An overview
Goa is the smallest state in India by geographical area and the fourth smallest by population. This picturesque state is a destination of choice for Indian and foreign tourists. Goa stands 6th among the top ten Nightlife cities in the world in National Geographic Travel(NatGeo).
Activities in Goa
Water sports are one of the prime attractions of the state.
The beaches
Except for the famous beaches, Places to visit in Goa such as nightlife and famous churches attract thousands of tourists every year.
Here I have brought the top 5 places where you can experience the best that Goa can offer:
Calangute Beach:
This beach is situated in North Goa. It is the most popular tourist destinations in Goa and is the “queen of beaches”. Calangute is the busiest and most commercialised beach town in Goa. It is one of the most extensive beaches in Goa which has its area spread wide from Candolim to Baga.
The beach is famous across goa for its eminent water sports which include water surfing, jet-skiing, boating, parasailing, etc. The most popular time to visit this place is between the months of November to March.
Fort Aguada:
Fort Aguada was the most prized fort of the Portuguese. It is built at the mouth of the Mandovi River.
The best time to visit Fort Aguada is from March to September. It takes almost 2 hours to complete the tour of the fort. The highlight of the fort is a lone four-storey lighthouse (one of its kind in Asia) and a stunning view of the sunset.
Mangeshi temple:
Lying on a hill in the village Mangeshi of Goa, Mangeshi temple is one of the most famous, richest and largest Hindu temples in Goa. Shree Mangueshi is the kuldeva of Goud Saraswat Brahman. It is built in the Hindu architecture style.
Mangeshi temple takes approx 1-2 hours to have a complete tour of the temple. It is a famous pilgrimage destination in Goa. This temple has an interesting story. It is said that the god Shiva came to Goa after he lost to his wife Parvati in a game of dice. Parvati came searching for Shiva, who took the form of a tiger and came to her.
On listening to this, Shiva came back to his human form. It is an elegant temple with a simple entrance.
Baga Beach:
Baga beach is located in North Goa which is 16 km from the state capital Panaji. Calangute Beach is located to its south and Anjuna Beach to its north. The beach is covered by Calangute and Anjuna beaches. Watersports are the major attractions of the place.
- You can have a long walk in your leisure time watching the sunsets and playing around with the waves, relaxing in the soothing environment of the place. Hopping around at the Baga Beach market is one of the best experiences in itself.
- Being a famous tourist spot, you can find a lot of accommodations near the beach.
Fontainhas:
Many tourists visit this famous heritage colony for the spectacular views and fascinating sights. It is for the heritage walk along narrow lanes of goa.
- Fontainhas is a quaint, beautiful part of Panjim city. Its lanes are decorated by vibrant, colourful Portuguese-style villas with wrought iron balconies. They are remains of Portuguese colonial times.
