Goa has many beautiful beaches: Ajuna Beach, Bogmalo Beach, Benaulim Beach, Baga Beach, Calangute Beach, Colva Beach, Cavelossim Beach, Chapora Beach, Candolim Beach, Dona Paula, Miramar Beach, Palolem Beach, Varca Beach and Vagator Beach.
Panaji is the official capital of Goa. It was called Panjim during the times of the Portuguese and was one of the three principal Portuguese cities along with Velha Goa (Old Goa) and Margao. Though it began as a suburb of Velha Goa it ended up becoming the capital of Goa in 1843 when the Portuguese Old Goa. It is also one of India's smallest and most charming state capitals.
This place is characterised by its rocking rave parties.
Mapusa is a lively place with its bustling market where you can by almost all types of items. This market is one of the major attraction of the state.
Margao in Goa is a fine combination of culture and commerce. This sleepy town of Goa is the cultural capital of the state.
Set between the Chapora and Arondem rivers, the predominantly Hindu Taluka of Pernem is Goa's northernmost district and one of its least explored regions.
Ponda is known as the Hindu heartland of Goa, for its large number of predominant Hindu temples and monuments. This place is just 28 km from Panjim, the state capital.
Vasco da Gama is 29 kms southwest of Panjim, the state capital and is one of the major tourist hubs of the state Goa.
This place boasts some of the state's most outstanding scenery. Set against a backdrop of the Jungle covered Sahyadri Hills (an extension of the Western Ghat Range), a string of pearl white coves and sweeping beaches scoop its indented coastline. Enfolded by laterite headlands and colossal piles of back boulders.
Shri Shantadurga (at Kavlem, Kunkoliemkarin and Dhargal), Shri Mangueshi, Shri Bhagavati (Pernem), Rudreshwar Temple at Harvalem, Shri Mahadeo Bhumika at Sal, Bicholim, Morjaee temple at Morjim, Shri Bhagavati Temple at Parshem, Brahma Temple, Shri Chandranath, Shri Damodar, Shri Datta Mandir, Shri Devkikrishna - Ravalnath, Shri Gomanteshwar Devasthan at Brahmapuri, Shri Gopal Ganapati, Shri Kalikadevi, Shri Kamakshi Sausthan at Shiroda, Temple of Shri Mahadeva at Tambdi Surla, Shri Mahalaxmi, Shri Mahalsa, Shri Mallikarjuna, Shri Naguesh, Shri Navdurga Sausthan, Shri Navdurga at Madkai, Shri Ramnath, Shri Saptakoteshwar, Sapteshwar - Bhagvati Temple at Mandrem, Shri Vithal Mandir, Shri Sharvani, Shri Saunsthan Gokarn Partagali Jeevotam Math, Shri Saunsthan Goudpadachrya Kavle Math.
Situated at a distance of 7 km. from Pemem in Pemem Taluka. The complex has five temples, main temple being of Shri Bhagavati, other temples are of Shri Sateri, Shri Dev Ravalnath, Shri Dev Bhivangi Panchakshari & Brahma (Shri Vishnu, Shri Ganapath, Shri Shankar).
Devi Bhagavati temple has two Deepstambhas unique of its kind. Main festivals are Dassehra and annual Zatra.
Shri Datta Mandir is located at a distance of 37 kms from Panaji at Dattawadi, Sanquelim, and 40 kms. from Margao, this century old temple of trimurty (Hindu) has a backdrop of a beautiful hillock covered with dense groves of areca palms. The most important festival, which is attended by devotees from all over Goa, is Datta Jayanti that falls in the month of December.
It is a small shrine dedicated to Kanakeshwar Baba or Bodgeshwar, locally known as Bongini. The god is regarded as agngavani i.e. to whom vows are made and who fulfills desires of the devotees. On the fulfillment of desires, people offer presents to the God as promised by them earlier. A very big fair is held in the month of December/January when thousands of devotees flock to this temple.
Shri Mahalaxmi Temple is located at the Altinho foothill of Panaji and was built on contributions made by devotees in 1817. The deity is Goddess Mahalakshmi, the Hindu Goddess of Wealth, made of black stone, with four hands and is placed in a silver canopy. This is the peaceful or Satvik form of Devi. According to the Shakti cult (worship of power), Mahalakshmi is the original Goddess who takes forms according to three aspects or gunas viz. Brahma (peaceful, calm form or satva), Vishnu (creative action or rajas) and Shiva (destruction or tamas). The deity originally from Mayem in Bicholim taluka was transferred to the present site.
Shri Damodar temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is situated on the banks of the Kushavati River, which is said to have medicinal properties. The original temple of this deity was situated in Margao. The deity was transferred to its present location in the year 1567 when the Portuguese brought down the original temple and built the Church of the Holy Spirit in its place.
The main festival celebrated at this temple is Holi. Loads of devotees from all over Goa join in the celebrations. This colourful event is celebrated with pomp and gaiety for several days.
Basillica of Bom Jesus, Se Cathedral, Church of St. Francis of Assissi, St. Cajetan Church, Nunnery of Santa Monica, St. Augustine Tower, Viceroy's Arc (All at Old Goa), Church of St. Alex Curtorim, Reis Magos Church, The Church of Mae de Deus at Saligao (Bardez), the Church of St. Ana at Talaulim Ilhas, Rachol Seminary, Church of Our Lady of Rosary.
The Royal Chapel of St. Anthony is located in Panjim. It was built in the beginning of the 17th century, the Royal Chapel dedicated to St. Anthony is located to the west of the tower of St. Augustine. St. Anthony is the national saint of Portugal and held in great veneration by the Portuguese.
In Panjim, to the west of the Church of St. Francis of Assisi is the chapel of St. Catherine. Built of laterite blocks, the chapel was rebuilt in 1552 on the remains of an earlier structure, built in 1510 by Afonso de Albuquerque to commemorate his entry into the city on St. Catherine's Day.
The Se Cathedral is located in old Goa, Panjim. The Portuguese Viceroy Redondo commissioned the Se, or St. Catherine's' Cathedral, southwest of St. Cajetan's, to be "a grandiose church worthy of the wealth, power and fame. It took 80 years to build and was not consecrated until 1640.