Gao’s hundred odd kilometer’s of coastline has some of the best beaches in the country and the finest beach resorts. In the picturesque villages along the coast with white washed churches and red tiled houses. North goa has the state capital, panaji the former capital of old goa, with its world heritage churches and cathedrals and string beaches that runs right up the cost to maharastra.

Panaji: built on the south bank of the wide mandovi river, panaji officially became the capital of goa in 1854.

Beaches: north goa beaches, some of them edged with red laterite cliffs include calangute, candolim, baga, vagator, anjuna and charpora. The southern beaches, noted for their sparkling white sand and calm sea include bogmalo, colva, benaulim, betul and palolem - idyllic beaches with splendid opportunities for sailing and wind surfing.

Old Goa: the old portuguese capital of goa further up river has fine baroque churches with lavishly ornamented and gilded altars. The basilica of bom jesus where the body of st. Francis xavier rests in its silver and glass casket, of St. Francis of assisi are the most important.

Temples: near the town of ponda are temples built in a style that is exclusive to goa with baroque interiors and unusual, ornate deepmals, tall lamp towers. The best known are the manguesh, nagesh and shanta durga temples.

Margao: margao is the capital of salcete taluka and the main centre of south goa. It is pleasant provincial town which still displays reminders of its portuguese past.