Guide to North Goa – A travelogue of beaches, churches and more
The sun rises in the East and brings up a brand new day. While the sun had been playing hide and seek with us while we were at the Divar Islands at the start of our trip, it happened to shine brightly in the morning we started for North Goa. We knew we had the next two days on the cards which were going to be fun-filled, super exciting and full of places to visit in Goa. While we present a guide to North Goa through this blog, we will also share some of the places to eat in Goa and the best hotels in Goa. This travel guide to North Goa shall feature some of the UNESCO world heritage sites along with beaches, old forts and churches in Goa.
Travel Guide to North Goa:
North Goa is known for its vibrant lifestyle. Goa is known as the party land all because of the places to party in North Goa. From pubs, bar, and lounges to land casinos, North Goa is full of places where you can unwind yourself completely. Along with the party options, North Goa has some of the popular beaches which can be used for spending hours with the people you are traveling with. As we were there for the monsoons, Goa seemed a lot greener, fresh and welcoming. Here is a complete travel guide to North Goa of the beaches, churches, and forts we visited.
Beaches in North Goa:
Goa and Beaches seem to be synonyms of one another. The entire Goa state is full of beaches both in the North and the South. While you get different sand beaches in Goa, some of them are rockier and the others more secluded. Here’s a guide to North Goa beaches, some of which we visited and also the ones we missed.
Calangute Beach:
One of the most famous and cleanest beach in Goa, Calangute was also our place of stay. We were staying at a beach property right next to the Calangute beach and had easy access to this one. This is located in the north of Goa and can easily be reached from any part of the city.
One of the most famous and cleanest beach in Goa, Calangute was also our place of stay. We were staying at a beach property right next to the Calangute beach and had easy access to this one. This is located in the north of Goa and can easily be reached from any part of the city.
Baga Beach:
Baga beach is located in North Goa abs is most popular for its water sports activities. The beach is also known for the Baga creek which forms the Baga river and meets the Arabian Sea in the end. The beach is mostly a dark sand beach and is usually flocked with tourists at all times.
Baga Beach
Anjuna Beach:
A beach we could not walk down to but look at it from a certain distance. This beach is a rocky beach with rocks of different shapes and sizes. The beach is very popular amongst the tourists and should not be missed if you are exploring the beaches of North Goa especially. This one is quite close to the Baga Beach.
A beach we could not walk down to but look at it from a certain distance. This beach is a rocky beach with rocks of different shapes and sizes. The beach is very popular amongst the tourists and should not be missed if you are exploring the beaches of North Goa especially. This one is quite close to the Baga Beach.
There are few other popular beaches in North Goa like the Candolim, Sinquerim, Aguada or Dona Paula to name a few. If you are looking for a more secluded beach with very less of crowd we recommend the Arambol Beach in North Goa. This one is like an off-beat beach but one should be careful while visiting it at night. After all, your safety is in your hands!
Churches in North Goa:
Goa has one of the oldest and beautiful churches in the world. From a church which is a UNESCO World Heritage site to those located on a hilltop, there are many churches and chapels that you will find spread around the cities. We were able to visit many of them during our trip and loved the beauty of each one of them. Here is a guide to North Goa churches and the history associated with them.
Church of Our Lady of the Mount
Basilica of Bom Jesus:
Basilica of Bom Jesus is a UNESCO world heritage site and is one of the oldest churches in Goa. The church holds the remains of St. Francis Xavier and is very popular amongst the tourists and the locals both. It is very interesting to visit the church and listen to the story of St. Francis Xavier and fascinating to know how his remains are still there without being lost even after hundreds of years. The Basilica of Bom Jesus Church can also be one of the most Instagrammable places due to its magnificent boundaries and walls which provide a very nice backdrop.
Basilica of Bom Jesus
Inside Basilica of Bom Jesus
Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception:
This is a very famous church located in the Panjim area of Goa. The church was built in the early Portuguese era and is considered to be one of the most important landmarks in the Panjim city. The church is a beautiful white colored architecture with a park next to it. We could not go inside the church as it was a daytime when we visited it but we have heard some really good things about this church. We would love to pay a visit to this church the next time we are in Goa.
Mae De Deus:
The spires are the first thing you will notice at the Mae De Deus church. Located very close to the Calangute area in Saligao, the Mae De Deus church is one of the most beautiful and serene churches we have been to in Goa. The church is known for its Neo-Gothic architecture. The church has a statue of Mae De Deus (Mother of God) and is very well illuminated during the night.
The spires are the first thing you will notice at the Mae De Deus church. Located very close to the Calangute area in Saligao, the Mae De Deus church is one of the most beautiful and serene churches we have been to in Goa. The church is known for its Neo-Gothic architecture. The church has a statue of Mae De Deus (Mother of God) and is very well illuminated during the night.
Mae De Deus
There are many other churches in Goa which are known for its internal and external architectures. These churches have been there since long and make Goa one of the most visited cities especially by the foreign tourists.
Fountainhas Area near Panjim:
If you want to click some amazing pictures for Instagram with a Portuguese influence, Fountainhas is just the right place for you. Located right next to the Panjim area, Fountainhas has old-time houses from the Portuguese era which have been painted colorfully and looks straight out of a movie. This place also has some nice eating joints and can be your paradise if you wish to get clicked on a beautiful location.
If you want to click some amazing pictures for Instagram with a Portuguese influence, Fountainhas is just the right place for you. Located right next to the Panjim area, Fountainhas has old-time houses from the Portuguese era which have been painted colorfully and looks straight out of a movie. This place also has some nice eating joints and can be your paradise if you wish to get clicked on a beautiful location.
Forts in North Goa:
Goa is also known for different forts and their remains. Forts have been there since the Portuguese era and have always fascinated the travelers to Goa with their splendid architecture. While we were exploring North Goa, we happened to visit two of the most famous forts there.
Fort Chapora:
One of the most famous forts in North Goa, the fort Chapora is known for its location and the red sands. The fort is located at a good height and you need to be really careful while climbing up or moving down especially when it’s raining. But once you reach the top inside the fort the view from there is magical. This fort is also famous as it was the location for the famous movie Dil Chahta Hai where the actors were sitting and discussing their plans of visiting Goa at least once in a year. Actually, they were right because once you experience monsoons in Goa you feel like coming again soon.
One of the most famous forts in North Goa, the fort Chapora is known for its location and the red sands. The fort is located at a good height and you need to be really careful while climbing up or moving down especially when it’s raining. But once you reach the top inside the fort the view from there is magical. This fort is also famous as it was the location for the famous movie Dil Chahta Hai where the actors were sitting and discussing their plans of visiting Goa at least once in a year. Actually, they were right because once you experience monsoons in Goa you feel like coming again soon.
View from Fort Chapora
Fort Aguada:
A fort with a huge lighthouse in the premises, Fort Aguada was once a very popular fort during the Portuguese reign. This fort is located overlooking the Sinquerim beach and the Arabian Sea. The fort gives you a very rustic feel and can be counted as one of the most Instagrammable places in Goa. The walls and the boundaries and even the barred area within the fort presents an amazing setup for photography.
A fort with a huge lighthouse in the premises, Fort Aguada was once a very popular fort during the Portuguese reign. This fort is located overlooking the Sinquerim beach and the Arabian Sea. The fort gives you a very rustic feel and can be counted as one of the most Instagrammable places in Goa. The walls and the boundaries and even the barred area within the fort presents an amazing setup for photography.
Food Guide to North Goa:
Goa is a foodie’s paradise especially if you love sea-food. The food here in Goa is mostly cooked in coconut-oil and is of a very different taste with local spices making the flavors. Although you may find varied varieties of food here in North Goa, few well-known places which we went to are listed here.
Habanero:
If you are ever visiting Goa don’t miss having a meal at the Habanero! A truly tex-mex restaurant with some of the best Mexican dishes including the chicken nachos and chicken burritos. Don’t miss out on the coronorita, that’s corona coupled with a margarita! This place is recommended for the cool interiors, delicious food and amazing cocktails.
If you are ever visiting Goa don’t miss having a meal at the Habanero! A truly tex-mex restaurant with some of the best Mexican dishes including the chicken nachos and chicken burritos. Don’t miss out on the coronorita, that’s corona coupled with a margarita! This place is recommended for the cool interiors, delicious food and amazing cocktails.
Susegado goa
Morisco by Taj Aguada:
The Taj Group of Hotels are known for its luxury and hospitality. While we were in Goa we visited Morisco, the in-house specialty restaurant by Taj Fort Aguada. The restaurant specializes in seafood delicacies and you can enjoy one of the best prawn curries here. The best part of the restaurant was its location as it overlooks the Aguada beach and you can experience the waves greeting you all the time.
The Taj Group of Hotels are known for its luxury and hospitality. While we were in Goa we visited Morisco, the in-house specialty restaurant by Taj Fort Aguada. The restaurant specializes in seafood delicacies and you can enjoy one of the best prawn curries here. The best part of the restaurant was its location as it overlooks the Aguada beach and you can experience the waves greeting you all the time.
The Banyan Tree at The Taj Holiday Village
One of the oldest fine-dine restaurants in Goa, the Banyan tree offers good Pan-Asian cuisine options for eating. The restaurant is located on the premises of the Taj Holiday Village in the Candolim area. The restaurant has awesome Thai food and one should definitely try the Pla Phad Nam ma Kham which is a deep-fried pomfret with tamarind chili sauce. The staff here is also caring.
Caravela Cafe and Bisto:
If you are in the Panjim area of Goa, you should definitely pay a visit to the Caravela Cafe. This is a small cafe well managed by the host Mr. Carlos and they offer some really tasty coffee along with mouth-watering food. Don’t forget to try the Malhar coffee here on our recommendation and we are sure you will love it.
Happy Puppy!
Don’t miss Malhar at Caravela
These were some of the dine-in options in Goa from the fine-dine to the cafes. There are various other eating options available as Goa is buzzing with tourists and foodies all around the year. The more you explore Goa for food the more you will be surprised by the offerings.
Also Read: Alila Diwa Goa – Luxury concealed in the greens of South Goa
Accommodation Guide to North Goa:
North Goa has numerous options when it comes to accommodation. Right from homestays which offer stay on a bed and breakfast basis to luxurious hotels like the Park Calangute it has everything. The Park property at the Calangute beach was our preferred option especially because of the location and the service. The property was located right next to the Calangute beach which made it super convenient for us to walk to the beach any time we wanted. Also, the suite offered to us was luxurious to the core with the plunge pool within the villa.
The other property which you may opt for is the newly constructed The Park Baga River property. The best part about this property is that it is an adults-only property thereby you can enjoy your privacy with no disturbance, especially by the kids.
Goa in monsoons is completely different from what it is around the year. The positive vibes, greenery and rains welcome you with open arms and make you want to stay more there. Also, as it is the monsoons, which is considered to be an off-season, it is not heavy on the pockets too. These were our experiences from our two days stay and a complete guide to North Goa to help you plan your travel better. Do let us know your experiences from your trip of exploring the beaches, forts and other beautiful locales in North Goa. Stay tuned for a similar Guide to South Goa coming soon. So, this was a complete guide to North Goa on how to plan your itinerary.
Do let us know your experiences of North Goa in the comments section below. Also, if you have any questions on how to plan your North Goa itinerary, feel free to post the same in the comments section below and we shall answer at the earliest!
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