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.

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