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Vasco-da-Gama, Goa
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Information about Vasco-da-Gama
The industrial town of Vasco-da-Gama, named after the
Portuguese voyager, lies around 30 kms away from the
capital city of Panaji and is spread around the base of
the peninsula which leads to the Mormugao harbour. The
area came under Portuguese rule around 1543, and within
a few years, it was transformed into one of western
India's busiest ports. The Portuguese built a fort at
Sada, near the tip of the land jutting into the Arabian
sea. This allowed them to effectively control the
movement of ships into the Zuari river. The main town of
Vasco is well laid out pretty much in a straight line
along parallel roads interlinked by small lanes. In
recent times, the city has been attracting local
visitors, to what is easily the best cinema theatre in
the whole of Goa.
Tourist
Attractions in Vasco-da-Gama |
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The main tourist attractions in Vasco da
Gama are the Sada Fort, Bogmalo beach, Naval Air Museum. There
is also a fresh-water spring in the hillside which has a
constant flow of water round the year.
Sada Fort
The Portuguese built the Sada fort, near the tip of the land
jutting into the Arabian sea. The fort had its most glorious
moment in 1685, when Old Goa came under attack from King
Sambhaji of the Marathas and the Portuguese moved women,
children and other non-combatants here for safe keeping. The
fort was abandoned soon after, despite plans to make Mormugao
the capital of the Portuguese colony of Goa, and today only
some remnants of the ramparts can be seen. At the base of the
ruins of Sada fort, there is a small but beautiful beach which
can be reached via steps leading down the steep cliff side. The
beach remains pretty isolated fro most of the day except for a
few locals who venture down for a dip in the sea.
St. Andrews Church
The 400-year old St. Andrews Church lies at the entrance to
the city and is an important landmark in Vasco-da-Gama. |
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Bogmalo Beach
The Bogmalo Beach is about 8 kms south-east of the town.
Bogmalo beach has luxury and mid-range hotels in the
neighbourhood along with quite a few shacks where you
can sample some tasty sea-food dishes.
Naval
Air Museum |
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Along the same road to the Bogmalo beach is
located the Naval Air Museum. Naval Air Museum is the only one
of its kind in the whole of Asia. It has on display, some of
the fighter aircraft which have done duty for India in its
conflicts with the enemy.
How to reach Vasco-da-Gama
By Air
The nearest airport is Dabolim, which is about 4 kms from the
city, on the coast near Vasco da Gama.
By Rail
Vasco also has a railway terminus for passenger trains to
nearby areas outside Goa and more importantly a daily service
which takes tourists to the magnificent Dudhsagar waterfalls
near the state border. A number of trains that service
destinations in neighbouring states like Karnataka, depart
from here.
By Sea
The port of Mormugao, one of India's few natural harbours,
lies 4 kms from the city centre. Vasco-da-Gama is a key
shipping centre, very important for the economy of Goa, which
has a large number of mines in its interiors. The Mormugao
port handles heavy traffic of container vessels and iron ore
barges carrying ores and minerals to countries such as Japan
and Korea.
By Road
Vasco da Gama is well connected by various cities like Mumbai,
Pune, Bangalore, Hospet, Mangalore, Hubli, Mysore, Panaji,
Margao and Old Goa. |
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