Are you tired of constantly wishing ‘Bon Voyage’ to your family and friends traveling in and around the world? Is the desperate wanderlust inside you doing a somersault inside your chest, pushing you to embark on a trip soon?
Looking forward to a crazy bachelor’s trip with your buddies, or looking for a place to spend quality time with your loved ones?
An ex-Portugal colony, widely known for its relaxing beaches across the globe, Goa shall certainly turn out to be your haven to seek solace from this commitment-ridden world.
Today we’re discussing the top 7 tourist spots one must not fail to check out if they ever happen to be in the lap of Goa.
It is not only the beaches that grab the eyeballs of the tourists who lay their foot in Goa for the first time.
Located on the southwestern coast of India, this Konkan state shall leave you mesmerized even with its lavish architecture and elegantly constructed churches.
Here is a list of 7 tourist attractions you must brace yourselves for, for your next soulful Goan-getaway:
- Aguada Fort: A well-preserved, 17th-century Portuguese fort, Fort Aguada is located in Candolim, near the Sinquerim beach. Erected in 1864, it is the oldest of its kind in Asia. What makes this fort even more special is its ginormous capacity to store water. Attached to the fort is a lighthouse that sheds its light on the beach, thereby creating a scenic moment every time a tourist runs towards the waves.
Image Credits: Vignesh Jayaprakash from Unsplash
2. Basilica of Bom Jesus: Deemed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, this place is a Basilica, known as a law court or a public assembly hall in Ancient Rome. The term ‘Bom Jesus’ translates to ‘Infant Jesus’ which explains that it is a highly revered pilgrimage center. What is even more exciting is that it also houses the mortal remains of the Spanish Catholic Missionary, Saint Francis Xavier, which are taken out only once a decade!
Image Credits: Aviatorjk from Wikimedia Commons
3. Dudhsagar Waterfalls: If you’re someone who fancies sitting by the riverside and watching the pit-patter of water for hours, Dudhsagar Waterfalls is just the place for you! Avid bikers can race their way through the terrains near the waterfall and simultaneously catch a glimpse of this picturesque sight.
Located inside the Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary, the milky waterfall comes down gushing from a height of approximately 310 meters, which makes it India’s fifth-highest waterfall! The waterfall is at the peak of its glory when it rains in Goa.
Image Credits: Hemanth Kumar L from Unsplash
4. Calangute Beach: The largest beach in Goa, often referred to as the ‘Queen of Beaches,’ Calangute offers a plethora of water sports to its tourists, ranging from Banana Boat rides to parasailing to Jet Ski. There is a lot more adventure that awaits thrill-seekers at the beach.
Attached closely to the beach is a flea market flooded with tourists, at all times. The splendid nightlife at this beach and the readily available seafood at the shacks provide an exotic experience of marine life.
Image Credits: Arulvallavan from Wikimedia Commons
5. Anjuna Flea Market: This massive Flea Market at Monteiro Vaddo, Anjuna comes across as a one-stop-shop for all the hippies who are on the go, looking for clothes and accessories to amp up their style quotient. Stocked up with Tibetan and Nepali goods, this humongous market is a treasure trove for shopaholics to hop from one stall to another.
Handicrafts, bamboo sling bags, and kaftans are always in high demand here. This market is a vibrant splash of colors and lives up to its expectations of catering to all its tourists’ needs.
Image Credits: Alexey Komarov from Wikimedia Commons
6. Chapora Fort: If you’re a Bollywood buff, then this fort shall certainly prove to be your paradise. The Chapora Fort stands tall in its glory at Bardez and rose to fame when the cast of the famous Hindi movie ‘Dil Chahta Hai’ shot for a scene here.
After the Portuguese recovered from an encounter with the Marathas, they provided shelter to the people at this fort. The fort offers a view of the Chapora River, which once witnessed several battles and bloodshed take place at the fort, one after another. Known for its endurance as a historical monument for ages, if you get the chance to experience the regality of this fort, do not miss checking out the sunset view!
Image Credits: Prayash Giria from Wikimedia Commons
7. Candolim Beach: If you seek solitude, or wish to engage in deep contemplation, and want your creative juices to flow in while simultaneously appreciating the scenic view of the waves, Candolim Beach will certainly allow you to do so. It is a smaller beach with less influx of tourists but is rather peaceful if you’re looking for ways to detox and recharge your social battery.
Image Credits: Harvinder Chandigarh from Wikimedia Commons
Goa is not a hidden gem anymore with 70 lakh tourists flocking to the state each year. No matter how overrated this Konkani paradise may become in the years to come, it shall never lose its essence of being the only state that harbors contentment in the hearts of its visitors. It offers both means of entertainment as well as providing relevant context to its historical past with its lavishly constructed forts and churches!
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