North India Highlights

Flying from Goa to Delhi this two-night, three-day tour includes a train journey to visit the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort plus a guided tour of the sites of India's historic capital city.

 
 
 

Find peace and tranquillity on the beautiful islands of Goa

Updated on Sep 26, 2018 by Kathryn Burrington

Blog > Find peace and tranquillity on the beautiful islands of Goa

To the east of Panjim, the capital city of Goa, lies the beautiful, yet rarely visited, islands of Divar and Chorão.

Unspoilt and unchanging, these islands are the epitome of tranquillity, where you can relax, unwind and reconnect with nature.

 

Divar Island

Head towards Old Goa , a few miles east of Panjim, and take the short ferry ride across the Mandovi River to the sleepy little island of Divar. Stepping off the ferry is like stepping back in time, as you find yourself amidst beautiful mangrove swamps, rice paddies, rural villages and a smattering of Ayurvedic spas.

This beautiful little island should be enjoyed at a leisurely pace, giving you plenty of time to soak up the serene atmosphere. It’s true there’s little to do here, and not many visitors to Goa make the journey, but that is all part of its charm.

Once two important temples stood here, the Saptakoteshwara Temple and a temple dedicated to Ganesh, but they are long since gone. The former was moved to Bicholim to escape the forced conversion to Christianity that many Hindus faced at the hands of the Portuguese.

The Ganesh temple is believed to have been destroyed by Muslims hundreds of years ago. The church that now stands in its stead is well worth a visit though. On a small hill in Piedade, the largest settlement in the island, it is dedicated to Our Lady of Compassion. The church’s impressive façade gives way to a simple yet beguiling interior.

Be sure to ask the priest to unlock the small chapel in the grounds that was converted from a Hindu Shrine. Parts of it, including the painted plaster ceiling, date back to 1352 and the Kadamba dynasty. The small cemetery beside the church also offers fragmented glimpses of this once grand dynasty.

For many, the highlight of a visit here is the stunning hilltop panoramic view across the island’s countryside, the meandering Mandovi River, and Old Goa. It’s worth visiting Divar for this view alone, which is especially beautiful at sunset.

The island has retained its tranquillity thanks to the local people, who while extremely friendly and welcoming to tourists, staunchly refused the government’s offer to build a bridge linking them to the mainland, fearing that it would disrupt their unspoilt island life.

Chorão island

The larger of the two islands is Chorão, where winding roads thread their way between authentic well-preserved Portuguese villas in a tranquil and most picturesque setting.

Image credit: Nataliia Sokolovska | Shutterstock

The western half of the island is a nature reserve, the Dr Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary. The best way to explore the dense mangrove swamps is by boat, while on the look-out for the wonderful variety of birds and animals that can be found here, including the mugger, a Goan crocodile, and the mudskipper, a fascinating fish that skips along the mud at low tide. 

The pretty little village of Chorão, which gives its name to the island, is a collection of thatched mud houses interspersed with some fine examples of Portuguese villas, and a small village church.

Follow the road through the village and on to the mainland, then take the road to Narve and it will bring you to the Saptakoteshwar Temple (formerly on Divar Island).

Getting there

The southern ends of both of the islands can be reached from two ferry terminals at either end of the village of Ribandar, a few miles east of Panjim, near Old Goa.

You can also drive from Narve and Tikhazan on the mainland to the north of Chorão Island.

A ferry also goes from Naroa Ferry Terminal in Narve to the north east of Divar Island

Need to Know

There are no restaurants on the islands, so it is essential to carry enough of your own water and food for your visit. The ferries are free to foot passengers and cyclists, but there is a small charge for cars. They are very regular but stop fairly early in the day, so do check the time of the last ferry.

Where to stay?

Panjim Inn is located in Panjim’s Latin Quarter. Not only are you close to Old Goa here, but you’ve also got all the cultural delights of the surrounding area known as Fontainhas. There are numerous walking trails through the colourful heritage houses and whitewashed chapels. And you are within easy reach of the ferries to the islands of Divar and Chorão.

Find out more about Panjim Inn.

 

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Day 1: Departing Goa for Delhi our representative will meet you in the arrivals area of the airport. They will assist with your private transfer to your Delhi hotel which will be your base for two nights.

Day 2: This morning, you will depart Delhi railway staion to Agra. Once a small village on the banks of the Yamuna, it was transformed by two great Mughal monarchs, Akbar and his grandson Shah Jehan into the second capital of the Mughal Empire, Dar-ul-Khilafat, or ‘seat of the Emperor’ in the 16th and 17th century.

Taj Mahal

When you arrive in Agra you will be met by our representative who will introduce you to your guide who will take you to Taj Mahal (closed on Fridays). On the inner walls, jewel-like stones create beautiful designs in white marble. The Mughals perfected the art of embedding semi-precious stones into marble and the Taj is the finest example of this special process called pietra dura. It begins with a marble plate, varying in size. Then jewels are sliced paper thin and embedded in the marble with such precision that the joints are invisible to the naked eye. Continue for a visit to the Agra Fort, a walled city constructed of red stone which was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983. Construction of the fort was originally started by Emperor Akbar in 1565, but his son, Jahangir, and grandson, Shah Jahan, later made valuable additions to it.

You will also visit Itmad ud Daula, also known as Baby Taj. This tomb was built in 1622 for Ghiyas Beg, father of Empress Noor-Jahan, the wife of Emperor Jahangir. It is beautifully conceived in white marble, mosaic and lattice and set a precedent as the first Mughal building to be faced with white marble inlaid with contrasting stones.

Later, you will be driven back to Agra Cantt railway station, where you will board your train back to Delhi.

Day 3: After breakfast, proceed for the orientation city tour of Old and New Delhi including a visit of the 17th-century Jama Masjid and enjoy a rickshaw ride through the narrow, winding lanes of colourful and bustling Chandni Chowk. Stop in front of the Mughal Empire’s most opulent fort, the Red Fort for a photo opportunity.

Later proceed to New Delhi where you will be taken for a drive past the Presidential Palace, the one-time imperial residence of the British viceroys, the India Gate, a memorial raised in honour of fallen Indian soldiers and a drive along the Rajpath past the Parliament House and secretarial buildings. You will also visit Qutab Minar, the 12th-century tower of victory built by a slave king and prototype of all minars (towers) in India.

After the tour you will be transferred to Delhi Airport to board your short flight back to Goa.

 

Two-night price from £825 per person

  • Prices are based on two people sharing including internal flights and two nights' accommodation on B&B and include transfers.
  • A choice of superior or deluxe accommodation is available.
  • You will be able to book this excursion either in the UK or on arrival / during your holiday to Goa.
  • Operates any day (subject to availability) except for Friday due to closure of the Taj Mahal.
 
Contact Us

Contact Us

For more information about this excursion, please contact our Goa specialists:

01489 866994 | Email Sales

 

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