Goa Tour Package

Goa is the smallest state of India in terms of geographical area, it commands almost a monopoly over the inflow of tourists in India. It is located on the western coast of India which is also known as the Konkan coast. It is surrounded by the state of Maharashtra on the north, Karnataka on the east and south and the Arabian Sea on its west. The capital city of Goa is known as Panaji or Panjim and the largest city in Goa is Vasco-da-Gama.

Goa is truly the hub of tourism in India and provides international standards of holidaying. To promote tourism and increase the inflow of tourists, the state has maintained world class beaches and other tourist attractions. On one hand you will find casinos at par with those at Las Vegas and on the other hand you will find ancient churches that provide the perfect picture of the deep religious faiths of the Goans.

Margoa
Margao is the second largest city of Goa and reflects the Portuguese charm in its set-up and architecture that is almost 450 years old. Once a major religious center, Margao is now a successful commercial center in Goa.

Marmagoa
Marmagoa was the site that was first chosen to be the capital of the Portuguese Empire in 1685.

Oldgoa
Old Goa, the erstwhile capital of the Portuguese, that rivalled Lisbon in the 16^th century, is now but a dilapidated old village. But this old town is definitely a must see. The town is almost an archeological museum with its spectacular cathedrals (including Sé Cathedral which is said to be the biggest church in Asia) and various other monuments.

Ponda
Ponda can be described as the Hindu heart of Goa. It is famous for the five important temples that are situated around the town, and also has the largest mosque in Goa. Most of these temples look relatively new as they have been restored after being destroyed by the Portuguese.

Travel To Goa India

The 131 km long coastline of Goa on the golden Konkan coast of the Western Ghats is along the Arabian Sea. This small former Portuguese enclave is one of India most popular tourist spots, both for the domestic and international traveller. The name Goa is derived from the Konkani word `Goyan', which means a patch of tall grass.

The 131 km long coastline of Goa on the golden Konkan coast of the Western Ghats is along the Arabian Sea. This small former Portuguese enclave is one of India' most popular tourist spots, both for the domestic and international traveller. The name Goa is derived from the Konkani word `Goyan', which means a patch of tall grass.

The sheer inaccessibility of Goa by land has always kept it out of the mainstream of Indian History. On the other hand, its control of the seas and above all the lucrative spice trade made it a much-coveted prize for rival colonial powers. Until a century before the arrival of the Portuguese adventure Vasco Da Gama who landed near Kozhikode in Kerala in 1498, Goa had belonged for over a thousand years to the kingdom of Kadamba. In the interim it had been successfully conquered by the Karnatakan Vijayanagars, the Muslim Bahmanis and Yousuf Adil Shah of Bijapur but the capture of the fort at Panaji by Alfonso De Albuquerque in 1510 signaled the start of a Portuguese occupation that was to last for 450 years.

Meanwhile, conversions to Christianity started by the Franciscans gathered pace when St.Francis Xavier founded the Jesuit Mission in 1542. With the advent of the inquisition soon afterwards laws were introduced censoring literature and banning any faith other than Catholicism even the long established Syrian Christian community were branded heretics. Hindu temples were destroyed and converted Hindus adopted Portuguese names such as DA Silva, Correa and De'Sousa which remain common in the region. The transitional influence of the Jesuits eventually alarmed the Portuguese government. The Jesuits were expelled in 1749 which made it possible for Indian Goans to take up the priesthood. However, standards of education suffered and Goa entered a period of decline. The Portuguese were not prepared to help but neither would they allow native Goans equal rights. An abortive attempt to establish the Goan Republic was quelled with the execution of fifteen Goan conspirators.

When you have decided to opt for Goa tour travel packages from the tour operators in Goa, be prepared for you might just swoon over the beauty of this enchanting state.

Goa packages from the tour operators in Goa take you on a sightseeing tour that involves churches, temples, beaches and of course the villages. Besides this, when you avail a Goa packages from tour operators in Goa, you get to relish the delicious Goan food, which is always hot and spicy.

Fair & Fastival in Goa

Bonderam Festival, Goa
Bonderam Festival goaThe feast of Bonderam is celebrated on the fourth Saturday of August every year at Divar Island, 12-km from Panjim.
On this day, the quiant land of Divar, away from the hustle and bustle of Panjim, is agog with excitement. Melodious music drift from the village to mainland Old Goa - once the hub of Portuguese Goa - even before the crack of dawn on the Saturday. At noon people begin trickling into the village. By the evening the trickle is a deluge. An expectant crowd assembles along either side of the main through fare of the village. The tempo is set by lands and lasses wielding "fotashes" engaging themselves in mock battles. The gaily coloured floats accompanied by colourfully dressed youngsters make a pretty picture.

Feast Of Three Kings ,Goa
Feast Of Three Kings goaIt is on the Festa dos Reis or the Epiphany on January 6 that the isolated Hill station of Remedios and chapel suddenly spring to life and activity. After staying almost whole year in isolation, just nine days before the Feast of the Novena starts, the hill revives and resounds to human voices and feet. Come early dawn, kettledrums and the blare of trumpets, announce to the sleepy little neighboring villages that the day of rejoicing and festivity has arrived.The tolling bells call the faithful to prayer and devotees visit the shrine in a non-stop stream. There's now an excellent road winding its way up the steep hill right to the door of the chapel, making the ascent possible by car. Still, most of the devotees prefer to climb up hill. Even the very old and infirm make their way up for nine consecutive days to hear Mass and recite the Rosary before the Lady of the Blue Mantle. Many come to offer their thanks for fulfilling their wishes. The devotees are always lead by a drummer-boy with his kettledrum who, by the loud beat of his drum, announces of another favor having being granted by the Lady of Remedios.

Goa Carnival
Goa Carnival Carnival in Goa is a non-stop 3-day festival of color, song and music, providing a healthy entertainment for all, young and old. The soothing climate, full of fun- 'n' -frolic, which the Carnival generates, is much longed for. It does not matter whether one enjoys or see others enjoying. There is enthusiasm and happiness all around.
The Goa Carnival is an integral part of the Portuguese heritage of the state, which was a dominion of Portugal till 1961. The carnival epitomizes the fun-loving culture that is characteristic of Goa. It was introduced by the erstwhile rulers as a rowdy celebration in which flour, eggs, oranges, lemons, mud, sand-filled gloves along with dirty water, various liquids and glue were aimed at passersby. Used pots, pans, and other kitchen utensils were also thrown out of windows. Perhaps this was done to discard the old and the dirty before the Lenten fast.

Sao Joao Festival in Goa
Sao Joao Festival in Goa Sao Joao is the feast of St. John the Baptist observed all over Goa on 24th June. Newly wed sons-in-law celebrate at their mothers-in-law's house. On this occasion the mother presents the daughter a basket full of fruits like jackfruits, mangoes, pineapples, etc. to be taken home. A procession of village youth wearing crowns of leaves, carrying bottles of Feni advances through the village, ultimately arriving at a well of pond into which they jump along with the sons-in-law.

Shigmoutsav in Goa
Shigmo in Goa is esentially a festival of the masses. Though it is celebrated under different names and in different ways in various parts of the country.It is the festival of farewell to winter celebrated on the full moon day in the month of Phalguna (March), the last month of the Hindu calendar.In Goa, which has always been land of temples, Shigmo begins with Naman or collective obeisance of villagers from 9th moon day to full-moon day. During all these days, they are to 'Shun' non-vegetarian food and all intoxicants.

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS IN GOA

Attraction Tour in Goa Goa has so many tourist attraction that one is confused as to which Goan tourist attraction to surrender to.

Temples in Goa:
When you think of Goa in India, then images of beaches and sea cross your mind, so it comes as an added surprise to find that Goa in India also has numerous temples doted all around. Once you visit these temples in India one is washed with a sense of purity and sanctity.

Churches in Goa:
Thanks to the Portuguese invasion, Goa, India, has a number of churches to boast about. Many of these Goan churches are outstanding and exemplary cases of Christian architecture. Most of the church in Goa display a tiered frontispiece and are framed with columns and pilasters. They belong to the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries. The local population, with their artistically receptive minds, assimilated the symbols of Christian art.

Villages in Goa:
To this day, if you ask the Goans where they are from, they'll give you the name of their village, their 'ancestral village' as they often call the Goan village. And since many of the villages in Goa have probably evolved from early Stone Age settlements, each Goan village has had plenty of time to develop its individual character overlaid by an Iberian stamp.

Beaches in Goa:
God has been very kind to this Indian town of Goa in terms of beaches. Beaches in Goa rank among the top beaches in the world. And why shouldn't it? With over 40 lovely beaches to its credit, one can just get lost in the mesmerising beauty of these beaches in India have to tour across Goa, India to experience the beauty first-hand.

Carnival in Goa:
Come February and you will find excitement bubbling across Goa…the reason…well, Goa is getting dressed for the carnival. It doesn't take much time for this small Indian state of Goa to get into the carnival mood, basically the party mood.

Getaways in Goa:
You will never get tired of the beaches or the temples or the churches in Goa, but just in case, you want to try something different, then there are many getaways in India's Goa.

Ruins Of Church Of St. Augustine

Ruins Of Church Of St. Augustine Information :

Location: Old Goa, on top of Holy Hill, Panaji.
Main Attraction: A 46 m high tower.
How to Reach: Local transport within Goa is easily available.

About the Ruins Of Church Of St. Augustine in Goa :

he Church of St Augustine was constructed by the joint efforts of 12 Augustian Friars after they arrived at Goa on 3rd September 1572 AD. They built the church on the Holy Hill at Old Goa. The construction of the church was completed by 1602 AD. A ban was later issued against the Augustines by the Portuguese government. So they deserted the church and the convent alongside it. Both the church and the convent are in ruins now. However, the lofty 46-metre high Bell Tower – without the bell – still remains; making up a major portion of the ruins. The bell was later placed in the Fort Aguada Light House, where it remained from 1841 to 1871 AD. Finally it was put in the church of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception at Panaji in 1871 AD and, amazingly, it is in working condition today.

The bell tower that remains among the ruins belongs to one of the four of the St. Augustine Churchs that once stood there. In the glory days there used to be, attached to the church, four altars, eight chapels, and a convent with many cells. The Church of St Augustine, when it was intact, was supposed to be the biggest in Goa. The façade and half of the tower fell in 1931; and 1938 saw some more collapse of parts. After being deserted by the Augustines, the convent was used for missionary and charity work by the charitable institution of the Misericordia for quite a while. However, the buildings finally fell into neglect. This resulted in the collapse of the vault on 8 September 1842. As a direct result of all these occurrences, the Government appropriated the property and sold the materials of the remains of the church in 1843.