Goa is undoubtedly one of the must-visit tourist destinations in India, where millions of people visit to enjoy the spectacular and sandy beaches. Apart from its charming beaches, world-class eateries and resorts, Goa is known for its cultural heritage and history. If you want to visit anything other than the crowded famous beaches of Goa, visit Panjim. Panjim is filled with terraced hills, churches, beaches, dilapidated buildings with red-tiled roofs and balconies and a Riverside promenade. Apart from that, there are many places near Panjim that you can visit for some extra fun!
7 Places Near Panjim
Here is a list of the best places to visit near Panjim that will give you a fun-filled vacation in this picturesque destination. Take a look!
1. Candolim Beach
There is a certain tranquil and peaceful ambiance that is found in Candolim beach that is found nowhere else in the neighbouring beaches like Baga and Calangute. The most unique feature of this beach is that it doesn’t have any defined beach centre. There are a few restaurants and small eateries nearby the beach which is one of the best places near Panjim. This doesn’t mean that the beach isn’t worthy to be visited. The Candolim beach provides tourists with an unbeaten experience in terms of cleanliness, size of the beach and the adventure activities performed here. A stranded ship has been sheltered in Candolim beach, called the river Princess for the last 12 years. Due to the absence of commercial activities and lack of resorts and big hotels and restaurants, the beach remains uncrowded most of the time and hence has a beautiful pattern of dunes that one can visualize as soon as one steps onto the beach.
Distance from Panjim: 15 km.
Things to do: scuba diving, surfing, boating, snorkelling, banana boat riding, kayaking, and kneeboarding.
Special attractions: church of Our Lady of hope, Kegdole beach, Coco beach, grand 7 casinos, and the Cabo beach.
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2. Gokarna
Gokarna is a pilgrimage center situated in Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka which has become famous due to its beautiful beaches. The place is located at a place where two rivers- Gangavali and Aganashini meet and forms a shape that is similar to a cow’s ear. Hence the name, Gokarna meaning cow’s ear in the local language. This is one of the very few places that is visited by leisure travellers equally as is visited by pilgrims. This place has become a sacred place for Hindu due to the Mahabaleshwar shiva temple being situated here. There are mentions of Tamil compositions of poets like Sambandar and Appar. The place was ruled by Indian rulers of the Vijayanagara and Kadamba dynasties and later colonised by the Portuguese. There are ample beaches that attract tourists to this place like the half-moon beach paradise beach, Kudle beach, and om beach. The majestic temples and beaches of these places have made Gokarna a famous tourist destination.
Distance from Panjim: 134.7 km
Things to do In Gokarna: Jet skiing, surfing, parasailing, scuba diving, snorkelling, beach camping, banana boat ride, and bumper ride.
Special attractions: Lalguli falls, paradise beach, Bhadrakali temple, and Kumta
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3. Miramar Beach
Miramar beach is the longest beach in the Indian state of Goa and is among the best places to visit in Panjim located in the heart of Panjim. It stretches for 2 km and is situated on the confluence of the Arabian Sea and Mandovi river offering eye soothingly splendid views. This beach was originally called Porte de Gaspar Dias by the Portuguese settlers. It was changed to Miramar, meaning to look at the sea. Crystal clear blue oceanic waters encircle silvery stretches of sands on one side and the other side of the beach is girdled by palm trees. The beach is an ideal place for barbecue parties, picnics and caters to the needs of both families and honeymoon couples. During winters, the beach becomes a famous spot for bird watching when several rare migratory birds can be spotted.
Distance from Panjim: 8 km
Things to do: dolphin spotting, boat riding, jet skiing, windsurfing.
Special attractions: Aguada fort, Parra village, st Lawrence church, dr. Salim Ali bird sanctuary, Dona Paula.
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4. Sindhudurg
The name Sindhudurg has two combined words, Sindhu meaning the sea and Durg meaning fort. The great Marathi warrior, Chatrapati Shivaji built the fort. It is located on a rocky Island, strategically to resist foreign forces. The uniqueness of this Sindhudurg fort lies in the fact that the fort cannot be seen by invaders coming from the Arabian sea. Girdled by the western ghats on one end and the Arabian Sea on the other, Sindhudurg attracts people for its natural beauty that is complemented by backwaters, beaches, waterfalls, forts and pilgrim centers. This place abounds in high mesmerising mountains, exotic seashore and eye-soothing scenery filled in cashews, Jamuns, Alphonso mangoes, etc. On days having clear skies, the sea bed can be seen up to a depth of 20 feet. There are exotic coral reefs on the outskirts of this island.
Distance from Panjim: 132.3 km
Things to do: snorkelling, scuba diving
Special attractions: Sindhudurg fort, Tarkarli beach, Sagareshwar Shiva temple, Karli backwaters.
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5. Karwar
Another one on the list of the top places near Panjim is Karwar. Karwar is located on the western coast of peninsular India. Karwar forms the headquarters of Uttara Kannada district. Being a historic town, it has been a very famous trading center since the 15th century. Very close to Panwar, the Kali river meets the Arabian sea where the popular Sadhashivagud fort has been constructed, right beside the Kali river bridge. The bridge, the river, the sea and the fort along with the gently swaying coconut trees offer an eye-soothing sight to tourists.
Distance from Panjim: 96 km.
Things to do: swimming, snorkelling, scuba diving.
Special attractions: dev bagh, Kurung Head Island, Karwar beach, Devbagh beach
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6. Panhala
The tranquil city of Panhala is a famous hill station situated in the Kolhapur district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is situated at an elevation of 3200 ft above sea level and is known as the smallest city in the state of Maharashtra. Panhala provides ideal spots for trekking. With several forts and hills found here, this quaint hill station of Panhala is one of the best spots to trek. It is a majestic place, experiencing a peaceful, Charmin, scenic and pollution-free atmosphere that offers a good relief to tourists from the daily hustle and bustle of their daily lives. Nature lovers relish the exotic view of the majestic valley below. The hill station is both peaceful and breathtaking at the same time.
Distance from Panjim: 223 km
Things to do: zip-lining, slackline, bungee jumping, sports climbing, rappelling, parasailing, paramotoring.
Special attractions: Panhala fort, Ambar khana fort, empress botanical garden, Sajja Kothi, teen Darwaza.
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7. Amboli
Amboli is a quaint hill station located at an altitude of 700 m in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It lies amidst the Sahyadri ranges. It is a great spot to celebrate weekends and provides a romantic escape for couples as well. Amboli is a paradise of waterfalls. The Nagatta falls, Shirgaonkar falls and the Mahadev falls are few of the innumerable waterfalls that this place offers. The Nagata falls is ideal for picnics. If one is in search of some solitude and tranquillity in the lap of nature, no other place can be as perfect as Amboli in this regard. The dense forests and thick canopy of hills provide tourists with some cool refreshing air that makes this place as peaceful as heaven. This placid hill station is popularly called ” the Mahabaleshwar of the Konkan” for obvious reasons.
Distance from Panjim: 87.0 km
Things to do: Jetski, sleeping bumper, speed boating, banana ride, sitting bumper
Special attractions: Amboli falls, Shirgaonkar point, Hiranya Keshi temple, Nangartas falls and Madhavgad fort.
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Panjim is the ideal place for art and nature lovers. It exudes art literally. With its numerous architectural marvels and decorative neighbourhoods, it seems to have inspired a lot of people to pursue a similar profession, that is to take up any form of art that influences daily life and practice and nurture it as a hobby. So, to explore its cultural side, make sure you visit all the rich art galleries and cafeterias. Now, don’t think too much and plan a trip to Goa and head to these places near Panjim!
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Frequently Asked Questions About Places Near Panjim
What is the best time to visit Panjim?
Months between late October and April are ideal for Panjim to be visited. Panjim, during these months, remains pleasant and tourists enjoy sightseeing the charming fountains that retain its Portuguese flavour till date.
How’s the weather in Panjim?
The place experiences a tropical climate with humid and hot climatic conditions that varies very little all through the year. The average temperature in summers remains 30° C to 35°C, while the average temperature during winters lowers to 16°C to 25° C.
What is the best place to stay in Panjim?
Welcomheritage Panjim inn, grande Delmon, hospodars abrigo de Botelho, treehouse Neptune inn, fortune Miramar, the crown goa and Varanda do mar are some of the best resorts and hotels to stay in Panjim.
Which is the most famous food in Panjim?
Seafood, vegetables, coconut, rice, pork, meat, and spices are the main constituents of Goan cuisine. The area is tropical, uses spices and flavours intensively.
Where to try water sports in Panjim?
The adventurous water activities to try out in Panjim are scuba diving, surfing, boating, snorkelling, banana boat riding, kayaking, and kneeboarding.
What is special about Panjim?
Panjim is famous for its beaches mainly that provide travellers with a serene and calm environment and offer them relief from their monotonous daily lives. But the city is more popular for its dilapidated buildings, churches, architecture, temples, walking tours and fun activities that it offers.
What language is spoken in Goa?
People in Goa speak several languages like Konkani, Hindi, English, Portuguese, Marathi, Kannada, etc. Konkani is the official language of Goa.
How many days are needed to visit Panjim?
A maximum of 4 days is needed to visit Panjim and tour around Goa.
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Exploring new places and trying out new food cuisines are two things that bring Seema all the happiness. Travel freak and a die-hard foodie are the synonyms that define her the best. Popular on social media by the name of ‘PandaReviewz’, lazing around the beaches, exploiting the sunset points, visiting the farthermost villages, exploring the renowned cities, trying out new food cuisines, and blogging about them are few things that keep Seema occupied, and happy!
