Once you set foot in Old Goa, it’s impossible not to notice the Portuguese influence in Goa’s architecture. Ancient forts dot the coastline reminding us that the Portuguese conquered Goa in 1510. They ruled for about 450 years and built many grandiose churches and basilicas in and around the historical center. If it wasn’t for the buzzing Indian vibe you could almost believe that you were somewhere in Portugal. Of course, there are Hindu temples to visit as well.
Goa is also a place where people go to relax on the beach by day and party by night. Panaji, the capital of Goa, is a buzzing place with an exciting nightlife. There are scores of bars, restaurants and even floating casinos to choose from.
Must-see places in Old Goa
The city center of Old Goa is very compact and easy to explore on foot. Also, many churches and chapels are located in this area and the following are some of the most important to visit. You can’t miss the Portuguese influence in the architecture.
Se Cathedral
Known simply as the Se Cathedral, the Sé Catedral de Santa Catarina dates back to the 1600s. It’s one of the top attractions in Goa and one of the largest churches in Asia. Originally the cathedral had two towers, but one collapsed in 1776.
Church of St. Francis de Assisi
Built in 1661 the Church of St. Francis de Assisi has notable octagonal towers on either side of the façade. Inside, the altar features a statue of St. Francis de Assisi with Jesus on the cross as well as many other intricate carvings.
Basilica of Bom Jesus
This Baroque-style church was completed in 1605. It has a beautiful façade, but something was going on, likely renovations, when we visited and most of it was hidden behind scaffolding. The basilica is famous because it houses the remains of St. Francis Xavier.
St. Augustine Tower
The ruins of St. Augustine Tower are the only parts still standing of a 17th century church complex. The Church of Our Lady of Grace, commonly known as the Church of St. Augustine, was completed in 1602.
The church’s vault collapsed in 1842, the façade and towers in 1931 and 1938 respectively. The remains are still very impressive and offer a window into the past of something that was once grandiose. Crumbling walls, arches, passageways enhance the feeling of being transported into another era. This was our favorite site in Goa and it’s definitely a must-see attraction.
Chapel of Our Lady of the Mount
This church sits atop a hill and even if we couldn’t see the inside it was still quite beautiful to visit. From the chapel we got a splendid view of the area. It’s located about 2 km from Old Goa’s city center and it’s easy to get there by car.
A 5-minute drive away is the Church of St. Cajetan, a 17th century Catholic church with a beautiful carved altar depicting Our Lady of Divine Providence.
Another nice church to see in Goa is the Immaculate Conception Church, but this one is in Panaji.
Immaculate Conception Church
This white Baroque Catholic church built in the early 1600s sits atop a small hill in Panaji city center. The exterior’s most striking feature is probably the white staircase to reach the church from which we got good city views. We didn’t take any pictures inside or spend a lot of time here because a service was going on at the time of our visit.
Mangeshi Temple
Located on the outskirts of Old Goa, this Hindu temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It’s one of the largest and most visited temples in Goa. It’s also nice that non-Hindus are allowed inside. However, since it’s an active place of worship it’s not permitted to take pictures inside. The interior is decorated with assorted crystal chandeliers, silver engravings and gold-painted accents on the ceiling, marble floor and columns. To visit, your shoes must be left at the entrance of the complex.
Here, beware of self-appointed prophet priests that offer to take you around. They will tell you your fortune but will expect a few rupees in exchange.
Portuguese forts to visits
Aguada Fort
The Aguada Fort is a well-preserved 17th century Portuguese fortress in Goa. This popular tourist attraction is located on the north side of the mouth of the Mandovi River. Highlights include the old lighthouse tower, the ramparts and watchtowers. Also, great views of the sea and coastline can be had from the parapet.
Reis Magos Fort
The Reis Magos Fort is a 16th century fortress built by the Portuguese on the northern side of the Mandovi River. The fort has been completely restored and for us it looked almost too new, taking away some of the authenticity. Nevertheless, it was nice to see, especially for the spectacular panoramic vistas that we got from the top.
Important facts to know about Miramar Beach
Miramar beach is not located along the Arabian Sea, rather it’s at the mouth of the Mandovi River. The beach looks nice, but it’s not recommended to swim here because there are strong rip currents. Also, even if you would want to risk it, keep in mind that the black streaking you see in the golden sand isn’t black sand. It’s pollution!
Getting around Goa:
We managed to see most of all these places in one day. We hired a driver for a day (8 hours) for about $50. He drove us to all the places we wanted to see in Old Goa, to the Mangheshi Temple, and we even had time to make it to the Aguada and Reis Magos forts.
We were staying at a beach resort in Panaji and on our second day in Goa we simply walked to the city center. Walking through town is a bit tricky with all the traffic, constant honking and uneven and often lacking walkways. The easiest way is to simply follow the road along the Mandovi River and enjoy the scenic vistas along the way.
This is what we did to return to our hotel. This also gave us a chance to visit the Cample Gardens along the way. It was a pleasant walk and we enjoyed strolling through this lovely riverside park with winding walking paths and lush flower gardens. Amateur botanists may also enjoy the signs indicating the various plant species. There’s also a children’s play area.
Conclusion
Overall, we enjoyed our visit to Goa, but it’s not somewhere we would revisit. Because, in retrospect, Goa is just too far for us to go to relax at a beach resort. We live in Miami and can get to the beach in less than 10 minutes anytime we like (yes, we do count our blessings!).
On top of that the many Caribbean islands are just a short flight away (and also a lot less expensive to get to). That being said Goa has some interesting Portuguese architecture to see, but again, we can see Portuguese vestiges dotting the Florida coastline and in places like Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and Colombia. Even Portugal is much closer for us than India!