Goa Travel Guide
Goa is much more than silver sand, shimmering beaches, colossal churches and trance. It remains different from the other Indian states due to its Portuguese rule and holds the title of being one of the most charismatic cities in India.
The Goan populace is a combination of Roman Catholics and Hindus. Konkani is the widely spoken language of the state but the locals also converse in Hindi, Marathi and English.
The main cities of the state are Panaji, the capital city, Vasco Da Gama, Mapusa, Margao or Madgaon, Old Goa and Ponda. While Dona Paula beach, Calangute beach, Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary, Fort Aguada, Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary, Dudh Sagar Waterfall, Dr. Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary and Candolim are the other preferred destinations of Goa.
Goa Travel Guide – How to reach
Goa can be reached by air, train, private car and buses. The distance between Goa to different Indian cities are –
Goa is connected to other cities through various bus routes. Tourists arriving from cities like Pune, Bombay, Bangalore, New Delhi and Mangalore prefer to take the bus route.
For people traveling from Mumbai to Goa, overnight buses are the best alternative to flying. Luxurious Volvo buses can be boarded keeping in mind that these buses have 2 Person sleeper bunk.
Goa – How to reach by Train
Goa is connected by Indian Railways with nonstop express services from Mangalore, Hyderabad, Delhi, Bangalore, Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai, Kochi, Ahmedabad and Thiruvanantapuram, which reaches Madgaon in South Goa.
Trains are the cheapest, fastest yet comfortable alternative for travelers with limited budget. Some of the trains which connect Goa with major Indian cities are:
Goa – How to reach by Air
Dabolim in Vasco is the only airport that Goa has. While some domestic flights such as Air Deccan, Kingfisher airlines, Indigo, spicejet, GoAir, Indian Airlines and Jet Airways reach Goa directly, international chartered carriers from UK, Switzerland, Russia and Germany, fly through Mumbai.
Goa Airport receives daily flights from Pune, Delhi, Kochi, Mumbai, Mangalore, Jaipur, Bangalore, Kozhikode, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad and Chennai.
Goa Travel Guide – Getting Around
Goa is famous for its beaches, churches and art and culture. So once you are in Goa explore the culturally rich city and laze around under the sun on its splendid beaches.
Famous Goa Museums:
Indulge in an unforgettable shopping extravaganza during your visit to the beach paradise - Goa. You can shop anything from wines to local captivating music, cashew nuts to Goan handicrafts, lacquerware toys to books.
Find the best of Goan handicrafts and conventional Goan toys at the government owned Aparant emporia, Bicholim Pottery Production Centre located at the Industrial Estate, Udyog Bhavan, Crafts Complex in Neugi Nagar, etc.
Reading enthusiasts can visit Other India Bookstore at Mapusa which has an assortment of classic books and novels. They can also explore Broadways Book Centre at Caculo Traffic Island, Mandovi Square at Cine Nacional, Campal near Miramar Beach, and Margao’s Confidant's Golden Heart Emproium.
Panjim and Mapusa are fast emerging as tourist markets apart from being an abode for number of artistic goldsmiths.
The Goan populace is a combination of Roman Catholics and Hindus. Konkani is the widely spoken language of the state but the locals also converse in Hindi, Marathi and English.
The main cities of the state are Panaji, the capital city, Vasco Da Gama, Mapusa, Margao or Madgaon, Old Goa and Ponda. While Dona Paula beach, Calangute beach, Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary, Fort Aguada, Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary, Dudh Sagar Waterfall, Dr. Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary and Candolim are the other preferred destinations of Goa.
Goa Travel Guide – How to reach
Goa can be reached by air, train, private car and buses. The distance between Goa to different Indian cities are –
- From Goa to Mangalore – 305 km
- From Goa to Bangalore – 592 km
- From Goa to Delhi – 1912 km
- From Goa to Hyderabad – 747 km
- From Goa to Mumbai – 593 km
- From Goa to Mysore – 643 km
- From Goa to Pune – 450 km
Goa is connected to other cities through various bus routes. Tourists arriving from cities like Pune, Bombay, Bangalore, New Delhi and Mangalore prefer to take the bus route.
For people traveling from Mumbai to Goa, overnight buses are the best alternative to flying. Luxurious Volvo buses can be boarded keeping in mind that these buses have 2 Person sleeper bunk.
Goa – How to reach by Train
Goa is connected by Indian Railways with nonstop express services from Mangalore, Hyderabad, Delhi, Bangalore, Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai, Kochi, Ahmedabad and Thiruvanantapuram, which reaches Madgaon in South Goa.
Trains are the cheapest, fastest yet comfortable alternative for travelers with limited budget. Some of the trains which connect Goa with major Indian cities are:
| Train Name | Departure | Arrival |
| Rajdhani Express | Nizamuddin(Delhi), Mangalore Junction Panvel (Mumbai), Thiruvananthapuram Central | Madgaon Junction |
| Netravathi Express | Mangalore Junction, Thiruvananthapuram Central | Thivim, Mangalore Junction |
| Yesvantpur-Vasco Express | Yesvantpur (Bangalore) | Vasco Da Gama, Madgaon Junction |
| Konkan Kanya Express | Panvel (Mumbai) and Mumbai CST | Thivim, Madgaon Junction |
| Sampark Kranti Express | Nizamuddin (Delhi) | Thivim, Madgaon Junction |
| Amaravathi Express | Howrah (Kolkata) | Vasco Da Gama, Madgaon Junction |
| Mangala Lakshadweep Express | Panvel (Mumbai), Nizamuddin (Delhi), Kalyan (Mumbai) | Thivim, Madgaon Junction |
| Jan Shatabdi Express | Panvel (Mumbai) and Mumbai CST | Thivim, Madgaon Junction |
| Chennai-Vasco Express | Yesvantpur (Bangalore) and Chennai Central | Vasco Da Gama, Madgaon Junction |
Dabolim in Vasco is the only airport that Goa has. While some domestic flights such as Air Deccan, Kingfisher airlines, Indigo, spicejet, GoAir, Indian Airlines and Jet Airways reach Goa directly, international chartered carriers from UK, Switzerland, Russia and Germany, fly through Mumbai.
Goa Airport receives daily flights from Pune, Delhi, Kochi, Mumbai, Mangalore, Jaipur, Bangalore, Kozhikode, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad and Chennai.
Goa Travel Guide – Getting Around
Goa is famous for its beaches, churches and art and culture. So once you are in Goa explore the culturally rich city and laze around under the sun on its splendid beaches.
Famous Goa Museums:
- Houses of Goa
- The Naval Aviation Museum
- The Xavier Centre of Historical Research
- Christian Art Museum
- The Sound and Light Gallery Museum
- Blessed Joseph Vaz
- Kala Academy
- Fundacao Oriente
- Goa State Museum
- Candolim Beach
- Anjuna Beach
- Baga Beach
- Sinquerim Beach
- Calangute Beach
- Vagator Beach
- Colva Beach
- Mandrem Beach
- Take a trip to pre-historic places of worship s at Old Goa
- Whip your appetite by savoring Indian, Chinese and continental cuisines besides the freshly cooked sea food
- Let your hair down at Goa Pubs and Discos
- Go for a shopping expedient at Flea Bazar at Anjuna Beach
- Experience the Rave and Full Moon bashes of Goa
- Indulge in scuba diving, surfing, paragliding, etc.
Indulge in an unforgettable shopping extravaganza during your visit to the beach paradise - Goa. You can shop anything from wines to local captivating music, cashew nuts to Goan handicrafts, lacquerware toys to books.
Find the best of Goan handicrafts and conventional Goan toys at the government owned Aparant emporia, Bicholim Pottery Production Centre located at the Industrial Estate, Udyog Bhavan, Crafts Complex in Neugi Nagar, etc.
Reading enthusiasts can visit Other India Bookstore at Mapusa which has an assortment of classic books and novels. They can also explore Broadways Book Centre at Caculo Traffic Island, Mandovi Square at Cine Nacional, Campal near Miramar Beach, and Margao’s Confidant's Golden Heart Emproium.
Panjim and Mapusa are fast emerging as tourist markets apart from being an abode for number of artistic goldsmiths.
