Gotcha Goa

Gotcha goa: what can I say? Just Idyllic beauty (Part1)

Hello Friends,

So much has been said and written about Goa, that I wondered what I would write. But the idyllic beauty of Goa that I saw had to be conveyed through my own words and pictures and so here I – Go Goa.

Goa Facts: Courtesy Wikepedia

Goa is a state located in the south west region of India, which has the state of Maharashtra to the north, and the Karnataka state to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its western coast.
It is India‘s smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population.
Panaji is the state’s capital, while Vasco da Gama is the largest city. The historic city of Margao still exhibits the cultural influence of the Portuguese, who first landed in the early 16th century as merchants and conquered it soon thereafter.
Goa is visited by large numbers of international and domestic tourists each year for its beaches, places of worship and world heritage architecture.
It also has rich flora and fauna, owing to its location on the Western Ghats range, which is classified as a biodiversity hotspot.

I quite liked the Goa Airport itself (Dabolim near Vasco da Gama), large and spacious with attractive wall art and lovely little shops very convenient for last minute shopping.

Airport lounge

Wall Art

Airport Shops

River Zuari:

My drive from the Airport to the hotel was mixed with city normal views and loads of fabulous scenic views of – paddy fields, rivers and abundant coconut trees. I figured that this is why rice and fish curry is such a goan delicacy.

The Zuari river separates North Goa from the South and the Zuari bridge on the river is a beautiful spot that links the capital city of Panaji in North Goa with Vasco da Gama and the Marmagao port in South Goa. It is also considered a major link for two important districts of Goa and has a train track (Konkan Railway) as well. That is the first spot that I get to see.

River Zuari

Map of Goa

Aquada Fortress:

Fort Aguada and its lighthouse is a well-preserved seventeenth-century Portuguese fort standing in Goa, on Sinquerim Beach, overlooking the Arabian Sea.

The walk up to the fortress is on a slightly rocky terrain on red mud roads and you need to walk a few minutes to enjoy the view up there. Once on top, the huge fortress standing tall and mighty is indeed amazing. And the view of the beach below and the Arabian Sea needs to be experienced. You really feel so small in that vast expanse of sea, plunging views and mountain.