Discover The Best Tourist Places In Goa

Goa is wonderful tourist destination in India. Goa is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located in West India in the region known as the Konkan, it is one of the most popular tourist destinations of India with beautiful beaches and historical sites. Goa is visited by large numbers of international and domestic tourists each year for its beaches, places of worship and world heritage architecture. It has rich flora and fauna, owing to its location on the Western Ghats range, a biodiversity hotspot.

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Reis Magos Fort is located on the northern bank of the River Mandovi across to the city of Panaji in North Goa. This Fort is one of the prime Goa Tourist Places and one of the major heritage sites in Goa state. The Fort, originated as an armed outpost of the Adil Shah of Bijapur in 1493. When Bardez was conquered by the Portuguese in 1541, the Fort was built along with the church. From 1900, it lost its defensive role and was used as a jail and was finally abandoned in 1993 after which it was at the mercy of the elements, and had begun to crumble. Restoration work on the fort began in 2008 with the funds being provided by the UK-based Helen Hamlyn Trust, INTACH - a non-governmental organisation dealing with restorations of monuments, and the Government of Goa. Renowned architect Gerard da Cunha was hired to restore the fort.[1] The fort is now converted into a cultural centre, besides being used a tourist attraction.

Distance from Panjim: 7 Kms

River Cruise is a memorable and must experience activity in Panaji. It is one of the top Goa places to visit. The river cruises start from Santa Monica Boat Jetty and Panaji Jetty on Mandovi river in Panaji town on Old Panaji Road. River cruise is one of the top things to do in Goa.

The river cruise, especially the evening sunset cruise is a beautiful experience. Most of the cruise trips last for one hour with a ride across the Mandovi River till the Miramar Beach point. The cruise trips are usually accompanied with Goan cultural activities like Music, Dance, etc. The activities also include tourists joining the dance at end of the program.

Distance from Panjim: 1 Kms

The Sé Catedral de Santa Catarina, known as Se Cathedral, is the cathedral of the Latin Rite Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Goa and Daman and the seat of the Patriarch of the East Indies. It is located in Old Goa, India. The architecture style of the Se Cathedral is Portuguese-Manueline. The exterior is Tuscan, whereas the interior is Corinthian. The church is 250 feet (76 m) in length and 181 feet (55 m) in breadth. The frontispiece stands 115 feet (35 m) high. The Se Cathedral's tower houses a large bell known as the "Golden Bell" on account of its rich tone. It is said to be the largest in Goa, and one of the best in the world.

Distance from Panjim: 9 Kms

The Basilica of Bom Jesus or Borea Jezuchi Bajilika (Portuguese: Basílica do Bom Jesus) is located in Goa, India, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The basilica holds the mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier. The church is located in Old Goa, which was the capital of Goa in the early days of Portuguese rule. 'Bom Jesus' (literally, 'Good (or Holy) Jesus') is the name used for the Ecce Homo in the countries of Portuguese colonization. The Jesuit church is India’s first minor basilica, and is considered to be one of the best examples of baroque architecture in India.

Distance from Panjim: 9 Kms

Calangute Beach is the largest Beach in North Goa and one of the best tourist Places to visit in Goa. The beach is often represented in promotion of Goa Tourism. Calangute is also called the 'Queen of beaches' in Goa and among the best beaches in Goa. As stories go on, hippies had discovered this beach during the 60's so is it famous since then. Calangute along with Candolim, Baga and Anjuna form part of stretch of beach extending from just outside Panaji city to Fort Aguada. Calangute Beach is a 4 mile long beach that lies between Baga and Candolim beach. It is also among the top beaches of Goa.

Distance from Panjim: 14 Kms

Fort Aguada and its lighthouse is a well-preserved seventeenth-century Portuguese fort standing in Goa, India, on Sinquerim Beach, overlooking the Arabian Sea. The fort was constructed in 1612 to guard against the Dutch and the Marathas. It was a reference point for the vessels coming from Europe at that time. This old Portuguese fort stands on the beach south of Candolim, at the shore of the Mandovi River. It was initially tasked with defense of shipping and the nearby Bardez sub district.

Distance from Panjim: 15 Kms

Baga Beach is a popular beach and tourist destination in North Goa. Baga is located at the north end of the contiguous beach stretch that starts from Sinquerim, Candolim, leads to Calangute and then to Baga. The beach contains rows of shacks and fishing boats, and at high tide the beach is narrow. The beach is named after the Baga Creek, which empties into the Arabian Sea at the north end of the beach.

Baga Beach is also famous for water sports such as parasailing and banana rides, and dolphin cruises. In Baga Beach, new parking has been constructed for around 800 cars or more, and there is baga creek bridge which connects northern part like arpora, anjuna etc..

Distance from Panjim: 15 Kms

Chapora Fort, located in Bardez, Goa, rises high above the Chapora River. Before the Portuguese arrived in Goa in 1510, this location was the site of another fort. The fort changed hands several times after Portuguese acquired Bardez. Trying to end the Portuguese rule in Goa, Prince Akbar joined his father’s enemies, the Marathas in 1683 and made this place his base camp. It became the northern outpost of the Old Conquests. After the Portuguese recovered from an encounter with the Marathas, they strengthened their northern defences and provided shelter to the people there.

Distance from Panjim: 19 Kms

Colva Beach is located in South Goa. It is one of the prime Places to visit in Goa state and among the best beaches in Goa. Colva Beach is the oldest, largest and the most spectacular beaches of South Goa. The beach consists of about 25 km of the fine powdered white sand and is bounded along its coast by coconut palms that stretch from Bogmalo in the north to Cabo de Rama in the south along south Goa's coastline. Colva is one of the top beaches in Goa.

Distance from Panjim: 33 Kms

Dudhsagar Falls (literally Sea of Milk ) is a four-tiered waterfall located on the Mandovi River in the border of the Indian states of Karnataka and Goa. The falls is located in the Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary and Mollem National Park among the Western Ghats. The waterfall forms the border between Karnataka and Goa states. The area is surrounded by a deciduous forests with a rich bio diversity. The falls are not particularly spectacular during the dry season but during the monsoon season however, the falls are fed by rains and form a huge force of water.

Distance from Panjim: 71 Kms