Some Facts
about Goan Histroy
Goa has a rich and varied history. It was part of the Mauryan
Empire in the 3 rd century BC, followed by the rule of the Satvahanas of
Kolhapur and the Bhojas who made Chandor their capital. From 580 - 750 AD the
Chalukyas of Badami held sway over Goa until the Silharas took control in 1086
AD. The State Museum at Panaji has an extensive collection of artifacts from
different periods of Goa’s history. A smaller museum in Old Goa on Christian
Art also displays a distinctive selection.
On 25 November 1510 he
lost Goa for good to Alfonso de Albuquerque, a Portuguese who had taken the
city earlier in March that year. The Portuguese ruled for 450 years.
On 19 December 1961, the
Indian Army liberated Goa from Portuguese rule, the culmination of the efforts
of scores of freedom fighters, both Hindu and Christian. Thereafter Goa
remained a Union Territory administered from New Delhi till it attained
Statehood on May 30, 1987. In August 1992, Konkani, the mother tongue of most
Goans was granted official language status under the Indian Constitution.
The multi-religious fabric of Goa’s society shines brightly,
imbibed with the spirit of “Sarva Dharma, Sarva Bhava” or Equal Respect for all
Religions.
Goa abounds with famous churches and temples and a harmonious
co-existence prevails between people of various faiths. Irrespective of whether
they are Catholic, Hindu or Muslim, many Goans prostrate in symbiotic reverence
before deities of other faiths than the one they profess. Religion dwells in
the hearts of Goans wherever in the world they may be.
Getting In
and Around Goa:
By Road
The Kadamba Transport Corporation runs long distance services
throughout the state from their main stands at Panjim, Mapusa and Margao and
from locations in the adjoining states of Maharashtra and Karnataka. Private
buses, serving everywhere else, including the coastal resorts are affordable,
frequent and provide a relaxed mode of commuting.
By Rail
The Konkan Railway makes Goa easily accessible by rail from
cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Mangalore, Ernakulam, Thiruvanthapuram.
Goa is also linked to Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad and Pune via Londa.
By Air
Major hotels have coach services to and from Dabolim Airport, 30
kms from the state capital Panaji for picking up and dropping off their guests.
The airport has a pre-paid taxi counter. All the major airline services have
daily flights to Goa from Bangalore, Delhi, Mumbai and Pune and twice a week
from Chennai and Kochi. International service airlines also connect Goa with
Kuwait and Sharjah twice a week.
Local
Transport
Rented Motorcycles: Renting motorcycles in Goa offer a lot of
freedom to tourists. Officially one needs an international driver's licence to
rent or ride anything more powerful than a 25 cc moped. Rates vary according to
the season, the vehicle and how long one wants to rent it. Most owners also
insist on a deposit and passport as security. The range is pretty standard and
the reasonable choice is a 100cc motorbike. These are fine for buzzing to the
beach and back, but to travel further the stalwart Enfield Bullet 350 cc is
popular for its pose value and its British origins. The smaller Kinetic Honda
100cc which has automatic transmission is a good choice for the novice as well
as the all-rounder.
Taxi:
For tourists, taxis serve as the main means of traveling between
resorts. One will find them lined up outside most charter hotels, where a board
invariably lists the destinations in and around the region. The fixed rate
fares only apply to peak season and at other times one should be able to
negotiate a hefty reduction from the demanded fare.
Places In
and Around Goa:
Old Goa
Once the administrative capital of the Portuguese empire in the
East, Old Goa is blessed with churches, chapels and convents of unsurpassed
architectural beauty, befitting its label as ‘Golden Goa’ or ‘Rome of the
East’. The conquest of Goa by Alfonso de Albuquerque in 1510 saw the advent of
several religious orders like the Franciscans, Jesuits, Augustinians,
Dominicans and Carmelites, who left their stamp with the many monuments they
built in Old Goa
Basilica of Bom Jesus:
Built in the 16th century, this magnificent edifice is the most
popular and famous of all the churches in Goa. The mortal remains of St.
Francis Xavier, kept in a silver casket, are enshrined here. The casket was
wrought by Goan silversmiths in 1636 - 37. Dedicated to Infant Jesus, this
church is now a World Heritage Monument.
Se Cathedral
The most imposing of all the churches at Old Goa, its vaulted
interior overwhelms visitors with its sheer grandeur. This Cathedral has five
bells, among them the famous Golden bell, the biggest in Goa and one of the
best in the world. The church is dedicated to St.Catherine of Alexandria..
Church of St.Francis of
Assissi:
The entrance and the choir were built in the Manueline style,
the only fragment of its kind in the East. First built in 1517, it was later
rebuilt twice, in 1521 and in 1661. The interior is illustrated with exquisite
paintings and the floor has a large number of tombstones with coats-of-arms.
The adjacent convent now houses the Archaeological Museum.
Shree Bhagavati
28 kms from Panaji in Pernem
Taluka, the temple is said to be more than 500 years old. Made of black stone,
two life size images of elephants in a standing position at the entrance
welcomes visitors.. Dussehra is celebrated with gaiety when over 25 thousand
devotees assemble at the temple.
Brahma Temple
7 kms from Valpoi, in the village of Brahma Carambolim, this shrine belongs to the 5th century A.D. It is one of the few temples dedicated to Lord Brahma found in India
Maha Ganapati Mandir:
Located at Madel in the Tivim Village Panchayat area of Bardez in North Goa. During the month of August (Shravan) the temple is lluminated and beautifully decorated. In 1970, four statues of Ganapati, Mahishasur Mardani and some others were found.
Shree Mahalaxmi
Situated in the village of Bandode, about 4 kms from Ponda this is considered the abode of the original Goddess of the Shakti cult.. The image of Mahalakshmi has a close resemblance to that of Mahalakshmi at Kolhapur, the main centre of worship. Her special feature is that she wears a linga on her head and is considered a peaceful or Satvik form of the Devi. The Goddess Mahalakshmi was worshipped by the Shilahara rulers (9750 – 1030 A.D.) and the early Kadamba Kings of Goa.
Beaches of Goa
CALANGUTE:
Calangute is the most popular beach with thousands thronging it in both the peak and off-season. The waves rise high above as you wash away your city blues, though swimmer need to be a trifle cautious because of the sudden drop and the rising waves. Experienced swimmers will, however, revel in the seas here..
BAGA:
A few kms down the beach is another—Baga.-- part of a 30 km stretch of beach coastline along the west coast of Goa which begins at Fort Aguada, continues as Sinquerim Beach, moves on to Candolim which merges into Calangute Beach and then stretches on to Baga, Anjuna and on to Vagator, finally ending at Chapora beach. Truly a veritable feast of beaches.
ANJUNA:
Anjuna was made famous by the ‘flower power and peace’ generation of the sixties and early seventies. And later by the ‘trance’ parties. Located about 18 kms from Panaji, the beach is known for its breeze-catching palms, soft sand, and the unusual rocky formation overlying a cove of whitish sand.and black rock that juts into the sea. It is now famous for its weekly Flea Market, which draws legions of visitors every Wednesday and bargains can be had on apparel, footwear, jewellery, footwear, chess sets—and yak cheese.
CANDOLIM:
Candolim is the first beach that can be approached from the city of Panaji and is like a gateway to the other more famous beaches. Though individual accommodation is available here, there are only a few hotels with restaurants attached. One highlight of Candolim is the parasailing and water skiing facility, besides other water sports.
COLVA:
This is the most important beach in the South circuit, equipped with all modern amenities like air-conditioned resort complexes, tourist cottages, discos, besides several stalls, eateries and guest houses—all of which have expanded the village enormously. With 20 kms of virgin white sands, palm fringed, sun drenched beaches, Colva is the most loved beach in Goan. Unlike Anjuna or Calangute, Colva has gained popularity only lately. Located just 39 kms from the capital Panaji, it was relatively little disturbed and life moved on quietly. The Church of Our Lady Of Mercy in Colva is famous for its miracle statue of Menino Jesus. The busy road leading from the Church to the beach is where all the facilities are located. While taking a stroll on Colva Beach, silver carpets of mackerels can be seen shimmering and drying on the golden sands. Fishermen’s motor trawlers huddle in a line offshore. Tourists and locals frequent the beach for a dip or a walk for a change of air or to sunbathe on the golden sands. The trinket stalls and drink stands on the sands under the moonlight add to the aura of Colva Beach.
Dudhsagar Waterfalls
10 kms from Colem Railway Station, these majestic falls are accessible by train. Water plummets hundreds of feet in a milky foam in one of Goa’s most spectacular sights which is also a lifeline to the ecosystem of the Bhagwan Mahavir sanctuary.. A popular destination for hikers and trekkers, the waterfall is also accessible by jeep through the sanctuary. However, one needs to obtain permission in advance from the Department of Forests at Junta House, Panaji
Arvalem Waterfall:
Descending from the temple of Rudreshwar, one catches sight of a majestic waterfall cascading from a height of f about 70 ft. to form a sizeable lake at the bottom—a tempting sight to seasoned swimmers
Where to Stay:
There are lot of option to stay
in goa, we have numerours lodges, Standard Hotels, 3* 4* and 5* hotels in and
arund goa.. Lodges starts at Rs 500/- per night Standard Hotel Starts at Rs
1200/- per night
Hotels Recommended
by us:
·
Hotel Valentina Resort
·
Jesus Holiday Home
·
Calangute Tower
·
Jessica Saffron Resort
·
Alor Resorts
·
Hotel Goan Village
·
Hotel Victor Exotica
·
Many more 3* 4* and 5* resorts available on request
Goa Packages:
·
Mumbai-Goa-Mumbai Volvo Packages/bike starting – 6500 per
couple 2n/3d
·
Mumbai-Goa-Mumbai Train Packages/bike starting -5500 per
couple 2n/3d
·
Mumbai-Goa-Mumbai Flight Packages starting 14000/- per
person
·
Above Rates not valid between 1st dec to
15th jan
For Best rates and discounts contact Vaishnavi Holidays @
Mr. Ritesh Gvalani
– +91-9819-154-937/67
Mr. Vivek Bhavsar
– +91-8976-340-533
Awesome Post!!!!
ReplyDeleteWonderful pictures.
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