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Of course Goa is most famous for its beautiful beaches. Tourists from all over the world have long been drawn to Goa 's sunny beaches. Calangute and Baga are the most popular beaches in Goa and therefore also the most crowded. If you want to hangout at cool night clubs , indulge in water sports and don't mind the extra crowd then these beaches are where you ought to stay.
If you prefer more privacy try the at Arambol , Morjim , Betalbatim and Asvem. Anjuna and Vagator have long been famous for its rave scene as well as the flea market on Wednesday.
Two festivals draw a huge crowd to Goa - the Carnival and Shigmo.
Even though everybody now join in the celebrations , Carnival was initially celebrated by the christian community and the Shigmo was celebrated by the Hindu community.
Carnival is celebrated for 4 days prior to Ash Wednesday. You can join the Carnival parade at Panjim, Margao ,Mapusa and Vasco. The Panjim parade is by far the most popular of the lot.
Shigmo also is similar to Carnival but the floats at the parade and the music are distinctly influenced by hindu mythology. Shigmo is held around the festival of Holi which normally comes in the month of March.
Besides the beaches Goa is probably most famous for the Church of Bom Jesus at Old Goa.This is where the body of St. Francis Xavier is kept. St. Francis Xavier is a figure of widespread devotion among goans . His body is displayed to the public once every few years.The feast of St. Xavier is held on 3 rd Dec each year and thousands of devotees make their way to Old Goa during that period.
Next to Bom Jesus Church is the Se Cathedral which is Asia 's biggest church. Saligao church has a very distinct architecture.
While in Goa you should also visit some of the gorgeous hindu temples. The most famous of the temples are Shree Manguesh Temple at Mangueshi , Shree Damodar Temple at Zambaulim and the Mahadeva Temple at Tambdi Surla built in 1271.
There are also a few forts you can visit. Fort Aguada , Chapora fort and Terekhol Fort will give you a glimpse into Goa 's past.
Another popular attraction is the local festival of Bonderam. This is celebrated on the fourth Saturday of August every year at Divar .There is a float parade with colourful costumes. One interesting aspect of this festival is the use of pea shooters by people – Be careful as these peas leave a stain on your dress so wear something you can discard later.
The waterfall at DudhSagar is also quite popular with the tourists. You can stay at one of the wildlife resorts around that area if you want a break from the beaches .
Wildlife Sanctuaries-
Goa has two of these - Bhagwan Mahavir at Mollem and Bondla Wildlife sanctuary
Boat Cruises
One form of entertainment very popular with the local Indian tourists is the short boat cruises at Panjim. Small yachts make a small journey out into the sea and there are traditional dances and other forms of entertainment on board. Some of the yachts offer buffet dinner as well . Entry cost is normally Rs. 200 or 5 USD.
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