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The tiny piece of
paradise- Goa, lies in the West Coast of India and is spread over an
area of 3,702 sq. kms. With a coastline of 105 kms it is washed by the
Arabian Sea. Goa's outstanding attractions are its serene and scenic
beauty, diverse landscape- wide, sandy, palm - fringed beaches, clean
waters, delicious food and hospitable people with a rich cultural
milieu.
Goan culture is a confluence of many religions, faiths and traditions.
People from various religions live in absolute communal harmony and
participate wholeheartedly in the religious festivals of others. The
Portuguese invaders destroyed many temples and mosques. As a result most
of the temples are relatively new, though some date back to over 400
years.
There is no sea food like the Goan sea food. The shoreline stretched
over miles, numerous river streams and the ponds produce the most
amazing variety of fishes and other sea food. Delicious tiger prawns,
oysters, shellfish, and black river crabs are available in plenty. The
variety in fishes includes king fish, tuna, shark, rock fish and
sardines. You can never have enough of the delectable Squids,
cuttlefish, sea prawns, lobsters and mussels available here.
 Donot
miss out on the fabulous Feni, an alcohol produced only in Goa from the
coconut and cashew tree.
Goan churches are absolutely peaceful and beautiful. The Church
of St Francis of Assisi, with its gilded and carved woodwork,
murals and a floor made of grave stones, it is one of the most
interesting buildings of Goa. The Church of St Monica
is as old as the 17th century. Se Cathedral is the
largest church of Old Goa. Built for the Dominicans in 1562, it still
retains its old splendor.
Places to visit:
Old Goa - is located nine km east of Panajim and is
famous for its churches and cathedrals. The Archaeological Survey of
India has given some of the old buildings a facelift by converting them
into museums maintained. The spiritual heart of Christian Goa, Old Goa
has been given World Heritage Status by Unesco for its extraordinarily
grand churches and convents.
Basilica of Bom Jesus - The 1605 church of Bom Jesus,
"Good" or "Menino Jesus", is known principally for
the tomb of St Francis Xavier. In 1946, it became the first church in
India to be granted the status of Minor Basilica. On the west, the
three-storey Renaissance facade combines Corinthian, Doric, Ionic and
Composite styles. The church can be entered from beneath the choir,
supported by columns. On the northern wall, in the centre of the nave,
is a cenotaph in gilded bronze to Dom Jeronimo Mascaranhas, the Captain
of Cochin and benefactor of the church. The main altar, beautifully
engraved in gold, projects the infant Jesus under the protection of St
Ignatius Loyola.
Vasco Da Gama - is on the narrow western tip of the
Mormugao peninsula, overlooking the mouth of the Zuari River. Acquired
by the Portuguese in 1543, the port town of Vasco-Da-Gama - popularly
known as Vasco - was formerly among the busiest ports on India's west
coast. It remains a thriving and key shipping centre, with container
vessels and iron-ore barges crowding the river mouths. Vasco is Goa's
most cosmopolitan city.
Dudhsagar Waterfalls- Measuring a mighty 600m from head
to foot, the famous waterfalls at Dudhsagar on the Goa-Karnataka border,
are some of the highest in India, and a spectacular sight. It attracts a
steady stream of visitors from the coast into the rugged Western Ghats.
After pouring across the Deccan plateau, the headwaters of the Mandovi
River form a foaming torrent that fans into three streams, then cascades
down a near-vertical cliff face into a deep green pool. The Konkani name
for the falls, which literally translated means "sea of milk",
derives from clouds of foam that gathers at the bottom when the water
levels are at their highest. Overlooking a steep, crescent-shaped head
of a valley carpeted with pristine tropical forest, Dudhsagar is also
set amid breathtaking scenery that is only accessible on foot or by
train.
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