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Margao is Goa's second largest town and a
bustling commercial centre. Barely frequented by travellers, this
central Goan town has an old-worldly charm about it because of its
Old Portuguese churches, and fine country houses decked with dark
rosewood furniture.
Surrounded by fertile farmland, the town has always been an
important agricultural market, and |
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was once a major religious centre, with dozens of
wealthy temples and Dharamshalas - however; most of these were
destroyed when the Portuguese adsorbed the area into their Novas
Conquistas during the 17th century.
Today, Catholic churches still outnumber Hindu shrines, but Margao
has retained a distinctly cosmopolitan feel, largely due to a huge
influx of migrant labour from neighbouring Karnataka and
Maharashtra.
Places to see
Benaulim Beach || Colva Beach ||
How to reach :
By Road
Local private buses to Colva and Benaulim leave from in front of the
Kamat hotel on the east side of Margao's main square. Long distance
bus services one can get at the main Kadamba Bus Stand, 3-km further
north, on the outskirts of the town. This is also the departure
point for interstate services to Magalore, via Chaudi and Gokarn,
and for services to Panjim and North Goa.
By Rail
Margao's new Train station, the only stop in Goa for most long
distance express services on the Konkan Railway, lies 3-km south of
the centre. The Reservation office (Monday-Saturday, 8.00 am-4.30
pm, Sunday 8.00 am- 2.00 pm) is divided between the ground and the
first floor; bookings for the superfast Rajdhani Express to Delhi
are made at the hatch to the left of the main entrance. Tickets for
trains for Mumbai are short in supply so make sure to book the
tickets well in advance. There is also a 24-hour Information Centre
and round-the-clock pre-paid auto rickshaw stand outside the exit.
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