Viaja atrás en el tiempo para visitar Goa Vieja, la impresionante antigua capital del estado de Goa, con esta excursión de media jornada desde el norte. Puede que Goa Vieja esté solo a unos diez kilómetros de Panaji, la capital actual de Goa, pero en muchos otros sentidos parece otro mundo completamente distinto. De todas sus atracciones, Goa Vieja es conocida por sus iglesias, y esta excursión nos llevará hasta dos de los templos católicos más famosos.
Goa fue una colonia portuguesa durante más de ciento cincuenta años, y el legado de este periodo histórico es evidente en cada rincón, especialmente a través de las hermosas iglesias de estilo barroco-colonial diseminadas por toda Goa Vieja. Hoy en día, más de la cuarta parte de sus habitantes son católicos, algo que marca la diferencia entre este estado y el resto del país. Visita la Basílica del Buen Jesús, Patrimonio de la Humanidad por la UNESCO, famosa por sus suelos de mármol y su altar dorado. Su construcción finalizó en 1605, y en ella descansan las reliquias sagradas de San Francisco Javier, que llegó a Goa en 1542 y actualmente es el patrón de la comunidad cristiana. Su cuerpo descansa en un arca de plata sobre una plataforma elevada.
Enfrente de la Basílica se encuentra la Catedral de Goa, cuya construcción empezó en 1562 y concluyó noventa años después. Muchos la consideran el mayor templo cristiano en Asia. En lo alto de la torre se encuentra la Campana de Oro, también la mayor de Asia, de la cual se dice que su delicado sonido se podía escuchar en toda Goa. La catedral cuenta con ocho capillas y seis altares, además del altar principal dedicado a Santa Catalina.
You can create your own just-so story on this overnight trip. The experience begins with a 2-and-a-half hour drive to the Goan jungle, where you’ll discover a lodge camp. You’ll arrive just in time for lunch and, once you’ve eaten, you’ll have the once-in-a-lifetime chance to ride an elephant. In the evening, you’ll tuck into a traditional Goan buffet meal before ending your night relaxing in the flickering lights of a campfire. After a good night’s sleep in the wilderness, you can choose to get up early. If you answer the wake-up call at 5am, you’ll have chance to trek up a hill and watch the dawn break around the peak. Ask for the 6.30am alarm and you’ll be up in time for a yoga session. If you’d rather catch up on sleep, breakfast will be served between 7.30am and late morning. After breakfast, a 4x4 will take you further off road to Dudhsagar Falls. According to legend, it’s not whitewater that cascades down the mountainside here, it’s sweet milk, which was first spilled by a beautiful forest princess. You’ll head back to your hotel after lunch.
Tigers, elephants, lions - this three-day adventure gives you an unmissable taste of India's wildlife. You'll take a train through Goa's fascinating countryside to Udupi, where you'll check into your hotel. Then there's time to explore the town's Hindu temples before dinner and an early night in preparation for tomorrow's adventures. Leaving early the next morning, keep your camera handy as you drive the ‘ghat' mountain roads of Karnataka. These British-built roads are riddled with hairpin bends and command jaw-dropping views over the valleys below. Next you'll visit an elephant centre to meet some of these incredible animals, before continuing to the Thavarekhoppa wild tiger and lion rehabilitation reserve. Here board a coach for a thrilling safari drive, watching for the tigers, lions and deer that roam its jungle. After that and lunch, it's back to your hotel to freshen up before dinner. The next day, reboard your train, chugging through lush countryside to Magao and your transfer to your resort. Simply spectacular.
Goa isn't all about beaches - it's known for its network of calm, jungle-draped rivers and backwaters. And here's your chance to cruise its waters and spend the night on a traditional wooden rice boat. We'll whisk you by air-conditioned car to your very own boat - the three-bedroomed ‘Laid-Back Waters', which has been luxuriously converted and is manned by a friendly crew. After settling in, you'll cruise along the Siolim River, enjoying the rustic stillness and passing ancient villages, temples and dense forests. After sailing to the river mouth to see the sunset and swim, you'll glide back along the river to moor. Then, try some fishing before dinner under the stars and retiring to your cabin for the night. You'll wake to chirping birds and breakfast, before getting another chance to swim, fish and relax on deck. After that, enjoy brunch on board as you sail gently back to where your car awaits. Sigh-inducing stuff.
This offers a great glimpse into Goa's colonial and religious gems, with the focus falling on its time as a Portuguese colony. You'll start at Margao, the state's bustling commercial capital, with time to explore its market and snap up souvenirs and photos of its colourful stalls. Your last and perhaps most interesting port of call is the Palacio do Deao in Quepem. Facing the Kushavati River, this 200-year old house is a superb blend of Hindu and Portuguese architecture. Enjoy a guided tour of its airy, colonial interiors and exquisite gardens, before having lunch in its restaurant and heading home.
Goa has much to offer history wise, from grand cathedrals to colonial monuments. This tour takes you to its two atmospheric capitals - the current one, Panjim and the former, abandoned city of Old Goa. In the Middle Ages, the latter was called the ‘Rome of the East' and boasts vast churches and museums testifying to its past glory. Visit the Basilica of Bom Jesus, where the missionary St. Francis Xavier is buried, before seeing the Se Cathedral, with its Golden Bell - Asia's largest bell. Then it's on to Panjim, where you'll make a shopping stop at the swish new 'Calculo Mall'. After a buffet lunch at the Goa Marriott, you'll board a rickshaw for a ride around the small squares and lanes of the city's old quarter, winding up at the daily market, before returning to your hotel.
This night-time cruise is perfect if you fancy a change from the usual hotel-dinner-and-a-show format. You’ll climb aboard a luxurious yacht a little before the sunshine dips below the horizon, accompanied by just 5 other guests, a captain and a crew member.
The rolling green valleys of Goa's Western Ghats stretch for around 62,000 square miles, and they've been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site thanks to their rich wildlife and fauna. On this trip, you'll head into the heart of the valleys to the Atreya Vedic Farm :an ecological park that was erected to help protect the virgin surroundings. The park is spread over 36 acres, and it's made up of tropical gardens, orchards, and coconut and mango plantations. You'll get to see the Charak Vatika medicinal plantation, the Astrological Plant Park, and the Butterfly Garden. In the garden, around 103 of Goa's 250 species of winged species can be seen. Once you've been given a tour of the place and gotten a few close-ups of the area's exotic flora and fauna, you'll enjoy an al fresco lunch. Then, it's back on the coach to weave through the region's sleepy villages and paddy fields. Eventually, you'll reach your final destination :the Bhagvan Mahavir Sanctuary. Here, you'll trundle to the sanctuary's waterfalls in a 4x4. You'll be able to take a dip in the cold water, and befriend the monkeys that live here.
While you’re in Goa, why not grab the chance to see the Taj Mahal? One of the Seven Wonders of the World, this glorious 17th century tomb is jaw-dropping. Your trip starts with a flight to Delhi and drive to Agra, home to the Taj and many fine monuments from India’s Mughal era. After a good night’s sleep at your hotel, your sightseeing extravaganza beings with a dawn visit to the Taj. Commissioned by emperor Shah Jehan in memory of his late queen, it’s a poem in white marble. Tiptoe around its spectacular interior, marvelling at its intricate inlaid stonework. And capture its beauty on camera from its magical gardens. After a trip to Agra Fort, your day ends at Fatehpur Sikri. This deserted 16th-century city is crammed with long-abandoned but still exquisite mosques, palaces and tombs. A once-in-a-lifetime experience.
You’ll tick off an ancient civilization on this tour. It kicks off with a train ride to the pretty village of Hampi, where you can expect lots of greenery, streams and free-roaming monkeys. When you arrive, you’ll make your way to the ancient city of Vijayanager. Once a wealthy Hindu kingdom, this is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and, when you see the ruins here, you’ll understand why. It’s crammed with crumbling temples and palaces, all of which date back to the 13th, 14th and 15th centuries. One of the must-sees is the Vitthala Temple. It was dedicated to Hindu goddess, Vishnu, and its pillars make the sound of different musical instruments if you tap them. What’s more, it boasts an impressive stone chariot drawn by a pair of elephants – originally the wheels of the chariot revolved. Another of the site’s showpieces is the Virupaksha Temple. It boasts a 50-metre tower that’s still used for worship today. You’ll have plenty of time to explore, before heading back to the train station and back to your hotel. Just so you know, your accommodation in Hampi will be air-conditioned, but the train will not be air-conditioned.
Get back to nature and sleep in a romantic Rajhastani tent on one of Goa's most beautiful beaches. Anyone wanting to get away from it all will love this two-day trip. First, you'll travel in air-conditioned comfort towards secluded Soneca Cola. This tucked-away beach is particularly picturesque, with thick palms, stunning views and lagoon-like waters. When you arrive, you'll check into your spacious, comfy tent - they're all kitted out with charming Rajhastani wooden furniture and en-suite loos. After lunch, you've got the afternoon free to snooze on a hammock, sunbathe, swim or play some beach volleyball. Come sundown, dinner is served and you'll have the chance to watch some local dancing and sit around the campfire as the stars come out overhead. And after a good night's rest and breakfast, you can take an optional boat ride to spot dolphins before your heading back to your resort. Perfect for peace-seekers, beach fans and loved-up couples.
Get to know Maharashtra, Goa’s neighbouring state. Your adventure starts with a journey to the Sawantwadi district, an area famous for its wooden crafts. There’s a big fuss about the palace here, and rightly so. The building’s design is Portuguese-influenced, and it looks out over a series of lakes and palm forests. You’ll get to peek inside the palace, and learn all about the Bhonsle family that live here, before you’re taken to the town market. It’s a noisy and colourful part of the region, and you’ll pass stalls overflowing with fruit and veg, hand-painted playing cards, and freshly-picked egg magnolia flowers. You’ll also get a chance to see the region’s signature wood-crafted toys and games. When you’ve scooped a saving or two, you’ll head back towards Goa along a coastal road. You’ll make a couple more stops along the way – to eat lunch, to relax on a sandy beach and, finally, to visit an old fortress.
This trip lets you experience the exhilarating city of Mumbai in 24 hours. You’ll journey in to India’s capital city by plane, before enjoying a scenic train ride back to Goa the next day. The trip packs in visits to the city’s Hanging Garden, which is stuffed with hundreds of animal-shaped hedges, the Thieves’ Market, where you can pick up everything from incense sticks to sari silks, and the iconic Gateway of India monument. The real eye-opener of the tour, though, is the Dharavi visit. Dharavi is the largest slum in Asia, and it’s home to more than a million people. Walking with a guide among the narrow, shack-lined lanes is a moving experience. Plus, you’ll see Dhobi Ghat, the largest open-air laundromat in the world, where many of the slum’s residents work. After your moving visit, you’ll retreat to the West End Hotel to relax and grab a bite to eat. You’ll then be driven to the station at around 10pm to catch your train back to Goa, so you can get some shut-eye on the way.
This fun, half-day sailing tour makes for a great alternative to the beach. You’ll board a boat in Cavelossim, before setting off along the River Sal. The wildlife in this part of Goa is plentiful, and you’ll try your luck at dolphin-spotting and bird-watching as you sail through the depths. After a couple of hours, your guide will kit you out with rods and bait, and you’ll have a go at fishing. Lunch will be served around midday, and you’ll be entertained by local musicians while you tuck in.
Depart from your hotel in the morning to Goa’s ornate and magical Hindu Temples their distinctive, structural design, spaciousness and tranquil environment reflects its uniqueness from other Indian Temples. Here you can visit the two most famous temples namely Shantadurga Temple dedicated to Goddess Parvati & Lord Naguesh and the Ramnathi temple dedicated to Lord Rama, The temple is believed to have been installed by Lord Rama while his return journey to Ayodhya after the killing of Ravana.
Later proceed to Old Goa which is the ancient capital of Goa, lying 10 kilometers east of the present capital of Goa, Panjim. Old Goa is best known for its Churches – the only reminder of its former glory once rivaled that of Rome. Visit the two most famous churches i.e. The Basilica of Bom Jesus which is the most well recognized church in Goa. “Bom Jesus” means “Infant Jesus” to whom the church is dedicated. Completed in the year 1605, it houses the sacred relics of St. Francis Xavier, who came to Goa in the year 1542 and is now the patron saint of the state’s Christian community. A silver casket placed on a tall platform contains his incorrupt body. Situated across the road from the Basilica, lies the Se Cathedral. The construction of the Se Cathedral began in the year 1562 and went on upto the year 1652. The Se Cathedral is supposed to be the largest church in Asia. On top of its facade hangs the Golden Bell – also Asia’s largest – whose mellow sound reputedly could be heard all over Goa. Inside the Cathedral are eight chapels and six side altars, apart from the main altar that is dedicated to Saint Catherine.
After the tour of Old Goa proceed to the capital city "Panaji" for a tour of the city and shopping. Panaji, the capital city of Goa, built on the banks of the river Mandovi, where one can walk through the small squares and back lanes of the towns old quarters where the Portuguese influence is most evident. Later you can spend some time for shopping. After shopping, arrive at the Goa Marriott Resort for a buffet lunch. After lunch drive back to the hotel.