Goa, one of the most sought after tourist destinations lies on the western coastline that stretches along the Arabian Sea. The capital of the state is Panaji. Goa is famous for its scenic beauty. This is a creation of the popular beaches and popular stretches that range from the Baga and Pololem to the fishing villages such as the Agonda. As mentioned above, the state of Goa is the most sought after destination and it is for all the right reasons! So if you are planning to go to Goa anytime soon, make sure that you go to these must visit places.
Calangute Beach
The Calangute Beach is the largest beach of North Goa and is also one of the most recommended beaches of Goa. The beach is famous among the local as well as the international tourists. Calangute beach is the busiest beach and is flooded with people during the peak season. The beach is also much commercialized to suit the needs of the visitors. There are shopping outlets, restaurants, and shacks for tourists to enjoy themselves fully. The beach has an amazingly long coastline and the view of the sea from the beach is worth the watch! This beach has several water sports and activities to enjoy as well. The ‘Queen of Beaches’ is the name given to the beach and is the most popular beach in Goa. Therefore, do not forget to visit this beach when you find yourself in Goa!
Deltin Royale Casino
The Deltin Royale Casino ship is largest casino boat out of all in Goa. The boat is the ultimate paradise for all those wanting fun day and night. This is because the fun never stops at the Deltin Royale Casino boat and the services go on 24 hours non-stop. The area is spread over 40,000 square feet and there are three levels of gaming. These three levels of gaming have live fun and a total of 850 gaming positions. During the peak hours, the restaurant floor offers the visitors live performances.
In order to gain access to the casino, all you need to do is to buy an entry. Along with that you need to play package to gain access. Another interesting fact is that you can choose to stay at hotel Deltin. In order to this you need to buy stay and play package which will also be your ticket to access the casino. However, make sure you do not plan to go to the casino on a national holiday. The casino remains closed on all national holidays.
Fort Aguada
Fort Aguada is Portuguese Fort that is situated on the Sinquerim Beach in North Goa. The fort is a seventeenth century port that was built as a defence system to the Dutch and the Maratha. The fort features great battlement and it used to be one of the most prized fort of the Portuguese. There is deep dry moat that surrounds the fort. The two things that are a must visit inside the fort are the lighthouse that is 13 metres high and was built in the year 1864. The other being the vaulted cistern which is said to have a capacity of storing ten million litres of fresh water. An interesting fact about the Aguada Fort is that it was converted into a jail which has somehow contributed to its preservation. It is still considered to be the largest jail in Goa.
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Basilica of Bom Jesus
One of the most popular churches in Goa without a doubt is the Basilica of Bom Jesus. All the tourists who visit Goa do not forget to leave the state without praying at this beautiful historical church. Since Goa is was and is largely an erstwhile Portuguese colony, churches are considered to be an important part of the legacy of the state. The Basilica of Bom Jesus is not just a place of worship, but it is also a strong and standing representation of the historical and the cultural significance of the place. The church is considered to be one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites. The Basilica has the mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier. These remains have been preserved here for long and are revered by several locals and tourists as well.
Dudhsagar Falls
The Dudhsagar Falls is a 4-tiered waterfall. This is located in the 4th tallest waterfall in India. The word ‘Dudhsagar’ literally means the ‘sea of milk.’ The Dudhsagar Falls are located at a distance of 46 kilometres from the Madgaon. The falls look magnificent in the monsoon season after the rains have well fed the water of the falls. A railway bridge passes from right in front of the fall. This gives passengers of the passenger trains passing from the bridge a breath taking view. The drivers of the trains slow down a little to help the passengers experience the scenic sensations from viewing the falls. However, although it is on the list of the top places to visit, there is unfortunately no platform constructed near the falls to help tourists get a better view of the falls.
Chapora Fort
Remember that iconic scene from the Bollywood movie “Dil Chahta Hai” that made us all go crazy over a Goa trip with friends? Well, the scene features none other than the Chapora Fort situated on the mouth of the Chapora River. Although the fort is not as great in terms of maintenance as it used to be, the Fort offers a beautiful view of the coastline from the top. This view of the coastline attracts several tourists and photographers to the location in order to capture the beauty in their eyes or in their lens. Make sure that you do visit the famous Chapora Fort when you are in Goa and get yourself clicked in the Bollywood pose.
Arpora Night Market
The Arpora Night Market was originally started by the hippies because they wanted to earn a means of living. This they would do by engaging in the practise of barter system or by simply selling off their goods. Now, the Arpora Night Market is one of the biggest tourist markets in the whole of Goa. There are several fleas markets in Goa that are an important part of tourism in the state. Out of all these, Arpora emerges as the most famous market of all.
This market is more preferred as compared to the Anjuna Market that is held during the afternoons. This is because the Arpora market is held from 6:00 pm onwards till late night on every Saturday. The market also offers a centre stage which has live performances for the entertainment of the public and many food stalls selling delicious local cuisines at an affordable price.
The Naval Aviation Museum of Goa is the only Naval Aviation Museum in the whole of India. Not only this, the museum is one of a kind museum in the whole of the continent. However, not a lot of tourists are aware that this museum offers the visitors an amazing experience like never before. The museum has an outdoor as well as an indoor section. These sections display a range of 7 different types of aircrafts, armaments, pilots’ outfits, bombs, rockets, parachutes, protective gears and much more. The place is a visual treat for all those who want to pursue a career in the aviation industry and the defence forces.
Best Way and Time to be in the state
In conclusion, we would like to say that besides partying and having fun simply at the beaches there is so much more to do at Goa. Visit the places mentioned above and explore the state to the fullest extent. You can access the state by use of metros, trains, roads and flights from all the major cities. The international airport of Goa is located 29 kilometres from Panaji at Dabolim. The rail head of the state is at Madgaon and Vasco da Gama and these are the two railway stations of the state.
The winter season is the best time to visit Goa. The state looks stunning during the Monson season attracting many tourists at this time of the year as well. However, during the monsoon season most of the water sports remain closed but there is white water rafting open for public and this happens only during monsoon. The summer season being the holiday season is majorly popular amongst the families with children. You can get other details about Goa by visiting the website link given below: