Old Goa is a historical city in North Goa. The city was constructed by the Bijapur Sultanate in the 15th century, and served as capital of Portuguese India from the 16th century until its abandonment in the 18th century due to a plague.
The name Old Goa was first used in the 1960s in the address of the Konkani monthly magazine, dedicated to spread the devotion of the Sacred Heart, Dor Mhoineachi Rotti which was moved to the Basilica of Bom Jesus in 1964.
Churches of Old Goa
Old Goa contains churches allied to various congregations, including the Se Cathedral, the Church of St. Francis of Assisi, the Church of S. Caetano, and notably, the Basilica of Bom Jesus which contains the ruins of Saint Francis Xavier, which is celebrated every year.

Verna is a well-liked city situated in the Indian state of Goa. It lies north of Margao, in the South Goa District. It is most widely known for its Padre Conceicao College of Engineering, also referred to as PCCE. This is a private engineering college and forms a part of Agnel Technical Education Complex. It is also the first and the leading private engineering college in the state.
Verna is one of the most popular holiday destinations of Goa and also provides a gateway to many other popular tourist destinations. The most popular holiday destinations near this town include Cansaulim, Arossim, Issorcim and Velsao.
It also has many popular beaches to explore near it, like Majorda Beach, Velsao Beach, Candolim Beach and Sinquerim Beach. Apart from beaches, nearby places like Dona Paula View Point and Viceroy’s Arch are top attractions.

Mallikarjun Temple is a 16th century temple, which was renovated in 1778. This temple features the major deity, named Lord Mallikarjun, who is considered to be an incarnation of Lord Shiva. There are more than 60 idols of different gods and goddess placed inside this temple. It also features beautifully carved big wooden pillars.
The main festivals celebrated at this temple are Rathasaptami or chariot festival and Shigmo. Rathasaptami is celebrated yearly during the month of February, while Shigmo is celebrated in April.

Cotigo Wildlife Sanctuary was established in 1969 and covers around 86 sq. km of land. Some of the main animal species found in this sanctuary are monkey, gaur, sloth bear and many others.
It is also home to large species of birds like hyenas and gazelles along with migratory birds. The ideal season to visit this place is from October to March, when the weather is pleasant. Local forest department also provides relaxed accommodation in the forest rest houses, along with dining amenities.

Agonda Beach is sited at Chaudi, which can only be visited by taking the road that connects to the Cabo De Rama Fort. This beach is located at the traditional village of Agonda, which is bordered by over 120 acres of dense forest. Tent housing and camps are effortlessly available at this beach at reasonable cost.
Travellers can hire motorbikes or scooters from Canacona to travel to this beach, which is located in Agonda village. Traditional Goan food and other types of seafood are served at the eateries situated at the beach. Swimming and sunbathing are two main beach activities available at this beach.

Patnem Beach has lots of beach shacks and restaurants that attract several travellers coming to the area. This beach is suitable for swimming and sunbathing along with enjoying traditional seafood. There are many chairs and umbrellas available along the beach, where tourists can sit and relax. The beach road at Patnem is famous for selling spices, coffee and trinkets.
It is a perfect beach for relaxing and learning yoga at the health clubs lined along the main road. Nightlife at this beach is also thrilling due to the presence of various bars, pubs, iscotheques and beach shacks. Taxis and local buses are easily available from Palolem to travel to this beach. Tourists can also walk up to the beach, which is situated at a distance of 1.5 km from Palolem Beach.

Palolem Beach is mostly a white sandy beach which is located at around 2 km west of Chaudi. This beach is known for its crescent shape. It is popular among travellers for dolphin cruises and fishing trips. Palolem Beach is a fresh water beach which can be best visited between November and March.
It is a clean and tidy beach which provides ferry service to travel to different beaches and villages. The beach shacks offer diverse types of seafood like fishes, prawns and lobsters. There are many bars and pubs at this beach that are open till early morning hours.

Panaji is also known as Panjim, is the capital city of the tiny state of Goa in India. It has its own attraction, a river flowing along one side of the city, some areas which are low-rise and red-roofed, and even a Latin Quarter at the eastern end of town. Increasingly, it is shaping itself as a centre where cultures meet and originality flourishes. Places to visit: Abyss Marine Aquarium, Alorna Fort, Amthane dam, Ancestral Goa museum/Big foot, Anjunem Dam, Arvalem waterfalls, Arvalem Caves, Banastari bridge, Boca de Vaca spring, Goa State Museum etc.

Margaon is the second major city in the Indian state of Goa, located few km from the state capital Panaji.
Margao is also known as Madgaon is the capital of the southern taluk of Salcette which is the richest, most fertile city of South Goa. Margao is the main population centre of south Goa and is probably the busiest town in the state. Margao is Goa’s second largest town and a bustling commercial centre.
Tourist places in Margao: Uttorda, Loutolim, Majorda, Colva Beach, Velsao Beach, Varca Beach, Betul Beach, Town Square, Sat Burnzam Ghor, Jorge Barreto Park, Sri Chandranath temple etc 

St. Augustine Church is built in 1602, the only wreck of the Church of St. Augustine on the Holy Hill at Old Goa near the Nunnery, is a lofty 46-metre high tower defying the torrential rains. There were eight richly adorned chapels and four altars, and a convent with many cells and inventive columns attached to the church.
The Church when intact was perhaps the biggest in Goa. With the religious suppression in 1835, the Augustinians deserted the church and the convent. The latter was used for some time by the charitable institution of the Misericordia. The buildings fell into neglect resulting in the collapse of the vault on 8 September 1842. The Government appropriated the property selling the materials the following year.

The Church Of Rachol original Church was dedicated to All Saints. Later on the Church was replaced by the present one and this new one is dedicated to St. Ignatius of Loyola. Adjacent to the Rachol Church is the Seminary of Rachol which imparts religious education to all Christian missionaries. There is also a mini-museum in the Rachol Seminary which houses some rare and beautiful pieces of religious art dating back to ancient times. The Rachol church is dedicated to Lady Of Snows whose feast day is celebrated on the 1st Sunday of August. However the main feast day of the Rachol Church is celebrated on Jan 1st as this day is dedicated to Bom Jesus. The fair remains for a day only.

You will find this St. Cajetan Church filled with altars dedicated to the lots of saints. Like for instance while entering the Church, if you look to your left you will see 3 altars dedicated to the Holy Family, Our Lady Of Piety and St. Clare and to your right you will see the altars dedicated to St. Agnes, St. Cajetan and St. John.

This chapel of St. Catherine dedicated to St. Catherine locates as a living monument to the conquest of Goa by Albuquerque. You will see a statue of Lady as you enter the chapel. You will also find yourself marveling at a beautiful altar devoted to St. Catherine upon which stands another statue of Lady of Peity.

If we place the candle in the dark, the colors of the night and the candle become one and emit a beautiful kaleidoscope of white, yellow and orange. Immaculate Conception Church is one Church you need to visit at night. Well, come over and take a look and we promise that you will be instantaneously floored by this Church. As soon as evening sets in, this huge monument is transformed into a glowing phantom.
Complete with tiny electric bulbs, the entire Church is lit up in the eeriness of the night. Well to agree with me you have to be there to witness the pure magic of this Church against a backdrop of the black sky. The best time to visit this Church would perhaps be during the Feasts.
The locals celebrate the Feast of Lady of Fatima which is usually celebrated at the end of May. The reason being that a beautiful image of Lady of Fatima is placed on the altars of the Church. The feast of The Immaculate Conception is celebrated every year in Margao and Panjim on 8th Dec.
If you look high enough at the top of the Church you will be able to see the Church bell which is said to be the 2nd largest in the world.

Basilica of BomJesus Old Goa -‘Bom Jesus’ means ‘Infant Jesus’ or ‘Good Jesus’. When you set foot inside the Basilica, you will see a dazzling display of architectural pieces in wood, stone, gold and granite. If this makes you spellbound, there are plenty surprises in store. Immediately to your right is the altar of St. Anthony and to your left is a wooden statue of St. Francis Xavier.
Chapel and Tomb of St. Francis Xavier
It is within this chapel that one will come across the silver casket that houses the undying remains of St. Francis Xavier. This silver casket which is placed at the top serves as a religious observance. If you count, there are 7 panels on the casket, each of which has got 2 plates, one over the other which is carved with important scenes from the life of St. Francis Xavier.

Shantadurga Temple Goa is a famous shrine situated at Kavlem and built in 1738 by king Shahu of Satara and is the largest and most famous in Goa. It is devoted to the goddess Shantadurga, an incarnation of Goddess Parvati. This deity is believed to have been carried by Loma Sharma of Kaushik Gotra when the Saraswats came to Goa from Trihotrapura in Bihar.
Legend says that once during a quarrel between Lord Siva and Lord Vishnu, she appeared in the form of Durga and took Vishnu by her right and Shiva by her left hand and pacified the two and resolved the fight. The deity is shown holding two serpents, one in each hand, representing Vishnu and Shiva. Shanteri is then said to have gone to Shankawali to kill the demons harassing the Brahmins there. It is for this good deed that she also earned the name of Vijaya.

This Shiroda Kamakshi Temple was originally located at Raia in Salcette and was moved to its current location Shiroda in 1564-1568. It is dedicated to Goddess Kamakshi, an embodiment of Goddess Parvati, consort of Siva. By the side of the main temple are shrines devoted to Shree Shantadurga, Shree Laxmi Narayana and Shree Rayeshwar. The main festival is Dusshera. The Mahajans belong to Vatsa, Kaushika and Atri gotras.
Shree Shantadurga Chamundeshwari Kudtari Mahamaya Temple has been recently reconstructed and other developmental activities are in progress. This is a major hindu temple in south Goa having its kulavis/Mahajans all over Goa, Maharastra and Karnataka.

This Damodar Temple Goa is located at Zambaulim on the banks of the Kushawati River. The deity was initially based in a temple at the precise spot where the Church of Holy Spirit stands in Margao at present. It was moved in 1565 AD to escape the Portuguese inquest when the original temple was destroyed and the Church of Holy Spirit built on its site. The Kushawati River is believed to have great curative powers and devotees take bath here to cure themselves of bodily ills. The main festival celebrated is Shigmo, the Goan Hindu festival of color. The Mahajans of the Temple are from Kaunsha, Bharadwaj, Kashyapa and Vatsa gotras.

Nagesh Maharudra temple is yet another Siva temple in Bandora village in Ponda. . This temple also houses Lakshmi Narayana and Ganesha shrines. The temple was built in 1780 AD. Nagesh Lingam here is a swayambhu believed to have miraculous powers.
The history of the temple is not known. This temple was left untouched during the religious persecution by the Portuguese rulers.
There are inscriptions in the temple which throws light on the antiquity of the temple. The mandapam in facade of the temple has intricate wooden carvings which depict various stories from Hindu epics.

This Mangesh Temple is placed at Priol, on a hillock surrounded by green hills. It is devoted to Lord Mangueshi an incarnation of Lord Siva, which is recognized only in Goa. Lord Mangesh is worshipped here in the form of a Shiva linga. The Sri Mangesh linga is affirmed to have been sanctified on the mountain of Mangireesh on the banks of river Bhagirati by Lord Brahma himself, from where the Saraswat Brahmins brought it to Trihotrapura in Bihar. They carried the Linga on to Gomantaka and settled at Mathagrama, the present day Madgoa, establishing their most sacred and ancient temple of Mangesh on the banks of the river Gomati or Zuari as it is called these days. This location is to the south of the Zuari River where the present day village of Cortalim stands.

The Ramnathi Temple Goa also known as Bandode or Bandivade is that of Lord Ramnath. The temple is just a few minutes away from Farmagudi, off the main road to Ponda.
Legend has it that the name of Lord Ramnath comes from the place Rameshwar. It is said that Lord Rama, after slaying Ravana in the battle was filled with remorse at the killing. In order to seek redemption for his act, he installed a shivalinga on the shores and hence came to be known as Rameshwar or Ramnath.
The idol of Lord Ramnath was originally housed in a temple at a settlement called Lotli which was set up by Gaud Saraswat Brahmins who had migrated from Rameshwar on the southern shores of India.
Lord Ramnath, like many other deities in Goa, was removed from the original temple at Loutolim and smuggled away to its present day abode of Bandivade, to avoid persecution by the Portuguese regime. Bandivade was under the control of Bijapur at the time.

Royal Casino Sea Restaurant is the biggest floating Casino in Goa. It is absolutely the classiest. It has a gaming floor devoted to all table games, and slots, a poker room exclusively for poker. It also has an entire dining floor with food catered by China Garden. There is live activity daily on the dining floor and on the sundeck of the ship.
This 215 ft. long cruise ship can accommodate 300 people at ease. Docked at Panaji, the capital of Goa it promises an eventful evening out.
The Caravela sets out into the blazing sun, past the old secretariat, Fort Aguada, the fishing boats and into the Arabian Sea. While sightseeing on the upper deck is stimulating, the more adventurous can enjoy American Roulette, Black Jack, Rummy, Stud Poker, Baccarat, Pontoon and Flash. Players are dealt to by dealers specially to conduct gaming sessions with internationally accepted standards.
Other facilities include: 3 standard rooms & 2 suites, 1 private gaming room, Casino bar, Safe deposit Lockers, Open air swimming pool, Air conditioned multi-cuisine buffet restaurant, Below 18 yrs TV/video game room, Toddlers room with trained Baby-sitter, International safety standards maintained, Shuttle service at regular intervals.

Candolim Beach is the first beach that can be approached from the city of Panaji. But most part of it is attained by the Fort Aguada beach resort and other package tourist companies.
This place is also famous as it is the birth place of Abba Faria, considered to be one of Goan freedom fighters and the Father of Hypnotism.
The white sandy Candolim beach naturally beautified by the scrub-covered dunes draws a lot of tourists these days. Candolim beach offers various water-sports activities-right from parasailing to water-skiing, wind surfing and so on. Fishing is an activity for those who love peaceful and quiet environment. Yoga & meditation has also gained popularity here because of the idyllic atmosphere.
There are a lot of makeshift bars and restaurants made from wood and palm leaves on the beachside. Tourists can stop at a small taverna (bar) for a drink of feni – a locally brewed drink made from cashew or coconut.

Cavelossim Beach is sited between Sal river and Arabian Sea. It is one of the most beautiful beaches in Goa. The tourists can enjoy sun bathing on the beach. Dolphon trips and sunset cruises are among the additional attractions at the Cavelossim Beach of Goa. Tourists can come to the beach at any time all through the year. However, the months between Novembers to March seem to be the best time for coming to the beach.
Cavelossim Beach in Goa presents a kaleidoscopic view of the river Sal, the paddy fields and soft sandy beach. The beach seems to be the best spot for enjoying the tranquility of nature. Besides, the beach offers attractive shopping opportunities for the tourists. Shopping in Cavelossim Beach includes a wide collection of Indian crafts and gift items. Tourists coming to the beach carry the crafts as souvenirs to their native land.

Baga is one of the most happening places in Goa and is a very popular tourist destination. It offers many options for the holiday gore including a range of restaurants, shopping, entertainment and night life. The famous Baga beach House offers all kinds of water sports and beach shacks with a variety of economical foods.
An end unit on the 3rd floor with scenic views our vacation home comprises a large studio apartment with a loft and terrace. It has an open and bright floor plan with 3 sleeping areas: Double bed in main bedroom area, double sofa bed in the lounge, double sofa bed in the loft. It has a large floor to ceiling window which overlooks the beautiful goan scenery and green fields where you can view all kinds of birds and the occasional peacock with its beautiful flared feathers.
As match up to the Calangute Beach, it is quieter and also more isolated. Its scenic beauty, with the creek, the Retreat House perched on the hill and the lack of local tourist buses all have contributed to its unique beauty. It is more popular with western tourists who love to use it as a base for water sports and fishing in the area.

Dona Paula Beach Goa is one of the most gorgeous beaches in Goa. Providing a good view of the Mormugao harbor, this beach is fringed by palm trees. The nearness of the beach to the capital city makes it a popular tourist sight.
This beach has an extremely romantic legend attached to it. It is believed that Dona Paula De Menzes, daughter of a viceroy, threw herself off the precipice when she was not allowed to marry a local fisherman whom she loved. It is said that she is still seen emerging from the moonlit waves wearing only a pearl necklace. The romance and myth attached to this beach attracts tourists from all over the world.

This beautiful Miramar Beach Goa is situated about few kms from Panaji. It lies adjoining the estuary of the river Mandovi as it opens into the Arabian Sea. It was originally known as the “Gasper Dias Beach”.
From the beach across the river is an outstanding view of Fort Aguada. Apart from its closeness to Panaji, it is very much commercialized and a large number of hotels and exclusive homes of Goa’s rich and famous stud the area.
The beach is crowded with locals and sightseers alike on most days. A lovely golden beach of soft sand gridled with palm trees facing the blue Arabian Sea, is the nearest to Panaji.
It is a golden beach fringed with palm trees. The soft sands of the beach makes it the best site for evening walks. Moreover, ‘miramar’ in Portuguese implies ‘viewing the sea’. Tourists can get a sight of the majesty of the Arabian Sea from the Miramar Beach at Goa.

Ponda Beach Goa can be described as the Hindu heart of Goa. It is famed for the five vital temples that are situated around the town, and also has the biggest mosque in Goa.
Most of these temples look relatively new as they have been restored after being destroyed by the Portuguese. That explains why there are no temples around the coast, which was the prime territory of the Portuguese.
Ponda came under Portuguese rule in the year 1549. The Portuguese destroyed the Adil Shah Fort in 1549, but Shivaji captured the fort and reconstructed it in 1675. In 1791, Portuguese once again occupied Ponda after trouncing the king of Ponda.