Started on 28th of May 2009 in the night via Volvo bus we reached Goa around 8pm in the morning. Having no clue where to get down for a place that would be near to our resort(we before hand had the hotel resevartion), we decided to get down at the last stop of the bus….a Goan town called Mapusa, centre of Goa. Mapusa is at the centre of Bardez Taluqa of Goa and offers quick access to the famous north Goan beaches like Baga, Calangute, Anjuna, Vagator. Mapusa is mainly the busy commercial town of Goa with less number of hotels and huge population. Mapusa market is famous for its Friday market where people all over the Goa including tourists come to buy and sell the products; Mapusa is also considered the best market for cashewnut purchase. Having got down at Mapusa we hired a taxi for our resort Silla Goa situated just a few minutes walk from the Calangute beach and near to the main town of Calangute. Within half hour we reached our destination.
Having breakfast and having some rest we headed to the nearby local market. The first thing we purchased was the Goa map. Having limited time in our hand we planned our trip. Next we rented a bike for the sightseeing. In Goa one gets easily the scooter, bike and car on rent on reasonable price. As we were staying at the Calangute we found that it is one of the most visited tourist spot of Goa. We decided to head to the near beach named Baga Beach.
Having breakfast and having some rest we headed to the nearby local market. The first thing we purchased was the Goa map. Having limited time in our hand we planned our trip. Next we rented a bike for the sightseeing. In Goa one gets easily the scooter, bike and car on rent on reasonable price. As we were staying at the Calangute we found that it is one of the most visited tourist spot of Goa. We decided to head to the near beach named Baga Beach.
Baga Beach is basically an extension of its more congested Calangute beach. There is a 30-km stretch of beach coastline along the west coast of Goa by the Arabian Sea, 10-km west of Mapusa. The beach begins at Fort Aguada continues as Sinquerim beach, then as Candolim Beach and merges into Calangute beach and then to Baga beach and then Anjuna Beach and then to Vagator Beach finally ending at Chapora Beach and Fort. If one opts for parasaling from either of the beaches one gets a beautiful scenic view of the entire coastline from the sky. The difference between Calangute Beach and Baga Beach is that the scenery of this beach site is more varied, unspoiled and scenic. Baga Beach is a beautiful rocky beach and is surrounded by beautiful cliffs and lovely coconut and palm trees.
It’s one of the most happening beaches on the coast busy throughout the day and till late in night. The weather at Baga is warm throughout the year. Baga Beach provides everything from water sports to fine dining restaurants there, along with a pulsating nightlife. The beach has a large number of shacks providing almost every type of cuisine to the tourists. Baga beach is renowned for its finest range of restaurants in Goa. One can go for for a quiet candlelit dinner at the shoreline, or can dine in a conventional Goan style at the shacks that serves everything from continental to freshly prepared sea food. We spent the afternoon on this beach and had snacks. The beach atmosphere was new to me and I was very exited about it.
Beach is considered as a hub for activities such as water sports and fishing. Water sports are a huge attraction here. In Goa if one wants to do water sports in reasonable pricethan the Baga Beach and Calangute Beach are the best options rest throughout Goa water sports are quite expensive. The beach also has the famous Tito's Nightclub, which boost of its grand dance floor and excellent sound set-up, so whether its day or its night Baga Beach life is always happening.
Our next destination was the adjuscent beach Anjuna Beach. Anjuna is a small village in Goa which is famous for its picturesque locale and the party culture. The Beach has got the white sand and the red laterite rocks,sometimes called jewels of Anjuna, a unique arrangement and has a humid climate throughout the year.
Apart from the sun, sand, beach and partying, Anjuna is also known for its flea market. The flea market has shops selling everything from local and Kashmiri handicraft to jewellery, bags and clothes. The flea market is held every Wednesday and during the peak season on Saturdays too. Bargaining can be done when shopping from the flea market at Anjuna Beach. Shopping is must here.
The best thing I like about this Beach is its location, clear water and less crowded Beach. One can simply spend the whole day on the Anjuna Beach relaxing and encouraging the surroundings. We spend the whole evening on the Anjuna Beach. Seeing the beautiful sunset at the Anjuna Beach we returned back to our resort.
After relaxing for sometime we got ready for the night life of the Baga Beach. Roaming through the streets of Goa it seems full of life. Exploring the palace we had great late dinner at a terrace restaurant.
Next day we started our sightseeing early after having a quick breakfast at the resort, that our destination was the famous Portuguese Aguada Fort. On the way to the fort we spotted a place for sea boat ride in the Arabian Sea and decided to take a ride when we come back from the fort. Exploring the road before visiting the fort we took a hilly ride to the famous Aguada Fort Jail. It is situated on Sinquerim Beach. Because of security reasons the jail is not allowed to be visited, tourists can go only till the gate. When we took the boat ride later the boatman informed us that a few Bollywood film shooting took place in the jail with special permission. I noticed that not many tourists come down to this spot; don’t know why, but I found the place really beautifully, specially the downhill ride to the spot. From here one can have beautiful view of the jail, Arabian Sea and the beautiful seascapes.
After staying for sometime there we took the up ride to the Aguada Fort. It was a hot sunny day and I got myself a perfect hat from one of the many shacks outside the fort at the fort entrance. Now was the time to explore the fort.
A brief history of the fort- The fort was constructed in 1612 to guard against the Dutch and the Marathas. This old Portuguese fort stands on the beach south of Candolim, at the shore of the Mandovi river. A freshwater spring within the fort provided water supply to the ships that used to stop by. This is how the fort got its name: Aguada, meaning Water. Fort Aguada was the most prized and crucial fort of Portuguese. The fort is so large that it envelops the entire peninsula at the south western tip of Bardez. Built on the mouth of river Mandovi, it was strategically located and was the chief defense of Portuguese against the Dutch and Marathas. It has The Lighthouse and The Citadels, which stand out as Goan Heritage. Currently at one end of the fort, the central jail of Goa has been made.
Coming back from the fort we took the boat ride into the Arabian Sea. While entering from the small water creek into the big Arabian Sea I noticed beautiful scenery on the sides of the creek accommodating small houses at the sea shore with beautiful palm trees all around and the brick wall to stop the sea water entering the houses.
For the first time in my life I saw the dolphins playing in the sea just next to me( my boat). I was super exited watching them. One moment they were at the surface the other moment they disappear in water. I tried to take many photographs of them but could get hold of only the tail of one of them.
From the boat we got the beautiful side view of the Aguada Jail. The other sights were the Aguada Fort, the old and the new light house og the Aguada Fort, the old church at the top of the hill, a beautifull bunglow used for film shootings, the Raj Bhawan of Goa, a few other beautiful bunglows situated at the hill top surrounding the Arabian Sea.
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| Aguada Jail Side View |
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| Aguada Jail Main Entrance |
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| Old and New Light House;Jail down the hill |
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| Church at the hill top and the banglow at bottom |
One of the things that thrilled me was a yacht in the middle of the water. The boatman informed us that the yacht was of foreign travelers who were out there on the world tour in their yacht and took a halt in Goa. The very concept of the world tour exited me.
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| The Yacht |
Next we took the ride to the famous Dona Paula Beach. Dona Paula is a former village, here where two of Goa's famous rivers (Zuari and Mandovi ) meet the Arabian Sea is the bay of Dona Paula with a very good view of the Marmagao Harbour. Here's a peek into this enigmatic scene. There are a number of legends behind the alleged Dona Paula Sculpture, with the romance and myth attached to it.
I would suggest visit the beach, check out its beauty and simply enjoy there that it.
This beach is one of the most happening beaches of Goa because of the various water sports facilities offered here. Kayaking, motorboat riding, windsurfing, parasailing, water-skiing, toboggan ski-biscuit, yachting, skibob, sports fishing, snorkeling and harpoon fishing are some of the leisure activities you can indulge into at the Dona Paula Beach.
The Dona Paula Beach offers an opportunity to the tourists to have sunbath and buy cheap seaside goods from local vendors.
After so much of adventure through the day we were tired a lot. We returned back to our resort and had dinner in resort restaurant itself and retired for the day.
Next day we went to Old Goa. It is a historical city. Full of history, it today is home to some scenic churches and convents, that are well maintained and worth a visit.
One such church we visisted was famous Old Goa Church, Basilica Of BomJesus. It contains the relics of St. Francis Xavier.
Having no knowledge about churches I can say that it is one of the very beautifully decorated churches with great religious importance. Photography in the church premises was allowed but only of the church’s architecture not one’s photography. As it was Sunday church was very crowded.
After visisiting the church we headed to the beach. With no destination in mind we decided to go to a beach that was close to our resort. Our search ended when we reached Candolim Beach.
Candolim beach is absolutely beautiful, clean and not crowded like the other beaches in Goa. Apart from the sunbathing and swimming, you can watch the fisherman coming back from sea with their daily catch.
Candolim Beach is a bit shallow and inclined and times waves are really high. A good adventure but one has to be careful while in water. Sitting under the big sun umbrella we had our snacks and lunch. The best part of Candolim Beach was high waves. We spent our entire day in leisure at the beach.
Thus our weekend ended and we left Goa with sweet memories.
