Places To visit in Goa
Goa is more commonly also known as the 'oriental pearl' or the 'land of beaches', but is Goa just about beaches or does it have more to it? You bet it does - the article below gives you a brief description of the places you really shouldn't miss if you are in Goa.
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places in goa that are a 'must-visit'
Goa has some very beautiful and historic and architecturally exquisite attractions, which one cannot miss during the visit. Some of them are:
- Basilica of Bom Jesus
This church is located in old Goa which is 10 kilometers away from the Goan capital, Panaji and it houses St. Francis Xavier's preserved body. He had come to India several thousand years ago to spread christianity in the country and till a few years back, his body was displayed to the public on 2nd December. The Basilica of Bom Jesus is a UNESCO world heritage site and a very popular tourist destination of Goa.
- Se Cathedral
This is Goa's largest wildlife sanctuary and is located 53 kilometers from Panaji and is spread over 240 square kilometers. The deciduous trees and the evergreen forests in the area make the sanctuary all the more beautiful. Deer, cobras, pythons, Malayan giant squirrels, tigers, elephants, black panthers are some of the animals that house in this sanctuary, but spotting them takes good luck and lot of patience and you might have to spend a few days in there to be able to see some of these animals. The nearest accommodation from the Bhagwan Mahavir Sanctuary is the Tourist Complex which is maintained by the Goa Tourism Development Corporation.
- Alorna Fort
It is also known as the Halarn fort and is located on the banks of river Chapora in the village of Alorna which is about 10 kilometers east off NH17 from Malpem in Pernem. It was built by the Bhonslas in the 17th century and was later captured first by the Marquis of Alorna in 1746 and then by Dom Frederico Guilherme de Souza in 1781. Not a lot of people know about this fort, but is a very beautiful and historically important fort.
- Aguada Fort
Located approximately 22 kilometers from Bardez, and built in 1612 by the Portuguese, the fort of Aguada is one of the largest fortresses of their rein in India. It was constructed in order to prevent enemy ships from entering river Mandovi and as a result to protect old Goa. Not only has this fort been a witness to a number of historical battles, it is now functioning as the Central Jail of Goa. The Aguda fort is not only a very good example of Portuguese architecture, it is also a must see place for all the people who are interested in history.
- Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary
This sanctuary lies 52 kilometers from Panaji, and 10 kilometers northeast of the Usgao village in northern Goa. The area of this wildlife sanctuary is approximately 80 square kilometers and it is known to be a house for wild boars, jackals, various different species of deer, elephants, black-faced langur and a number of other animals. There are tourist cottages present at the sanctuary entrance and people can spend a night or two there and spend the days in the sanctuary.
- Goa Chitra Museum
This is Goa's only ethnographic museum and it was founded by Victor Hugo Gomes as a tribute to his ancestors and the way they lived. The Goa Chitra Museum is situated in Benaulim, Salcete Goa and at the time of origin, it had a collection of 200 items which were kept in the home of the museum's founder. Now the museum has more than 4000 objects, each with some kind of information regarding the place it was taken from or the people from whom it was obtained and how was the object used and so on.
- Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary
Named after the famous ornithologist Salim Ali, this bird sanctuary is not very far from Panaji and is definitely a heaven for bird and nature lovers. Birds such as mudskipper ad black drongo have been spotted here along with many other very beautiful and rare birds. Being situated along the river Mandovi, this sanctuary also offers a wide variety of plantations to be seen.
The Dudhsagar and Arvalem waterfalls are also very beautiful and among the major tourist attractions in Goa. This helps us conclude that Goa has much more than just the beautiful beaches and clear sands.
- Bhagwan Mahavir Sanctuary
It is one of the largest churches in Asia and is located approximately 9 kilometers from Panaji. Developed with Gothic and Portuguese architectural style, the Se Cathedral is a beautiful example of blend of the two styles. A major attraction in this Church is its huge bell which is also called as the 'Golden bell'.