7/29/2017 0 Comments Major tourist attractions in GoaDona Paula East of Miramar lie leafy suburbs, residential areas, palm groves and paddy fields that wind up close to Dona Paula Bay. The bay separates and unites the estuaries of the Rivers Mandoyi and Zuari as they merge Arabian Sea. Two small rock encrusted beaches curl around the cove, these can be accessed from the esplanade at Dona Paula. Catering primarily to tourists, the promenade is packed with hotels, cafes and shops and stalls that sell trinkets, bags, clothes and film rolls! It is also the one place in Panaji to offer facilities for water sport - water scooters, pedal boats and sailboats. Contact: Dolphin Adventure Sports or Dona Paula Water Sports Association at Dona Paula. Love's Labour Lost: The bay is named after Dona Paula de Menezes, the lovesick daughter of the Protuguese Viceroy. A statue of Dona Paula stands gazing out to sea from arc: a rocky escarpment overlooking the bay Local legend tells us that the poor girl fell in love with an officer on the ship bringing her to Goa_ When the lovers were refused permission to marry and the officer sent back to Portugal, Dona Paula would climb up here to wait for the ship she believed would bring her beloved back. The poor unfortunate soul never came because dad had had him bumped off. When Dona Paula discovered her father's perfidy, she threw herself of these very rocks. Mahalakshmi Hindu Panaji's presiding dell) is the Goddess Mahalakshmi. She watches over the city from her temple abode at the foot of Altinho. The shrine houses a four armed, black stone idol of Lakshmi, the Goddess of Wealth. The temple was constructed in 1817 mostly from funds generated from devotees whose faith in the goddess, one presumes, had paid off! The annual Maruti-Zatra (festival) is held at the temple every January. Muslims were persona non grata in the early years of Portuguese rule, partly because of Christianity vs Islam baggage and partly due to Portugal's battles with the Arabs. The persecution of Goa's Muslims lasted through the Inquisition. It was only long after the Inquisition that Muslims felt safe enough to build mosques. Panaji's Jama Masjid is one of the few mosques in coastal Goa and it too was built after the Inquisition. Municipal Garden `Jardim de Garcia da Orta', the garden planted by Dr Garcia de Orta is now Goa's Municipal Garden. Dr de Orta was a noted physician in 16th Century Goa who spent his leisure hours cataloguing and studying indigenous plants and herbs used by Yunani hakims and Hindu vaids. The good doctor was convinced that local physicians were best equipped and more qualified than European doctors to treat tropical ailments. His magnum opus, a comparative study of European and Indian medicine was published in 1563 in Goa. Museum of Goa, Daman & Diu Panaji has just one museum of note, the Museum of Goa, Daman and Diu, which includes artifacts and archives from the other two Portuguese territories in India. The Museum's archaeological and archival material is acknowledged to be the best of its kind (in India) in the context of Portuguese rule in Goa. Sculpture, furniture, coins, textiles, objects d'art, ivory statues etc reflect the overpowering Christian influence on Portuguese art and crafts. The sculpture collection includes antiquities from Goa's Hindu era. Museum of Goa, Daman and Diu, Directorate of Archives, Archaeology and Museum, Ashirvad Building, St. Inez, Panaji, Goa 403 001 Timings: 10:00hrs to 13:00hrs; 14:00 hrs to 17:30hrs Closed on Sundays and public holidays. Of cafés, casinos, cruises and carnavals The riverside boulevard is the most crowded part of Panaji —usually packed with pedlars and pedestrians. Even local residents hang out here waiting for the ferry, watching the river flow by or the sun to set. Down below, by the riverbank is the ferry wharf with a frenetic fish market and an amazing aura of anticipation. The area buzzes with activity, especially when it’s time for river cruises and conducted tours to leave or return. Its carnaval time & King Momo's in charge Goa celebrates the carnaval — a three-day pageant of uninhibited revelry and fun, an orgy of merrymaking, music and dancing that traditionally sets the scene for the 40 days of fasting and praying in the month of Lent. Pagan in origin, totally hedonistic by inclination, Portuguese and Indian in essence, the Carnaval finds the streets of Panaji jammed with bands, dancers and floats in parades presided over by King Momo himself. The carnaval concludes with the Red & Black Ball held by the Clube National in Panaji. Those lucky enough to be in Goa for the Carnaval (February) have to obey King Momo's command — eat, drink and make merry! Cruises Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) organizes conducted tours for North & South Goa and Old Goa, and river cruises on the Mandovi. Tour buses park opposite the GTDC Tourist Hotel or near the jetty. The Santa Monica cruise features traditional Goan bands, dancers and cuisine and presents great views of the two riverbanks with Reis Magos and Aguada Forts, small villages, jetties and whitewashed churches. Tickets for the Mandovi river cruise can be purchased at the counter near the office of the Captain of Port Jetty. Goa and Panaji, by virtue of being its capital, have the requisite infrastructure to host visitors. Hotels are available in plenty, though the best and most preferred hotels are in the beach resorts in North and South Goa. But Panaji has a fair share of good hotels, guesthouses, apartments and paying guest accommodation. Restaurants and cafés, bars and taverns are equally prolific and the choice of cuisine on offer is mind-boggling. Every variety of Indian cuisine from rigidly vegetarian Gujarati to hardcore meat-oriented Punjabi and Mughlai is easily available. Local dishes are much sought after even though they are hot and spicy. Fast food, American, Italian or Indian kind is served at trendy cafés and bars, most of them on Dayanand Bandodkar Marg. All commercial activity in Panaji centres around 18 June Road — the district is packed with shops selling cashew nuts and spices, wines, feni, jewellery, baskets, mats, books, branded goods and designer wear. Accommodation in Panaji Goa Panaji obviously caters to those who like to be in the centre of action! Rented apartments, guesthouses and hotels of every category are available — but not in season and not unless accommodation has been booked well in advance. Suggested hotels: Accommodation in Goa is divided into five segments – Budget, Standard, Deluxe, Luxury and premium some of the preferred hotels in Goa are as below: W Goa , Ramada Caravela Beach Resort , Alila Diwa Goa , The Lalit Golf & Spa Resort Goa , Grand Hyatt Goa and Holiday Inn Resort Goa Casino Goa Panaji's hottest venue and latest offering to the world of leisure entertainment is MV Caravela, a cruise ship casino. The very first of its kind in India, the Caravela is a lavishly appointed twin-engine catamaran that can accommodate 300 people. It has a bar, restaurant, sundeck and swimming pool and a casino featuring eight slot machines and twelve table games where enthusiasts can try their luck at Blackjack, American Roulette and Stud Poker. Stakes begin at Rs 100 and can go up to Rs 10,000. The Caravela also has a few suites for those inclined to stay onboard. The ship stays anchored off the jetty at Panaji and will cruise the Rivers Mandovi and Zuari and down the coast to Varca in south Goa. Off season (monsoon) cruising will be restricted to the waters of the Mandovi. Around Panaji Ribandar (3km): Across the causeway from Panaji lies Ribandar, the old trading port on the River Mandovi. Its proximity to Panaji makes it worth a visit if not to admire its Portuguese era buildings and narrow streets, then to shop at Goa's first ever designer store, Camelot. Dr Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary: Catch a ferry at Ribandar to visit the sanctuary on the island of Choroa. Mangroves and wetlands host a number of resident and migratory species. The sanctuary is open all year round. For permission, apply to Chief Wild Life Warden, Forest Department, Junta House, Panaji. Fort Aguada (10km): Built in 1612, Fort Aguada guarded the river route to Velha Goa from its vantage position on Cape Aguada, across the river from Panaji. A freshwater spring inside the fort gave it its name — `agua' is Portuguese for water. The fort now does duty as Goa's Central Jail. Siridao Beach (6km): Calm and shallow waters, with no tow or undercurrents make this beach safe for swimmers. Swan Tours one of the leading travel agents in India can organize holidays in Goa including air tickets, transfers, sightseeing, meal inclusive at 5 Star Hotels in Goa, beach resorts in Goa at discounted rates for offers on hotels in Goa call Swan Tours at 011 23415601.
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AuthorSwan Tours one of the leading travel agnets in India Archives
January 2018
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