Planning a trip to Goa? Here are the places/things you can't miss

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An international tourist destination, Goa is fondly called the fun capital of India. A small state in Western India and lying in the Konkan region of the Western Ghats, this place is blessed with exotic biodiversity. From beaches to places of religious significance and to flea markets; Goa has it all. Every aspect of this party hub effuses the attributes of a perfect tourist destination.

When it's a question of places to visit in Goa, the names of beaches like Candolim, Calangute, Anjuna, and Baga immediately spring to the mind by way of Goa tourist places. Other fabulous must visit places in Goa are Dudh Sagar Waterfalls, Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary, and Devil's Canyon. For a break from nature, check out man-made attractions such as Basilica of Bom Jesus, Fort Aguada, and National Aviation Museum.

Some of the best beaches to visit in Goa:

 Palolem Beach

Placed in Canacona, Goa Palolem beach offers serene and soothing allures. The beauty of the shore lies in it being mostly untampered. People who reside here include fishermen and foreign tourists.

Such is the exquisiteness of this beach that it was featured in The Bourne Supremacy as the Goan home of Jason Bourne (Matt Damon). Each season, bamboo-hut stays and restaurants are opened up by the beach for travellers to get a true experience of the sun, sand and sea.

> Calangute Beach

One of the most popular tourist places in Goa, Calangute Beach is constantly bustling with tourists looking for some relaxed and good times. It is located about 15 kilometers from Panaji. The largest beach in north Goa, this place especially gets flooded during winter and summer months. There are several accommodations available here. This is where one can dabble with some water sports such as parasailing and water skiing. With Baga Beach just a hop, skip away, you can reel in some vibrant nightlife too.

> Butterfly Beach

A delightful little sandy cove north of Palolem Beach, Butterfly Beach beckons with silver sands and lucid waters. Not accessible by road, you would have to embark upon a trek of around 2 hours through woody areas to get here. You can even take a ferry ride from Palolem Beach to reach this place. Needless to say, the beach is not crowded. The hills and thick vegetation fringing the sands further add to the allure. It is among the offbeat places to visit in Goa. 

>Panaji

Panaji (aka Panjim) is the capital city of Goa. A melting pot of cultures from around India and the world, you won't find any shortage of entertainment in this city. The Fontainhas Festival brings Panjim to life at the start of every New Year. Musicians, singers, artists and dancers from all over the country gather in Panjim to participate. As for the rest of the year, you always have the yacht casinos, ferry rides, and pork rolls you can't say no to.

>Margao

Margao (pronounced 'mud-ga-o') is the cultural and commercial capital of Goa. It lies somewhat in the middle of a long white-sand beach which spans almost 30 kilometres. Margao is located close to the South Goan, white sand beaches of Palolem (38 kilometers), Colva and Benaulim (about 6-8 kilometers). Margao is known for its huge Indo-Portuguese style mansions.

>Old Goa

Old Goa Few tourists look beyond Goa's sun kissed beaches, but with some good planning and a resourceful tour manager, you will be able to discover a side of the 'sun-kissed state' that you wouldn't see otherwise. Visit Old Goa if you're in the mood to go back in time and wander through quaint Christian and Portuguese villages nestled among lush paddy fields and magnificent cathedrals and churches bursting at the seams with history.

>Calangute and Baga

Calangute and Baga (pronounced 'Cull-ung-goot' and 'Bah-Gah') in North Goa are the two most popular beach destinations in Goa. Busy and forever bustling with people, the beaches are dotted with vendors hawking everything from water sports to henna tattoos. The shacks on these two adjacent beaches are very popular and serve lip-smacking food. Simply unwind here and watch the world go by!

>Fort Aguada and Candolim Beach

Fort Aguada and Candolim Beach are not very crowded and better if you're looking for a romantic stroll or some quiet sunbathing time. They are popular with tourists who choose to live on the more expensive, quieter part of North Goa. Don't miss the historic 4-story lighthouse at the Fort...it's the largest of its kind in Asia!

>Dona Paula

Dona Paula There is no documented lover's tragedy behind the statue of Dona Paula but the legend is enough to bring scores of visitors to this place every year. Dona Paula is a fun beach, popular for its water sports facilities like windsurfing, parasailing, water-skiing, harpoon fishing, kayaking, snorkeling, and yachting. A colorful water sports festival is hosted on the beach in November every year.

>Bom Jesus Basilica

Image Credit: Paul Simpson- Flickr

A UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the oldest churches in the country, the church of Bom Jesus Basilica was formally consecrated in 1605 and is amongst the top places to see in Goa. This church is considered to be one of the finest representations of Baroque architecture. An important pilgrimage for the Christians, it is here where the body St. Francis Xavier is kept. Aging over several centuries, the mortal remains of his body are still preserved at this church – an astonishing fact indeed.

Located near Gandhi Circle, Old Goa Road, Velha Goa, the best time of the day to visit is 9:00AM to 6:30PM on all days; except Sundays when the church opens at 10 am. Every day mass is held from 7:00AM to 8:00AM. The Sunday mass is held from 8:00AM to 9:15AM. Whether an architecture enthusiasts or a history worm, amongst all the best places to visit in Goa, this ancient landmark with all its glories, will surely keep you stunned!

>Cabo de Rama Fort

The Cabo de Rama Fort is one of the oldest in the state. Positioned in Canacona, it was formed before the arrival of British. Legend has it that this is the very place where Lord Rama along with Sita sought refuge at the time of his exile from Ayodhya.

The drive to the fortress is a pictorial one. Once at the top, you can soak in the sight of crystal waters fringed by sandy charms and arching palm grooves. Inside the fort is the well-retained church of Santo Antonio, where devotees still come to.

 >Anjuna Flea Market

Image Credit:  wikimedia

Although Anjuna is a small village in Goa, its fame has travelled far and wide making it one of the most preferred places to visit in Goa. As much as this town is known for the St Michael’s Church, it is known for its flea market as well. Popularized by hippies, the flea market came into being during their time.

Decades ago, Anjuna was thronging with recluse hippies who came from different parts of the world. They would sell wares procured from different parts of the country and world in the form of a flea market. This was when the roots of the Anjuna Flea Market came into being.

This flea market is located towards the far south end of the Anjuna beach. Take a leisure walk through the market or get indulged in some local shopping, there are lot more to do in this market. It is in this market, where you can find merchandise ranging from clothing, souvenirs, jewelry, dancing dolls, electric and electronic items. While on a shopping trail in Anjuna Flea Market, make sure you have the required bargaining skills! Try using a scooter to reach here as driving can be a chaotic affair at times.

>The Baga Deck

Image Credit: SunishSebastian - Flickr

The Baga Deck or De Baga Deck is a fine-dining Italian restaurant that serves some of the most scrumptious and tantalizing foods in Goa. Visitors to this restaurant vouch for this fact and now this restaurant is a landmark of sorts. Tasty cocktails, great music, pleasing ambience and magical cuisines are the highlights of De Baga Deck. The ambience is unique given the large French windows through which you can enjoy uninterrupted and spectacular views of the Arabian Sea.

Located at Khobra Wado near Casa Goa, this eating place also serves delicious Mexican foods. The Italian buffet features an impressive array of food items which include soup, antipasti and an enormous desert selection.

Serving the visitors throughout the day and night, it is an excellent destination to spend after-hours. It is among those restaurants that serves food to poor souls in search for food in the wee hours of the morning after a drinking spree! The best time to visit is during the tourist season which starts in October.

> Curlies

Image Credit: Amaedeus - Flickr

Curlies, a famous beach shack at the Anjuna Beach is considered to be one of the original beach shacks in Goa. Started as a mere beach shack, it now has become one of the major landmarks in Goa. Offering food and drink in a pleasant ambience, this is the perfect place to relax and unwind. Choose your favourite cocktail from the roof top lounge bar and settle down overlooking the Arabian Sea. On special occasions, the visitors can enjoy live music and other related shows, where international DJ’s play reverberating music can easily make you dance, sing and sway in abandonment.

>Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary

Among the tourist places in Goa, Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary is a trove for bird lovers. It was coined so after the illustrious ornithologist with the same name. The estuarine mangrove habitat is positioned in the Island of Chorao by Mandovi River. You can get here by taking the ferries that ply from Ribander and Chorao. Birds spotted here include striated heron, western reef heron, little bittern, black bittern, red knot, jack snipe, pied avocet and the likes.

>Casino Cruise

Try your luck and be the game for the night at any of the casinos in Goa! Be it at a roulette table or on a poker session, rule the black jack or simply get luckier at any of the slot machines, Goan casinos offer ample of opportunities to outshine the nights and be the star.

Though Goa has some of the best casinos in the country, the floating casinos are the most popular ones. With the advent of the evening, these casinos start on a spectacular voyage onto the azure waters and brings fortune to the casino lovers.  On such a cruise, no matter you win or lose, you will never be disappointed! Casino Royale, Casino Pride and Casino Carnival on the Mandovi River are some of the stunning casinos in Goa.

Amongst the others, Dunes at the Zuri White Sands on the Varca Beach and Chances Casino in the Vainguinim Valley are also two of the highest visited casinos in Goa.

ARVALAM WATERFALLS

Being an enthralling waterfall, Arvalam waterfalls fall from the height of 50 meters making way down the mountains. In addition, the lush greenery, dense trees like Banana trees, coconut palms, etc., add more glory in the beauty of this amazing waterfall in Goa. Visit Arvalam Waterfalls and you will also visit Rudreshwar Temple that is very popular and one of the most sacred places in Goa. Moreover, the primitive rock cut caves keep tourists spell bound.

FORT AGUADA

Fort Aguda is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Goa that outlines the remains of Goa History. It was the protective shield for the Portuguese in ancient time as they protected them from outsiders like Europeans and Dutch. Here, Lighthouse is the main attraction from where you can enjoy the cool breeze and scenic view of Caranzalem, Miramar Beaches and at the same time visit Estuary of the Zuari.

BUDBUDYANCHI TALI

It is one of the largest lakes in Goa in the neighbourhood of the Famous Gopinath Temple. Commonly known as Bubbles Lake and the Tank of bubbles, BudbudyanchiTali has bubbles due to magic of the local deity. One of the interesting facts is that bubbles start increasing after clapping with a loud noise. Visiting the lake is truly amazing experience that you will keep cherished for a long time.

DUDHSAGAR WATERFALLS

Dudhasagar waterfalls are amazing and known for its milky scenic beauty. The waterfalls downs from the height of 603 meter. From the far view, it looks like Garden of Eden that is one of the best places in Goa. During your Goa tour, you will enjoy the most amazing and fascinated waterfall. In and around Goa, the waterfalls add more spark in your tour.

In addition to the aforementioned places and beaches, there are also a number of major tourist attractions in and around Goa to visit. Some of the most fascinated places, wildlife and natural beauty attractions in and around Goa include:

GOKARNA

Gokaran is also very popular that stands similar to the honeymooners paradise. The main attraction is the flows of rivers named Gangavali and Aghanashini that meet together just like Goa. In addition, the beautiful Gokarna Beach, Om Beach, Kundle Beach and Paradise beach add more sparks in the beauty of Goa. The beautiful place is at the distance of 132 km from Goa. During your Goa tour, it is one of the wonderful places to visit in and around Goa.

SAWANTWADI

The amazing and lush greenery and hills add more spark in Sawantwadi. Here you will come close to wild boars, leopards, tigers, and a number of other endangered species of animals. In addition, a variety of trees and herbs take tourists to the world of greenery. Being the most beautiful place in and around Goa, Sawantwadi is also known for artwork that includes wooden products, Kalasutri and Chitrakathi along with Bamboo work and paintings.

AMBOLI

For honeymooners who want to explore some romantic places in and around Goa far from the city hustle-bustle, Amboli is the best destination to visit. Located in Maharashtra, it is known for the close view of Nagatta falls, Hiranyakeshi Temple, Bauxite Mines and Shirgaonkar.

KANWAR

Located at Goa-Karnataka Border, Kanwar is one of the fascinating places in and around Goa to visit. It has historical significance as it was the main trading centre during Portuguese Period in Goa. Moreover, the beauty of Kanwar Beach, Oyster Rock Lighthouse, KurumgadIsland, keep tourists spell bound for a long time and persuades them to come to visit the place again and again.

The list is compiled from various websites.