Thanks
to its incredible beauty, Goa has earned numerous nick names so far such as
Tourist Paradise, Rome of the East, Jewel of India or Pearl of the Orient.
Thousands of visitors from round the globe keep thronging the state
throughout the year. Contrary to the popular belief it's not all about
beaches. There are many destinations in Goa offering a potpourri of sort for
visitors. Being an erstwhile Portuguese colony, Goa houses a number of
world-famous churches and other Portuguese wonders. Fabulous flora and
fauna, rich cultural heritage and ornate temples are other highlights of
Goa. Major cities in Goa are known for homing all or some of these salient
features.
Panaji, the capital city of Goa lies near the end of the road from Mumbai
to Goa. This city was fought over for centuries by kings of many colours.
Although it has lost a little of its shine, Rome of the East continues to
draw admirers from across the world. If you are an architecture enthusiast,
you would love to visit Margao. You can find here umpteen number of
buildings (including Holy Spirit Church) mushroomed everywhere. The
vacationers yearning to enjoy their weekends find Mapusa the best choice. Be
there on Friday and find the sluggish town springing up to its feet. This
city is believed to have grown with the blessings of its own God, Lord
Bodhgeshwar, whose beautiful temple nestles under a banyan tree. A solitary
cross standing on the sun-kissed sands of Mormugao Harbour is the signature
of Vasco Da Gama. It's really hard to ignore any of these cities while you
are in Goa.
