Places to visit

Goa is often perceived as the beach capital of India with several beaches for tourists to enjoy. However, Goa is much more than beaches. It has good rural settings, beautiful waterfalls, cashew plantations, wildlife sanctuaries, legacy of wonderful cuisines and a rich heritage of Portuguese monuments.

Major and the most popular beaches in North Goa are Baga and Calangute beaches, Anjuna beach, Vagator beach, Majorda, Arambol, and Candolim beach. South Goa also has some wonderful beaches in the form of Colva beach, Palolem beach, and Agonda Beach.

Portuguese heritage can be seen in some beautiful churches built during their occupation of Goa. Basilica of Bom Jesus, situated in North Goa, is perhaps the most popular of those. Built in the 16th century, Basilica of Bom Jesus, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a fabulous example of Baroque architecture. The church is famous for being home to the mummy of St. Francis Xavier. Sé Catedral de Santa Catarina, Church of Saint Francis of Assisi, and Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception are some other famous churches in North Goa. Goa is home to several other churches and chapels. Some of these are Santa Cruz Church in Panjim, Church of Our Lady of the Mount in Old Goa, and Nossa Senhora de Penha de Franca in Panjim.

Goa was also home to some Portuguese forts. These include Candolim based Fort Aguada, Bardez based Chapora Fort, Tiracol based Tiracol Fort, Canacona based Cabo de Rama Fort and Corjuem based Corjuem Fort. Goa is also home to some magnificent old temples. These include Mangeshi village based Mangeshi Temple, Ponda based Shanta Durga Temple and Mahalasa Narayani Temple, Panjim based Maruti Temple, and Valpoi based Brahma Temple.

There are some wonderful waterfalls in Goa which one must visit. These are mostly based in South Goa. These include the very famous Dudhsagar waterfalls, Hivre Waterfalls, Tambadi Surla Waterfalls, Kuskem Waterfalls, and Charavne Waterfalls.