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The state of Goa is located on the western coast of India in over 100 km long coastal belt known as Konkan along the Arabian Sea. This small former Portuguese enclave is one of India's most dazzling tourist mosaics. Goa deserves every bit of the sobriquet 'The Pearl of the East'. The name Goa is derived from the Konkani word 'Goyan', which means a patch of tall grass. The magnificent scenic beauty and the architectural splendours of its temples, churches and old houses have made Goa a firm favourite with travellers around the world.
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Goa beaches
Strung along Goa’s 60-mile (100km) coastline, like a lace frill on the edge of a colorful skirt are some of the most beautiful beaches in the world- dazzling stretches of golden sand edging the aquamarine expanse of the Arabian Sea. Goan beaches are magnificent and you will find them extremely difficult to leave. The only problem is which one to head for. An unbroken four-mile (7km) crescent of sun-drenched sand marks the twin beaches of Candolin & Calangute, north of Panjim and the Aguada headland. Calangute became almost a traveler’s cliché in the '60s and early'70s and tourist literature is fond of referring to it as the 'Queen' of Goa's beaches’. Baga, a little further north, is a more relaxed place to stay. Farther north, past estuaries of the many streams that gurgle through the land, are a series of secluded beaches. In South Goa at a distance of mere two kilometers are the Colva and the Benaulim beaches. The slow paced beaches are breathtakingly beautiful. The Dona Paula beach, Vagator and Chapora are other beaches worth visiting.
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Forts
There are quite a few Old Portuguese forts dotted around Goa, most of them on the coast in reasonable state of preservation and are worth a visit like the one at Chapora. Another one at Terekhol was built by the Portuguese in 1609-1612, to command the entry into the river Mandovi, in order to protect Old Goa from potential enemy attacks. A spring within the fort provided water supply to the ships that called there. The fort houses presently the Central Jail.
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Religious places
Driving through Goa’s villages one is struck by the deep imprint of four & a half centuries of Latin Catholicism. Presiding over every village, commanding the heights at hilltops, hugging the shores of rivers, beside fields and dusty roads, and visible for miles around, sparkling white churches, crosses & small shrines indicate Christian ubiquity; religion is never more than a bend away.
The Portuguese zeal for propagating their religion was rigid & intolerant. Consequently temples were demolished & churches built in their place. It was not until 18th century, when the conqueror’s religious zeal had diminished, that Hindu temples were built in sylvan surroundings. Despite the earnest attempts to spread Roman Catholicism, only 38 % of Goans today are Christian.
Goa is studded with temples and churches which remain as silent but forceful witnesses to the intense religious history of the diverse people who lived here. The most visible legacy of the Portuguese is their churches, not only imposing monuments of old Goa but also more typically white- washed facades nestling among palm trees elsewhere.
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The Basilica of Bom Jesus is famous throughout the Roman Catholic world since it contains the tomb and mortal remains of St.Francis Xavier.
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Se Cathedral is built in purist Tuscan style. Heavily gilded central altars depict the martyrdom of Saint Catherine, to whom the cathedral is dedicated.
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The beautiful Church of St. Francis of Assisi displays superb decorative paintwork & woodcarving & floor are inlaid with elaborately engraved tombstones depicting scenes from the life of St. Francis.
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Church & Convent of St. Monica is a huge, three-storied laterite building built in 1627. Once it was known as the Royal Monastery on account of the royal patronage, which it enjoyed.
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The Church of Mae de Deus was built in 1873 which is situated amidst picturesque surroundings. This shrine of the miraculous statue of Mae de Deus (Mother of God) is the finest piece of gothic style.
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The Church of St. Alex is one of the oldest churches in Goa, built in 1597.
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The Church of our Lady of the Rosary represents a fusion of European and Indian elements.
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Most of the Hindu temples of interest are close to Ponda, on the inland route between Panaji and Margao. The Shiva temple of
Shri Mangesh is a a local landmark. It is a tiny temple on top of a small hill.
Shri Mahalsa, a Vishnu temple is close by.
Quite close to Ponda are Shri Ramnath and Shri Mahalakshmi and the
Shri Shantadurga temple. Dedicated to Shantadurga, the goddess of peace, it has a strange, almost pagoda like tower in the temple compound.
Shri Bhagavati temple is known to be more than 500 years old. Two life size images of elephants in standing position made of black stone, on either side at the entrance welcome visitiors. The Goddess Bhagavati Ashtabhuja in a standing position on a high pedestal is very imposing.
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Shri Saunsthan Goudpadachrya Kavle Math is brilliant heritage of God Saraswat Smarth Community. This Math is named after historic seer and exponent of the Adwaita system of Vedanta.
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In Ponda there is a mosque, built in 1560; for some reason the Portuguese neglected to knock it down. Another well known mosque is
Jama masjid, 26 Kms from Margao at Sanguem.
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