South Goa churches: Monuments of a glorious past

The magnificent churches, monasteries, nunneries, chapels and seminaries of Goa are largely a legacy of the colonisation of the Portuguese. The churches in Goa reflect the cultural, social and religious life of Goa. They are marvellous structures having historic and architectural importance.

One can come across churches in south goa belonging to the 16th and the 17 centuries. The south goa churches are worth visiting. Some of the south goa churches are the Church of Holy Spirit in Margao, Rachol Seminary in Rachol and The Church of St. Alex in Curtorim.

Built in 1565, the Church of Holy Spirit is a great monument in the Indian Baroque style. The huge cross, which is a great attraction, dates back to the 17th century. Here is a central dome with towers on either side. The altar is heavily decorated and dedicated to St Michael and St Peter.

Located in Rachol, about 12 kilometres from Margao is the Rachol Seminary. Situated on the banks of River Zuari, the Portuguese originally built the Rachol seminary as a church in 1521, which was later transformed into a fortress and a prison. This was later converted into a seminary in 1606 by an order of King Sebastian of Portugal. Earlier Jesuit priests were trained here. The Rachol seminary became a great centre of learning in the subsequent years and one of its famous alumni is Fr. Thomas Stevens, who translated the Bible to Konkani language. The “Museum of Christian Art”, which is situated in the seminary, showcases the evolution of Christian /catholic art in Goa. Beside the Rachol seminary is the Rachol Parish church, which is dedicated to Nossa Senhora de Neves.

Another south goa church of attraction is the Church of St Alex. It lies in a quite village Curtorim and is one of the oldest churches in Goa.  It was built in 1597.

A visit to the goa is not complete without visiting the excellent churches, which are real monuments of a glorious past.

Goa carnival: Enjoy the mood

Come February, it is carnival in Goa. For three days, the streets of Goa come alive with music, dance, processions and a lot more. Visit Goa in February and enjoy the non-stop festive, a festival of colours.

In no other part of India, such a Carnival is held. The entire state of Goa becomes live with the coming of February. Happiness rings round the streets of Goa and the people are seen in their best mood during the Goa carnival.

The Goa carnival is not just a festival of the Goans, but it has become part of the tourists as well. Only a few can resists the temptation of dancing and singing in the streets during the Goa carnival; old and young, men and women, kids and adults participate in this merry making.

Colourful processions and floats are an integral part of the Goa carnival. Singing and dancing on the streets, Goans as well as the tourists enjoy the real colours of the carnival. Masked people form a part of the celebrations. Short plays, which have a touch of history is another attraction of the Goa Carnival. The short plays are composed by Goans and are generally enacted by men, who perform the roles of women as well. The colourful costumes and the headgear add charm to the Goa cainival.

The Portuguese introduced the Goa carnival in the 18th century. The Goa carnival, which is an integral part of the Portuguese heritage of the state, begins on Sabado Gordo (Fat Saturday) and concludes on Shrove Tuesday (Fat Tuesday). The Goa Carnival ends with Red-and -Black dance.

The three-day Goa Carnival is a time for drinks, feasts and merry making before the beginning of 40 days of Lent. Though it is considered to be a Christian festival, all Goans take part in the celebrations.

The Goa carnival is one of the vibrant festivals. Planning to visit Goa, February is the best season as the entire Goa is in a mood to party.

North goa churches: real monuments in stone

Goa, which is famous for its silvery beaches, is also credited with having numerous imposing churches, monasteries, nunneries and convents. Built in the Portuguese, indo-European and European architectural style, the North Goa churches are real monuments in stone.

The North Goa churches are pieces of historical importance, architectural style and beauty. The churches are of great interest to the Historians, Archaeologists and students of architecture. The tourists also cannot but appreciate the beauty and grandeur of the huge structures that are centuries old.

Basilica of Bom Jesus, Se Cathedral, Church of Our Lady of Rasary, Ruins of Church of St Augustine, St Cajetan Church, Reis Magos Church, Church of St. Ana, Church of St Francis of Assissi, Church of Our Lady of the Mount, Church of our Lady of the Rosary and the chapel St Anthony are some of the important North Goa churches.

The Basilica of Bom Jesus, which has the remains of St Francis Xavier, is one of the most visited north goa churches. This church in old goa is the only church that is not plastered on the outside. The 16th century Se Cathedral Church is also a celebrated place. The Church of St Anne at Talaulim is notable for its excellent architecture. No other church in Goa can boast of such a splendid architecture.

From the Church of Our Lady, which is situated on a mount, one can have a picturesque view of Goa. It is said that Afonso de Albuquerque constructed the church in 1510. Right from here, one can see the quite flowing Mondovi River and the other church towers shooting into the sky.

Adjacent to the Basilica of Bom Jesus, the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary is situated in the holy hill of Velha Goa. The chapel St Anthony is believed to be built in the early 16th century.

The north goa churches are associated with the social, cultural and religious life of goa. Almost all the north goa churches are protected monuments and are under the Archdiocese of Goa.

South Goa: go for a relaxed holidaying

South Goa, one of the two districts of Goa, has always been an abode of tourists, flocking all through the year. The beautiful beaches, waterfalls, paddy fields, hill spots and coconut groves add charm to South Goa. The administrative headquarters of South Goa is Madgaon, which is a bustling city.

South Goa, when compared North goa is calm. Life is much slower in South Goa with fishing hamlets on the coast and paddy fields in the inland. Vacation in South goa is more relaxed.

Pilar, Vasco da Gama and Chandor are the important cities in South Goa. Pilar is the commercial city. The beauty of Pilar is the old mansions and buildings. Numerous avenues dot Vasco da Gama. At Chandor, one of the main tourists attractions is Bargansa house.

Well, beaches always remain the main attraction of Goa. The South Goa beaches, though cannot be matched with those in North goa, are still beautiful and pristine. The beaches here are calm; a perfect place to relax, far away from the madding crowd.

An unspoilt beach, Colva is an enchanting beauty. The crescent shaped Palolem Beach is lined with coconut palm and rocky crags. One can relax his nerves in the serene sands, enjoying the cool breeze from the palms.  The other beaches are

Benaulim and Benaulim, which are also unspoilt by men.

Another major attraction in South Goa is the  and the Aravalem caves. The silvery showers, which falls from about 70 ft is really enchanting to watch. The lake formed just below the falls and the green vegetation surrounding it is a brimming tourist spot.  The caves of Aravalem have some mythical background. Some say that budhist monks constructed the caves and some others state that the caves belong to the pre-historic era.

South Goa also has good accommodation facilities with starred/budget hotels, resorts and guesthouses.

North Goa: a land of golden beaches

Land of golden beaches, paddy fields and palm trees, North Goa is an exciting place to visit. North Goa is one of the two districts that make up the state of Goa. The district headquarters is Panaji, which is also the capital of Goa.

Well, North Goa is famous for its beaches, which are considered to be the best in India. Nortn Goa has a vast coast line of about 30 kilometres stretching from Fort Aguada to Arambol dotted with Anjuna, Arambol, Calangute, Sinquerim, Baga, Vagator and Chapora beaches, the most beautiful beaches in India. One can see life ebbing out in these beaches with all its parties, music, songs and celebrations, which makes the beaches the most visited.

The Anjuna Beach with a backdrop of feathery coconut groves is a favourite of the tourists. He beach is also famous for its flea market. With white sands dotted with basalt rocks, Arambol beach is famous for the sulphur springs and the fresh water lake. Calangute beeach, which was a favourite of the Hippies, still attract a lot of tourists.

The lakes in north Goa are another attraction. Chimbel, Mayem, Carambolim and Calapur are some of the lakes.

Another attraction in North Goa is the Basilica of Bom Jesus, built in the 16th century.  A world heritage monument, the church has the mortal remains of St Francis Xavier, which is kept in a silver casket.

Panajim, the gate way to Goa, takes you to the glorious past. The buildings, churches and monuments in Panajim treat you to the age-old days of Goa.

Well, Old Goa is a symbol of the great Goan culture. The churches, monastries, nunneries, other Portuguese buildings and various other monuments stand testimonial to the golden era of Goa.

Accommodation in North goa is not a problem. Starred hotels, budget hotels, resorts and guesthouses dot the beautiful beaches, where you will get all the luxury.

Hub of various activities, a visit to North Goa is worthy. Walk down the silvery beaches, bask in the sun, enjoy the cool breeze from the palms and dwell into the glorious past of goa; visit North goa.

North Goa

Goa comprises of two districts, North Goa and South Goa. North Goa has a complete area of one thousand seven hundred and thirty six kilometers square. North Goa is bound by the Kolhapur and Sindhudurg districts of Maharasthra to the north and east. It is bound by the South Goa district to the south. To the west of North Goa lies the Arabian Sea.

North Goa is administered by the district of Panaji. Panaji has a dual importance to Goa, since it is also the capital of the state of Goa. Goa comprises of four divisions, Ponda, Bicholim, Mapusa and Panaji. It has six taluks, namebly Bardez, Permem, Tiswadi, Sattari, Ponda and Bicholim.

North Goa has the majority of the beaches in Goa. It is a natural haven, full of golden beaches, paddy fields, palm trees and several wooded hills. The important places in North Goa are:

Panaji: Panaji is the capital of Goa. It is also the headquarters of the North Goa district. Panaji has the silvery charming Mandovi River. Panaji is known for its Latin style constructions. Panaji is known to be a synch of modernity as well as ancient houses. The flora and fauna are worth seeing, with various trees like Acasia and Gulmohar trees.

Pilar is one of the most important religious centers in Goa. It is the home for Christian Missionaries in Goa. There are several buildings related to the Christian faith, like the Church, School and Seminary. It also has the very important Zuari River and the Mormugao harbor.

Other places of interest are Margao, Vasco Da Gama, Chandor, Mormugao Harbor. North Goa also has beaches like Vagator, Anjuna, Arambol Beach, Calangute, Miramar, Colva Beach, Dona Paula, Agonda, Palolem etc.

These are just some of the aspects of North Goa that would make it a very important destination for any tourist who wishes to tour India. Make sure you take a look into all the beaches and places of interest when you reach North Goa.

South Goa

Goa is one of the most well known states of India. It is a tourist spot for Indians and foreigners alike. Along with tourism, Goa is known for its architectural marvels as well as its beaches and flora and fauna. Goa is comprises of two areas, South Goa and North Goa.

South Goa is bounded by the North Goa District to the North and Uttara Kannada District of Karnataka to the south and the East. To the West, South Goa is bounded by the Arabian Sea. South Goa is known for its natural beauty and the services that it offers to the tourists.

South Goa has three subdivisions and five Taluks. The subdivisions are Margaon, Mormugao and Quepem. The taluks are Mormugao, Quepem, Sanguem, Canacona and Salcete.

South Goa has a rich and vibrant heritage as well as the flora and fauna that have made it a hot spot for tourists all over the world. South Goa has several natural beaches which make it a must visit spot for tourists. It also has several temples. South Goa is headed by hill spots, paddy fields and waterfalls all over.

South Goa is home to the Colva and the Benaulim Beach, two of the most beautiful beaches in South Goa. South Goa also has the Dabolim Airport, which is near Vasco da Gama. Bogmalo is another important venue in South Goa. It has a beach and several resting areas for tourists.  The most famous beach of Goa, the Colva Beach has several tourist cottages and other hotels and complexes. Colva was a predominantly a fishing area, but the economic progresses brought about by tourism have crept up here too. Thus, South Goa is instrumental in adding the splendor that is always available in Goa. It has some of Goa’s most important and beautiful beaches along with other tourist spots.

Famous Forts of Goa

There are many people who believe that Goa is famous for the beaches and wine. If you are amongst these groups of people then it is your fallacy. It is famous for the forts.

The famous forts of Goa

Aguada Fort:
This land was once ruled by the kings of Portuguese. This fort would help you to know the history of Goa and this fort would also tell you about the Yore they are not found in Goa. They would start screaming when they get excited about the particular thing. If you visit the height of this fort then you can take the pleasure of seeing the Arabian seas or you can take the pleasure of sunset. This fort was once guarded by the Portugal’s. Their main aim was to protect the entrance of the fort.

The main aim of building this fort was to protect Goa from the exterior opponents. This fort was named as Aguada fort because the place where is fort was build had water for all the seasons.

Chapora Fort:
Chapora Fort is found near the Anjuna beach. This fort was build by the king of Bijapur. If you visit the top of this beach then you can view some wonderful scenes of the sea. This fort is found on top of the precipice. The shells of this place help in giving the magical look to this fort. This fort was taken over by the Portugal so you can find the design of the building similar to the Portugal design.

Cabo De Rama:
Cabo De Rama fort is located on the southern coast of Goa. This fort was reconstructed by the Portuguese. They had constructed a chapel in the fort. The chapel of this fort is still used by the localities of this place. The shells of this place help in giving the mystical look to the fort. The internal structure of this fort catches the attention of the tourists. It is believed that Lord Ram use to reside in this fort with his spouse Sita.

Terekhol Fort:
This fort was build by the king of Sawanwadi. This fort is located on the banks of the river called Terekhol. In 1764 this fort was captured by the king of Portuguese. Nowadays, this fort is transformed into traditional hotels. If you want to relax then you should visit this fort.