Goa Beaches Tourism

This exquisite, grand shrine was a mere chapel before 1541. In 1600 it became a parish and now the church almost entirely presides over one of Panjim’s squares. The building’s zigzag staircases are a 19th century addition and, the church’s large bell was originally in the Church of St. Augustine, in Old Goa. An annual December festival draws huge crowds here.

This area is located in an old part of Panjim, and it is a beautiful place to take early morning strolls. The shady, narrow streets of this largely residential neighbourhood do not really belong to India; they are clearly Portuguese at heart. Fontainhas is a quaint area that is located between Ourem Creek and Altinho.

Located between M.G. Road and Emidio Gracia Road, this crumbling old neighbourhood contains the General Post Office, which was once a tobacco trading house. There are also many tiny bars full of old-world character to explore in this district.

This heritage building occupies a pleasant spot by the Mandovi River. In the early 20th Century, the Secretariat became a government office, as it is today. Visitors are not encouraged here as security restrictions make it difficult to get inside. Driving around the building is a more suitable option.

Lovely Old Goa is located 10 km east of Panjim. It used to serve as the capital of the Portuguese colony until repeated outbreaks of cholera forced the government to move to Panjim in 1843.

This is where the tomb of St. Francis Xavier, patron saint of Goa, is housed. The Basilica is the huge building on your right as you drive into town from Panjim. The building is made out of giant blocks of local laterite. Once every 10 years the great Jesuit missionary’s body is exposed to the public at close quarters, and this draws thousands of people from near and far. It is open from Mon.-Sat 9am-6:30pm, Sun. 10am-6:30pm.

It is known as one of the largest churches in Old Goa and was built between 1562 and 1652, by order of the King of Portugal. Intricate carvings depict the scenes from the life of Christ and the Blessed Virgin over the main altar, which commemorates St. Catherine of Alexandria. Several ornately decorated chapels are dedicated to St. Joseph, St. George, St. Anthony, St. Bernard and the Holy Cross. Only one of the cathedral’s two majestic towers remains; the other collapsed in 1776. The church is located across the road from the Basilica of Bom Jesus.
It is open from Mon.-Sat. 9am-6:30pm, Sun. 10am-6:30pm.

Located behind St. Catherine’s Cathedral is the museum. The collection housed here is not entirely devoted to Catholic objects and art, as there are many artifacts from Goa’s early Hindu history.

This delightful bird refuge is located 3 km northeast of Panjim, on the tip Chorao, an island in the Mandovi. Boats travel regularly to the island and back, and the Forest Department in Panjim organizes guided tours to Chorao as well. The tiny sanctuary is an absolute paradise and is named after the dedicated Indian ornithologist Dr. Salim Ali.

This is the twin island of Chorao and is located 10 km northeast of Panjim. It is protected by the Mandovi River and somewhat isolated from mainstream Goa. Divar makes for a pleasant day out and has excellent views of the river and the countryside.

Located 50 km southeast of Panjim; These falls are spectacular and imposing, with water cascading almost 2,000 feet down a cliff to a rock-ribbed valley. It is recommended to pack refreshments and bath towels and spend a wonderful morning here. There are many monkeys, birds, butterflies and thick foliage that complete this wild experience. An ideal time for a trek here is early summer or just after the monsoon season (Oct-Feb); during monsoon season (summer) the approach road is often inaccessible. The Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) runs tours to Dudhsagar on Saturday and Sunday from Panjim and Calangute. These tours include the waterfall and the nearby Tambdi Surla temple, built by the Kadambas (9am-6pm, Rs. 500 for a tour without air-conditioning, Rs. 600 for a tour with air-conditioning). You could also take a train to Dudhsagar from Margao and get there in an hour and a half.