BUDGET TOUR - Travel
Guide - Goa Tour
Goa Tour
Goa is a fascinating mixtures of Indian and Portuguese architecture. The
Baroque style is well adapted to religious and public buildings, while the
style and quality of domestic architecture is wholly different from other
colonial types. Goa is dotted with tiny picturesque villages, temples and
churches, beaches and lakes, forts and monuments and it's architecture.
Goa in the real sense is a paradise on earth.
Aguada Fort
which crowns the rocky flattened top of the headland, is the best-preserved
Portuguese bastion in goa , Fort Aguada was built under the guidance of
an Italian architect Filipo Terzi. Built in 1612 to protect the northern
shores of the Mandovi estuary from Dutch and Maharatha raiders, it is
home to several natural springs, the first source of drinking water available
to ships arriving in goa after the long sea voyage from Lisbon. On the
north side of the fort, a rampart of red-brown laterite juts into the
bay to form a jetty between two small sandy coves The name 'Aguada' means
watering place; this is derived from the large well and several springs
which provided drinking water to incoming ships. The fort also has a four-storey
light house, built in 1864. The ruins of the fort can be reached by road;
head through the Taj village, and turn right when you see the sign. Nowadays,
much of the site serves as a prison, and is therefore closed to visitors.
It's worth a visit, though, if only for the superb views from the top
of the hill where a four-storey Portuguese lighthouse, erected in 1864
and the oldest of its kind in Asia, looks down over the vast expanse of
sea, sand and palm trees of Calangute beach on one side, and across the
mouth of the Mandovi to Cabo Raj Bhavan, and the tip of the Mormugao peninsula,
on the other.
Terekhol (Tiracol)
Fort is situated on the northernmost promontory of goa on a hillock overlooking
the Arabian sea. Its vantage point was ideal for soldiers who had to keep
a look-out for enemy warships. In its courtyard is the century old church
of St. Anthony. The fort now is now converted into a tourist resort All
the rooms have an excellent view of the sea, and at night you can hear
the roar of the waves that lash the rocks below. Do not miss a visit to
the ancient chapel, and also, do walk on the ramps of the fortifications
to get a feel of the place.
Cabo Fort (Raj Bhavan)
9 km from Panaji, it lies on the peninsula land jutting out in the Arabian
Sea, at Dona Paula. Initially during the Portuguese era, a Franciscan
Convent, was attached to the fort. This later became Cabo Raj Bhavan and
is now the Governor's Palace.
Chapora Fort
Fort Located 10 km out of Mapusa, it has a splendid view of nearby Anjuna
and Vagator beaches. The fort once in the hands of Muslim rulers before
the Portuguese wrested it, has some interesting ruins.
Mormugoa Fort
This fort near the internationally famous Mormugao Harbour was built to
protect the harbour situated near the Vasco da Gama town. Its work started
in 1624. It covered an area of six miles in circumference, contained towering
bulwarks, three magazines, five prisons, a chapel and quarters for the
guard. It had 53 guns and a garrison with 4 officers, and was an important
fortress on the western coast. However, except the chapel and a portion
of the boundary wall, little is left of this fort.
Rock Cut Caves of Khandepar
These caves were encarved way back in the 12th century and were rediscovered
in 1970. These caves are found 36 kms from Panaji in village called Khandepar
in the Ponda Taluka. The 4 caves are situated in close vicinity, with
the 1st and the 2nd one being almost linked, the 3rd is just at a distance
of one meter and the 4th is apposite the first cave. The 4th cave was
probably used for meditation and prayers and has the pedestal to hold
the 'linga' in it.
Rock Cut Caves of Arvalem
These cave are also called the 'Pandavas Caves' as folk tales say that
the Pandavas stayed here during their exile. This caves were encarved
in the 5th or 6th century A.D. They have 5 compartments among which the
middlemost compartment holds the 'linga' which is till today regarded
with great respect. It is situated 100 metres away from Sri Rudreshwar
Temple and Arvalem waterfall.
The Gate of the College of St. Paul
The College of St. Paul, once the principal institution of Jesuits in
India for imparting knowledge on Christianity, was built over the ruins
of a mosque south of St. Cajetan's church at Old goa in 1542. However,
it was abandoned during the outbreak of plague in 1570 and went into disuse.
The Government demolished this ruining structure in 1832 to carry materials
for building construction in Panaji. The only remnant of this College
is the façade in the shape of an arch with a niche at the top and
a cross crowning it. The arch that led to the College as a gateway is
built of laterite, flanked on either side by a basalt column of the Corinthian
order on raised plinth, and supported by basalt pilasters of the Doric
order.
The Gate of the Palace of Adil Shah
The palace of Adil Shah at Old goa was the most prominent building with
magnificent lofty staircases. It was the residence of the Portuguese governors
till 1695, and was afterwards used by them on festive occasions. It was
deserted during the epidemic in the 18th century, was demolished in 1820
and the materials carried to Panaji for construction of houses. Now only
the gate remains which is architecturally purely brahminical in style.
Six steps in front of the gate lead to the raised platform on which the
gate stands.
The Tower of the Church of St. Augustine
Built in 1602, the only ruin 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. The tower is one of the four of St. Augustine Church
that once stood there. 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 neglect resulted in the collapse of the
vault on September 8, 1842. The façade and half of the tower fell
in 1931 and some more parts of it collapsed in 1938.
The Viceroy's Arch It is one of the gates of Adil Shah's Fort at Old
goa . It was renovated by the Portuguese and was the gateway to goa for
Portuguese Governors. Every incoming Viceroy used to disembark at this
place. The arch was rebuilt by the Governor Francisco de Gama (1597-1600)
in the memory of his great-grandfather Vasco da Gama. It was again completely
re-built in 1954.
OLD GOA
9 km from the East of Panjim is Old Goa and is popular for its churches
and cathedrals. Some of the old buildings are converted into museums maintained
by Archaeological Survey of India. Old Goa is the spiritual heart of Christian
Goa. It has been granted World Heritage Status by UNESCO for its extraordinarily
grandiose churches & convents.
WILDLIFE
The wildlife sanctuaries Goa are a haven for animals. Flora and fauna
is well preserved in the sanctuaries of Goa. Thus a visit to these beautiful
jungles is a must when you visit Goa. Bhagwan Mahavir Sanctuary is Goa's
largest wildlife preserve with an area of 240 sq.km. It is situated close
to the Molem village at the foot of the Western Ghats, this sanctuary
lies on the eastern border of the state. It is 60 km away from the state
capital, Panaji. The sanctuary is situated amidst nature's splendor; evergreen
forests and deciduous trees encompass this preserve. The sanctuary is
rich in wildlife. It is a paradise for bird watchers. Besides flora and
fauna there are many important geological and historical features in this
sanctuary. Dudhsagar falls, about an hour's journey from Colem by train,
is a feast for the eyes. The "Devil canyon" is another beautiful
geological spot. The famous Tambdi Surla temple is about 13 kms. from
Molem. The Dept. of Tourism has built comfortable cottages and dormitories
for tourists.
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