Location Mormugao taluka, 39 km southwest of Panaji.
Best Time To Visit November to February.
As the name suggests, Vasco-da-Gama city inherited its name from the Portuguese explorer and the former viceroy, Dom Vasco-da-Gama. Located at close proximity to Marmagoa harbor and Zuari river, the city was originally called Sambhaji. This coastal town came under Portuguese rule in 1543 and evolved as a leading export-import trade centre for India on a global platform. Vasco, today, is one of the largest industrial and commercial cities of Goa.
Vasco has always been one of the busiest ports on the western coast of India. The town of Vasco-da-Gama has a 400-year-old St Andrew Church.
AttractionsVasco enjoys its location positioned between two beaches. The bigger and more famous is the Bogmalo Beach. It is a popular destination because of the Oberoi five star hotel. Earlier Bogmalo was just another small fishing village, hemmed in by a pair of palm fringed headlands at the northern end of Colva bay. This sandy beach is located 8 km southeast of the Vasco city. The other beach is Hollant, lies just about halfway along the same road. The beaches have several restaurants that serve awesome sea-food dishes. Velsao, Majorda and Colva are some other beaches in the nearby areas.
The Naval Aviation Museum is another major attraction that exhibits the history of Indian Naval Aviation, various aircrafts, weapons, sensors, safety equipments, rare photographs depicting Goa's liberation and artefacts. Located near the Bogmalo beach, the museum is the first naval museum in India. The museum was inaugurated in 1998 at Dabolim and is popular for a multimedia games section.
The Mormugao port witnesses heavy traffic of container vessels and iron ore barges carrying ores and minerals, that are exported to countries such as Japan and Korea.
During your tour to Vasco-da-Gama and nearby beautiful beach destinations, you can also visit several churches, temples, mosques along with monuments such as- Cabo de Rama, Buddhist caves and Rivona.
ShoppingVasco has an enormous shopping option. Its specialty lies in the traditional handicrafts as well as designer clothes and accessories.
AccommodationVasco da Gama has several luxurious as well as low budget hotels. Normal budget hotels are available on the Dattatreya Deshpandey Road. Along with this, Hotel Kamakshi, Tourist Hotel and Twiga Lodge are included among the fine accommodation category. Luxurious hotels like Hotel La Paz Gardens and Oberoi are located in the heart of the town.
Tourism And TransportThe excellent communication infrastructure has encouraged tourism in Vasco da Gama.
Vasco lies near the Marmagoa Harbour, which makes it a chief shipping centre. Several foreign traders can be seen here docking their ships. The only airport in Goa, the Dabolim airport, is located just 4 km from the city. Vasco has the oldest railway terminus of Goa.
The interstate Kadamba Terminus is 3 km east of the town centre. Vasco is the prime place to catch buses to the Dabolim airport. Local buses, taxis, auto-rickshaws and motorcycle taxis are also available to commute internally in Goa.
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