Margao in Goa
 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 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
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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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