Vasco-da-Gama
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 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 cliffside. The beach remains
pretty isolated fro most of the day except for a few locals who venture down
for a dip in the sea. There is also a fresh-water spring in the hillside which
has a constant flow of water round the year.
The main town of Vasco is well laid out pretty much in a straight line along
parallel roads interlinked by small bylanes. There is hardly any landmark worth
making a visit to Vasco, except for the 400-year old St. Andrews Church which
lies at the entrance to the city. In recent times, the city has been attracting
local visitors, to what is easily the best cinema theatre in the whole of Goa.
The port of Mormugao, around one of India's few natural harbours, lies 4 kms
from the city centre and the only airport in the state, the Goa Airport at Dabolim,
is also about 4 kms from the city. 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.
There are two beaches near the city. The bigger and the more famous is the Bogmalo
beach which is about 8 kms south-east of the town and the smaller one named
Hollant lies just about halfway along the same road. 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.
Along
this same road to the Bogmalo beach is located the Naval Air Museum, 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.
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.
HOW TO GET THERE
By Air : Goa's only airport, called the Goa Airport lies on top of a
rocky plateau at Dabolim, approximately 4 km southeast of Vasco-da-Gama. The
Airport is under the control of the Indian Navy, but a large new civilian terminal
handles all of Goa's rapidly increasing air traffic from national and international
flights.
There are pre-paid taxi counters inside the airport and private taxis are also
available. It is best to confirm a fare with the driver before you start off
on your journey. Local buses are also available from the intersection immediately
outside the airport to go to Vasco, from where there are services to Margao
and Panaji.
By Rail : The small railway station is located at the centre, a few minutes
walk from either end of the well laid out town. A number of trains that service
destinations in neighbouring states like Karnataka, depart from here.
By Road : Most buses arriving from Panaji or Margao, stop at the Interstate
Kadamba Bus Terminus, 3 km east of the town centre. There are local minibuses
which carry passengers from the main bus stand to the city area. There is another
bus stand near the market area.
Auto-rickshaws and motorcycle taxis are also available at the junction of the
main thoroughfare, the Swantantra Path and Dr Rajendra Prasad Avenue.
