7 Best places to visit in North Goa The northern part of Goa is more famous for its late night beach parties, lively markets and nightclubs, and amazing restaurants, which is sure to entice any traveler. Apart from the fun and frolic, the area is also home to some of marvellous historical buildings and beaches, which also cannot be missed. Mentioned below are seven of those amazing places that you can visit in North Goa. If coming from Mumbai, you can either check for Mumbai to Goa by train timings or rent a cab to reach the destination.
1. Basilica Of Bom Jesus - The Basilica of Bom Jesus is dedicated to St. Francis Xavier and its construction began in 1594 and finished in May 1605. The church is called 'Bom Jesus', which signifies 'great Jesus' or 'baby Jesus'. It is also the first Minor Basilica in India and is regarded as among the finest examples of the Baroque style of architecture. So, if you’re planning to visit this amazing place, then do check for the options to reach Mumbai to Goa by train, as it may be a lot cheaper.
2. Se Cathedral - Se Cathedral is regarded as among the biggest churches in Asia, situated at the opposite to Basilica of Bom Jesus. This place a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and is dedicated to St. Catherine. Additionally, it is considered to be the amongst the earliest and famous religious buildings in Goa, and the enjoys the stature of being the seat of Archdiocese of Goa.
3. St. Francis Of Assisi Church - The Church of Saint Francis of Assisi is a Roman Catholic Church situated in the principal square of North Goa, and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The church and convent of St. Francis of Assisi were created by eight Portuguese Franciscan friars who landed in Goa in early 16th century.
4. St. Augustine Tower - Another part of the ‘Churches & Convents of Goa’ section under the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the monastery and the church of St. Augustine were constructed in 1572 by 12 Augustines (disciples) when they arrived in the state of Goa. The construction of the church was finished in 1602, and they also built a convent beside the church.
5. Calangute Beach - Calangute is often called the 'Queen of Beaches’ in Goa. As local stories go, the hippies founded this beach in the 60s, and since then its popularity never went down. Calangute easily matches with the modern, jazzy affairs happening over in Anjuna, Baga, and Candolim. The beach is a 4-mile long coastal stretch that lies between Candolim and Baga beach.
6. Chapora Fort - The Chapora Fort is one of the most famous tourist attractions in North Goa. Constructed using red laterite rocks, the garrison has steep inclinations on all its sides. This huge fortress was built by the
king of Bijapur, Adil Shah, and this may be the reason why it's been named Shahpura, which means ‘the Town of Shah'.
7. Vagator Beach - Vagator Beach is situated near Chapora Fort, in North Goa, and is a 30-kilometer long coastal stretch that begins at Fort Aguada and finishes at the Chapora Fort. It's a bay between the rugged headlands, with fringes lined with clusters of coconut trees, and few huge black stones on the beach. The sea at Vagator turns from aquamarine to emerald green with the movement of the sun.
About the author:
Atul Chaudhary is a travel enthusiast and passionate travel writer for an online travel search engine in India. India is one of his favourite tourist places. He also explore Places to visit in India, best hotels, holidays tour packages, Delhi to Jaipur trains and airlines information like: Go Air airlines, Indigo airlines, Air India airlines, etc.