Emergency Numbers in Goa
Police - 100
Fire - 101
Ambulance - 102

Tourist Information Centres in Goa
Goa Tourism - 2438750 / 2438755
Goa Dabolim Airport - 2541644
Panjim Information Counter - 2438520
Margao Information Counter - 2715204
Mapusa Information Counter - 2262390
Vasco Information Counter  - 2512673
 
Hospitals in Goa
Goa Medical College, Bambolim - 2233700/707
GMC Casualty - 2223026
Manipal Goa Hospital, Dona Paula - 2453301/3
Vrundavan Hospital, Mapusa - 2250022 / 2250033
Asilo Hospital, Mapusa - 2265119
Apollo Victor Hospital, Margao - 2728888
Hospico Blood Bank - 2703801
Chondakar Nursing Home, Porvoriim - 2417617 / 2417778
Mandovi Clinic, Porvorim - 2415808 / 2416808
 
Foreigners Registration Office in Goa
Police Head Quarters, Panaji - 2426545

Foreign Consulate Offices in Goa
Austrian Consulate, Vasco - 2513811 / 2513816
Federal Republic of Germany, Panaji - 2438190 / 2235526 / 2420628
United Kingdom Consular office, Panaji - 2438734 / 2438897
Consulate General of Portugal, Panaji - 2438041 / 2438044
Italian Vice Consulate, Panaji - 2438944 / 2438945
 
Goa Airlines Offices - Head office Number / Airport Office Number
Indian Airlines - 23428181 / 2542444
Air India - 2431100 / 2541445
Jet Airways - 2438792 / 2540029
Sahara Airlines - 2230237 / 2541211
Deccan Airways - 2438950 / 2542379
Spicejet Airlines - 16001803333
 
Train Stations in Goa
Margao Reservation Centre - 2712940
Margao Station Enquiry/Information - 2712790
Karmali Station - 2265798
Tivim Station - 2298682
Cancona Station - 2643644
Vasco Station - 2501223
Pernem Station - 2201283
 
Bus Terminals in Goa
Kadamba Transport Corporation - 2238034 / 2438037
Manish Volvo - 2444476
Paulo Travels - 2438531 / 2438537
Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation - 2438523
Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation - 2438526
Fernandes Travels - 2228858 / 2222092
Sharma Travels - 2438624
 
Travel Agents in Goa
Cosme Travels, Panaji - 2438831
Travco Holidays, Margao - 2713207/08
Airsonic, Panaji - 2228085
Raj Tours & Travels, Panaji - 2230140 / 2432458

Sightseeing tours in Goa
Sunset River Cruise, GTDC Panaji - 2224132 / 2226728
Dudhsagar Waterfalls special tour, GTDC Panaji - 2224132 / 2226728
Goa By Night tour, GTDC Panaji - 2224132 / 2226728
Backwater Thrills, GTDC Panaji - 2226728 / 2226515
North Goa/South Goa tours, Fernandes Travels, Panaji - 2228858 /2222092
 
Art Galleries in Goa
Manthan Lifestyle Heritage Galleria, Benaulim - 2771659
(An exhibition of furniture, artifacts, paintings, lampshades, Goan Pottery, etc)
Gallery  Gitanjali, Panaji - 2226523
(Paintings of different artists on sale )
Dev's Art Gallery,Calangute - 9890935896
(A colection of painting from young artists from Goa & Maharashtra)
Casa Goa Art Gallery,Calangute - 2281048
(Display of Goan furniture & paintings by goan artists)
Kerkar Art Gallery, Calangute - 2276017
(showcases sculputures & paintings)
 
Multiplexes and Cinemas in Goa
Inox, Panaji - 2420999
Osia, Margao - 2701717/1818

Nightclubs and  Discos in Goa
Tito's & Mambo, Calangute - 2279895
Underground Arena, Panaji - 2228305 / 2228405
Gatsby's, Colva - 2789745
Ozone, Panaji - 2463333
On the Rocks, Dona Paula - 2453144
Trafalgar Chowk, Porvorim - 3090565
Aqua, Cavallosiim - 2871234

Panaji or Panjim is the state's capital and is located by the River Mandovi. It has been Goa's capital since 1843 and even now the oldest part of the city boasts of old Portuguese heritage buildings such as churches and old houses which have survived well. Panaji is the third largest city of Goa after Vasco and Madgaon. On the outskirts of Panaji is the Dabolim Airport through which Goa is connected with the rest of the country.

Panaji got a facelift around 1843, when inhabitants of the port at Old Goa fled the place due to the plague. The Portuguese took it upon themselves to drain and clean the surrounding marshes and raised public buildings on it. The town is structured in the grid pattern with the church square in the centre. The older houses have beautiful red tiled sloping roofs built in the Roman villa architecture. Modern houses are also found here and the city has all the infrastructure required for comfortable living. The church square, also known as Largo de lgreja, is in the centre of the city.

The best way to discover Panaji is by foot. It is also a pleasure to walk here as the cobbled alleys are well laid. Going past the picturesque villas, houses and roadside cafes by foot gives you the feel of Panaji spot on.

Places to visit in Panji

- ‘Altinho', a hill top where you get to see the panoramic view of the sea
- The Church of Immaculate Conception, in the heart of the city, built in 1540
- The ‘Azad Maidan Square', a pavilion with classical Corinthian pillars used for cultural and political programmes
- The Secretariat, formerly the palace of Yusuf Adil Shah, a 16^th century ruler
- The Statue of ‘Abbe Faria,' a Goan priest who was presumed to have hypnotic powers
- 18th June Road has a series of shops selling Goan specialities like cashew, feni, leather and household goods
- Mandovi river with its romantic cruises

Also known as Madgaon, it is the second largest city in Goa and also its commercial hub. The population in Margao is primarily Roman Catholic or Hindu. Margao showcases all the bustling activity of a commercial centre with its busy traffic and thronging tourists. Located on the banks of River Sal, the town's landscape clearly reflects its Portuguese past with its beautiful mansions. The Margao railway station is the biggest in Goa and is positioned at the intersection of the Konkan Railway and the South Western Railway. Close to the station is an excellent market area. This labyrinthine market provides everything that is typically Goan.

Places to visit in Margao

- The closed market or "Pimpalkatta" is a good place to find souvenirs amongst other things.
- There are a number of churches to visit such as the ‘Largo de Igreja' or Church of the Holy Spirit founded in 1565 and the unique cross in front of it built a century earlier.
- The other churches are the Grace Church, Rachol Seminary, the St Sebastian chapel in Aquem and the Monte Hill Chapel.
- The Municipal gardens or the Jorge Baretto Park is a good place to relax.
- Close to the Holy Spirit Church is the huge mansion Sat Burzam Ghar or the House of Seven Gables, which originally had seven roofs.
- The Chandreswar Bhuthnath temple is also worth a visit.
- The beautiful Colva beach is just 6 kilometres away.

Originally called Sambhaji, Vasco da gama earned its name from the famous Portuguese explorer and sailor. Located at the western tip of Marmugao peninsula by the river Zuari, this city has Goa's largest population. Strategically Vasco is an important town in India, as the Indian Naval Base is also situated here. Accessibility is key in Vasco - this city has a railway terminus for passengers to Goa and the Dabolim airport is just four kilometres away. Vasco is also an important shipping port, transporting iron ore and other metals mined in Goa and is integral to Goa's economy,

Vasco is a well laid out city. Apart from the 400 year old St Andrew's church the other landmark worth a visit is the cinema theatre which is probably the best in Goa. There are also the ruins of the Sada fort which must have seen more glorious days in the 16th century. There are two beautiful beaches close by - the Bogmalo beach and the Hollant beach. En route to Bogmalo is also the Naval Air Museum - one of its kind in Asia. It houses British made Sea Hawk jet fighters, Sea harriers, twin-engine amphibian Sealands among other naval aircrafts.

Beaches near Vasco

Bogmalo Beach: Bogmalo beach was initially a fishing village, until it was converted into a tourist beach. The beach is not as crowded as other beaches like the popular Anjuna beach. It is also safe to swim here. There are also certified diving schools at Bogmalo. If you are keen on a luxurious holiday, the Oberoi Hotel close to the beach is just the place.

Hollant Beach: Hollant beach is just two kilometres away from Bogamalo beach and offers a beautiful view of the southern beaches of Goa flanked by the foothills of the Western Ghats. The sunset is brilliant here. Both the beaches have good restaurants and cafes offering the choicest sea food.

13 Kms from Panaji lies Mapusa town, the capital of Bardez Taluka, on the national highway NH 17, which joins Goa to Mumbai. Mapusa is Goa's third largest town. It is mainly a market town for the surrounding beach areas of Calangute, Candolim, Anjuna and Baga among others. Even its name is thought to be derived from the Konkani word for a measure - 'map' and the phrase fill up - 'sa'. It is a fairly small town with mostly modern building spread around the slopes of a small hillock called Altinho.

Every Friday, the whole town has a lively look when the famous weekly Friday Market begins. The market attracts people from all over Goa who come here to buy and sell their wares. Everything from fresh and dried fish, incense, spices, fruits and vegetables to souvenirs from other states of India are available here.

Ponda is a quiet town in Goa which unlike the rest of Goa retains its Hindu identity. Ponda formed part of the Nova Conqistas or new conquests when the Portuguese took over from Sonde Rajahs. Located in the heart of the Goa state, it is also the fastest growing city in Goa. With major industries located in this area, Ponda has the only engineering college in Goa. There are five temples in the town which were rebuilt after they had been destroyed by the Portuguese. Some of them were shifted from their original sites to escape Portuguese vandalism.

Ponda has the privilege of being close to Goa's wildlife sanctuaries, the Bondla and the Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary, and also the Dudhsagar Waterfalls. The Bondla forest is in the foothills of the Western Ghats and has mini zoos, a deer park, and botanical gardens. The Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary is a treat for bird watchers. The Dudhsagar falls (which means sea of milk) is one of the highest waterfalls in India, where the water falls from a height of 200 feet. It is also amongst the top 100 highest falls in the world.

Temples in Ponda

Mahalsa Temple: This is a splendid temple and is dedicated to Goddess Mahalsa, who is supposed to be a female incarnation of Lord Vishnu. It is also known as Mahalsa Narayani temple (Narayana is another name for Vishnu). It was originally located in Verna, in the Salcete Taluk of Goa, but had to be brought to Ponda to escape Portuguese excesses. The beauty of the temple is enhanced by a six-storied 'deepstambha' or ornamental lamp pillar in the courtyard. The lamp is 40 feet in height and has 21 rings of hundred and fifty small lamps.

Mangeshi Temple: This temple is close to the Mahalsa temple and is dedicated to Mangeshi, a form of Lord Shiva. The temple has beautiful pillars and a Nandi bull, the vehicle of Lord Shiva. The courtyard is spacious and houses a beautiful seven-storey deepstambha (lamp tower) near the gates of the temple complex.

Shanta Durga Temple: The Shanta Durga goddess is also known as Shanteri by the Konkani people. The idol was shifted from Quellosim in Salcette to the Ponda area to escape the Portuguese. She is a special deity for many Brahmin families of Goa, the Marathas, Kolis, Kunbis and other sects of people in Goa. Many Goan Catholic families, who converted to Christianity during Portuguese colonisation, still worship the goddess due to familial links.

Other temples: They include the Gopal Ganapathi at Farmagudi; Lakshmi Narasimha temple at Nagueshi; Navdurga Temple, Madkai; Mahalaxmi Temple, Bandode; Damodar Temple, Zambaulim; Devaki Krishna Ravalnath Temple, Marcela amongst others.

Old Goa is where the Portuguese led by Alfonso de Albuquerque first landed. Before their arrival it was the capital of Sultan Adil Shah of Bijapur. After defeating the Sultan, the Portuguese started building their territory around Old Goa. They built large and ornate churches and public buildings in the Portuguese style, and that is how Goa came to be known as the Lisbon of the east. However, due to outbreaks of epidemics such as malaria and cholera, the capital was later shifted to Panaji. Some of these grand structures were consequently neglected and were reduced to ruins. Currently, the UNESCO has granted Old Goa the status of a World Heritage Site.

Places of interest in Old Goa

Basilica De Bom Jesus: This is an ornate church where the mortal remains of St Francis Xavier are kept.

Se Cathedral: This church is dedicated to St.Catherine of Alexandria and is the largest church in Goa and the largest in Asia with a barrel vaulted ceiling. 

Church of St Francis of Assisi: This is a church constructed in the Portuguese-Gothic style and has two octagonal towers and the floor is made of carved grave stones. The Archaeological Museum and Portrait Gallery is also located here.