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| Goa | |||
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| 1. About the Place:- | |||
| (i) Goa, a drop of golden sun on the West Coast of India, is bestowed upon by innumerable gifts: picturesque landscape, sun drenched beaches, historic monuments, pleasant climate, culinary expertise and above all, hospitable people. Goan beaches fascinate visitors and locals alike. Miles and miles of the coastal enchantment, but one can never get enough of it. | |||
| (ii) The fact that Goa is riddled with temples, churches, mosques and shrines proves that religion is deep rooted in the psyche of the Goans. So diverse in belief, yet Goans live in a blissful harmony,irrespective of their religion and creed. Apart from being places of worship,churches and temples in Goa are a delightful sight because of their aesthetic architectural design, idyllic locations and the tranquil atmosphere. Not only are these abodes of worship revered by the locals, but they are also acclaimed the world over. | |||
| (iii) One of Goa's most discerning assets is its rich cultural heritage. Its natural beauty and hospitality together with this heritage has put Goa on the international tourist map, and is acclaimed as one of the most popular tourist destination in the world. | |||
| (iv) Music, dance and folklore and deeply rooted in the heart of Goans, and the rhythm runs in the blood of the people of Goa. Goan folklore, which comprises of folk songs, dances music, visual arts and folk tales, are rich in content and variety. The folk music has devotional as well as contemporary overtones, and it displays a lively rhythm. And the folk dances reflect that rhythmic vitality. | |||
| 2. General Information:- | |||
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(1) Area: 3,702 sq. kms (2) Population: 11,69,793 (1991 census) (3) Climate: Summer: 24oC - 32.7oC, Winter: 21.3oC - 32.2oC (4) Rainfall: 320 cm (June-Sept) (5) Clothing: Tropical clothing throughout the year, light woolen in December-January. (6) Languages Spoken: Konkani, Marathi, Hindi, English and Portuguese (7) Booking/Reservation: Goa Tourism Development Corporation Ltd., 1st Floor, Trionora Apts., Dr. Alvares Costa Road, Panaji-403091,Goa, India Tel.: 91-832-226515, 226728, 224132, Fax: 91-832-223926 (8) Enquiries: |
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 Department
of Tourism, Government of Goa, Tourist Home, Patto, Panaji-403001,
Goa, India, Tel.: 91-832-225583, 224757 Fax: 91-832-228819. Tourist Information
Centres/Counters in Goa at 1. Tourist Shopping Complex, Mapusa, Tel.: 222390 2. Tourist Hostel, Margao, Tel.: 722513 3. Dabolim Airport, Tel.: 512644 4. Tourist Hostel, Vasco, Tel.: 512673 5. Kadamba Bus Stand, Panaji, Tel.: 225620 At Mumbai:
Mumbai Central Railway Station, Mumbai Tel.: (022) 3086288
At Delhi:
Goa Sadan, 18, Amrita Shergill Marg, New Delhi-110003, Tel.:
(011) 4629967, 4629968 |
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| 3. What to see? | |||
| i. Beaches | |||
| Goa is famous for its beaches, and westerners have been flocking to them since the early 1960s. As well as the budget travelers, you'll find plane-loads of western package tourists in the burgeoning major resorts, particularly Calangute. Indians from outside Goa also come here in ever-increasing numbers. | |||
| Deciding which beach to head for will depend on how long you intend to stay and how much action you're after. Budget travelers staying long term tend to head for a quieter beach to rent a simple room at one of Baga, Candolim and Colva tend to be dominated by package tourism, so they can be pretty lively. Anjuna, the traditional rave centre, is still popular with backpackers, while the smaller Vagator and Chapora are more laid-back. Benaulim, with its beach shacks and low-key resorts, falls somewhere in between the hype and the hip. | |||
| If you want a quiet beach(but don't want to be Robinson Crusoe), Arambol in the north and the idyllic Palolem in the south are the places to head. | |||
| ii. In Panaji | |||
| Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception:This striking edifice is Panaji's main church. It stands above the square in the main part of town, reached by several intersecting flights of stairs. The original construction was consecrated in 1541. Panaji was the first port of call for voyages from Lisbon, so Portuguese sailors would visit this church to give thanks for a safe crossing before continuing to Old Goa. Mass is held here daily in English, Konkani and Portuguese. | |||
| Goa State Museum:Opened in 1996, this modern, well-laid out museum has several galleries featuring Christian Art, Hindu and Jain sculpture and bronzes, and paintings from all over India. | |||
| Fontainhas & Sao Tome:Just west of the Qurem River, these old Portuguese districts are Panaji's most interesting area. The narrow cobbled streets, tiled buildings, shuttered windows and tiny overhanging balconies present an atmosphere more reminiscent of the Mediterranean than of India. | |||
| The Chapel of St. Sebastian stands at the end of a picturesque street in Fontainhas. Although it dates only from the 1880s, it contains a number of interesting features, in particular a striking crucifix that originally stood in the Palace of the Inquisition in Old Goa. | |||
| Other Attractions:The Secretariat building is interesting. Dating from the 16th century, it was originally the palace of Adil Shah, ruler of the Adil Shahi dynasty of Bijapur, and in 1759 it became the viceroy's official residence. The bizarre statue of a man apparently about to strangle a woman nearby is of Abbe Faria, a famous hypnotist, and his assistant. Born in Candolim in 1756, he emigrated to France, where he became a celebrated hypnotic medium. | |||
| The modern Mahalaxmi Temple is a reminder that there's a thriving Hindu community in Panaji. For good views over the town, walk up to the Altinho district. You can get there by walking south from Fontainhas or following the road up past Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception church. | |||
| iii. In Old Goa | |||
| Se Cathedral:The largest of the churches in Old Goa, Se Cathedral was begun in 1562 during the reign of King Dom Sebastiao (1557-58). It was substantially completed by 1619, though the altars were not finished until 1652. The cathedral was built for the Dominicans and paid for by the royal treasury out of the proceeds of the sale of crown property. The building's style is Portuguese-Gothic with a Tuscan exterior and Corinthian interior. The remaining tower houses a famous bell, one of the largest in Goa, often called the Golden Bell because of its rich sound. The main altar is dedicated to St. Catherine of Alexandria, and paintings on either side of it depict scenes from her life and martyrdom. | |||
| Convent & Church of St. Francis of Assisi:This is one of the most interesting buildings in Old Goa. It contains gilded and carved woodwork, old murals depicting scenes from the life of St. Francis, and a floor substantially made of carved gravestones-complete with family coats of arms dating back to the early 16th century. The church was built by eight Franciscan friars who arrived here in 1517 and constructed a small chapel consisting of three altars and a choir. This was later pulled down and the present building was built on the same spot in 1661. A convent behind this church is now the archaeological museum (open Saturday to Thursday, 10 am to 5 pm; free). It houses portraits of the Portuguese viceroys, most of them inexpertly restored; sculpture fragments from Hindu temple sites; stone Vetal images from the animist cult that flourished in this part of India centuries ago; and a model of a Portuguese caravel, minus the rigging. | |||
| Basilica of Bom Jesus:The Basilica of Bom Jesus is famous throughout the Roman Catholic world. It contains the tomb and mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier who, in 1541, was given the task of spreading Christianity among the subjects of the Portuguese colonies in the east. A former pupil of St. Ignatius Loyola, the founder of the Jesuit Order, St. Francis Xavier's missionary voyages became legendary and, considering the state of transport at the time, were nothing short of miraculous. Apart from the richly gilded altars, the interior of the church is remarkable for its simplicity. This is the only church that is not plastered on the outside (although it was originally). Construction began in 1594 and it was completed in 1605. The focus of the church is, of course, the tomb of St. Francis. The construction of which was underwritten by the duke of Tuscany and executed by the Florentine sculptor Giovanni Batista Foggini. It took 10 years to build and was completed in 1698. The remains of the body are housed in a silver casket, which at one time was covered in jewels. On the walls surrounding it are murals depicting scenes from the saint's journeys, and one of his death on Sancian Island. | |||
| The Professed House, next door to the basilica, is a two storey laterite building covered with lime plaster. It was completed in 1585, despite much opposition to the Jesuits. Part of the building burned down in 1633 and was partially rebuilt in 1783. There is a modern art gallery attached to the basilica. | |||
| Church of St. Cajetan:Modelled on the original design of St. Peter's in Rome, this church was built by Italian friars of the Order of Theatines, who were sent by Pope Urban III to preach Christianity in the kingdom of Golconda (near Hyderabad). The friars were not permitted to work in Golconda, so settled at Old Goa in 1640. The construction of the church began in 1655. Historically, it's of much less interest than the other churches. | |||
| Church of Augustine Ruins:All that is really left of this church is the enormous 46 m tower that served as a belfry and formed part of the façade of the church. It was constructed in 1602 by Augustinian friars who arrived at in 1587. It was abandoned in 1835 due to the repressive policies of the Portuguese government, resulting in the eviction of many religious orders from Goa. The church fell into neglect and vault collapsed in 1842. In 1931, the façade and half the tower fell down, more sections followed in 1938. | |||
| Church & Convent of St. Monica:This huge three storey laterite building was completed in 1627, only to burn down nine years later. Reconstruction started the following year, and it's from this time that the building date. Once known as the Royal Monastery, due to the royal patronage that it enjoyed, the building is now used by the Mater Dei Institute as a nunnery and it was inaugurated in 1964. Reasonably attired Visitors are allowed inside. | |||
| Other Buildings: Other monuments of minor interest in Old Goa are the Viceroy's Arch, Gate of Adil Shah's Palace, Chapel of St. Anthony, Chapel of St. Catherine, and the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary. | |||
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