Goa has truly earned the name "Rome of the East". Infamous from the 60's as the hippy capital of the east, this former Portuguese colony has still retained the lifestyle of the colonial rulers, with afternoon siesta’s, bohemian living and the totally laid back attitude. Of course the times have changed and now the popularity is gained more for the all night, trance music party scene at Anjuna and Vagator beaches in Goa. Goa, a small enclave on the West Coast of India is one of the best holiday destinations in the World. Famous for its long stretch of beaches dotted with shacks, it is a favourite destination for the European tourists who flock to Goa during the winter months.

Goa abounds in churches and chapels, some dating back to the 16th century. The profusion and architectural excellence of churches include superb examples of late Renaissance, early Baroque, Manueline and Gothic. These churches have very intricate detailing and ornamentation. The most popular or the best known are the churches and cathedrals at Old Goa. A lot of things have been written about Goa in colourful language.

Some famous Goa Churches :-
Basilica of Bom Jesus
Chapel of St Anthony
Chapel of St Catherine
Church of the Rosary or Mac De Deus Church
Church of Reis Magos
Church and Convent of St John of God
St Alex Church

Famous Goa Beaches -
Bogmalo beach is broad, flat and open. It is among the least heavily used beaches. Cluster of small beach shack restaurants and occasional fishing villages, scattered under the coconut palm gives Bogmalo a unique look. Initially Bogmalo beach in Goa was a very quiet fishing village until tourists started pouring in and tourism started infecting this small Indian state of Goa. Unlike other beaches of Goa, Bogmalo beach in Goa is clean and not very crowded. And if you are in urge of swimming, you can definitely do that, as the beach is safe for swimming. After the swim, you can try out those numerous eating joints offering delicious Goan cuisine. This beach in Goa is very pleasant and the air is very tranquil. The Bogmalo beach resort is an appropriate place to stay during a tourist's beach holiday to Bogmalo but it may come as expensive to many. Cheap hotels or guesthouses are also available for the people who come here in shoestring budget.

Baga Beach - Baga is a small but perfect beach located between its two more famous cousins, Colva on one side and Calangute on the other. It is a far better place to enjoy some restful moments if you don’t like the hustle and bustle of Colva or Calangute. It is a fishing beach with international touriststs marinating in the sun and domestic visitors paddling. The fact is that the sand here is neither white nor gold but brown. There is the grove of palms that comes fairly close to the water’s edge. The Baga River flows down one side of it offering a pleasant diversion for children and those who love the water but can’t risk the rip currents that swirl round the mouth.

Anjuna Beach - Anjuna Beach is popularly known as the freak capital of the world, for its claimed popularity of Trance Parties and the Hippies who tried to synthesize the spiritual traditions of the East and the art, ideas and the music of the West. The area was discovered by a group of travelers, sometime in the late 1950s to mid-1960s, including Eight Finger Eddie. Since then a small international psychedelic scene began to meet there to party during the dry season. As the calm water of the Arabian sea fondles the Indian shore, Anjuna comes alive with its ever-famous full-moon pungent parties and the Wednesday flea market to take one on to a trance trip.

Benaulim Beach - According to Hindu mythology, Benaulim is the place where the arrow of Lord Parsurama landed when he created the state of Goa. Known in Sanskrit as Banali, it was changed to Benaulim by the Portuguese. The main attractions on this beach are the dolphin cruises. The beach gets fairly crowded in the evenings and on weekends with local visitors. Benaulim is about 2 km away from Colva and is more peaceful and serene than Colva. The best thing about Benaulim is that it is still rather undiscovered by domestic tourists even though it is a fishing beach.