India
At Goa you
can add excitement and adventure to beauty. There are a host of
aquatic sports you can take to ride the waves or race against
the wind.
Take an exhilarating
water scooter ride that skims the water with all its excitement.
Or windsurf
with your board on the tumultuous sea waves that gently undulate
one moment and throw you high in the air the very next.
Or have the
sheer thrill of parasailing that lifts you off the surface of
the sea into the air to be one with nature.
There are
other getaways too, with the Yachting Association of Panaji, the
Aqua Sports (India) Club and the Hiking Association, Panaji.
And for the
leisurely one could sunbathe or just daydream on the beach.
The Portuguese
legacy
Nowhere is
the colonial culture so apparent as it is the imposing architecture
of Goa. Time seems to stand still as you enter the
Sea Cathedral,
the largest church in Asia. Dedicated to St. Catherine of Alexandria,
this Church has 15 altars. Enter the miraculous Basilica of Bom
Jesus and you can view the embalmed body of Goa’s patron saint,
St. Francis Xavier, perfectly preserved since his death, almost
450 years ago.
You can wander
through Portuguese monuments like the Aguada Fort, the Church
of our Lady of Rosary, the Nunnery of St. Monica, or the St. Cajetan
Church. Or you can befriend a native Goan and learn all about
Goa, firsthand.
Temples
First time
tourists to Goa may find the presence of temples a bit strange,
next to the churches. But then that is India for you. Harmony
in everything. You can go to the Ponda district to see the 15th
century Shri Mangesh Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva.
At Mardol,
you’ll see the Shri Mahalsa Temple, which is dedicated to Vishnu.
Or see the
Shanta Durga Temple, dedicated to the Supreme Goddess of Peace.
Surprisingly,
you’ll find the Portuguese influence even in the form and structure
of these totally Hindu places of worship.
Goa / Attractions
Argentine scientists have unearthed the largest plant-eating dinosaur, the Argentinosaurus, and the largest carnivore, the Giganotosaurus carolinii, which at about 42 feet long was slightly longer and about three tons heavier than the famed Tyrannosaurus Rex found in the United States.
http://www.asiatour.com/india/e-27goa/ei-goa11.htm
Jan Garanoz
Juhu Tara Road, Juhu,
Mumbai - 400049 India
Last updated: May 9, 2010