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Goa in

India

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Goa: a destination for all seasons

Monsoons: June to mid September

Heavy rainfall with lush greenery.

Winter: (Min. 15° C -November to February

Mild, pleasant weather Max. 25° C)

Summer: March to May

Warm weather (Min. 25° C - Max. 39° C)

Goa

The land of

never-ending

contrasts.

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The only place in the world

that lets you

discover contrasts outside

you & inside you… in the

space of an hour!

From the quietest

beaches

to the busiest flea

markets.

From 30,000-year-old

human settlements

to 300-year-old Portuguese houses.

Goa

Both tangible

and intangible

heritage

From the most honest-to-

goodness local cuisine to

the most authentic

international flavours.

From some of the

oldest churches to

some of the oldest

temples in India.

From lush

green mountains to

rain-soaked

fishing spots.

From the local

Shigmo festival to

the Rio-inspired

Carnaval.

From quiet forests to

exhilarating white-water rafting.

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We have captured these contrasts in one of

the world’s first tourism ambigram logo…

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And the

world’s first

King-lish

brand line...

Goa

Come enjoy the

contrasts!

Kenna chill , kenna thrill!

Beaches

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15 of India’s top 25 beaches are in Goa* * Tripadvisor’s Travellers Choice 2014

Colva

One of the longest white sand beaches in the world,

it stretches up to, hold your breath, 24 kms!

A beach with a fresh water lake attached!

Arambol

Trip Advisor’s Travellers’ Choice™

2013 and 2014 Winner.

Agonda

“Surely the best beach of North Goa

- Tripadvisor

Morjim

“An undiscovered gem of a beach”

- Tripadvisor

Utorda

Kenna worship , kenna wonder!

Churches, temples, mosques

The Se Cathedral

The largest catholic monument in India/Asia.

Houses the famous Golden Bell.

India’s first basilica

A UNESCO World Heritage site.

The Basilica of

Bom Jesus, Goa

Architecture inspired by the Basilica of St

Peter’s in Rome.

The Church

of St Cajetan

One of the largest temples in Goa attracting

the highest number of visitors

Mangeshi temple

Located in a remote forest, this 12th century

Mahadeva temple is Goa’s oldest surviving temple.

The relic of

Tambdi Surla

Shree Shanta Durga Temple

Dedicated to the Goddess of Peace,

this is Goa’s largest temple.

Safa Masjid

The most famous among Goa’s 26 mosques.

Goa’s festivals offer fascinating glimpses into

contrasting cultures.

Kenna devotion, kenna celebration! Festivals

From the local Shigmo festival to the Rio-inspired Carnaval.

From the Sao Jao festival to the Ganesh festival.

Diwali, the festival of lights,

celebrates the homecoming

of Lord Ram who defeated

the demon Ravan.

In Goa, the effigies of Narkasur,

the demon who had become

overlord of both heaven

and earth, who was killed by

Lord Krishna, are burnt one day

before Diwali.

The birth of Christ is celebrated with church services,

carol singing, family get-togethers, parties and dances.

The highlight of Holi in Goa, the Indian festival of colours

celebrating the arrival of spring, is colourful floats that

depict Hindu mythology, accompanied by folk dancers.

The most exotic Goan dishes to the most authentic

international cuisine.

Kenna local, kenna global!

Cuisine and drinks

From locally brewed cashew feni, the only exotic beverage in Asia

that has won the Geographical Identification (GI) status to

international alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, Goa has it all.

Mando, a melodious mix of folk and church music, is a romantic

ballad sung in a group accompanied by a graceful dance.

Traditional Indian dances, Fugdi and Dhalo, offer delightful

contrasts!

Kenna sing, kenna dance!

Music and dance

Windsurfing, paragliding, jet-skiing, scuba diving or just

swimming: water sports certainly lures tourists to Goa

more than once.

Kenna float, kenna dive!

Water sports

Kenna mild, kenna wild!

Nature and Eco-tourism

Goa’s hilly Western Ghats boast of spectacular

hiking and trekking spots.

Goa has 423 bird species. The Dr. Salim Ali Bird

Sanctuary is the best place to spot local as well as

migratory birds.

Birdwatcher’s

paradise

Wildlife sanctuaries

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Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary and Mollem National Park

Bondla Forest

The perfect jungle resort with its mini zoological park, deer

safari park, botanical gardens, Nature Education Centre,

wildlife and nature trails.

Cotigao Wildlife

Sanctuary

The highlights of this sanctuary are its really dense forests and

wildlife variety. The ancient Jeevottam Partagal Math, noted for

its Vedic studies, is situated close by.

Turtle Nesting Sites

Morjim, Galgibag and Agonda beaches are the largest

nesting places of the giant Olive Ridley turtle.

Crocodile banks

Watching crocodiles as they sun themselves on the

muddy banks of the Cumbarjua Canal is an

unforgettable experience.

Dolphin spotting

From October to May, dolphin spotting trips are

conducted on certain beaches.

Tropical spice

plantations

Spices

Dudhsagar waterfalls

Water plummeting hundreds of feet in a milky

foam is one of Goa’s most spectacular sights.

Arvalem

waterfalls

A fascinating waterfall that cascades from a height of

70 feet to form a lovely lake at the bottom.

Kenna history, kenna mystery!

Forts

Fort Aguada

So strong, it could not be conquered even once

during 450 years of Portuguese rule.

Cabo de Rama fort

This ancient fortress, now in ruins, was built

before the arrival of the Portuguese in India.

Chapora Fort

Adil Shah, king of Bijapur in India, who ascended the throne in

1627, built this fort on the southern headland of the Chapora

river.

Tiracol Fort

This fort was built by Hindu rulers in the 17th century, and

later taken over the Portuguese. Its imposing height offers a

breathtaking view of the surrounding areas.

Kenna then, kenna now!

Heritage

Housed in Mondo-Waddo, Benaulim, this museum offers

glimpses of agrarian Goa, with old agricultural and

farming tools on display.

Goa Chitra

Ethnographic

Museum

Ancestral Goa

This open air ‘village’ in Loutulim near Margao showcases Goa’s

traditional past, along with ‘Big Foot’, a giant-sized dance floor.

Rock carvings

Rare Stone Age carvings have been discovered at

Panasaimol in Sanguem and Mauxi in Sattari!

Kenna this, kenna that!

Other attractions

Tripurari Purnima- Unique Boat Festival at Sankhali

Boat cruises

GTDC offers a number of exciting boat cruises like Day

Cruise, Sunset Cruise, Sundown Cruise, Dinner Cruise and

Backwater Thrills.

All in all, quite a romantic experience.

Flea markets

From designer wear and world-famous brands to street shopping and

local handicrafts, there’s enough action for the shopaholic in search of

great bargains.

The Friday market at Mapusa, the Flea Market at Anjuna and Ingo’s

Saturday night bazaar at Arpora are unmissable treats.

Nightlife and parties

In Goa, the party never ends at its night clubs and

beach parties.

TOP TEN NIGHTLIFE

CITIES (Source-National Geographic)

•Dublin, Ireland

•Belgrade, Serbia

•La Paz, Bolivia

•São Paulo, Brazil

•San Juan, Puerto

Rico

•Goa

•Ibiza, Spain

•Houston, Texas

•Thessaloniki, Greece

•Baku, Azerbaijan

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Top 10 Nightlife cities (Source: National Geographic)

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Goa, India- Whether you're seeking a secluded bolt hole or

all-night gyration, GOA’s beaches are right for your fantasy.

Channel Goa's hippie '70s heyday at laid-back locales

along the golden south shore.

Casinos

Goa is home to some of the finest casinos in India, and offers

the best of casino gaming, both on land and offshore.

It is the only state in India where gambling is legal.

IFFI and movies

This world-class film festival is held every year in Goa,

showcasing some of the finest Indian and international

movies.

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Film locations

Goa is a favourite destination for film producers.

The Hollywood film ‘The Bourne Supremacy’ was shot here.

Goa: A Wedding Destination

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Fashion Destination

World renowned fashion designer Wendell Rodricks. Goa has emerged as a lifestyle and top fashion destination in India.

Hosts the famous India Beach

Fashion Week every year in

February at Candolim Beach.

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Yoga

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Goa has emerged as a preferred destination for Yoga and meditation.

Ayurveda

Devaaya Ayurveda and Nature Cure Centre situated on Divar Island - just 10 kms from Panaji.

Devaaya, provides genuine alternate Medical Health Care to address various problems caused by modern lifestyles through treatments in Allopathy, Ayurveda and Naturopathy.

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Devaaya consists of 60 luxurious rooms built in true Goan style cottages. The ambience, the serenity and the spiritual vibes make Devaaya a paradise.

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Goa has extensive facilities for various Ayurvedic treatments including Panchakarma & Naturopathy treatment provided by a team of Ayurvedic/Naturopathy doctors & masseurs.

Angler’s Paradise

Goa’s lakes, rivers and creeks are ideal fishing spots.

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SEA PLANES

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Amphibious Tours

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Hot Air Balloon Tourism

Goa has a wide range of accommodation options to suit

every budget.

Kenna save, kenna splurge!

Accommodation

Well-connected by Rail, Road, Air and water!

Kenna fly, kenna cruise!

Connectivity

International Connectivity by flight

Direct to/ from Goa:

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Receives 1200 charter flights every year from various international destinations.

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Within Goa, public transportation is reasonable and frequent, with buses plying regularly between the major towns.

- Auto rickshaws offer a pleasant ride.

- A cheaper alternative are motorcycle taxis which are ideal for single passengers to flit between beaches or into town. Bonafide operators known as ‘pilots’ ride black bikes with yellow mudguards and number plates.

- Crossing rivers by ferry are also a cheap and pleasant alternative.

- Woman only Taxis- One of it’s kind initiative in the country, metered taxi, conversational in English

Getting around in Goa

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Tourist Safety Friendly Tourist Police Cell

CCTVs installed on all major tourist

spots

Prompt Ambulance Service for Emergencies

Beach Safety

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• Goa is the pioneer state in India to get an ISO 9001 certificate for its beach safety programme.

• There are trained lifeguards along with the latest rescue equipment on all frequented beaches.

• Beach Safety Rules are posted on all beaches for the benefit of tourists.

Summary- Why Goa ?

One of the most beautiful and safest tourism

destination in World.

Attracts over half million international tourists from

40 nations.

Value for money destination with

accommodation options to suit all budgets.

Excellent connectivity from across world.

Friendly people and multiple options for tourists in

hinterland, wellness, adventure, eco tourism,

heritage, cuisine, medical tourism, pligrimage,

music and leisure tourism options.

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So what are you waiting

for? Get in touch with us for

exciting tour packages.

Thank you!

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GOA TOURISM DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION LTD. ( A Government of Goa Undertaking) 3rd floor, Paryatan Bhavan, Patto, Panaji, Goa, INDIA 403 001 T: +91 832 2437132/2437728/2438515/2494500/2438866 Fax.: +91 832 2437433 Reservations: +91 832 2438866/2437701/2438002/2438003 Fax.: +91 832 2438126 W: www.goa-tourism.com E: reservations@goa-tourism.com

@TourismGoa officialgoatourism

DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM, GOVERNMENT OF GOA 2rd floor, Paryatan Bhavan, Patto, Panaji, Goa, INDIA 403 001 T: +91 832 2494200/04/05/06 W: www.goatourism.gov E: deptgoatourism@gmail.com