Inland Goa Attractions

The inland Goa attractions, if you can drag yourself away from the sparkling Arabian Sea, are well worth visiting. Set among lush paddy fields, deep gorges and thick forest are ancient temples, Portuguese churches, spice plantations and waterfalls.

Goa's colourful and lively markets attract visitors from all over the state, and the small towns and villages give travellers a chance to experience life in a state that, aside from its tourist developments along the coast, has remained strongly attatched to its rural past.

This guide covers some of the major Goa attractions. Anyone travelling in Goa off the beaten track should have a look at the excellent Forest Department of Goa website which contains a useful map (under the 'Goa State' section). A Google map of Goa is also accessible here.

Goa's Inland Tourist Attractions

Goan Forts

Terekhol Fort near the northern border with Maharasthra is perched on a forested hillside overlooking the sweeping Keri beach below. The building contains a Portuguese church, and has been converted into a luxury hotel. Visitors can enjoy the views from the sunny terrace, and explore the border villages in the nearby vicinity.

Just over the Maharashtran border, Redi Fort lies amid the jungle, an atmospheric ruin well off the tourist route and overlooking the pristine beaches of the southern Maharashtran coast.

Climb the headland of Vagator beach towards Chapora Fort to get a bird's eye view of Goa's north coast, including the impressive mouth of the Chapora river as it spills out into the Arabian sea, or head south to Goa's best preserved fort, the 17th Century Fort Aguada.

Market Days

Market day brings to life villages and towns across the state - there is always a market on somewhere, whether the daily fish and produce market in countless hamlets and villages across Goa, or the giant, sprawling souvenir markets in Anjuna and Arpora.

The weekly Wednesday Anjuna flea market and the Saturday night market at Arpora cater for a largely tourist crowd and are excellent places to buy gifts and souvenirs.

For a taste of an authentic Indian market where the tourist trinkets are balanced out by produce, homeware, puja (prayer) offerings, clothing, Bollyood DVDs and more, the Friday Market in Mapusa is a vibrant experience for the mind and senses.
Towns and Villages

Goa's capital city, Panaji is an attractive town set on the banks of the Mandovi River and home to the impressive 16th Century Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception. The old Portuguese quarter of Fontainhas in Panjm exudes character, its narrow cobbled streets are surrounded by pretty, painted villas.

In north Goa the market town of Mapusa is the complete opposite of Panjim - messy, loud and with a charismatic appeal its Friday Market should not be missed.

Numerous small villages and hamlets dot the Goan countryside and stopping at a few to investigate their local temples, markets and churches or just get a cold drink and watch the world go by is always fascinating. Check out our pages on Siolim and Arpora to get a feel for them...

Old Goa

A monument to Goa's period under Portuguese rule, Old Goa is the former capital of Goa, abandoned in favour of Panaji in the 1700s.

In its heyday, Old Goa was the largest and richest city in Asia, and the churches, palaces and basilicas that remain here (in excellent condition) demonstrate the wealth and power that the Portuguese once held on to in this part of the world.

The site one of the most popular inland Goa attractions and sees an infux of thousands of pilgrims on St Francis Xavier's Saint's Day (Dec. 3rd).

If you are in Goa for a while, it is very interesting to compare this old capital with that of the Hindu capital Vijayanagar at Hampi (in neighbouring state, Karnataka), both of which were affuent in the 16th Century.

More Goa attractions listed soon...

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Goa's Inland Tourist Attractions

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