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Pop:
80,000 Area Code: 0832
This
is the main town in South Goa. It is 30km southeast of Vasco da Gama.
Travelers may past through here on their way to the southern beaches.
It is close to both Colva and Benaulim. It has a good bazaar selling
local goods. The bazaar extends from near the railway station to the
main square. The covered market is an interesting place, open Mon to
Sat 8 am to 1 pm and 4 to 8 pm.
The
Church of the Holy Spirit, next to Largo de Igreja
Square, was built by the Portuguese in 1675. It is a good example of
late Baroque architecture. It is white outside and has a well-designed
stucco and crystal interior.
In
Margao there are both Hindu temples and Portuguese monuments. The 17th
century da Silva House is an interesting building.
The de Jaao Figueiredo House has antique Goan furniture
in it. There are good views from the top of Monte Hill.
Practical Information
The GTDC Information Office (222-513), in the lobby of the Tourist Hotel,
sells tourist maps and provides information on train and bus schedules.
Open Mon to Fri 9:30 am to 5:30 pm.
The
GPO is at the top of Municipal Gardens, but the poste restante, is in
a different building, 250m southwest. Skypak, near Hotel Mayur, is a
courier services. Postal Code: 403601.
You
can change money at the State Bank of India, west side of the square.
At the Bank of Baroda, behind Grace Church, east of the market, you
can make advances against a Visa card. Some hotels in Colva exchange
money, but usually give about three to five percent below the bank rate.
It is a good idea to change money here before heading south for the
beaches.
There
are 24-hour ATM facilities at the HDFC Bank, Plot No 27 in Margao.
Cyberlink
(73444), in the Rangavi Shopping Complex, near the Tourist Hotel, has
internet facilities (Rs 150 per hour). Cyber Inn, in Kalika Chambers,
has internet access for Rs 3 per minute. Open 9 am to 5 pm except between
1 and 2 pm.
Where to Stay
Most of the lower end places are near the railway station on Station
Rd. Many of them fill up early inxe "Madgaon" the day.
The Retiring Rooms at the railway station have double rooms for Rs 150
and dorm beds for Rs 50.
Sanrit Hotel, across from the old railway station, has rooms with common
bath for Rs 125/150.
Hotel Greenview (720-151), across from the old railway station, has
room with bath for Rs 120/150.
Rukrish Hotel (721-709), Station Rd, has clean rooms for Rs 85/120 and
with bath for Rs 225. Some rooms have balconies overlooking the street.
24-hour checkout. Some of the rooms have a bad odor, so ask to see (smell)
several.
GDTC Tourist Hotel (721-966), in the middle of town, has rooms for Rs
250/300 and A/C rooms for 450/550. There is a discount during the off-season.
It is a good pxe "Margao" lace for the price.
Mabai Hotel (721-653), north end of Municipal Garden, has large rooms
for Rs 250/300 and with A/C for Rs 350/400. It has a pleasant roof garden
and restaurant. Rooms in the front on the street can be noisy.
Milan (722-715), Station Rd, has rooms for Rs 125/150 and Rs 150/200
with bath. It has a good vegetarian restaurant and 24-hour checkout.
Hotel La Flor (731-402; fax 731-382), Erasmo Carvalho St, has clean
rooms with TV for Rs 225/300 and A/C rooms for Rs 600/750. It is a well-managed
place.
The friendly, well-managed Woodlands Hotel (721-121; fax 738-732), ML
Furtado Rd, opposite the City bus stand, has large, clean rooms for
Rs 250/300 and with A/C and TV for Rs 750. Some rooms have balconies.
There is also a good restaurant. This is the best place in town, and
it is often booked.
Where to Eat
Tato, east of Municipal Gardens, is a clean South Indian vegetarian
place with thalis for Rs 25. The service is quick and it is popular
with the locals.
Udipi Vegetarian Restaurant is also good.
The clean, inexpensive vegetarian Kamat Hotel, next to Municipal Gardens,
serves South Indian food and meals for Rs 20. There are a couple more
branches in town.
The restaurant in the Milan Hotel, Station Rd, has good Indian vegetarian
meals.
Bombay Cafe is a popular inexpensive vegetarian place.
There is a Domino's Pizza between the Woodlands and the La Flor hotels.
Languinhos, opposite the Tourist Hotel, serves good meals and pastries.
Banjara, east of Municipal Gardens, serves good North Indian food. Dishes
are Rs 60 to Rs 100. Open 12 to 3 pm and 7 to 11 pm.
The popular Gaylin, east of Municipal Gardens, is a good Chinese restaurant.
It has an A/C dining room on the ground floor.
Travel
Train If you are heading to the southern beaches, you
can get off the train here. Margao is a main stop on the Konkan railway
line and there are direct trains to Mumbai. It is a one-hour train ride
to Vasco da Gama.
Tickets
are booked at the Indian Railways Reservation and Enquiry Counter (22252)
in the railway station (daily 8:30 am to 12:30 pm and 2 to 5 pm).
There
are trains to Delhi, Thiruvananthapuram and Mangalore.
Delhi
Rajdhani Exp #2431 (12.15 pm, Sat, Sun, 26 hr); Kochi/Ernakulam Lakshadweep
Exp #2618 (9.15 pm, 16 hr); Mumbai Madgaon-Mumbai Exp #0104 (12.30 pm,
11 hr) Madgaon-Mumbai Exp #0112 (6.15 pm, 12 hr); Thiruvananthapuram
#2432 (1.32 pm, Thur, Fri, 17 ½ hr).
Trains
starting in Vasco Da Gama pass through Margao on their way to Londa,
Delhi via Agra, Bangalore and Hospet (for Hampi). Please see Vasco train
information for more details.
Bus
From the City (or market) bus stand, in the center of town next to the
Municipal Gardens, buses depart to various locations in South Goa. Buses
depart to Colva (Rs 4, 30 min) and Benaulim from Municipal Gardens about
every hour starting at around 7:30 am and going until 8 pm.
Buses
to North Goa and out of state depart from the Kadamba bus stand, 2km
north of the downtown. Buses from here go to Panaji (1 hr, every half-hour,
Rs 12), Vasco (hourly, Rs 9), Mapusa, Karwar, and Gokarna (in Karnataka).
Buses to Panaji take two different routes. The buses that go via Ponda
take an extra hour.
There is a luxury bus to Mumbai (Rs 300, 16 hr) at 3pm. There are two
morning buses to Hubli (6 hr), three buses to Belgaum (5 hr), and buses
to Mangalore (10 hr).
Taxi
A taxi to Panaji is Rs 350. A shared taxi to Colva is Rs 10.
Around
Margao
The Museum of Christian Art near Raia village, 6km from Margao, is in
the Rachol Seminary and Church. The church, built in 1610, is architecturally
interesting and contains an old library.
The museum has silver items that used to belong to the churches in Old
Goa, some textile displays, a movable mass kit, and an outstanding 17th
century silver swam. Open daily 9:30 am to 12:30 pm and 2:30 to 5 pm.
Admission Rs 5. To get here, take the bus to Rachol Seminary and not
Illa de Rachol.
Chandor
There are several interesting mansions in the village of Chandor, 20km
east of Margao. The Menezes Briganza House, one of the most impressive
ones, is open to the public. The family who owns it has lived here since
the 17th century. The rooms are full of antiques, chandeliers, and stained
glass windows. It has a private chapel and a ballroom. There are frequent
buses to Chandor from Margao.
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