Nature/ Scenic

Chapora Beach is situated approximately 10 km away from Mapusa and features dense groves of coconut palms on its shores. This beach is covered with white sand that extends up to the nearby Chapora village. There are several accommodation facilities available near this beach, including cottages and guest houses.

Swimming and beach walks are popular among tourists coming to this beach. Beach side shopping is also available at the Chapora Beach and there are numerous shops selling shell work, Goa handicrafts, causal garments and brass ware among other things.

Colva Beach is the white sand beach, stretching up to 24 km. This beach is one of the longest in the world. Situated just 2 km away from Benaulim, this beach is thronged by tourists on weekends. In October, when numerous pilgrims visit Colva Church, this beach becomes busy.

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Candolim Beach is situated at a distance of 7.2 km from Anjuna-Beach and is located in Candolim, North Goa along the Arabian Sea. Candolim Beach is the birthplace of the Father of Hypnotism and a Goan freedom fighter, Abbe Faria. It was the first area to adopt Christianity under the rule of Portuguese. Moreover, the first revolt by the Goans against the Portuguese was launched at Candolim Beach.

The beach has some of the popular attractions, that include Aguada Fort and Calangute Beach. The Candolim Beach is surrounded by scrub-covered dunes. The beach also provides opportunity to travellers for different water sports like parasailing, jet-skiing, banana rides, wind surfing and many more. The best time to visit the Candolim Beach is from the month of December to February.

Aguada Beach is one of the popular beaches of India, located towards the northern part of Goa. Aguada Beach, situated near the merging point of River Mandovi in the Arabian Sea, is famous among water sports lovers.

Aguada Beach has an ancient history. It was a part of Old Goa, an ancient city built by the Bijapur Sultanate on the banks of the River Mandovi in the 15th century. This city was built with a moat around it and enclosed the royal palace, mosques and temples. The Portuguese captured Old Goa in the 16th century and it became the capital of Portuguese India.

Anjuna Beach is renowned for red cliffs which are surrounded by coconut trees. There are a number of restaurants and food joints located on the beach.

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Benaulim Village and Beach are among most frequent tourist places, located 2 km south of Colva. The sight is also a revered place for the Hindus and the Christians of region of Goa. According to the Hindu legend, this was the place where an arrow shot by Lord Parshuram landed from Sahyadri mountains in the adjacent Konkan.

For Christians, the religious significance is that the place is the birth place of Father Joseph Vaz. Tourists visit this site as it is peaceful than Colva and possesses natural charms of seaside.

This town square boasts of two gardens - Municipal Garden and the Aga Khan Market - which are a perfect place to enjoy peace and beauty. Moreover, there are other attractions in the square in the form of statue of Luis de Menezes Braganca and a Public library. The library is housed in the Municipal Building and has books in various languages - Hindi, Marathi, Konkani, English and Portuguese. You can just sit in and read a book of your choice with no one to disturb you.

This is a good place from where you can have a good look at the Salcett taluka. There is a chapel, Monte Chapel from where you catch your glimpses of Salcett countryside. You can reach the chapel by a motorcycle taxi.

Nestled amidst verdant hills and a sleepy countryside, the Mayem lake exudes a charming freshness which is in sharp contrast to the bustling environ of Goan beaches. The most famous lake in Goa, this placid spread of water is a major tourist attraction and a must-have on most of the tourist itineraries.

As with most of the water bodies, the Mayem lake is home to a substantial avian population. Most of the common aquatic bird species can be found on the shores of the lake. The tranquil waters of the Mayem lake lend themselves ideally for boating. One can enjoy a ride on the small pedal operated boats for a panoramic view of the serene landscape around.

Set amidst an enchanting landscape, the Arvalem waterfalls is a popular tourist hub in Goa. The Arvalem falls produces a breathtaking spectacle with water tumbling headlong from a height of 50 meter. Even though not on par with the more celebrated Dudhsagar waterfalls, the Arvalem waterfalls are definitely worth a visit.

During the monsoon season, as the plains are lashed by incessant rains, the Arvalem waterfall runs amok with thunderous energy. The otherwise lean stream of the winters metamorphoses into a powerful gush of water cascading down the mountain slopes. After descending down the rocky cliff, the Arvalem waterfall settles in a huge lake at the bottom which is a tempting place for visitors for a refreshing dip.