Thinking of a Goan holiday? Looking at Goa for family vacation?

Look deeper, head inland….there is more to this “bite-sized” state than sun, sand, sea, beach, booze and bistro’s. This time around, along with the usual, try a different Goa as well and you are sure to come back with more selfie clicks and memoirs for your life.

So read on, and plan to surprise yourself with a true Goan experience this time around. Mostly best places to visit in Goa and things to do that won’t let you miss out on any of the Goan “fun”.

Goa is a strip of land 110 km long and 60 km wide between the Sahyadri range of the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea on the west coast of India. Panaji is the state's capital while Vasco Da Gama is the largest city. The historic city of Margao still exhibits the cultural influence of the Portuguese. Goa has a long history of rulers dating back to the 3rd century BC. It was ruled by Emperor Ashoka followed by numerous rulers like Silharas, Kadamdas, Chalukyans, kings of Deccan, kings of Vijaynagar, Adilshah of Bijapur and finally by the Portuguese who were the most successful of them all. Goa was ruled by the Portuguese for 450 years till it was liberated from the Portuguese to form a part of India on 19th December 1961.

Best Time to Visit Goa

The winters are the best time to visit Goa but it is also when Goa is the most crowded. Summers in Goa are more popular with families with kids. Goa looks beautiful in monsoon as well and monsoon tourism is fast catching the traveller’s frenzy as well. Though you miss out on some water sports at the beach, which are closed monsoons, you can indulge in some white water rafting which runs only during monsoons.

How To Reach

Goa is easily accessible from all metros and major cities by flight, train and by road as well. The international airport is at Dabolim, at a distance of 29 kms from Panaji and the rail head is at Madgaon and Vasco da Gama are the 2 railway stations in Goa.

Goa continues to remain an eternal favourite with both domestic as well as international travellers because there is no place quite like it in the whole of India. Apart from being a top honeymoon destination, it is also an equally popular family holiday destination. If the sea and sun doesn’t lure you, you still have enough reasons, listed above, to visit this wonderful place.

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

Calangute Beach

At a distance of 14 km from Panjim Kadamba Bus Stand, 10 km from Mapusa and 41 km from Vasco Da Gama Railway Station, Calangute Beach is the largest Beach in North Goa and one of the best tourist Places to visit in Goa. The beach is often represented in promotion of Goa Tourism.

Calangute is also called the 'Queen of beaches' in Goa and among the best beaches in Goa. As stories go on, hippies had discovered this beach during the 60's so is it famous since then. Calangute along with Candolim, Baga and Anjuna form part of stretch of beach extending from just outside Panaji city to Fort Aguada. Calangute Beach is a 4 mile long beach that lies between Baga and Candolim beach. It is also among the top beaches of Goa.

Baga Beach

At a distance of 15 km from Panjim Kadamba Bus stand, Baga beach is located in North Goa. This beach is bordered by Calangute Beach to its south and Anjuna Beach to its north. Baga Beach starts right where Calangute ends. Named after the Baga Creek that merges into the Arabian Sea on the northern part of the beach, this is one of the most popular among Goa beaches.

Baga Beach is famous for its beach shacks and the delicious sea food that is offered there. The night life at Baga is even more exciting than its days. Baga Beach is the home to some of the hottest night clubs like Tito's and Mambos which are always crowded with the dance freaks. Mackie's Saturday Night Bazaar offers amazing buys for the shopper.

Baga Beach is a popular tourist attraction of Goa. This beach is entertaining from sunrise to sunset. As the sun sets down, party mode is switched-on around this beach.

Basilica Of Bom Jesus

At a distance of 9 km from Panjim Kadamba Bus Stand and 27 km from Vasco Da Gama Railway Station, the famous Bom Jesus Basilica is part of UNESCO World Heritage Site (Churches & Convents of Goa). It is also called St. Francis Xavier's Tomb. It is one of the best Places to visit in Goa and one of the major heritage sites in Goa state. The church is often represented in promotion of Goa Tourism.

The Basilica of Bom Jesus is dedicated to St. Francis Xavier. The Construction of the church began in 1594 and completed in May 1605. The church is called 'Bom Jesus' meaning 'good Jesus' or 'infant Jesus'. This church is the first Minor Basilica in India and is regarded as one of the best examples of baroque architecture.

Aguada Fort

At a distance of 15 km from Panjim Kadamba Bus Stand, 4 km from Candolim and 49 km from Margao Railway Station, the grand Fort of Aguada was constructed to prevent the entry of ships into the River Mandovi thus protecting old Goa from the attacks of Dutch and Marathas. Aguda Fort is one of the prime Goa tourist places and one of the major heritage sites in Goa state.

The Aguada Fort was built by the Portuguese colonial rulers on the beach south of Candolim at the shore of the Mandovi River in 1612. A freshwater spring within the fort provided water supply to the ships that used to stop by. This is how the fort got its name 'Aguada' meaning Water. The heart of the fort was protected by two hundred cannons and a deep dry moat, which one still has to cross to get inside.

Vagator Beach

At a distance of 19 km from Panjim Kadamba Bus Stand, 46 km from Vasco Da Gama Railway Station and 13 km from Mapusa, Vagator Beach is situated in North Goa, near Chapora Fort. It is among the top places to visit in Goa.

Vagator Beach is a part of a 30 km stretch of beach coastline along the west coast of Goa by the Arabian Sea that begins at Fort Aguada and ending at Chapora Beach and Fort. It is a bay between the rocky headlands and one of the Goa best beaches. It is covered with soft white sand, dotted by coconut trees and huge black rocks. The sea at Vagator turns from aquamarine to emerald green with the movement of the sun.

Shri Mangueshi Temple / Mangeshi Temple

At a distance of 21 km from Panjim Kadamba Bus Stand, 37 km from Vasco Da Gama Railway Station and 34 km from Mapusa, Shri Mangueshi Temple is situated in North Goa. It is of the must visit Goa tourist places and a major pilgrimage site of Goa state.

Shri Mangeshi temple is located on a hillock at Mangeshi Village in Priol, Ponda Taluka. Shri Mangeshi Temple is one of the largest, wealthiest and most popular Hindu shrines in Goa. Mythology says that Lord Shiva came to Goa after having lost everything in a game of dice against his wife Parvati. When Parvati came looking for him, he disguised himself as a tiger and frightened her. In a state of shock, Parvati uttered the words ''Trahi Mam Grisha'', which means ''O Lord of the Mountains, save me''. Shiva then reverted into his normal form and returned with her. The words, ''Mam Grisha'' came to be associated with this story and Shiva came to be known as 'Manguesh'.

Colva Beach

At a distance of 33 km from Panjim Kadamba Bus Stand, 8 km from Margao Railway Station and 25 km from Vasco Railway Station, Colva Beach is located in South Goa. It is one of the prime Places to visit in Goa state and among the best beaches in Goa.

Colva Beach is the oldest, largest and the most spectacular beaches of South Goa. The beach consists of about 25 km of the fine powdered white sand and is bounded along its coast by coconut palms that stretch from Bogmalo in the north to Cabo de Rama in the south along south Goa's coastline. Colva is one of the top beaches in Goa.

Se Cathedral

At a distance of 9 km from Panjim Kadamba Bus Stand, 27 km from Vasco Da Gama Railway Station and 23 km from Mapusa, Se Cathedral is considered to be one of the largest churches in Asia, situated in Old Goa, opposite to Basilica of Bom Jesus. The beautiful Se Cathedral is one of the top places to visit in Goa. This place is part of UNESCO World Heritage Site (Churches & Convents of Goa).

The Se Cathedral is dedicated to St. Catherine. It is also known to be the oldest and the most celebrated religious buildings in Goa and has the prestige of being the seat of Archdiocese of Goa. According to history, Alfonso Albuquerque in 1510 defeated the Muslim army on the feast day of St. Catherine of Alexandria and took possession of Goa.

Reis Mogos Fort

At a distance of 7 km from Panjim Kadamba Bus Stand, 34 km from Vasco Da Gama Railway Station and 15 km from Mapusa, Reis Magos Fort is located on the northern bank of the River Mandovi across to the city of Panaji in North Goa. This Fort is one of the prime Goa Tourist Places and one of the major heritage sites in Goa state.

This Fort was built by the Portuguese Viceroy Alfonso de Noronha in 1551 and was rebuilt in 1707. It was played an important role in the defense of Goa in 1739 against the Marathas. Originally it was an armed outpost built by the Adil Shah in the late 1400 and got destroyed in 1500. In the beginning the Portuguese used this Fort as a shelter for the viceroys and dignitaries who arrived from Lisbon. But gradually Portuguese realized the strategic importance of this Fort and used it to ward off Maratha armies.

River Cruise - Mandovi River

At a distance 1 km from Panaji Kadamba Bus Terminus, River Cruise is a memorable and must experience activity in Panaji. It is one of the top Goa places to visit. The river cruises start from Santa Monica Boat Jetty and Panaji Jetty on Mandovi river in Panaji town on Old Panaji Road. River cruise is one of the top things to do in Goa.

The river cruise, especially the evening sunset cruise is a beautiful experience. Most of the cruise trips last for one hour with a ride across the Mandovi River till the Miramar Beach point. The cruise trips are usually accompanied with Goan cultural activities like Music, Dance, etc. The activities also include tourists joining the dance at end of the program.

Dudhsagar Waterfalls

At a distance of 71 km from Panjim Kadamba Bus Stand, 50 km from Margao Railway Station and 10 km from Kulem, Dudhsagar Falls is the largest and highest fall of Goa. It is one of the must visit Goa tourist places and is often represented in promotion of Goa Tourism.

Dudhsagar falls is a four tiered waterfall located on the Mandovi River in Goa. This waterfall is amongst India's tallest waterfalls with a height of 310 m (1017 feet) and an average width of 30 m (100 feet) at it's peak. This falls is located inside the Bhagwan Mahavir Sanctuary, at the border between Karnataka and Goa states.

Anjuna Beach

At a distance of 19 km from Panjim Kadamba Bus Stand and 11 km from Mapusa, Anjuna Beach is situated in Bardez Taluka of North Goa. This beach is located north of Baga and Calangute, and close to the South of Vagator and Chapora. The white sands of the beach and the red laterite rocks create a unique arrangement. It is one of the best beaches in Goa.

Anjuna beach is famous for its stunning natural beauty with coconut trees and soft powered white sands. Anjuna beach is a favorite haunt of the hippies who used to organize the famous rave beach parties in the late 1950s to mid 1960s. The moon light rave parties are well known all over Goa and the world, and attract foreign travellers as well as domestic tourists, especially during the time of New Year and Christmas.

Chapora Fort

At a distance of 19 km from Panjim Kadamba Bus Stand, 46 km from Vasco Da Gama Railway Station and 11 km from Mapusa, The Chapora Fort is situated in North Goa. It is one of the top tourist places in Goa.

Built in red laterite stones, the fort has steep slopes on all the sides and stands on an area which has irregular outer plan. This massive fort was constructed by the king of Bijapur, Adil Shah. This is one reason why it has been named Shahpura, which means the 'town of Shah'. The Chapora Fort is one of the prime attractions on Goa.

Shri Shantadurga Temple - Kavlem

At a distance of 28 km from Panjim Kadamba Bus Stand, 34 km from Vasco Da Gama Railway Station and 20 km from Margao Railway Station, Shri Shantadurga Temple is situated in North Goa.

Shri Shantadurga Temple is a large temple located at the foothill of Kavlem village in Ponda Taluka. This temple is considered as one of the most important and the biggest temple in Goa. This temple is dedicated to Goddess Shantadurga the Goddess of Peace. The deity is also called 'Santeri' informally. According to the legend, a fierce battle was made between Shiva and Vishnu that Lord Brahma prayed to Parvati to intervene, which she did in the form of Shantadurga. Shantadurga placed Vishnu on her right hand and Shiva on her left hand and settled the fight. The deity of Shantadurga is shown as holding two serpents one in each hand representing Vishnu and Shiva. This avatar of Shree Jagdamba Devi which had come to make peace between Shree Vishnu and Shree Shiva came to be known as Shree Shantadurga Devi.

St. Augustine Tower / Church Of St. Augustin

At a distance of 8 km from Panjim Kadamba Bus Stand, 27 km from Vasco Da Gama Railway Station and 23 km from Mapusa, Church and Monastery of Augustin is situated in Old Goa. It is one of the prime Goa tourist places. This place is part of UNESCO World Heritage Site (Churches & Convents of Goa).

The Church and Monastery of St Augustine were built in 1572 by 12 Augustines when they arrived in the city of Goa. The construction of the church was completed in 1602 AD. They also built a convent besides the church. A ban was imposed by the Portuguese government against the Augustines. The church and the convent thereafter were deserted.

Shri Mahalaxmi Temple - Bandora

At a distance of 27 km from Panjim Kadamba Bus Stand, 37 km from Vasco Da Gama Railway Station and 22 km from Margao Railway Station, Shri Mahalaxmi Temple is situated in North Goa. It is one of the most visited places in Goa and an important pilgrimage site for Hindus.

Shri Mahalaxmi Temple is situated in the village of Bandora or Bandivade about 4 km from Ponda. This Temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu's consort Mahalaxmi. The temple is considered as the abode of the original Goddess of the Shakti cult and its unique feature is that the Devi wears linga on her head. The idol of Mahalaxmi with four arms holding a sickle, a club, a dagger and a vessel containing Prasad and flowers, has a close resemblance to that of Mahalaxmi idol at Kolhapur. Besides the main black granite stone idol, there was another idol of the Devi made of panchloha.

Palolem Beach

At a distance of 70 km from Panjim Kadamba Bus Stand, 65 km from Vasco Da Gama Railway Station and 36 km from Margao Railway Station, Palolem Beach is one of the famous & best beaches in Goa and top tourist attraction in South Goa.

Palolem Beach is also known as 'Paradise Beach'. This beach stretches between two magnificent headlands and the beach is lined with towering coconut palms. The beach is about a mile long and it provides seclusion and idyllic scenery. Palolem Beach is a crescent shape beach and one can soak in its views from the southern end till the northern end in one glimpse of the eyes. Both ends have natural jutting rocks trying to touch the sea. It has little wooded islands to the north and a village behind the beach.

Cabo De Rama Fort

At a distance of 60 km from Panjim Kadamba Bus Stand, 56 km from Vasco Da Gama Railway Station and 27 km from Margao Railway Station, The Cabo De Rama Fort is situated in South Goa. This is one of the prime attractions in South Goa and also an ideal Goa sightseeing options.

Cabo de Rama Fort is also known as The Cape of Rama. The fort derives its name from Rama, the hero of the epic Ramayana stayed here with his wife during their 14 years of exile. The Fort was first occupied by Hindu rulers who spread their empire all over India. The cape is crowned by a fort which was originally a Hindu structure and rebuilt by the Portuguese in 1763 after acquiring it from the Maratha King of Sonda. The Fort has elaborated defenses complete with a moat, gatehouse and several bastions. Many of the bastions still have large cannons lying strewn above them.

Mormugao Fort

At a distance of 33 km from Panjim Kadamba Bus Stand and 4 km from Vasco Da Gama Railway Station, Mormugao Fort is located just south of Mormugao Port in South Goa.

The Mormugao Fort was essentially built by the Portuguese in 1624 to protect the harbor, territorial waters in and around the Port of Margao. The Mormugao Fort is a tough fortification jutting out far into the sea with a magnificent lookout for invaders and attackers. The Maratha warriors continued to attack the town and the Fort and finally the Portuguese gave up the township in preference for Old Goa.

Dr. Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary

At a distance of 4.8 km from Panjim Kadamba Bus Stand, 31.4 kms from Vasco Da Gama Railway Station and 15 km from Karmali Railway Station, Dr. Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary is located in North Goa. It is an ideal Goa sightseeing options for half day trip.

The Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary is situated at Chorao Island on the Mandovi River. This sanctuary is one of the most famous bird sanctuaries in India. It has been named after the famous ornithologist of India, Dr. Salim Ali. This Bird Sanctuary is one of the smallest bird sanctuaries in Goa and is spread over an area of just 1.8 sqkms. The Sanctuary houses around 400 species of birds including both local and migratory. The Sanctuary is rich in flora growth and one can see a thick covering of mangrove vegetation here. The flora cover is very fertile over here the mangrove ecology is considered to be the best for birds, fish and insects.

Agonda Beach

At a distance of 69 km from Panaji Kadamba Bus Stand, 36 km from Margao Railway Station and 9 km from Canacona Railway Station, Agonda beach is a 3 km long stretch of pristine beach situated in South Goa.

Agonda is a great spot for sunbathing, relaxing and swimming, walking, eating and just generally doing nothing. Agonda beach might not be the most ideal place for swimming. It is one of the top beaches in South Goa. Located between Cabo de Rama & Palolem, Agonda provides an opportunity to relax on a long beach. Agonda beach is simply divine, wide, quiet and picturesque with a turtle centre in the middle protecting precious Olive Ridley eggs. This beach is special because you will find absolutely no tourists, no stalls, no restaurants, nothing just the trees, the beach, the beautiful ocean and you. The beach stretch has an ancient Agonda Church, the Saint Anne's Church and few academic institutions.

Arambol Beach / Harmal Beach

At a distance of 34 km from Panaji Kadamba Bus Stand and 22 km from Mapusa Bus Stand, Arambol also known as Harmal beach is a pristine and secluded beach situated in North Goa. It is one of the most beautiful among Goa beaches and also a relatively less crowded beaches in North Goa.

The Arambol Beach extends over 16 km and consists of two beaches. More popular is the Harmal beach contains long stretch of curving sand and it is good for swimming. It is a perfect place for people looking for peace and tranquility. The second, more picturesque beach lies beyond the rocky stretch and can only be reached on foot and is bordered by steep cliffs on both sides. It is a rocky as well as sandy beach and has a fresh water lagoon which extends along the bottom of the valley into a thick jungle. The lake is fed by boiling hot springs and is lined with sulphurous mud which people love applying on their body to do wonders to their skin.

Arvalem Waterfalls

At a distance of 30 km from Panjim Kadamba Bus stand, 2 km from Sanquelim and 8 km from Bicholim, Arvalem waterfalls is one of the most amazing spots situated in North Goa. Cascading down from a height of 50 m (24 ft), Arvalem is one of the top places to visit in Goa.

The Arvalem Waterfall also known as Harvalem falls is a very scenic and beautiful picnic spot. This beautiful waterfall forms a huge lake at the bottom, which is much popular amongst the swimmers. The color of the waterfall becomes muddy brown in monsoon rains and the water flow is quite less in summer.

Ashwem Beach

At a distance of 30 km from Panaji Kadamba Bus Stand, 18 km from Mapusa and 5 km from Morjim, Ashwem beach is so different from other beaches situated in North Goa and it is relatively less crowded.

Ashwem beach situated south to the Arambol beach is another isolated beach in Goa where one can see vast stretches of sands. Ashwem Beach is one of the Goa best beaches which is a clean sandy beach and not much crowded. The waves are gentle and the sea hardly ever gets choppy. A perfect place for those looking for privacy, it is safe for swimming. This Beach is known for its numerous restaurants and their mouth watering seafood. Ashwem beach is also the nesting place for the Olive Ridley Turtles which is a rare species. The nesting season is between September to February which also happens to be the peak tourist season of Goa.

Butterfly Conservatory Of Goa

At a distance of 26 km from Panjim Kadamba Bus Stand, 25 km from Margao Railway Station and 4 km from Ponda Bus Stand, Mystic Woods is a conservation project of Butterfly Conservatory of Goa, a NGO dedicated to restoring the green heritage of Western Ghats.

Butterfly Conservatory is located 3 km from the Tropical Spice Farm and 4 km from Sahakari Spice Farm. The conservatory is spread over 4000 sq mts and is founded by a couple who are nature enthusiasts and also environmentally conscious. At the time of establishment only 25 species of the butterflies could be seen here but currently 133 species of butterflies beautifying the conservatory. The entire conservatory is designed in the manner of a park like structure where one can stroll and indulge in a visual treat of the nature. It is a great place to take the kids to introduce them to the colorful world of butterflies and caterpillars.

Bhagwan Mahavir Sanctuary

At a distance of 66 km from Panjim Kadamba Bus Stand and 44 km from Margao Railway Station, Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary is located at Mollem village in Sanguem Taluka, Goa. Formerly known as Mollem Game Sanctuary it was renamed as Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary in 1969.

Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary sprawling an area of 240 sq km, this is the largest of four protected wildlife sanctuaries in Goa. It also encompasses the 107 sq km Mollem National Park. The Sanctuary is divided into two halves by the National Highway 4A and by the railway line of Londa to Mormugao.

Betalbatim Beach

At a distance of 31 km from Panjim Kadamba Bus Stand and 9.5 km from Margao Railway Station, Betalbatim Beach is located north of the famous Colva beach in South Goa. This is one of the virgin and most beautiful beaches in South Goa. It is also one of the relatively less known beaches in Goa.

Betalbatim beach is popularly known as the Sunset Beach of Goa. This vast stretch of white sand beach lies in between the Majorda and Colva Beaches. You can literally walk up to Betalbatim Beach from Colva Beach (road distance is about 4.5 km). Unlike most Goa beaches that are lined up with palm trees, this beach has a numerous pine trees along the shoreline. Betalbatim is known for its clean sands and beautiful surroundings. It is a very quiet and a secluded beach and because of the shade of the pine trees, it is used as a picnic spot by families and schools.

Butterfly Beach

At a distance of 69 km from Panaji Kadamba Bus stand, 36 km from Margao Railway Station and 3 km from Canacona Railway Station, Butterfly Beach is located on the Butterfly Island in South Goa.

Butterfly Beach is a tiny beach cove that lies just 6 km north of Palolem beach. The sands here are perfectly white and the water translucent. Butterfly Beach is one of the most picturesque beaches among all the beaches of Goa. It is serene, peaceful and mesmerizing. This beach would be the best place to unwind and relax.

Bambolim Beach

At a distance of 7 km from Panjim Kadamba Bus stand and 22 km from Vasco Da Gama, Bambolim Beach is a popular stretch for tourists located in North Goa.

Bambolim Beach is a small, clean and largely undiscovered beach that is a bit away from the mainland. This beach is basically located in a shaded spot right before the mouth of Zuari River and in between the Medical College of Goa and the University of Goa. Bambolim Beach is lined up with trees and shrub vegetation with many paths leading to the beach. Many Goa University students visit this beach during their free time due to the close proximity to the institute. The beach is clean and quiet, yet beautiful.

Cansaulim Beach

At a distance of 31 km from Panjim Kadamba Bus Stand, 16 km from Vasco Da Gama Railway Station and 15 km from Margao Railway Station, Cansaulim is a famous beach located in South Goa.

Cansaulim Beach along with Arossim Beach and Cuelim Beach forms India's second largest stretch of beach. Cansaulim Beach is actually an extension of Velsao Beach. The beach has clean white sands and lots of palm trees. It is located on the northernmost end of Velsao beach. The large stretches of white sands give the beach a deserted look. Cansaulim Beach is among the mostly secluded Goan beaches. Coastal dense palm groves at Cansaulim Beach provides a refreshing cool roof from the bright sunshine and appears more pleasant during the hot months of April and May.

Chapora Beach

At a distance of 20 km from Panjim Kadamba Bus Stand, 46 km from Vasco Railway Station and 13 km from Mapusa, Chapora Beach is a picturesque beach situated in North Goa.

Nestled at the mouth of the Chapora River, it is a pleasant change from the bustling Anjuna Beach. This beach is famous for fishing and boat building. Like the other popular beaches of Goa, Chapora also stays crowded most of the time of the day. The picturesque beach with white sand and a number of coconut palms along its stretch is well known as the Chapora Fort that was built 500 years ago during the Portugal rule is situated nearby. There is a famous Ganesh fruit juice center in Chapora selling organic juices and gathering people from around.

Coco Beach

At a distance of 10 km from Panjim Kadamba Bus Stand and 17 km from Mapusa, Coco Beach is one of the popular beaches in Goa at a distance of 2.5 kms from Reis Mogos Fort.

The Coco Beach is located at the mouth of the Nerul River on the Mondovi Estuary. It is a protected bay of the Mondovi River. The beach is often regarded as an abridged gateway between Candolim and Nerul. Beautiful tall palm trees framed the beach.

The beach though little dirty compared to other beaches is popular for water sports and boating. Boat trips into the Mondovi River also hosts another tourists attraction which is spotting the wild dolphins. These trips also extend up to the base of Aguada fort and present magnificent view of the fort, Aguada prison and the lighthouse (usually one hour boat ride). The busy mornings spent in boat trips are followed by quiet and tranquil afternoons and evenings.

Candolim Beachs

At a distance of 11 km from Panjim Kadamba Bus Stand, 38 km from Vasco Da Gama Railway Station and 12 km from Mapusa, Candolim Beach is a part of a long extension of beach coastline along the Arabian Sea that begins at Fort Aguada and ends at Chapora Beach in North Goa.

Candolim Beach is positioned between Sinquerim and Calangute beaches. Candolim Beach is another relatively busy soft sandy beach that due to erosion can be narrow in some places. The bulk ore carrier River Princess ended up being grounded some 100 m from the beach during the 2001 monsoon. Despite numerous pledges by both local and central government, she still lays rusting. Various attempts have been made to salvage or refloat the ship.

The founder of science of hypnotism Father Abbe Faria was born here. Candolim is also the place where the Goans launched first revolt against Portuguese. Candolim Beach was the first area to have adopted Christianity under the Portuguese rule.

Dona Paula Beach

At a distance of 9 km from Panjim Kadamba Bus Stand, 30 km from Vasco Da Gama Railway Station and 38 km from Mapusa, Dona Paula Beach is one of the famous beachs in Goa.

Dona Paula Beach has a very romantic legend attached to it. It is believed that Dona Paula De Menzes, daughter of a viceroy, threw herself off the cliff 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.

This idyllic rocky tourist attraction lies at the spot where the Mandovi and the Zuari rivers meet the Arabian Sea. This is a spot to sunbathe and relax. At the end of the bay there is a beautiful islet-hillock. From the top of this hillock one can have views of the Marmugao Harbour and the Arabian Sea up to the Zuari Bridge to the east. At the base there is a carved sculpture named ' Image of India' depicting a couple, a man facing west and a woman facing east.

Galgibaga Beach

At a distance of 84 km from Panjim Kadamba Bus Stand, 79 km from Vasco Da Gama Railway Station and 50 km from Margao Railway Station, Galgibaga Beach is the less crowded beach in South Goa.

Galgibaga Beach is also known as the Turtle Beach and is one of three other Goa beaches along with Agonda and Morjim Beaches, where the state program of olive turtles saving and protection works and implemented perfectly. The whole northern part of this beautiful beach is used for turtles nesting. This is the reason why there is an absence of the shack culture or any permanent structure on the beach, which otherwise is a very common sight on the other beaches of Goa.

Kalacha Beach

At a distance of 34 km from Panjim Kadamba Bus Stand, 61 km from Vasco Da Gama Railway Station and 21 km from Mapusa, Kalacha Beach is located in North Goa.

Kalacha Beach is also known as Paliem Beach. It is famous for its picturesque fresh water lagoon named Vagkolam or Sweet water Lake, which is near the shore at the very end of the beach. This fresh water lagoon is fairly secluded and very popular among the foreign tourists.

Kalacha Beach is a small beach located to the south of Querim Beach. As per the local belief, the beach was discovered by the hippies in the 1960s. Surrounded by rocky terrain and steep cliffs, this beach is popular for its scenic beauty.

Majorda Beach

At a distance of 29 km from Panjim Kadamba Bus Stand, 21 km from Vasco Da Gama and 11 km from Margao Railway Station, Majorda is one of the most popular beaches in South Goa.

Majorda Beach is situated in the southern part of Bogmalo. This beautiful beach covered with lot of palm groves. Some of the most famous hotels and resorts of Goa are found here and thus it is quite a popular place for a holiday.

According the Indian mythology, Legends believed that Lord Rama was kidnapped and brought to the Majorda beach in his childhood. Later, again in life while in quest of his consort Sita, he came to the Cabo-de-Rama which lies at the southern end of the Majorda beach.

Mandrem Beach

At a distance of 31 km from Panjim Kadamba Bus Stand, 57 km from Vasco Da Gama Railway Station and 18 km from Mapusa, Mandrem Beach is an isolated beach with vast stretches of empty sand that has very little shade and is located in North Goa. It is one of the secluded and less crowded beaches in Goa.

The Mandrem Beach is situated to the north of Ashwem Beach towards the Arambol Beach. It is a continuation of the Ashwem Beach and very similar to it. This beach is quite secluded to the other beaches. Being a serene beach one can see white bellied fish eagles that live in the casuarinas trees at Mandrem Beach. Sometimes even the famous Olive Ridley turtles have their hatching nests over here if the Morjim Beach is overcrowded.

Miramar Beach

At a distance of 8 km from Panjim Kadamba Bus Stand and 3 km from Dona Paula Beach, Miramar Beach is situated 1 km ahead of the confluence of Mandovi River and the Arabian Sea.

Miramar Beach is also known as 'Gasper Dias Beach'. The name of the beach is derived from the word 'Miramar', which in Portuguese stands for 'viewing the sea'. Miramar Beach is the place where the Mandovi River meets the blue water Arabian Sea. From the beach across the river is an excellent view of Fort Aguada. One can see migratory birds such as gulls and plovers at the beach from November to March.

The Miramar Beach is said to be one of the cleanest beaches in Goa and it offers the opportunity to view the stunning sunset. It is a romantic gateway for adventure freaks, beach lovers and honeymoon couples. At Miramar beach one can get pleasure and satisfaction with some interesting activities like fishing, bird watching, shopping and strolling around.

Patnem Beach

At a distance of 70 km from Panjim Kadamba Bus Stand, 66 km from Vasco Da Gama Railway Station and 37 km from Margao Railway Station, Patnem Beach is situated in South Goa.

Patnem Beach is a 900 m long, wide beautiful strip of golden sand, which reclined from both sides onto rocky headlands and capes. Patnem beach is situated to the southern edge of Colomb, south of Palolem. The Arabian Sea is shallow here. Really it is much the same beach with only about 1 km separating from Palolem.

Sernabatim Beach

At a distance of 36 km from Panjim Kadamba Bus Stand, 27 km from Vasco Da Gama Railway Station and 7 km from Margao Railway Station, Sernabatim Beach is an idyllic, virgin and silver sand beach located in South Goa.

Sernabatim Beach is sandwiched between Colva and Benaulim Beach. This Beach is essentially a continuation of the Colva Beach and lies just 1 km from Colva Beach. It is far from the hustle and bustle of other major beaches of Goa. This beach is a much cleaner and quieter beach in Goa and an ideal place for swimming and relaxing.

The sun setting into the Arabian Sea at Sernabatim Beach is a mesmerizing scene, which is not to be missed. Waves here are small and low which makes this fantastic beach is an ideal place for swimming. During monsoon period the beach slope is steep after the water line.

Talpona Beach

At a distance of 76 km from Panjim Kadamba Bus Stand, 71 km from Vasco Da Gama Railway Station and 9 km from Canacona Railway Station, Talpona Beach is located in South Goa.

Talpona Beach is one of the remote beaches of Goa. Its nearest neighbors are Galgibagh Beach to the south and Rajbagh Beach to the north. The beach is about one km stretch of golden sand and stands at the mouth of the Talpona River. The beach of Talpona is covered with pure sand of a golden colour with some small patches in its northern part of the beach. The Talpona River joins the Arabian Sea here.

The Talpona shoreline is framed with palm trees and pine groves. There is a spacious open sandy ground with small shrubs and seashells. The both sides of Talpona Beach is closed with woody capes and headlands.

Book Your Tour