Goa Tour

PANAJI: Popularly called Panjim during the times of Portugese is now the official capital of Goa. It is also one of India`s smallest and most charming state capitals. It has retained its old world charm as you can still find in some of the areas having red-roofed buildings, and also a Latin Quarter at the eastern part of town. This city offers panoramic views of the surroundings and it is strewn with the well-laid gardens, impressive statues and avenues.

VASCO-DA-GAMA: The city is named after the famous Portuguese sailor, Vasco da Gama. It was formerly among the busiest ports on India`s west coast. This spick and span and geometrically planned well laid out coastal town popularly known as Vasco is also the oldest railway terminus for passenger service. Vasco exudes all the charms of a metropolitan city. People from all over India have made Vasco da Gama their home. The town of Vasco is well planned. It is laid out straight with parallel roads connected to each other by smaller by lanes. Being a commercial hub, Vasco is more liked by business class people.

MARGAO: This is Goa`s second largest city and commercial metropolis of Salcete taluka in South Goa. It still retains semblance of Goa`s Portuguese colonial past, and is connected to the rest of the Indian sub-continent by rail. It is famous for its ancient cultural heritage and traditional customs of the people of Goa. The town has always been an important agricultural market, and was once a major religious centre, with dozens of wealthy temples and Dharamshalas.

MAPUSA: It is a shopper`s paradise as it offers almost all the goods and services to the tourists. Known popularly for its Friday market, people from all over Goa come here to buy and sell their wares. The popularity of Mapusa as a market center grew out of ancient festivals in honour of the God Kanakeshwar Baba, venerated at the Bodgeshwar Temple.

PONDA: It is a major religious center for both Hindus and Muslims. It is reputed for its mosque, which is the largest in Goa and five temples that are located around the city. The town is also known as `Antruz Mahal` because of the concentration of culture, music, drama and poetry.

PILAR: It is 11 kms. from Panaji. It has important religious and educational centre of Christian Missionaries. The Church, Seminary and School atop hillock command a magnificent panorama of the country side around and a fine view of Mormugao Harbour & Zuari river.

BEACHES: The ideal combination of sun, sand, sea and surf can be seen in one of the popular Goan beaches. . Goa has a long coastline that makes it the ideal state to have beaches. The beaches of Goa are the perfect destination for a relaxing vacation and holiday in India. Right from lazing around to enjoying water sports and relishing the exotic sea food of Goa, the beaches have everything.

CHURCHES: They are living testimonies of the rich historical past of Goa. During the early days of the Portuguese rule in India, church building was the primary concern and occupation in Goa. This was because of their zeal to spread Christianity and convert as many people as they can. The Goan churches still have that old world charm and are very popular with the tourists who visit India. The church in Goa had much importance in the social life of the people there. It helped in the spread of education, built hospitals and helped people in their day to day troubles of life.

DUDHSAGAR WATERFALLS: It has been ranked as the fifth highest waterfall in India and they list in the Top 100 highest waterfalls in the world. The Dudh Sagar waterfalls have a milky white appearance which is why it is named as Dudhsagar which literally means "Ocean of Milk". The Dudhsagar waterfalls plunge down from a staggering height of 2000 feet. The waterfall is located amongst lush green surroundings of the forests of Western Ghats which is what makes it even more scenic and beautiful. The Dudhsagar waterfalls provide a breathtaking view from the top and they look scintillating during the crack of dawn. Those who love adventure and thrill can always try to climb to the head of the waterfalls though the rough path full of rocks, vegetation and water

SPICE PLANTATIONS: Situated in the region called Ponda (central Goa), the spice plantations in Goa use organic methods of cultivation and farming. The spices that are produced are then cleaned and ground into powder. On a typical excursion to the spice plantations, you shall begin your day by starting to explore the fields and the farms. It is very astonishing to see men climbing on very tall trees while maintaining a balance and at the same time plucking betel nut fruits from those swaying trees. The spice plantations are managed by people who have comprehensive knowledge and excel in technical know how of farming spices. Some major spices produced in these spice plantations are: Black pepper, Cardamom, Nutmeg, Vanilla, Cinnamon, Cloves, Chillies, Coriander, Cashew , Betel nut palm Apart from these spices, many tropical fruits are also grown here that include Custard apples, Papaya, Bananas, Pineapples, Citrus fruits, etc.

FORTS: A living testimony to this historical legacy is the famous forts of Goa. Not only are they popular tourist attractions but they also provide vital historical information to historians and archaeologists. The forts of Goa tell dramatic tales of history to those who visit and even today one can feel the mystical air of the rich historical legacy lingering here. Though most of the forts are almost in ruins, the concerned authorities preserve it and take care of it.