8 Places To Explore In North Goa In One Day

(1) Lower Aguada Fort : Reach the lower Aguada fort early in the morning to experience a beautiful sunrise and feel the spray of the water on you while you stand on the ruins of this fort. This would be a very pleasant experience. However, if you cannot make it early in the morning, be sure to reach the spot during the sunset.

(2) Candolim Beach : Candolim is a very popular area in North Goa and you would find lots of restaurants and souvenir shops all along the road as well as near the beach area. So, if you are up for some shopping then plan to visit this beach after about 10am in the morning. However, if you want to avoid the crowds and enjoy the beach all by yourselves, then here is a secret location that you must visit. Take the route from behind the hotel lemon tree and find yourself at a completely empty stretch of the candolim. You would fall in love with the sea and the sand!

(3) Calangute Beach : So, after having refreshed yourself by a pleasant morning walk along the empty stretch of candolim beach, now head towards the calangute beach at around 9am to watch the area wake up slowly. Enjoy the beach among thinner crowds and pack your bags with Cashews and feni from one of the numerous shops at this beach.

(4) Reis Magos Fort : Reis Magos fort located on the banks of the Mandovi river is older than the Aguada fort. The fort is beautiful and is standing as a witness to history even before the advent of the Portuguese in India. There is a Museum inside this complex from where one would get to know about the history of the Portuguese rule in Goa. The view of the Mandovi river from the Terrace is magnificent!

(5) Chorao Island or Divar Island : When you are in Goa, the one thing that would that would attract your attention is the ferry service across Mandovi river. So, just head on to one of the nearby jetties and drive up your car / scooty up ta ramp and into the carriage. You would love the experience of this ride across the river!! Then, explore the island you have decided to visit and head back to the mainland Goa in about an hour.

(6) Fontainhas : Fontainhas is an old Latin Quarter in Panjim.Here you would find colourful houses and cafes of portuguese architecture. The brightly coloured houses with iron railings have a lot of histories hidden among the lanes. If love posing for photography, you can load your gallery with some very lovely photographs.

Just near the Fontainhas lanes is located the beautiful white washed church known as the 'Our Lady of the immaculate conception Church'. This church has a historical significance, being constructed in the year 1541.

(7)"Se Cathedral" or "Cathedral of Santa Catarina." : Just opposite to the Basilica of Bom Jesus there is the "Se Cathedral" which is one of the largest churches in Asia and is an important historical and religious landmark in Goa. The Se Cathedral was built to commemorate the victory of the Portuguese over the Muslim rulers of the area and their recapture of Old Goa in 1510. Construction of the cathedral began in 1562 and took several decades to complete.

(8) Velasao Beach : This beach is totally out of tourist radar. No tourist , no beach shacks, no music! When we reached the spot we found fishermen loading a truck with prawns and a few locals were trying to get a few at a good bargain. If I had another day at hand, I would have got myself some half a kilo of prawns! I simply love prawns!

A few kids were playing on the sand with the sea and a few locals were just sitting on the beach enjoying the peace of the surroundings. We spent quite sometime at this beach before heading for the airport.

If you have some time in hand you can explore this beach as well.