West India

Goa : The most comprehensive beach resort in the country, Goa is approachable from Bombay by air. Goa’s coastline provides endless sun drenched crescents of sand. Vagator, Anjuna, Baga, Calangute and Candolim stretch out in an unbroken palm fringed line. Other beaches are at Miramar and Colva. Parasailing, yachting, windsurfing, and deep sea diving are some of the more popular water sports, facilities for which are available. In addition, every sort of accommodation fringes the beaches, from deluxe resorts to budget lodgings Inland, 451 years of Portuguese rule has imbued Goa’s towns and villages with a unique culture. Whitewashed chapels and churches that dot the landscape are surrounded by sleepy villages and rice fields.

Panjim, the capital city, and Margao, an important town, have private houses and government buildings that date back to Portuguese times. Old Goa, now deserted, has a collection of Goa’s largest churches: Se Cathedral with its Iberian exterior, Bom Jesu which enshrines the mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier and the starkly beautiful Convent of Saint Monica are a few of these. Mapusa, a market town, comes alive every Friday with a quaint pavement bazar.

General Information

Access : Road. 597 km. Motorable, but requires an overnight stay at Chiplun, tourist facilities provided. Air: Indian Airlines connecls daily with Bombay.
Rail : Vasco da Gama, 35 km away, is the nearest railhead.

Hotels
Deluxe : The Fort Aguada Beach Resort and The Aguada Heritage,The Taj Holiday Village,The Oberoi Bogmalo Beach Resort,Majorda Beach Resort,The Leela Beach, Goa Renaissance Resort, Cidade de ’Goa, Old Anchor.
Standard : Whispering Palms, Dona Sylvia, Fidalgo, Baia Do Sol, Mandovi, Dona Paula,Golden Goa, La Paz, Nova Goa.
Budget : GTDC runs tourist hostels at Panaji, Calangute, Mavem, Tirekhal Fort, Molem, Mapusa, Margao and Vasco da Gama.

Altitude : Sea level to 1022 mts.
Climate (deg C): Summer- Max. 33, Min. 26; Winter- Max. 31, Min. 20.
Rainfall : June to September (350 cms).
Best Season : October to May (Peak season December to February).

TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS :

Air : Goa (Dabolim Airport) is connected by Indian Airlines and Air India to Bombay, Bangalore, Cochin, Delhi, Madras and Ahmedabad.
Fare : Bombay-Goa: Rs.1031/-(Y), Rs.1434/-(J)
Private Airlines such as East West, Goa Way also operate flights to Goa.
Rail : Vasco-da-Gama and Margoa are connected by train with Bangalore, Belgaum, Hospet, Hubli and Hyderabad and via Miraj to Bombay, Delhi and Agra.
Fare : Bombay to Vasco-da-gama (via Miraj): Rs.654 (I), Rs.174 (II).
Road : Panaji, the capital of Goa, is connected by road to Bangalore-598 kms, Belgaum-157 km, Bombay-594 km, Gokarn-154 km, Hospet-315 km, Hubli-184 km, Karwar-103 km, Kolhapur-246 km, Malwan-150 km, Mangalore-371 kms, Mysore-696 kms, Pune-458 kms, Ratnagiri-263 kms, Vengurla-73 kms etc.
Bus : Service: Kadamba Transport Corporation. MSRTC and KSRTC operate frequent bus services between Panaji, Vasco, Margao and to Bangalore, Belgaum, Gokarn, Hubli, Karwar, Kolhapur, Malwan, Mangalore, Miraj, Mysore, Pune, Ratnagiri and Vengurla.
Sea : Ship services between Bombay and Goa organised by Damania.
Internal Distances : Panaji to Baga beach (18 kms), Bondla (55 kms), Calangute (16 kms), Dabolim Airport (29 kms), Mapusa (13 kms), Margao (33 kms), Old Goa (10 kms), Terekhol (42 kms), Vagator (22 kms), Vasco-da-gama (30 kms), Ponda (28 kms).
Local Transport : Local buses, auto-rickshaws and motor-cycles/taxis available.

CONDUCTED TOUR :

Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) organizes following conducted tours from Tourist Hostel, Panaji, Tel: 43396/47103.

North Goa : Visits Mapusa town, Sri Saptakoteshwar Temple at Narva, Mayem Lake, Beaches at Vagator, Anjuna and Calangute and Aguada Fort.
Departure daily at 0930 to 1800 hours from Tourist Hostel, Panaji.
Fare : Rs.100-125 Non A/c Luxury, Rs.175/- A/c Luxury.
South Goa : Visits Bom Jesus Basilica and Se Cathedral (Old Goa) Churches. Sri Mangueshi and Shantadurga temples, Colva Beach, Margoa Beach, Bogmala Beach, Dona Paula, Bay and Miramar.
Departure daily at 0915 hours from Tourist Hostel, Panaji.
Fare : Rs.100-125/- Non A/c Luxury, Rs.175/- A/c Luxury.
River Cruise : Down the Mandovi River on the `Santa Monica' with live cultural programme.
Departure daily at 1800 & 1915 hours from steamer jetty, Panaji.
Fare : Rs.100/-.

EXCURSIONS

From Panaji :

Dona Paula Bay (7 kms), Old Goa (10 kms) with its Basilica of Bom Jesus, Se Cathedral, Archaeological Museum and other churches, Mangueshi Temple (22 kms), Shantadura Temple (33 kms), Calangute (16 kms), and Baga Beach (18 kms).

From Mapusa :

Beaches of Calangute-8 kms, Baga-10 kms, Arambol/Harmal-31 kms, Anjuna-8 kms, Vagator-9 kms & Mandrem-30 kms (both via Pernem).
Temples of Shri Dutta & Shri Vithal at Sanguelim (25 kms), Temple of Sapta Koteshwar at Narve (24 kms) and Temple of Kalikadevi at Kansarpal (14 kms).
Church of Mae de deus at Saligao (10 kms), Church at Monte de Guiri (2 kms).
Mayem Lake (21 kms), Arvalem Waterfalls (29 kms).
Terekhol Fort (30 kms).

From Margao :

Beaches of Colva (6 kms), Benaulim (8 kms), Majorda (8 kms), Varca (10 kms), Cavelossim (15 kms), Mobor (18 kms), Betul (16 kms), Agonda (40 kms) and Palolem (47 kms).
Cabo de Rama (21 kms).
Ranchol Seminary (8 kms).
Shree Damodar Temple at Zambaulim (22 kms) and Shree Shantadurga Temple at Fatorda (18 kms).
Cotigao Wild Life Sanctuary (33 kms), Dudhsagar Waterfalls (59 kms by train)

From Vasco :

Margao Harbour-3 kms, Bogmalo Beach-9 kms, St.Jacinto Island-7 kms Velsao Beach-10 km, Kesarval Springs-15 km & Pilar Seminary-19 km.

From Ponda :

Bondla wildlife, Molem wildlife etc

Temple or Tambdi Surla (70 km) dating back to the 12th century in Sanguem. Mayem Lake (35 km) from Panaji, a popular picnic. spol. The Molem Wildlife Sanctuary is en route to Belgaum.

WATER SPORTS

Such as windsurfing, Dinghy Sailing, Water-Skiing, Parasailing etc. are organised by various hotels & by GTDC, Agua Sports Assn,Goa Yatching Assn & Dona Paula Sports Club.

INFORMATION CENTRE :

Government of India, Tourist Office,
Communidade Bldg., Church-square
Panaji- 403001, Tel : 43412
Tourist Information centre, Tourist Home
Patto
Panaji,
Tel : 45583, 45715, 44757

WATER SPORTS FACILITIES AVAILABLE IN GOA

Fort Aguada Beach Resort, Sinquerim, Bardez, Goa 403 519, Tel: 87501-9
Sailing (Enterprise class) - Windsurfing - Water-skiing - Parasailing - Motor-boat rides (2, 25, 40 & 90 h.p.)
Dominic Watersports, Sinquerim Beach, Bardez, Goa 403 519
Windsurfing - Water-skiing - Canoeing - Water-scooter rides
Paradise Waves, Sinquerim Beach, Bardez, Goa 403 519
Windsurfing
Goa Tourism Development Corporation, Lake Resort,
Mayem Lake, Bicholim, Goa 403 504 (Tel: 6515, 4132) - Pedal-boat rides - Dinghy sailing
Aqua Sports, 5th floor, Nizari Bhavan, Menezes Braganza Rd.,
Panaji, Goa 403 001 (Tel: 6584, 6967) - Motor-boat rides (15, 40 h.p.) - Water-scooter rides - Scuba diving - Snorkelling - Fishing
Goa Yachting Association, P.O. Box : 33, Panaji, Goa 403 001 Tel : 3261-64
Dinghy sailing - Windsurfing
Dona Paula Sports Club, Dona Paula, Goa 403 004.
Water-scooter rides - Motor-boat rides
Hydro-sports, Hotel Cidade-de-Goa, Vainguinim Beach, Dona Paula, Goa 403 004 (Tel : 3301-9)
Windsurfing - Dindhy sailing - Water-scooter rides - Water-cycle rides - Motor-boat rides (30, 40, 150 h.p.) - Parasailing - Water-skiing - Toboggan - Ski-biscuit - Ski-bob - Skurfer - Sports-fishing - Snorkelling - Harpoon Fishing - Kayaking - Sailing Yacht (7.4 mts. for coatal cruises)
Water-sports Goa, Bogmalo Beach, Bogmalo, Goa 403 806
(Affiliated to ISSA and has qualified instructors as well as teaching aids and equipments)
Windsurfing - Body boards - Dindhy sailing - Catamaran rides - Water-scooter rides - Motor-boat rides (40, 80 h.p.) - Water-skiing/Fun skiing - Parascending - Diving/Snorkelling - Scuba diving - Canoeing - Fishing
Hotel Oberoi Bogmalo Beach, Bagmalo, Goa 403 806 (Tel : 2191)
Windsurfing - Body boards - Motor-boats rides - Water-scooter rides - Parasailing - Water-skiing
Majorda Beach Resort, Majorda, Salcette Goa 403 713 (Tel : 20025)
Water-skiing - Windsurfing - Water-scooter rides - Motor-boat rides
Ramada Renaissance, Varca, Salcette Goa. 403 721 (Tel : 23611)
Windsurfing - Water-skiing - Parasailing - Snorkelling - Jet-ski rides - Motor-boat rides - Banana boats - Surf boards - Body boards
The Old Anchor, Cavelossim, Salcette Goa 403 731 (Tel : 6345)
Windsurfing - Water-scooter rides - Motor-boat rides
The Leela Beach, Mobor, Cavelossim, Salcette, Goa 403 731 (Tel : 6363)
Winfsurfing - Sailing (Enterprise class) - Dinghy sailing - Boating

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Information provided by Department of Tourism. Ministry of Tourism and Culture. Government of India.