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Introduction
The party capital of the country, no doubt it has got great beaches, shacks and pubs. But did you know that Goa is actually a goldmine of natural beauty. A lot of people visiting goa don’t explore beyond beaches. There are so many places in Goa that are worth the visit. From incredible beaches to mesmerizing waterfalls and from beautiful churches to great forts. Goa has a lot to offer, we will discuss about the best places to visit in North Goa.
Explore 20 Best Places to visit in North Goa
01) Anjuna Beach :
Anjuna beach is one of the happening beaches in Goa. It has a wide range of shacks, pubs and restaurants to choose from. The beach is itself is quite small and crowded just like other beaches. Anjuna is yet another great place for water sports with slightly better prices and service as compared to Baga ot Calangut. Anjuna is famous for its wednesday flea market, it is a good place if you are looking for shopping options. There are a lot of popular eateries here that you can try out like Eva Cafe, purple Martine and burger factory.
02) Ashvem Beach :
Goa has some beautiful white sandy beaches among which Ashvem beach is one of them. Ashvem beach is less crowded. So if you are looking to spend some peaceful time away from the crazy crowd then this is the place to be. This is a hotspot for international traveller as the crowd is less and the beaches is beautiful. There are limited shacks and restaurants at this place. So if you looking for food then better to check the eateries in Anjuna beach. Ashvem beach is an amazing place to watch the sunset as well.
03) Panjim Church :
Immaculate conception church of Our Lady simply called the Panjim Church. It is one of the most popular church for its popularity, is because of the influence of the film industry. This church is featured in a lot of movies. It was originally a small chapel where people used to gather for prayer. Later in 1600, it was converted to a church when the Portuguese were doing their religious expansion. A lot of improvement were seen since then and what you see now is a beautiful church with a unique crisscross architecture. Panjim church houses Goa’s second bell. This bell was originally installed in Augustin’s church, but when Augustin ‘s church got demolished the Bell was shifted to Aguada and then later to panjim church.
04) Arambol :
In the early 90s parties and loud music were banned in Goa. That’s why the foreigners used to do underground parties in remote place at that time. Arambol was a perfect place to host parties without getting into trouble by the local police. It used to be the Hippie capital of Goa and you would find a lot of international tourists especially Russian at this place. As of now, Arambol is no more a secret place but it still has a lot of Hippie vibes attached to it. Arambol beach is filled with so many shacks. If you are hungry then you can eat at one these shacks while enjoying the incredible view of the ocean. This is a great beach to spend time with your friends and family but the main reason why Arambol is famous is for its sweet water lake. It is 20 minute walk from the beach to the Sweet water lake. On the way to the lake, you will find so many shopping options. If you are planning to buy something then this is one of the best place to shop. The sweet water lake is right next to the beach. This is a perfect place to get into the water. The depth of the lake is 4-5 feet which is ideal place to swim even if you don’t know swimming. If you need to change your clothes than you can use those changing tent at a nominal cost. It is a good idea to rent a bed for about rupees 100. So that you can chill by the lake especially if you are planning to visit it in the afternoon. There are two more hidden spot here,one is where you get natural Multami mitti and the other is the Banyan tree where a Baba sits.
05) Old Goa Churches :
Goa is filled with so many beautiful churches. If you want to visit churches then there can be no better place than old Goa One of the very famous church in Goa is the Basilica of Bom Jesus, popularly called the Old Goa church. The reason why this church is so popular is because it houses the Mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier. St Xavier was a christian missionary and his dead body is kept in this church. It is a miracle that his body hasn’t decayed for the past 400 years. Opposite BOM jesus church is the Se Cathedral. The word ‘se’ means ‘sea’ in Portuguese. Se cathedral is considered to be one of the largest church in Asia. Just 700 meter from Se Cathedral you will find St. Augustine’s tower. This was one of the biggest church during Portuguese time but it got demolished and now only remains can be found. If you someone who loves to dig into history then don’t miss this place.
06) Baga and Calangut Beach :
Calangut beach and Baga beach are next to each other. These beaches are one of the busiest beach in Goa flooded by Tourist. The only reason you might want to visit calangut or Baga beach is for the water sport activities water sports are available in many beaches and the prices differ from one place to the other. The Calangut and Baga remain popular place for water sports with reasonable rate. You can either dos selected sports or you can go for a complete package. The water sports package usually includes 5 rides Jet Ski, Banana ride, bumper ride, boat ride and parsailing. The price of these package can vary from 1200 Rupees to 2000 rupees. Based on your bargaining skills and the duration of the activity.
07) Vagator Beach :
Vagator is a popular beach n North Goa next to the Chopora fort. There are not many shack option on the beach but it is a great place if you want to get into the water. The best part about Vagator beach is its sunset. This is a perfect place if you want to watch the beautiful sunset. Next to Vagator beach is a relatively less crowded as compared to Vagator. There is no proper pathways to reach the beach, you will have to climb down for couple of minutes to reach the beach. Do visit Ozran beach early in the morning to have the entire place for yourself.
08) Facade of Old Sancolae Church :
If you love to explore the ruins, then visit the facade of old Sancoale church. The church is called Our Lady of Health and it is situated on the banks of the Zuari River. The church was originally built in 1566 but due to a fire accident it got destroyed in 1834 and what remains now is only it facade. It was declared a national monument in 1937 and since then the facade is preserved in its original form. This place is secluded and you will not find any crowd here. That means if you are someone who is looking for some calm place amidst the chaos then you must visit old Sancoale church.
09) Divar Island :
Divar Island is the Goa’s largest river island located near Panjim and it is surrounded by the Mandovi river. There is no connecting bridge to this island, so the only way to reach it is by taking a ferry ride. You can take the ferry from multiple places, depending on your location. A short and sweet 5 minute ride would take you to Divar Island. You can take your two-wheeler, car or even tempo traveler on this ferry. And the surprising thing is that they don’t charge a single penny for passenger or two wheeler. There is a minimal charge for 4 wheelers. Divar Island is a very calm place away from the crazy crowd. You usually see in Goa. The countryside roads are very scenic and you get authentic Goan vibes the moment you land here. Divar Island is famous for the church called Our Lady of Piety Church. It is a beautiful place to spend some quality time and soak in the beauty of nature apart from the church there is nothing much to see on this island.
10) Aguada Fort :
Fort Aguada is well preserved fort. Overwhelming the Arabian sea. The fort was originally constructed in 1612 by the Portuguese to Guard against the Dutch. The fort is divided into two parts. The upper fort and the lower fort. The lower fort was used as a safe birth to Portuguese ships while the upper fort was built as a vantage point to serve as a fort and also as the water station for the ships. The word Aguada means watering place in Portuguese. The fort had a freshwater spring that was used to supply water to the ships. The fort is comprised of a moat underground water storage a lighthouse, Gun powder room and Bastions. The lighthouse at this fort is one of the oldest in India. It was operational till 1976. Next to the fort is the new lighthouse that you can visit as well. The best part about the new lighthouse is that you can climb all the way to the top. Climbing the lighthouse might be difficult for elders and kids as the last stretch is quite tricky to climb. Once you are on the top, you can enjoy the 360 degree panoramic view. Apart from this, you can also visit the Aguada jail, which used to be the largest prison in Goa. If you want to visit the lower Aguada for then search for Sinquerim fort, on Google maps. It is around 3 1/2 km from the upper Aguada Fort.
11) Fontainhas :
If you are a photo freak then you should head to Fontainhas in Panjim. It is probably the most instagrammed spot in Goa. Fontainhas is also known as the Latin Quarters and this is the place where the Portuguese used to live. You will see beautiful and colorful houses in Indo Portugal architecture. You can walk inside Fontainhas to find the perfect spot to take photos for your instagram. Fontainhas is best explored on foot. So park your vehicle somewhere and start walking through the narrow roads of Fontainhas. There are many spots worth taking photos. The Food option inside Fontainhas is limited but they are really good. You can visit Viva Goa for authentic goan food, Joseph Bar to enjoy local drinks or confeitaria 31 de Janeiro to grab yourself some delicious bakery items.
12) Chorao Island :
Unlike Divar Island, Chorao island is surrounded by water only on three sides. You can reach this island by ferry ride or you can also reach it by roads. Chorao island is famous for its salim Ali Bird Sanctuary. There is a Mangrove walk inside the Sanctuary which went viral on instagram reels and since then a lot of tourist come here to see it. Apart from walking through the Mangrove forest you can hop onto one of the boats for the bird sighting experience. Chorao is famous for ferry production. If you don’t know fenny, it is a local Alcohol in Goa made from cashew. You will get this drink everywhere in Goa but it is not expected outside the state. So if you are in Goa then don’t miss to try Fenny.
13) Chapora Fort :
Apart from its connection with the filmy world. The fort has a rich history. The view you get from this place are truly mesmerizing. Chapora fort was one of the best places to watch the sunset but with the recent implementation of timing, the fort is closed at 5.00pm. Avoid visiting Chapora fort in the afternoon as there is no shade or place to sit inside the fort.
14) Parra Road :
Parra road is a scenic stretch of road guarded by coconut trees on both sides. Although the place has been featured in so many movies, it got popular after ‘Dear Zindagi’, This is where Alia Bhatt and Shahrukh Khan would be cycling in our of the songs This scenic stretch is 800 meter long and its totally Insta-worthy. You can visit this place to click some amazing photos or shoot some reels. Keep in mind that this road is not meant to be a tourist spot. It is used by locals for their daily commute. Make sure not to disturb the traffic as the local Panchayat has already put up a sign for no parking on the stretch. If the nuisance continue they might even ban photography on this road.
15) Temples of Goa :
Goa has some of the most beautiful temples which a lot of people don’t know about. If you are visiting Goa with family then you can add a couple of temples to your Itinerary. Mots of the popular temples are located in Mardol town in Ponda Taluka. If you are traveling from the Panjim side you can take a 20 minute Ferry ride to reach the other side of the Zuari River while there are many temples in the area, the most popular one is Shri Mangeshi Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is tourists visit this temple regularly apart from Mangeshi temple. You can also visit Mahalsa Narayan temple which is really beautiful. Another Beautiful temple is the Lakshmi Narasimba temple. The highlight of this temple is its Pushkarani. This place was so calm and peaceful.
16) Reis Magos Fort :
Reis Magos is the oldest fort in Goa. It was built in 1551 on the narrowest stretch of the Mandovi river by the Portuguese. This fort was used by the Portuguese to defend their territory against the Marathas. During the independence time, this fort was used as a prison to lock down the freedom fighter. You can see the freedom fighters name mentioned in this fort. Even though Reis Magos Fort was such an important part of Goa’s history, it was completely abandoned in 1993. Thanks to a UK based trust (Helen Hamlyn Trust) which funded the restoration of Reis Magos Fort in 2008. The restoration work was impressively executed by Goa’s well known architect Gerad D. Cunha. There is a gallery hall where the history of Goa has been displayed from this fort. You can get a mesmerizing view of the Mandovi river an the surrounding places. Since a lot of people don’t knew about this places, you can expect less crowd here. Next to Fort is the Reis Magos church which was also built around the same time.
17) Houses Of Goa Museum :
If yo are one of those who is interested in History, architecture and culture then you must visit a museum in Goa. There are many museums in Goa, among which houses of Goa museum is one of the popular museum. It is built in the shape of a boat and that itself is the highlight of this place. It is a three-story modern building exhibiting various architectural drawing, history of Goa and a few artifacts. Unlike traditional museums. This place doesn’t have a lot of Vintage items. Apart you can take some beautiful photos here. Next to the museum is Mario Miranda’s art gallery. For those who don’t know about him, Mario Miranda was a very famous cartoonist based in Goa. The art gallery has a very beautiful collection of his works.
18) Harvalem Waterfall :
Goa is not just about beaches, churches or forts. Goa is filled with some of the prettiest waterfalls in India among which Harvalem waterfall is one of them. If you are visiting Goa during monsoon or just after the monsoon then a visit to Harvalem waterfall is a must. Don’t miss visiting Rudreshwar temple located next to this waterfalls. Apart from the waterfalls you can also visit the Harvalem Caves. On the way back you can either visit Amona Bridge depending on your route. Amona bridge is situated towards Panjim. This steel bridge is half a kilometer in length and it is totally photogenic. On the other hand, if you are going towards North Goa. You can visit the Namazgah. It is an open air prayer area built in Turko-Persian architecture. To reach the mosque you will have a walk through a narrow road for about 5 minutes. The place might look abondened but it is not. It is protected monument and you will find few tourists at this place.
19) Casinos In Goa :
We have seen Casinos in a lot of movies, but in Goa you can experience one for yourself. Goa has the best casinos in India. If you are wondering isn’t gambling is illegal in India, the answer is Yes, its illegal but except Goa, Daman and Sikkim. You will find two kinds of Casinos in Goa, Land Casinos and cruise Casinos are located in panjim and you cannot go unnotice when you are exploring Panjim. There are charges for entering the Casinos and the prices differ from one Casinos to another with the entry ticket you usually get chips worth a thousand Rupees to play. Once you enter the casinos, you will get access to unlimited Alcohol, unlimited food, live entertainment and a playing area. Roulet, Andar Bahar, black-Jack and Poker are some of the popular games here. In short, its a different world out there, if you want to experience Casinos then Goa is the best place to try. Gambling is quite addictive so do visit it just for the experience.
20) Dona Paula :
Dona Paula is located on the sea stretch that spans from Panjim. This place has been featured in so many movies. Dona Paula is so popular you can expect a lot of crowds here. And you can visit a viewpoint spot. From this viewpoint, you will get a 360 degree view of the Arabian sea and the surrounding places. Dona paula is an amazing places to watch the sunset as well.
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