Top Things to Do in the Goa | Must-See Attractions & Experiences

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Places To Visit In Goa

Froggyland

Established in 2015, the Froggyland water park boasts of being the largest waterpark in Goa spread across 35,000 sq. meter. Sophisticatedly designed, this modern waterpark attracts a whole lot of tourists and stuns them with their thrilling and adventurous activities winning the hearts of each and every person who pays them a visit. Interestingly, the waterpark does not just include water rides and slides but also a number of adventurous activities that fill your bucket with loads of memorable moments. An ideal destination for all sorts of groups, family, and friends, this amazing theme park is the perfect vacation hotspot for people looking for something different from the typical Goan parties, beaches, and architecture.So strap on those water wings and pull on those swimsuits to have the thrills and chills of the spine-tingling water rides and adventurous sports. Read More

Galgibaga Beach is one of Goa's most scenic beaches located on the banks of Galgibag river in Cancona, South Goa. Along with its unspoilt natural charm, it is also one of the three beaches of Goa known to be a nesting site for the Olive Ridley turtles. This pristine beach has often been termed as one of the cleanest beaches in India. The kilometre-long coastline, coated with a dense cover of vegetation and the varied topography, sees an interesting twist of the land near the southern end, where the Galgibaga river joins the Arabian Sea. There are almost no beach shacks at Galgibaga Beach as it is not frequented by tourists. Read More

Gitanjali Gallery is an art gallery in Goa that exhibits a collection of artwork made by locally and internationally acclaimed artists from 1950s to 1990s. The Gallery is now a fabulous cultural centre with a cafe, an art studio and a conference area. Numerous art, historic, theatre and film workshops are also often held at the Gallery other than book launches, poetry readings, etc. It is an apt attraction to read a book over a cup a coffee or play a fun board game with other visitors and maybe even make new friends. Read More

The Goa Carnival is a legacy of the Portuguese rule and has grown from being a quiet event to a popular, massive scale festival, attracting thousands of tourists from India and abroad. One of the most awaited occasions in the state, the carnival has a long history of its origin, stretching back right to the ancient Roman Empire. The atmosphere is charged with spectacular parades, dances, musical events and the great food, all of which are major crowd pullers. Festivities occur in the cities of Panjim, Mapusa, Margao, and Vasco da Gama, with Panjim having it the largest of all A Carnival Floatsource A mermaid float in the Goa Carnival (Source) The Significance of the Goan Carnival Source The celebration of Goa Carnival serves many purposes in a single shot. On the one hand, it helps in strengthening the harmony among the people of diverse communities residing in the state, and on the other, it presents Goa as a sought-after destination for the tourists. Goa Carnival keeps the cultures and traditions of the state alive by its celebration and gives the people a recreational period from a hectic daily schedule. Goa Carnival Festival Celebrations & Events The epicentre of the Carnival is the capital city of Panjim, although celebrations occur at several places across the state.1. Parade and the FloatsPanjim sees the grandest of these celebrations with heavily decorated carnival floats moving through the roads, accompanied by dancing men and women in bright costumes. Mermaid shaped large floats, clowns with large heads, and people moving their bodies to dance numbers on the roads are defining features and common sights to the festival.2. The StallsShort plays representing Goan culture are also organised. Various musicians can be found playing their instruments with much entertainment. Other forms of art to are represented by respective artists. Food stalls line up, offering a variety of food to the people to buy.3. King Momo King Momo of Goa Carnival 2018source A nominal leader, known as King Momo, is chosen before the celebrations, who is supposedly given charge of the state to rule for four days. Generally, a fat, jolly person is selected for the job, as per the practice all around the globe. King Momo of the Goan Carnival leads the troupe of dancing men and women, with the message of 'Kha, piyeaanimajjakar' meaning, 'Eat, drink and enjoy'. The History of Goa Carnival A Carnival float commencing the paradeSource Having its origin in the pagan traditions of ancient Rome where people consumed all the gathered food for winter at its end lest their decay, the grand celebration of the event was assimilated by and into the Christian world. The Christian liturgical calendar marked the days as last period before the beginning of the period of Lent. Lent is considered to be a period of fasting and penance, in which people would cleanse them of sins and abstain from consuming meat. Thus the period before the commencement of Lent is celebrated as final days of enjoyment and feasting, organised into the Carnival. Celebrations take place throughout the Christian world across denominations, but mainly by Roman Catholics. The Portuguese, who mostly conformed to Roman Catholicism, introduced the Carnival in colonised Goa, and the exact date of the first-ever Carnival to occur in the state is lost although some consider 1961 as the beginning year. Read More

Goa Chitra Museum, located in Benaulim, is an ethnography museum displaying the traditional Goan way of life and culture. The museum was established by Victor Huge Gomez as a tribute to his Portuguese ancestors. He has collected over 4000 items such as woodwork, metalwork, weapons, furniture, religious Goa artefacts and other memorabilia. It also showcases an organic farm. Goa Chitra actively conducts workshops and activities to share their knowledge about the traditions with the public. It has been titled by the Archaeological Survey of India as the topmost contemporary museum in India. Read More

Goa Kart Racing is the most popular place in Goa for adventure activities especially kart racing. Situated on the Panjim road, the place is a big hit among adventure enthusiasts. The setting of the amusement park adds to the ambiance of the place. There are also proper trainers and safety measures are taken for the visitors.

Goa Science Centre & Planetarium

Goa Science Centre & Planetarium located in Miramar is a science museum that expands over an area of 5 acres and houses a Planetarium, a theatre for 3D shows, and several scientific exhibits. Quite a few programs are also conducted to demonstrate scientific principles to the public. It was established as a joint project of the state Department of Science, Technology & Environment and the National Council of Science Museums with the objective of making science exciting for the youth and inculcating a desire to learn the subject. Read More

Goa State Central Library is also known as the Krishnadas Shama Goa State Central Library. It is dedicated to Krishnadas who was a 16th-century Konkani scholar to acknowledge his contribution to the field of literature. The six-floor library was established in 1832 and is the oldest public library in the country. It is, however, equipped with modern facilities and advanced technology to ease out the process of lending books for the readers who can choose from the stunning collection of over a quarter of a million books. Read More

Also known as the State Archaeological Museum, Goa State Museum is an ancient archaeological and heritage museum situated at Adil Shah’s Palace in Panaji, Goa. Established in 1977, the museum has several departments including Ancient History and Archaeology, Art and Craft, and Geology etc. Besides, it boasts of over 8000 artefacts that include stone sculptures, paintings, wooden objects, carvings, bronzes, manuscripts, rare coins, and anthropological objects etc. Considered to be a delight for the history enthusiasts and archaeologists, Goa State Museum is also one of the most visited monuments in town. It has over 14 galleries which are broadly divided into categories like Glimpses of Goan Culture, Goa through Ages, The Portuguese Phase, and Goa Freedom Struggle. Source Read More

Originally known as Iha Grande, Grande Island in Goa is one of the most sought after destinations, owing to its serene and tranquil environment and the availability of a plethora of thrilling activities like snorkeling, dolphin spotting, and scuba diving. The island can be reached through a short boat ride which is organized by several centers and small companies in the city of Panaji itself. The one-day trips start with a jetty ride where you can witness the famous Aguada Fort, lighthouse, Central Jail, etc. from the middle of the sea. Another most popular activity to do from the boat is dolphin spotting. In addition to that, the management can provide you with a rope and bait (if that is included in your package), and you can enjoy fishing from your boat itself. The island is also known as Bat Island due to the presence of a number of bats inhabiting the place. Besides, Grande Island offers peace and calm. Tourists generally opt for a tour package of Grand Island Read More