20 Attractions to Explore Near Goa Chitra Museum

Covered in powdery white sand and lined with coconut palms, this is a very popular and busy beach of Goa.

Showcases the evolution of the Indian Naval Air Arm. The museum is divided into two main parts, an outdoor exhibit, and a two-story indoor gallery. The outdoor exhibit is a huge park that visitors can walk through and see decommissioned aircraft. Some of them date back to before the 1940s.

In the past, the fort has switched hands between Hindu, Muslim monarchs and the Portuguese and witnessed many battles. The present rickety structure with turrets and rusty cannons is a leftover of the Portuguese.

Stretching for miles, this is one of the best beaches of Goa and the country. During September, the beach serves as a nesting ground for olive ridley sea turtles.

The Basilica is partially in ruins but still a model of elegance, and a fine example of Jesuit architecture. This is the only church in Old Goa, which is unplastered on the outside. The lime plaster which existed earlier was stripped off by a zealous Portuguese conservationist in 1950. The church contains the mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier.

Built to commemorate the victory of the Portuguese under Afonso de Albuquerque over a Muslim army, leading to the capture of the city of Goa in 1510. Since the day of the victory happened to be on the feast of Saint Catherine, the cathedral was dedicated to her.

The museum has over 8,000 artifacts on display, including stone sculptures, wooden objects, carvings, bronzes, paintings, manuscripts, rare coins, and anthropological objects. The main focus is on Ancient History and Archaeology, Art and Craft, and Geology.

Goa’s largest manmade reservoir. The Selaulim dam is a composite earth-cum-masonry dam of 42.7 meters height with a water spread area of 24 square kilometers. The Duckbill type spillway here is an interesting structure to checkout.

An estuarine mangrove habitat declared as a Bird sanctuary. The sanctuary is named after Salim Ali, the eminent Indian Ornithologist. Accessed by a ferry service running between Ribander and Chorão, it sanctuary has a paved walk that runs between mangroves.

Surrounded by sturdy laterite walls studded with typically Portuguese turrets, it was erected in 1551 to protect the narrowest point at the mouth of the Mandovi river. It was used as a residence for viceroys and later converted to a fortress.

Crescent-shaped beach. One can view the entire beach from either end. Both ends of the beach consist of rocks jutting out into the sea.

A well preserved 17th-century fort along with a lighthouse overlooking the Arabian sea. It was a reference point for the vessels coming from Europe at that time. 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.

Candolim is a census town in North Goa ,and is a tourist destination. It is less congested and has better planned than the other beaches of Goa

Calangute beach is the largest in North Goa. The beach offers water sport activities like parasailing and water skiing, among others.

This is a 12th-century Shaivite temple. It is the only structural temple of the Kadamba period(10th to 14th century) to survive the destructions during Muslim and Portuguese occupations of Goan territory.

Long sandy beach packed with shacks, resorts and fishing boats. Quieter and isolated, it stands among high hills and deep blue Arabian Sea.

Four-tiered waterfall located on the Mandovi river. The waterfall forms the border between Karnataka and Goa states. The area is surrounded by deciduous forests with rich biodiversity. The falls are not particularly spectacular during the dry season but during the monsoon season, it becomes a huge.

Part of a 30 kilometers extended beach coastline along the west coast of Goa by the Arabian sea. In some parts of the beach, you will be able to see an array of red laterite rocks protruding out to the sea.

White sands, black lava rocks, sapphire expanse, and shaking palms. One of the most favorite beaches of Goa, with plenty of shacks and restaurants around.

This ancient fort in North Goa offers splendid views of the adjoining Vagator beach and overlooks the Arabian Sea from all angles.