Having arrived in Goa and having rested for several days on the beach, tourists begin to look for more active recreation. In our article we will tell you about the attractions located in or near the southern part of Goa, as well as about longer excursions that you can go on through travel agencies located in each of them.

You can rent a taxi, as we did, and go around all the beaches on your own. The cost of the entire car in this case will be 3000 rupees per day, and the more people gather (but no more than 6), the cheaper such an independent excursion will be for each person.

But if you are not interested in all the beaches, but only the most “paradise” ones, then you can buy a tour from a travel agency for $ 40. The excursion includes a visit to the most beautiful beaches of South Goa (Kola, Butterfly) and a boat trip from one of the beaches, during which there is a high probability of seeing dolphins.

Paradise, deserted Kola beach with black sand in South Goa

Some travel agencies include in this excursion the delivery of tourists for dinner to Galgibaga Beach (Turtle Beach), which is famous for its oyster restaurants (if we had oysters there, they were great, they cost only 200 rupees per serving of 7 large oysters).

Old Goa and Panaji

Panaji is the capital of Goa. The heart of the city is the square with the Church of the Immaculate Conception.

Church of the Immaculate Conception in Panaji

Panaji is interesting for its colonial Portuguese architecture: walking around it you can’t tell that this is India.

Portuguese streets in Panaji

People usually come to Panaji for shopping: the city has such famous stores as Levi’s, Adidas, Nike. In addition to these, of course, Panaji also has many local brand stores, so shopping should definitely be a success.

Panaji has its own embankment, a favorite place for local residents to walk.

Embankment in Panaji

Old Goa is the former capital of the state, located 12 km from Panaji.

Old Goa is famous for its Catholic churches from the times of the Portuguese colonialists (who were expelled from Goa only in 1961). All these churches are included in the UNESCO heritage list.

The largest and most famous churches in Old Goa are the Basilica of Bom Jesus, the Church of St. Francis of Assisi and the Se Cathedral.

Basilica de Bom Jesus. The church is famous for housing the relics of St. Francis Xavier, the most ardent preacher of the Catholic faith in Asia.

You can come to Panaji and Old Goa on your own by bus, tuk-tuk or taxi, or you can buy a tour from a street travel agency for $35.

Fort Cabo de Rama

Unlike other forts in Goa built by the Portuguese, Fort Cabo de Rama appeared on the cape of the same name long before the arrival of the Portuguese. It was built by Hindus for defense against Muslim invaders. After Goa was captured not by Muslims, but by the Portuguese, the fort was restored in 1763 and a new Catholic church appeared in it.

The territory of the former fort is huge: as much as 180 sq. km. From 1935 to 1955, there was a prison in the fort, but today the fort is completely abandoned and almost completely destroyed: only the fortress gates and a small section of the fortress wall have survived.

The fort is located on a cape, between the beaches of Canaguinim and Cola. Fort Cabo de Rama on the map:

Fort Aguada

It is not located in South Goa, but on a cape immediately after the southernmost of all the beaches of North Goa - Sinquerim Beach. The walls of the fort can already be seen from the beaches of Candolim and Sinquerim.

This is an ancient Portuguese fort built in 1612 to protect the mouth of the Mandovi River. Consists of upper and lower parts. The upper part served to service the fort, while the lower part actually served to protect the shore. In the upper part of the fort there is the largest storage of drinking water, from which the name of the fort came (“aguada” translated from Portuguese - water).

In 1864, the Portuguese built a 4-story lighthouse on the territory of the fort. The fort offers excellent views of the ocean.

In the mid-19th century, Indian authorities converted the southernmost bastion of the fort into a prison where political prisoners were imprisoned. Interestingly, this prison (Aguada Jail) is still in operation today, being the only functioning prison in the state of Goa. This underground prison now houses many foreigners convicted of drug offenses.

And the bastion overlooking the Sinquerim beach has today been converted into a luxurious five-star hotel Taj Fort Aguada Resort & Spa, where you can rent a room from 12,000 rubles per night.

View of the hotel in Fort Aguada

There is also a large helipad on the territory of the fort, famous for its incendiary parties. The site was built in the 1980s.

The territory of the fort is huge; you can estimate its size from the map, on which the main buildings are marked with numbers:

1. The main building of the fort, and the lighthouse.
2. Defense structures from the Sinquerim and Candolim beaches.
3. Prison (Aguada jail)
4. Helipad
5. Fort Aguada Beach Resort Hotel

The fort is open to the public from 10 am to 6 pm.

Fort Aguada on the map:

Dudhsagar Falls, Spice Plantation and Elephant Ride

In my opinion, this is the main attraction of Goa and is definitely worth a visit. Dudhsagar Falls is beautiful and very unusual, if only because there is a railway bridge right under it, over which trains still run.

Dudhsagar is located on the territory of the Bhagwan Mahavir Nature Reserve (its area is 240 sq. km), which is home to tigers, panthers, deer, mongooses and many species of rare birds. You won’t see all these rare animals (they hide well), but there will be plenty of monkeys.

The waterfall looks most beautiful during the rainy season, but at this time it is impossible to reach it. We went to Dudhsagar in early November and it was quite full of water. But in February there is practically nothing left of it.

Typically, a visit to the waterfall is combined with a visit to a spice plantation and an elephant nursery (where you can ride an elephant or swim with baby elephants). You can get to the waterfall by rented car with a driver, the cost of a whole day’s rental is 3000 rupees. All drivers know this route. Taking a taxi is beneficial if there are more than 2 people. If you are vacationing in Goa alone, it will be cheaper to buy an excursion from a travel agency; the cost of the “Waterfall, Spice Plantation, Elephant Riding” tour is - $ 45 (swimming or riding an elephant costs extra).

Murdeshwar, Gokarna and Om Beach

Murdeshwar is a city in the neighboring state of Goa, Karnataka, like Goa, located on the coast. Famous for the second tallest statue of the god Shiva in the world. This is a Hindu shrine and there is a temple underneath the statue.

The Gopura Tower, along with the statue of Shiva, is also a symbol of Murdeshvara. Essentially, it's just a huge gate, but it's incredibly beautiful. Inside the gopura there is emptiness, there is only one elevator that takes all tourists to the top of the tower, from where the best views of Shiva and the coast open.

The whole tower consists of many small sculptures, it looks very beautiful

An excursion to Murdeshwar is always accompanied by a stop at the holy city of Gokarna and Om Beach.

Gokarna is an important Hindu pilgrimage site as it is believed that it was here that Shiva was born from the ear of the sacred cow Prithivi, who was actually the ancient Indian earth goddess who took the form of a cow.

In Gokarna there is the sacred temple of Mahabaleshwar, which houses an object of great power - the sacred lingam (genital organ) of Shiva, it is called Shivalingam. But tourists will not be able to see the relic; only Hindu pilgrims are allowed to see it.

Mahabaleshwar

Also in Gokarna there is the sacred Koti Tirtha, which, according to legend, washes away sins in the same way as the largest Hindu shrine - the Ganges River. The lake has a rectangular shape and is all overgrown with lotuses.

Koti Tirtha Lake in Gokarna

Even though Lake Kotitirtha is sacred, many pilgrims drown in it every year. It is also believed that there are crocodiles in the lake, so swimming in it is still a pleasure.

Om Beach is called so because from above its outline resembles this most famous Indian sign OM, the sign looks something like the number 30:

and here are the outlines of the beach:

The cost of the excursion “Murdeshwar, Gokarna, Om Beach” from South Goa is - $ 65 per person.

Bondla Zoo (Reserve)

The area of ​​the Bondla reserve is 8 sq. km. On this territory there is a small zoo, a deer safari park, an English geometric park, and a botanical park. There is also an eco-village on the territory of the reserve.

In fact, the entire territory of Bondla is divided into two parts: a reserve with impenetrable jungle and landscaped park areas and a zoo. The cost of entry to the zoo is 20 rupees, another 30 rupees will have to be paid for a camera if you want to take photographs inside the park. When planning a trip to Bondla, it is worth considering that Monday is their day off.

The Internet says that in the territory of the reserve you can meet such animals as bison, panther, leopard, wild boars, etc. But in fact, it is simply unrealistic to meet them, just like in the territory of the Bhagwan Mahavir reserve (the one in which the waterfall is located Dudhsagar). But everyone can see monkeys and ducks.

The same animals that theoretically roam freely throughout the reserve, but are not visible to tourists, can be seen in the zoo. In the cages of the zoo live: panther, lion, bison, deer, bear, crocodiles and lizards, monkeys, hippopotamus.

Bison at Bondla Zoo

You can also ride elephants in Bondla.

The best way to get here is by taxi; you can also ride a bike, but the road is very bad. But there is no public transport to Bondla: at most you can take a bus to the town of Ponda, and from there take a taxi. Bondla Nature Reserve on the map:

Margao

Magao is the second largest city (after Vasco da Gamma) and the commercial capital of the state of Goa. People most often come here, as in Panaji, for shopping. In the center of Margao there is a large market called Margao Market. In general, there are several markets in the city, including fish markets. For example, we walked around New Market (there is also Old Market), because it was closest to the bus stop:

You can get to Margao from any beach in South Goa by bus, we went from 15 rupees per person.

In addition to markets and shopping, in Margao you can stroll through the beautiful Municipal Park:

You can also go to the church on Monte Hill, which offers a beautiful view of the city:

There are few attractions in Margao, but you can just walk around the city and look at the Portuguese streets and mansions:

Read more about the city of Margao in our.

Behind Cavelossim beach there is one not very well-known Baradi church, which you can stop by if you are passing by. The church itself is small and unremarkable, but it offers very beautiful views of palm plantations and the Sal River delta:

The cross at the church is considered miraculous and healing

Little Chapel of Barodi

Canyoning (extreme trip in the jungle)

For extreme sports enthusiasts, Goa also has its own excursion. Canyoning is a descent down a mountain stream canyon, which includes hiking through the jungle, rappelling along a waterfall and jumping into natural mountain pools from different heights.

The cost of such an extreme excursion is from $90 to $115(depending on the complexity of the route, there are several of them).

Having seen everything within Goa (and the nearest attractions - Mursheshwar and Gokarna), you can go on longer, 2- and 3-day excursions. Of course, if you have a very short tour, for example, 10-12 days, it is better to relax on the beach after visiting the nearby attractions. But if you have a longer time at your disposal, for example a month, you can travel to more spectacular, but also more distant, interesting places in India.

The most interesting excursions from South Goa to India and their approximate prices:

• Hampi(2 days) — $95-$115 s person
• Jaipur(2 days) — from $450 to $550(depending on the hotel class). The tour includes flights.
• Delhi and Agra (Taj Mahal) 3 days, 2 nights - from $500 to $600
• Golden Triangle– Delhi, Agra and Jaipur (4 days and 3 nights) – $600 to $700
• Mumbai(3 days) — from $300

Goa is the smallest of all Indian states. In terms of the number of attractions, it is difficult for it to compete with other, much larger regions of the country. However, there are plenty of remarkable places here that are worth paying attention to.

First of all, the attractions of India in Goa include natural sites and reserves, which are sufficient even in such a small area. And while most of them are common to Goa and neighboring states (particularly Karnataka), some of them are specific to Goa.

This is the largest reserve in the state, occupying 240 square meters. km of territory. It is located on the slopes of the Western Ghats mountains, which are natural border of the states of Goa and Karnaka. This territory received the status of a reserve in 1969, and a little later, in 1978, its central part, occupying almost half of the total area, became a National Park called Mollem.

Bhagwan Mahavir is interesting for his incredible diversity of vegetation and animals. We can thank the high average annual humidity for this. Frequent rains constantly replenish water sources, and they, in turn, make it possible to grow here a huge number of trees and shrubs. Moreover, their crowns are so tightly closed that grass cannot grow on the ground due to lack of light.

The fauna is also very widely represented. First of all, these are, of course, the kings of the local forests - leopards and bengal tigers. Of no less interest are the graceful Axis deer and a host of other smaller animals. An impressive number of varieties are presented and birds.

A jeep is the most optimal means of transportation around the territory. Only with this vehicle can you get to the architectural landmarks of the reserve - the temples of the Kadamba dynasty and no less remarkable natural sites - the Devil's Canyon, Tambdi Waterfall and Dudhsagar Waterfall.

One of the popular attractions in North Goa. The waterfall got its name from the color of its falling water, which appears white. Literally translated, its name sounds like this: “milk ocean.”

The total length of the waterfall, cascading down several rocky terraces, is 603 meters, and its height is 310 meters. Such impressive dimensions allowed it to be included in the hundred highest waterfalls in the world. Its water flows into a clean mountain lake where you can swim.

The best time to visit Dudhsagar is the winter months, when it is not so hot and there are no monsoon rains.

Watch the video “Dudhsagar Waterfall”

This place is considered the smallest in the state of Goa. Its area is only 8 square meters. km. Due to its size, the Bondla Nature Reserve resembles a garden rather than the jungle in which it is located. However, this area is the tourist center of the state. Adding to the beauty are two rivers - Madkhel and Rangao - flowing here.

It is most popular among families with children, since in the reserve you can look at various animals up close, some of which live in enclosures ( leopards, bison, bison and others), and some calmly stroll among the gawking tourists. Fans of even more exotic things can rent an elephant and ride it. True, it costs extra money.

In addition, the Bondla Nature Reserve is a paradise for ornithologists and bird lovers. There are a great variety of them here, including some unique ones, such as Indian peacock.

Another tourist site on the territory of the reserve was discovered during the construction of a zoo there. Builders stumbled upon something in the jungle Indian temple ruins, which contained stone slabs with Hindu deities carved on them. They were hidden in a temple lost in the jungle so that they would not be destroyed by the Portuguese inquisitors. Now the found slabs are kept in the Bondla Nature Reserve.

About 20 km from the administrative center of Goa - the city of Panaji - there is a small village of Priol. There is a very beautiful and most visited temple in the state - Mangesh. The Hindu god Mangeshi is one of the incarnations of the powerful god Shiva. The main shrine of the temple is considered to be Linga Mangeshi, which is a stone containing the divine essence, which was consecrated at one time by Brahma himself.

The temple building is a real work of art of Indian architects. It is difficult to name the main attraction of this religious building, because it is amazingly perfect everywhere. But still, its most beautiful buildings are considered to be the one standing at the gate seven-story white tower and graceful columns. In the main hall of the temple there are 19th century chandeliers of the finest workmanship, and the room itself can simultaneously accommodate 500 people. Near the main building is the oldest building of the complex - the temple pond.

The Mangesh Temple is active, in it special rituals - pujas - are held daily. Once a week, the main temple idol is carried through the streets of the village. Unfortunately, due to the inappropriate behavior of foreign tourists, they have recently stopped allowing visitors inside the temple. But even from the outside, looking at such a beautiful monument of Indian architecture is worth a lot.

On the northern bank at the mouth of the Tirakol River there is a military fortification - Fort Tirakol (in the local dialect Terekkhol). This is the northernmost part of the state of Goa. It was built by Maharaja Khem Sawant Bhonsla- Raja Sawantwadi in the 17th century. The northern bank of the river was chosen for the fort due to the fact that from there it had an excellent view of the waters of the Arabian Sea and the nearby coast.

Inside the fort there was a chapel and barracks for the military unit that was on duty there. The armament consisted of 12 fortress cannons. But in 1746, the Portuguese, led by the Viceroy of India Pedro Miguel de Almeida, started a war against the Raja Maharaja. After a series of battles, including naval ones, the Maharajah lost the war, and the fort passed into the hands of the Portuguese, who almost 20 years later it was completely rebuilt.

Due to the advantageous position of the fortification, there was a constant struggle for its possession, and at times very bloody. In those wars, along with the people, the fort itself suffered greatly. True, it was quickly restored later. The Portuguese ruled until 1961, when the fort finally came under Indian mandate. The chapel inside Tiracol was eventually rebuilt into a full-fledged church, now bearing the name of St. Anthony.

At this time, the fort has been rebuilt into a cozy hotel, next to which is the northernmost beach in Goa.

The main attraction of South Goa is.

Of course, the listed objects do not end the list of interesting places in the state of Goa. Temples from pre-colonial times, Portuguese churches from the colonial era, Anjuna market, beaches and nature reserves... To list them all, you would have to write a whole book. But this is just the smallest Indian state. I would like to note that excursions are organized to all the sights of Goa, so getting there to see and remember for a lifetime is not difficult. All it takes is desire.

Sights of Goa photo

Below are some photos of the sights. Let's look and admire!

There are 28 states in India, Goa is the smallest of them. At the same time, this is where most independent travelers from Russia flock. The reason is low prices, an abundance of magnificent sandy beaches and the opportunity to combine relaxation with an overview of local attractions.

We will tell you about interesting places in North and South Goa, and decide where to go first. The final part of the article contains an overview of excursion programs. May Shiva be with you!

What sights should you see first?

To expand your coverage of historical and cultural sites, you need to move quickly. The transport system in Goa is primitive, but quite colorful. Here are the main types of transport there:

• Taxi. There is no meter, the price will have to be negotiated right away.
• Auto rickshaw. Cycle rickshaws exist in Goa, but they are gradually being replaced by auto rickshaws. Be sure to take advantage of their services to experience the flavor of Goa.
• Rented car or bike. Our tourists prefer the latter option. A month of travel will empty your pocket by only 60-100 dollars.

Most of the attractions and excursions in Goa (of those that are worth visiting) come down to churches, temples, monuments of Portuguese and Hindu architecture, nature reserves and natural parks. First of all, here's what you need to see in Goa:

One of the most popular attractions is the face of Shiva.

Three unusual attractions to explore on your own

“Package” tourists see a standard set of attractions. We suggest taking matters into your own hands and exploring unusual and sometimes even strange places in India on your own. So, what to see in Goa on your own - here are the three best points:

Difficult choice between South and North

High-quality beach holidays are associated with the south of the state, but people go to the north for noisy parties under the stars.

The choice between North and South is not always easy - there are plenty of exciting places in both regions, let's try to highlight the best.

If you are not afraid of hippies (they are, in principle, quite peaceful) and cheap hotels, you should choose North Goa for living. By the way, if you are interested in shopping in Goa, then here is information about what medicines to bring from Goa.

Here is a list of the most interesting places in this region:

Sights of South Goa

Exotic thickets, clean beaches, nature reserves - this is what the southern part of Goa looks like. We have already covered it in a separate article. Now we have a review of several popular places not related to sunbathing and swimming. Here they are:

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More and more tourists are vacationing abroad. They prefer to independently explore the sights of the city in which they are vacationing. This has to do with a few things. Firstly, it’s cheaper - you don’t need to pay a guide. Secondly, no one limits you in time, you don’t need to listen to the guide and always be in a hurry. After all, he is paid in hours and is in a hurry, but you want to take a photo, admire it, and drink coffee. Thirdly, when you look at beautiful places on your own, you always know when and where you will go. But the guides have everything planned out, and you’ll just get exhausted and have time to take a couple of crooked pictures. But to see everything yourself, you need a new map of Goa with attractions. In Russian, such a map will be much more useful. Our users have created their own map, thanks to which you can easily find the place you need, create a route to it and easily get there. Look at the map, use it and relax wisely.

Main attractions of Goa

The Indian state of Goa has many attractions. We will tell you about the main ones, and you will be very surprised.
Let's start with the beaches, which are considered attractions here. For example, the beach is om. As you know, Buddhists always make this sound when they meditate. The beach was named so because it is beautiful and calm. You can relax on it, enjoy life and not rush anywhere. Everything that Buddhists love. And the sound “OM”, according to Buddhists, is the beginning of our universe. She is beautiful, just like this beach.

Another attraction that has to do with water is the Arvalem waterfall. Its noise, the sound of water flying from the rocks, can be heard for many kilometers. At the bottom of the waterfall is a lake that is so beautiful that tourists can’t hold back and swim in it. The waterfall itself is large and scary at first. Huge streams of water fly down at high speed. If you look at it. It seems as if it is not water, but milk. At such a speed of flow and fall, the water takes on the color of milk and becomes white-white.

But still, most of the attractions in Goa are temples and monasteries with churches. India has always been considered a religious country. For this reason, hundreds of thousands of temples and monasteries were built throughout its territory. There is no point in listing them all. When you are on the peninsula, it is enough to visit 2-3 temples, and you will understand a lot about the culture of the country.

Wildlife sanctuaries and national parks are also attractions in Goa. Animals and birds that are on the verge of extinction are bred in the reserves. Exotic animals are brought here from all over the world. And national parks are the pride of the country. There animals live in the wild, but are protected by people.

India has always been famous for its spices. In the state of Goa there is a whole plantation, which is called a spice plantation. Various spices are grown there and shipped all over the world. When you go there, tie a scarf on your nose. The various smells of spices can make you sneeze and choke.

When is the best time to visit Goa for attractions?
This can be done all year round. but it’s still better to choose the right time. For example, in the winter months it is the height of the beach season and there are a lot of tourists. Prices are too high and during this period of time it is better to relax on the beach. Plus the air temperature is very high.
In summer, it rains in Tata territory. They will not prevent you from visiting temples, monasteries, museums and exhibitions. But walking in the pouring rain is not very pleasant. And if you get bored with exploring the culture and want to relax by the sea. It won't work. Rain, strong wind, high waves - you can’t relax here in the summer.
The best time to travel to Goa for sightseeing purposes is the beginning of spring and the end of autumn. During these periods the weather is not hot, but there may be rain. There are few tourists, hotel prices are modest. These days there are a lot of tourists walking around the cities, visiting exhibitions and having a great time.

Now it's time to look at the map. It shows the most interesting places according to tourists. The map can be controlled, it can be rotated and rotated. Click on the icons on the map. And find out more about this place.

When coming to Goa, be sure to stock up on a map with attractions. The architectural heritage of colonial India, tropical nature, rich landscape, cities with an oriental flavor - everyone will find something to see in Goa with a tour or on their own. Plan your trips in advance because you will need a lot of time. In addition to local beauties, you can see the country with sightseeing tours.

Types of excursions

To visit the most beautiful corners of the state, you can use several excursion options:

1. Take advantage of an organized trip booked in advance at the agency. Both as part of a group and individually. Their services are provided by local operators and guides, travel agencies from whom you purchased your tour, as well as hotels.
2. Take the trip on your own. For a fee, you can take an old-timer from your compatriots as a guide. A great option would be to rent a taxi for the whole day. Taxi drivers are well aware of what to visit in Goa; any driver will be happy to show you interesting places. You can see the sights without outside help by renting a bike, and be sure to be armed with a guidebook.

Excursions in South Goa

The sights of southern Goa are a must-see, starting with the unofficial capital of the south - Margao. There is a huge market here. A sea of ​​impressions and shopping with an oriental flavor are guaranteed to you. Taking photographs of the sights of Goa is sometimes simply useless. It’s worth using a video camera in Margao: it has a special atmosphere and a whirlwind of bright colors.

There is an ethnographic museum not far from Margao. People call him "Big Foot". A huge open-air exhibition gives an idea not only of culture, but also of Indian life since the Middle Ages.

Geographically, it is in the southern part of Old Goa, a city whose architectural values ​​are included in the UNESCO heritage list.

Be sure to touch the history and the retro cars themselves. A themed museum with a decent collection a short drive from Margao. An equally interesting place is the Aviation Museum in Vasco da Gama.

Given the presence of a railway station from the city, you can quickly get to neighboring states to see the country. Tours from Margao often go to Hampi and Gokarna.

To travel along the coast, use Colva Road, which ends in Cavelossim. The picturesque beach will delight you with its proximity to the beautiful mouth of the Sal River. The coast of Cavelossim is favored by dolphins.

The southern direction will delight you with prehistoric petroglyphs and caves in Usgalimala.

Sights of North Goa

Sights of northern Goa is a rather relative concept. The legendary hippies left a great legacy that must be experienced and cannot always be seen. Although there are many quite tangible values ​​here.

Of what to see in North Goa, the following stand out:

• the forts of Aguada, Chapora and Redi;
• night market in Arpora and flea market in Anjuna;
• Kerkar gallery.

There is a Juice Center near Chapora Fort. In Goa, this is a real attraction that will give you the pleasure of amazing fruit juices.

In addition, in Vagator (Goa - north) you should definitely look at Shiva, whose face is simply carved in stone on the shore. Between Vagator and Anjuna there is an excellent vantage point - a high hill with views of the Chapora fort, the Indian Ocean and the tropical jungle. To see the real treasures of colonial architecture you will have to go south.

Whole Goa in one day

The state of Goa is the smallest state in India. It stretches for 100 km along the sea on the west side and mountains on the east. Despite the fact that excursions to Goa in one day are very popular, it is unlikely that you will not be able to see and understand the greatness of the sights. Although for review purposes this is the best option. This way you can map out a route, and then come back and visit interesting places on your own.

Among the excursion routes designed for one day, it is necessary to highlight:

1. Trip to the spice plantations of Goa. In addition to elephant riding, you will definitely be offered to see the cathedrals in the jungle that are characteristic of Goa, as well as the spectacular Dudhsagar waterfall.
2. An interesting tour of cities and towns. See temples and churches in Vasco da Gama, Panaji, Old Goa. Plunge into the atmosphere of night markets. Look at the world famous beaches.
3. It will be interesting for a tourist to take a boat trip. You will be offered diving in the most interesting places and river rafting. A magnificent view of Fort Aguada, which demarcates the south of Goa and the north. Beautiful views with dolphins in the open sea.

Excursion routes differ in the south and north of Goa. In one day you can see the most interesting places in only one part of the state, and then go to another.

Cost of excursions season 2017-2018

A sightseeing tour of Goa costs on average between $40-100. The price can reach up to $400 depending on the departure location and route. You should not book a tour immediately after arrival. Look around and ask questions. The peculiarity of Indian pricing is to include a good premium for bargaining. Moreover, in respectable Cavelossim you will be charged 50% more interest than in democratic cities of the north.

What to see on your own

In fact, it is not at all necessary to take excursions to see the sights. Tourists recommend renting a bike, arming yourself with a guidebook and setting off to explore India on your own. It will definitely be cheaper and more interesting. Much more likely to take memorable photos. There is no problem with what to do in Goa: there are attractions even on the beaches.

Armed with the card you can:

1. Immerse yourself in meditation next to one of the waterfalls. The most majestic is Dudhsagar, but there is also Amboli, Surla, Jog falls.
2. See the reserves of Cotigao, Bondla, Bhagwan Mahavir, the Salim Ali bird sanctuary, the banyan thickets in Arambol and one of the spice plantations. To choose from: Tropical Spice, Pascoal, Sahakari.
3. Take photos of magnificent views of rivers, lakes and small islands nearby.
4. Visit museums located in cities and simply in the open air: rare cars near Margao, naval aviation in Bogmalo, as well as ethnography. Those who visit the car museum will boast not only photos, but also the experience of driving vintage vehicles.
5. Experience the history of medieval conquests in the dilapidated forts in Goa. They offer good views for photos. Fort Chapora, Aguada, Caba da Rama, Alorna, Redi fort, Bhimghat, Tiracol, Korjum, Reis Magos.

The most visited city of interest for excursions is Old Goa. Architectural objects are included in the list of significant attractions of India and the world. The Cathedral of St. Catherine is of particular value. In Goa, all UNESCO heritage sites are located in the old city.

Must-sees in Goa

Even if you don't make it to Redi Fort or Chapora Fort, Aguada Fort in Goa is a mecca for all tourists that lies at the junction of north and south. In addition, at least when passing from Dabolim, you need to see Vasco da Gama - the largest city, by the standards of the state.

It would be a crime to visit here and not see:

1. Basilica of Bom Jesus and St. Catherine in Old Goa.
2. Dudhsagar waterfall.
3. Dilapidated forts.
4. Spice plantations.
5. Markets.

If you are staying in the north, be sure to drive along the coastline along the beaches of the south. The landscape of Varka or Cavelossim is different from Anjuna or Vagator. This is also one of the attractions of the coast.

Map of Goa with attractions in Russian

When traveling on your own, you can use a map with marked attractions.

Of course, it shows that most of the architectural monuments are located in the south of the region. However, the bustling north will provide an opportunity to enjoy the spirit of freedom and an eclectic mix of cultures.

You can stop, say, in Cavelossim, see all the historical and natural attractions, but still not understand what the spirit of Goa is.

The peculiarity of Goa is that when going deeper into the jungle, you can almost certainly see small Hindu temples, stumble upon picturesque lakes, and impenetrable tropical thickets. To do this, it is not at all necessary to go on long excursions.