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Tourism in Goa

The state of Goa, in India, is famous for its beaches and places of worship. Tourism is its primary industry, and is generally focused on the coastal areas of Goa, with decreased tourist activity inland.

From Top left to right: Goan beach, Basilica of Bom Jesus, Mangueshi Temple, Fort Aguada, A Portuguese house in Fontainhas, Chapora River Corjuem Fort, Backwaters of Goa

Foreign tourists, mostly from Europe, arrive in Goa in winter, whilst the summer and monsoon seasons see many Indian tourists. Goa handled 2.29% of all foreign tourist arrivals in the country in 2011.[1][2] This relatively small state is situated on the west coast of India, between the borders of Maharashtra and Karnataka, and is better known to the world as a former Portuguese enclave on Indian soil. Thus, Tourism forms the backbone of Goa's economy.[3]

Major tourist attractions include Bom Jesus Basilica, Fort Aguada, a wax museum on Indian culture, and a heritage museum. The Churches and Convents of Goa have been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

As of 2013, Goa was the destination of choice for Indian and foreign tourists, particularly Britons, with limited means who wanted to party. The state was hopeful that changes could be made which would attract a more upscale demographic.[4]

On 24 November 2017, Delta Corp Limited claimed to have set up the first casino game training course centre in India at Goa.

Goa also draws tourists from all over India for its bungee activity,[5] water sports[6] and underwater scuba diving experience.[7]

Beaches

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Baga Beach in North Goa
 
Picture of GOA taken from an air craft's window

Goa's beaches cover about 125 kilometres (78 miles) of its coastline. These beaches are divided into North and South Goa.

 
Most Goan beaches are equipped with lifeguards
 
Colva Beach in South Goa
 
Tourists at Vagator beach in Goa. Ships can be seen in the background.
 
Bogmalo beach in South Goa

North Goa Beaches

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South Goa Beaches

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Sea plane service

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The government of Goa conducted trials of a seaplane on the Mandovi river on 23 May 2015. The test plane took off from Dabolim airport and successfully landed in the Mandovi river. The seaplane service had started post-monsoon since 2015.[8]

Wildlife

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The glassy tiger butterfly spotted at Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary

Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary, Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary and Mollem National Park, Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary, Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary and Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary harbour Goa's rich bio-diversity. Foxes, wild boars and migratory birds are also found in the forests of Goa. The avifauna includes kingfishers, mynas and parrots. The famous Dudhsagar Falls, India's fifth tallest at 310 metres, is located inside Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary at the Goa – Karnataka border.

The renowned Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary is located on the island of Chorao. The endangered olive ridley sea turtle can be found on Morjim Beach in Pernem, Northern Goa and Galgibaga Beach in Canacona, Southern Goa. The turtles are listed in Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife Act. Morjim Beach is also hosting to a number of migratory birds from late September to early April. The area surrounding the shore at Tembwada in Morjim also abounds in various species of birds. A number of international bird watching tours are organised in the area.

Waterfalls

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  • Dudhsagar Falls
  • Arvalem Falls
  • Kuske falls
  • Kesarval Falls
  • Tambdi Surla Falls
  • Charavane falls

Museums

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A Sea Harrier on display at the Naval Air Museum

There are several museums located in Goa:

  • The Goa State Museum[9] set up in 1996 aims at centralising and preserving antiquities, art objects and objects of cultural importance, depicting the different aspects of the Goan History and Culture. It is located at Patto[10] in Goa's capital city of Panaji.
  • The Naval Aviation Museum near Dabolim[11] is one among three of its kind in India.[12]
  • Goa Science Centre, located at the Miramar beach in Panaji.[13] was opened in December 2001 and it houses many wonders of Science and Astronomy.[14]
  • Archaeological Museum and Portrait Gallery located in Old Goa is run by the Archaeological Survey of India.
  • The Museum of Christian Art has a number of paintings, sculptures and religious silverware dating back to the 16th century.[15]
  • 'Ancestral Goa' is dedicated to the preservation of art, culture and environment and was established to preserve Goa's past and its rich traditions. This magnificent project[16] is the result of a lot of meticulous research, planning and hardwork. Located in Loutolim, it opened to the public in April 1995.[17] A special attraction of this project is the sculpture of Sant Mirabai strumming on her tambori and measuring 14 meters by 5 meters which was chiseled in Greco – Roman style from a vast expanse of laterite stone by Maendra Jocelino Araujo Alvares in just 30 days.[18]
  • The Big Foot Museum is located at 'Ancestral Goa' in Loutolim. It has an unusual collection of crosses, from all over the world.[19]
  • The Museum of Goa is a privately owned museum of art in Pilerne, Goa. MOG, as it is commonly known, is one of the largest contemporary art spaces in India. Founded by the artist, Dr. Subodh Kerkar, in 2015, MOG tries to depict Goan history and culture through modern art. The Museum is also an active cultural space, hosting events, talks, workshops and discussions. MOG hosts exhibitions all year round, with its largest being the Goa Affordable Art Fest which often starts in December and lasts till the end of January.
  • The Pilar Museum is located on the Pilar hillock where the Pilar Seminary is also located. The Museum was founded by Fr Costa, and highlights various finds on and around the Pilar hillock and now preserved in the seminary museum.[20]
  • The 'Wax World' Museum, inaugurated in 2008[21] is located in Old Goa contains exquisite wax statues. The statues have been sculpted by Shreeji Bhaskaran,[22] who owns the museum and is also responsible for giving India its first wax museum located at Ooty, Karnataka, which was set up in March 2007.[21]
  • 'Goa Chitra Museum', established by Victor Hugo Gomes, is an ethnographic museum in Benaulim showcasing traditional Goan farming implements and other Goan antiques.[23]
  • Ashvek Vintage World is a vintage car museum located in Nuvem, Goa. Set up in 2004 by Pradeep Naik, it is Goa's first car museum.

Heritage homes

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Another major tourist attraction in Goa is its heritage homes.[24] A legacy of the Portuguese colonial regime of more than 450 years, some of these palatial homes are now converted into hotels while many are still inhabited by the people. The popular heritage homes in Goa are:

Forts

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Fort Aguada

The landscape of Goa is dotted with several forts.

  1. Aguada Fort
  2. Alorna Fort
  3. Anjediva Fort
  4. Betul Fort
  5. Cabo de Rama
  6. Chandor Fort
  7. Chapora Fort
  8. Corjuem Fort
  9. Gandaulim Fort
  10. Gaspar Dias Fort
  11. Mormugão Fort
  12. Nanuz Fort
  13. Naroa Fort
  14. Palácio do Cabo
  15. Ponda Fort
  16. Rachol Fort
  17. Reis Magos
  18. Sanquelim Fort
  19. Fortaleza de São Sebastião
  20. São Tiago of Banastarim Fort
  21. São Tomé of Tivim Fort
  22. St Estevam Fort
  23. Tiracol Fort
  24. Fort São Bartolomeu

List of monuments of national importance

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SL. No. Description Location Address District Coordinates Image
N-GA-1 Basilica of Bom Jesus Old Goa Old Goa
 
Basilica of Bom Jesus

 
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N-GA-2 Se Cathedral Old Goa Old Goa
 
Se Cathedral

 
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N-GA-3 St. Cajetan Church Old Goa Old Goa
 
St. Cajetan Church

 
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N-GA-4 Church and Convent of St. Francis of Assisi Old Goa Old Goa
 
Church and Convent of St. Francis of Assisi

 
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N-GA-5 Chapel of St. Catherine Old Goa Old Goa
 
Chapel of St. Catherine

 
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N-GA-6 Church of Our Lady of the Rosary Old Goa Old Goa
 
Church of Our Lady of the Rosary

 
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N-GA-7 Portal remains of St.Paul’s College Old Goa Old Goa
 
Portal remains of St.Paul’s College

 
N-GA-8 Arch of Viceroy Old Goa Old Goa
 
Arch of Viceroy

 
N-GA-9 Arch of Adil Shah’s Palace Old Goa Old Goa
 
Arch of Adil Shah’s Palace

 
N-GA-10 Church of St. Augustine, Goa Old Goa Old Goa
 
Church of St. Augustine, Goa

 
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N-GA-11 Aguada Fort (Upper) Candolim Goa
 
Aguada Fort (Upper)

 
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N-GA-12 Safa Mosque, Goa Ponda Goa
 
Safa Mosque, Goa

 
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N-GA-13 Rock cut caves Arvalem Goa
 
Rock cut caves

 
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N-GA-14 Mahadev Temple, Tambdi Surla Tamdisurla Goa
 
Mahadev Temple, Tambdi Surla

 
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N-GA-15 Mahadev Temple Kurdi Goa
 
Mahadev Temple

 
N-GA-16 Excavated site Chandore Goa
 
Excavated site

 
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N-GA-17 Fortification Wall of Aguada Fort (Lower) Candolim Goa
 
Fortification Wall of Aguada Fort (Lower)

 
N-GA-18 Chapel of St. Francis Xavier and connected buildings Old Goa Old Goa
 
Chapel of St. Francis Xavier and connected buildings

 
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N-GA-19 House of Bull Old Goa Old Goa
 
House of Bull

 
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N-GA-20 Largo of St. Francis Xavier Old Goa Old Goa
 
Largo of St. Francis Xavier

 
N-GA-21 Largo of St. Cajetan together with other monuments Old Goa Old Goa
 
Largo of St. Cajetan together with other monuments

 

List of state protected monuments

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SL. No. Description Location Address District Coordinates Image
S-GA-1 Site where the ancient image of Buddha was discovered at Colvale Bardez  
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S-GA-2 Fortress of Colvale Bardez  
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S-GA-3 Reis Magos Fort Bardez
 
Reis Magos Fort

 
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S-GA-4 Church of Reis Magos Bardez
 
Church of Reis Magos

 
S-GA-5 Chapora Fort Bardez
 
Chapora Fort

 
S-GA-6 Corjuem Fort Bardez  
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S-GA-7 Cabo de Rama Fort Canacona  
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S-GA-8 Caves at Naroa Bicholim  
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S-GA-9 Temples of Saptakoteshwar Bicholim
 
Temples of Saptakoteshwar

 
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S-GA-10 Site of Gujir Bicholim  
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S-GA-11 Fort of Sanquelim Bicholim  
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S-GA-12 Namazgah Bicholim  
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S-GA-13 The Cave of Sidhanath at Tar Surla Bicholim  
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S-GA-14 The Mosque and Tank at Tar Surla Bicholim  
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S-GA-15 Mormugão fort Mormugao  
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S-GA-16 The Site of Kaivailya Math at Consua Marmagoa  
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S-GA-17 Frontispices of Sancoale Mormugao
 
Frontispices of Sancoale

 
S-GA-18 Shri Saptakoteshwar Ponda  
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S-GA-19 Shri Mahadev Temple Ponda
 
Shri Mahadev Temple

 
S-GA-20 Ruins of Jain Basti Ponda  
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S-GA-21 Fort of Alorna Pernem  
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S-GA-22 Fort Tiracol Pernem
 
Fort Tiracol

 
S-GA-23 Caves at Khandepar Ponda  
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S-GA-24 Cave at Ishwarbhat Ponda  
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S-GA-25 Cave at Mangeshi Ponda
 
Cave at Mangeshi

 
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S-GA-26 Shri Nagesh Temple Ponda
 
Shri Nagesh Temple

 
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S-GA-27 Shri Kamakshi Temple Ponda
 
Shri Kamakshi Temple

 
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S-GA-28 Shri Chandranath Paroda Quepem  
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S-GA-29 Site of Rock Carvings of Kazur Quepem  
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S-GA-30 Site of Ruins of Mangueshi Temple Salcete
 
Site of Ruins of Mangueshi Temple

 
S-GA-31 Site of Ruins of Shanta Durga Temple Salcete
 
Site of Ruins of Shanta Durga Temple

 
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S-GA-32 Site – Ruins of Ramnath Temple Salcete  
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S-GA-33 Ruins including Tank of the Temple of Mahalsa Salcete  
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S-GA-34 Gate of Rachol Fortress Salcete  
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S-GA-35 Caves of Aquem Salcete  
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S-GA-36 Caves at Rivona Sanguem  
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S-GA-37 Site of Rock Carving at Pansaimal Sanguem
 
Site of Rock Carving at Pansaimal

 
S-GA-38 The Cave at Shigoa Sanguem  
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S-GA-39 The site of Narayandev at Vichundre Sanguem  
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S-GA-40 Ruins of Brahmapuri Tiswadi  
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S-GA-41 Chapel of St. Xavier Tiswadi
 
Chapel of St. Xavier

 
S-GA-42 Chapel of Our Lady of the Mount Tiswadi
 
Chapel of Our Lady of the Mount

 
S-GA-43 Convent of St. Monica and Chapel Tiswadi
 
Convent of St. Monica and Chapel

 
S-GA-44 Ruins of College of St. Paulo Tiswadi  
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S-GA-45 Church of St. Peter Tiswadi
 
Church of St. Peter

 
S-GA-46 Casa da Polvora Tiswadi  
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S-GA-47 Fort Naroa Tiswadi
 
Fort Naroa

 
S-GA-48 Site of the Temple of Saptakoteshwar Tiswadi  
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S-GA-49 Chapel of St. Jeronimus Tiswadi  
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S-GA-50 British Cemetery at Dona Paula Tiswadi
 
British Cemetery at Dona Paula

 
S-GA-51 The Site of Fortress at St Estevam Tiswadi
 
The Site of Fortress at St Estevam

 

Administration

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The administration of tourism in Goa lies with Minister for Tourism, Manohar Ajgaonkar, and Secretary and Director for Tourism, Menino D'Souza. Other stakeholders in Goa tourism are the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (A Government of Goa undertaking) and the Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG). Prachi Desai has been appointed as the face of Goa's Tourism.

Goa Tourism Development Corporation

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The Goa Tourism Development Corporation Ltd. (GTDC) carries out tourism commercial activities like conducting sight seeing tours and river cruises. It also manages 12 hotels with a total of 525 rooms.[28] Also, tourist can opt-in from tourism site in India. They are recognised by tourism minister of India, the government of India to boost Indian tourism sector by providing a world-class tour to tourist.

See also

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Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Goa.

References

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  1. ^ "Tourist Arrivals (Year Wise)". Department of Tourism, Government of Goa. Retrieved 21 April 2013.
  2. ^ "Annual Report, 2011-2012 p. 64" (PDF). Ministry of Tourism, Government of India. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 March 2013. Retrieved 21 April 2013.
  3. ^ "Shree Damodar College of Commerce and Economics, Margao, Goa". damodarcollege.org. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  4. ^ Gethin Chamberlain (31 August 2013). "Why Goa is looking to go upmarket – and banish Brits and backpackers: As visitor numbers dip, the Indian state wants to rid itself of budget tourists – but its rubbish mountains and beach gangs are putting off the rich". The Observer, The Guardian. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  5. ^ "Goa Bungee jumping". Jumpin Heights. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
  6. ^ "Water Sports in Goa". India Thrills. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
  7. ^ "Goa Scuba diving Adventure". India Thrills. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
  8. ^ Sea Plance Service
  9. ^ "Goa Museum – Government of Goa". goamuseum.gov.in. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  10. ^ "Goa Museum – Government of Goa". goamuseum.gov.in. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  11. ^ "Department of Tourism, Government of Goa, India – Naval Aviation Museum". goatourism.gov.in. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  12. ^ "Warbirds of India – Naval Aviation Museum". warbirdsofindia.com. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  13. ^ "Science shows :: Goa Science Centre & Planetarium". goasciencecentre.in. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  14. ^ "About us". Government of Goa Science Centre. Retrieved 21 April 2013.
  15. ^ "Department of Tourism, Government of Goa, India – Christian Art Museum, Old Goa". goatourism.gov.in. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  16. ^ web site designed and created by: Lynn Barreto Miranda, BM Web Studio, www.bmwebstudio.com, Margao, Goa, India. ph: 2731533, 9822151419. "Ancestral Goa – a center for preservation of Art, Culture and Environment at Big Foot, Loutolim, Goa, India". ancestralgoa.com. Retrieved 12 July 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  17. ^ "Department of Tourism, Government of Goa, India – Ancestral Goa". goatourism.gov.in. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  18. ^ web site designed and created by: Lynn Barreto Miranda, BM Web Studio, www.bmwebstudio.com, Margao, Goa, India. ph: 2731533, 9822151419. "Ancestral Goa – a center for preservation of Art, Culture and Environment at Big Foot, Loutolim, Goa, India". ancestralgoa.com. Retrieved 12 July 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  19. ^ web site designed and created by: Lynn Barreto Miranda, BM Web Studio, www.bmwebstudio.com, Margao, Goa, India. ph: 2731533, 9822151419. "Bigfoot Cross Museum, Loutolim, Goa, India". bigfootcrossmuseum.com. Retrieved 12 July 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  20. ^ "Department of Tourism, Government of Goa, India – Pilar Museum, Goa Velha". goatourism.gov.in. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  21. ^ a b "Wax World: Goa's very own Madame Tussauds – The Times of India". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  22. ^ "Wax World Museum at Old Goa, Information on the Wax World museum in Old Goa, About the Wax World museum in Goa". goaholidayhomes.com. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  23. ^ "Goa Chitra : Museum". goachitra.com. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  24. ^ "Department of Tourism, Government of Goa, India – Heritage Houses". goatourism.gov.in. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  25. ^ "Hidden Attraction – The Times of India". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  26. ^ "Menezes Braganca Heritage House of Chandor | iGoa". Archived from the original on 6 May 2014. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  27. ^ "Goan mansions". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
  28. ^ "Economic Survey 2012-2013" (PDF). Government of Goa. Retrieved 21 April 2013.

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