Travel Guide

Attractions In & Around of Goa

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Agonda Beach	Carnival of Goa	Churches of Goa
Old Goa

Agonda Beach

37 Kms from Margao, this is a small, picturesque and secluded beach very popular with visitors wanting peace and solitude.

It long and lonely, fringed with palms and casuarinas and dominated by a large hill to the south. The best way to reach this beach is by a scooter or motors bike as it is a bit far.

It not safe to swim out too far on this beach. There are very few facilities available here and its necessary to carry all the essentials.

Imagine Alone!

Just the trees, the beach, the big beautiful ocean and you. It is a 3 Kilometers long beautiful cove of white sand, safely secluded in the palms. There are no tourists, no souvenir stalls, no restaurants, nothing. It is best for real adventure, to hire a tent and camp for the night, listening to the crashing of the roaring waves.

Not far from Agonda beach is Cabo de Rama, untouched by most of the visitors. The atmosphere of the fort creates a sense of history and drama. According to the local legends, Rama (hero of the Hindu epic Ramayana) stayed here with his wife Sita during the period of their exile. The fort is named after Rama.

Carnival of Goa

Manha de Carnival! You are right! This Brazilian song signifies the spirit behind the everlasting tradition of the Goan carnival, also popular the world over for celebrating the return of joy: alegria voltou.

The joy retreats every year for less than a week-five days in Brazil, four nights in Goa-before Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent which was once a dreary season of penance and abstinence-40 long week days preceding Easter Sunday.

It started as a way to "put away flesh" carelevvare in Old Italian. Carn meant flesh, and leavare to remove. But leavare could also mean to raise, perhaps to raise the way the Brazilians seem to interpret it.

People of every age group went their own way, did their own thing, insistently, unaccountably-without any regrets. And at the end of it, there were no queries and no replies. The cavaliers returned to their hovels in the slums, the fazendiros to their gorgeous ranches, and at the samba clubs the preparations used to start afresh for the next year's processions, balls and street dances. Carnival in Goa was a great leveler as illustrated by the so-called historians. Early accounts-all of them hearsay-are indeed educative. The white masters masqueraded as black slaves and the latter-generally slaves brought in from Mozambique-plastered their faces with flour and wore high battens, or walked on stilts. For those three ephemeral days, they were happy to be larger than life. And while the whites and the blacks mimicked each other the brown dwellers watched this reversal of roles in awe from the sidelines.

In course of time, when the imperial regime liberalized and inhibitions declined, Goa Carnival became a time for bonhomie. The old crude mimicry blossomed into social satire. In the villages, the playwrights pieced together in Khel (Konkani for play) anecdotes, events and criticism. The Portuguese Governor General, his family and retinue used the occasion for a show of diplomacy. At the Carnival balls, everyone danced toe-to-toe as if equals on the dance floor.

Once, Carnival was a mood. It had no spectators and the active participation of outsiders was totally a taboo. From dawn to dusk and back to dawn again, the great Goan Carnival exemplifies the proverb: "Eat, Drink and Be Merry"!

Churches of Goa

There are loads of Churches in Goa that are tourist attractions for global tourists. Churches of Goa exhibit the art and class of Portuguese. Their fine understanding of architecture and styles of carving can be experienced in these churches. Although they are patterned accordingly late 16th and 17th century, they still are the finest paradigm of beauty and class.

Goa Se Cathedral : -Se Cathedral is one of the most awesome parts of Goa dedicated to St. Catherine. Cross of Miracles placed in the cathedral is the main attraction of the people. People love the cross as it truly resembles Christ. Presently, cross in Goa is slowly developing.

Goa Basilica of Bom Jesus : - Basilica of Bom Jesus came into existence in 1605 and is one of the prominent pilgrimage centers. Basilica of Bom Jesus is located in Old Goa and recently this church has been tagged as World Heritage Monument. In this church, relics of St. Francis Xavier have been kept. As this church is opened once in a decade, thousands of people come to see the body of great saint St. Francis Xavier.

Old Goa

Old Goa about 9 Kms. east of Panaji, was once the capital of the eastern Portuguese Empire and is now a fascinating small village surrounded by huge convents and churches dedicated to the zeal of Christianity, including the Convent and Church of St. Francis of Assisi and the famous Basilica of Bom Jesus.

This ancient historical former capital of Goa is a UNESCO world heritage site now and is famed for its opulent buildings and churches reminiscent of the glory days of "Golden Goa". The Portuguese abandoned it officially in 1843 when the capital was moved to Panjim or Panaji.

Today, the archeological survey of India and the Archdiocese of Goa maintain most of the remaining buildings. It is a holy site for all Goans because it is the site where the sacred relics of St Francis Xavier or "Goencho Saib" are preserved for posterity.

History

Founded in 1510 by Alfonso de Albuquerque as the old capital, the place is replete with churches and more churches. Known as Velha Goa, the Old Goa settlement was founded by Adil Shah in the first decade of the 16th century.

Even before the arrival of the Portuguese, Old Goa was a thriving and prosperous city, and the second capital of the Adil Shahi dynasty Bijapur. It used to be the capital of Goa under Adil Shah and he wanted to shift his capital from Bijapur to Ela, but the arrival of the Portuguese changed the whole idea. Under the Portuguese the city grew rapidly in size and splendour eventually coming to Riva Lisbon itself, despite an epidemic in 1543, wiping out a large percentage of the population.

The decline of Portuguese influence in trade saw the decline of the city. Soon after, repeated attacks of cholera and malaria frustrated the Portuguese authorities. The Viceroy moved out of the city in 1695 to Panelim and finally to Panjim in 1759, hence the capital was also moved to Panaji officially. With the departure of the Viceroy and the coincidental expulsion of the Jesuits, the population fell down drastically. Over the next years, the buildings were allowed to fall in ruins. Some of the old buildings have become museums.

Many huge Churches Monasteries and convent were erected by the various religion orders, which came to Goa under royal mandates.

Several ships belonging to Arabs, Jews, Persians and Malabaris called at this port. Grandeur was the middle name for this flourishing port, which soon came alive with many magnificent palaces, mosques, temples, orchards and commercial centers. Old Goa was a center for Haj pilgrimage and was also famous for its ship building industry. Today, as you saunter into Old Goa, you are transported into another world, somewhere along Iberian culture.

Attraction Around

There is a font in the church, linking Old Goa past and present. People believe that it was possibly a vessel of Hindu origin but here it was used by Goa patron saint, St. Francis Xavier.

Another evidence is the frescoes on the buttressed walls combining European and Indian elements, which is all more evident in the Church of our Lady of the Rosary.

The Basilica of Bom Jesus is another magnificent cathedral where the mortal remains of St. Francis are kept. It is the best example of Baroque architecture in India.

There are many more churches in Old Goa. Some are in a state of deterioration and some just in disuse. The Convent of St. Monica is one of the largest nunneries of Goa.

Reaching Old Goa

There is a frequent bus service from Panaji that takes not more than 15 to 20 minutes to reach Old Goa. The ride from Panaji is very attractive as the road passes over the causeway built over a swamp by the then Viceroy.