, by the XX century the complex finally turned into ruins.

    St. Augustine's Church and Monastery (Old Goa)
    Fort Aguada

    Fort Aguada

    The old Portuguese fortress, built in 1612 to protect the newly conquered lands from the encroachments of the Dutch. The fort consists of two parts. The lower one is located at the edge of the sea, it served for defensive purposes. The upper one was engaged in servicing the garrison of the fort. Nowadays there is a prison on the territory of the lower part, the rest of the fortress buildings are open for free inspection.

    Fort Reis Magos

    The fort was built in 1550 (according to other sources – in 1490). At the beginning of the XVIII century, the fortress managed to withstand the onslaught of the Marathas, who seized all the surrounding lands and were preparing to oust the Portuguese from their firmly occupied positions. Within the fort there was a garrison, an armory, a prison and underground storage facilities. During construction, the building was equipped with many secret passages. Nowadays there is a museum on the territory of the fortification.

    Fort Reis Magos
    Bhagwan Mahavir Nature Reserve

    Bhagwan Mahavir Nature Reserve

    A natural park covering an area of 240 hectares. There are several popular attractions on its territory, such as the 12th-century Mahadeva Temple and the largest Dudhsagar waterfall in India. Panthers, leopards, bears, porcupines, gauras, lynxes and other animals live in the reserve. A jeep safari is organized for tourists, during which you can enjoy picturesque landscapes and watch animals.

    Bondla Nature Reserve

    A small nature reserve in the jungle, which is more like a garden. Its area is only 8 km2. Wild boars, bison, squirrels and bison are found here. Some animals calmly walk around the territory, others live in aviaries. There are also many different birds living in the reserve. Tourists can take an elephant ride or admire the ruins of an ancient Hindu temple located within the park.

    Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary

    The reserve is located on the territory of mangrove swamps. There are about 400 species of birds, as well as crocodiles and jackals. In winter, from October to March, the maximum accumulation of birds is observed in Salim Ali, as many flocks arrive here for the winter. The habits of birds can be observed from a special tower. During the tour, tourists are taken on special boats.

    Arvalem Waterfall

    A powerful waterfall with a height of 10 meters, located in the northern part of Goa. At the foot of the descending water jets, a lake is formed, quite suitable for swimming. There is an equipped observation deck next to the waterfall, from where you can explore the picturesque surroundings. Not far from the stream is the temple of the god Rudreshvaru, where Hindu funeral rituals are held.

    Arvalem Waterfall

    Arvalem Caves

    The caves are located near the Arvalem Waterfall. It is believed that they originated in the period of the V-VI centuries A.D. The walls of the caves contain Sanskrit inscriptions dated to the XIII centuries. According to one version, they were cut through by ancient fans of a pagan cult. Later, the caves were used by adherents of Hinduism, who put the inscriptions. Hundreds of monks could live in such cave temples.

    Dudhsagar Waterfall

    The waterfall is the most visited natural attraction in Goa. It is included in the program of almost all organized excursions. "Dudhsagar" translates as "milk sea". If you look closely, the foamy jets of water from afar really resemble milk. During the rainy season, Dudhsagar is especially crushing, its streams crash into the deep lake at the base.

    Dudhsagar Waterfall
    Agonda Beach

    Agonda Beach

    The beach is located in the southern part of Goa, which is considered quieter than the "party" northern part. The length of the coastline is about 3 km . There is almost no developed tourist infrastructure on Agonda, there are only residential bungalows and several hotels. Olive turtles, a specially protected species in India, live and lay eggs on the beach. The place is perfect for a relaxing family holiday.

    Palolem Beach

    Palolem is considered the best beach in the southern part of Goa, so it is very crowded here in high season. The beach is located in a bay, so it has a convenient gentle descent into the sea. By Indian standards, perfect cleanliness is observed here and there are almost no free-roaming cows, which indicates the good work of the cleaning service. Along the beach there are bungalows, budget guest houses and more expensive hotels.

    Palolem Beach
    Arambol Beach

    Arambol Beach

    Arambol is located in the northern part of Goa. Unlike other beaches in this part of the state, there is no such large-scale development. The coastline stretches for as much as 16 km., it is surrounded by picturesque rocks and dense jungle. Arambol has a free "bohemian" atmosphere, there are many colorful personalities here. Once the beach was chosen by hippies, since then it has become a "home" for creative and non-standard people.

    Casino "Deltin Royale"

    The casino is located on board a cruise ship on the Mondovi River. It is considered one of the largest in India and is the largest in Goa. There are 50 tables for playing poker, roulette, blackjack and 30 slot machines. The casino can also offer a river walk and dinner at a nice restaurant. You can come here even with children – a special entertainment area is equipped for them.

    Casino

    Night club "Cubana"

    A popular night club on the top of the Arpora hill, where all lovers of electronic music and dancing strive to get to until the morning. The club is divided into two zones – a bar and a dance floor with a swimming pool. Quite often famous Western DJs perform here. Pool parties are especially popular, because on a stuffy Indian night there is a great desire to refresh yourself after energetic and tedious dancing.