Goa is made up of little pockets and each has its own distinct flavor. Candolim is another such pocket. Well, as we have always heard, the Candolim beach is a major spot when it comes to Goa. But here we are not going to restrict ourselves merely to the beach. In fact we are going to talk about and explore many other tourist places near Candolim beach that can be visited. These are equal fun and are generally not very talked about.

When it comes to the tourist places near Candolim Beach, I am going to pick out five basic places that are a must visit. They range from historical forts to sanctuaries where nature is at its best to churches which were built centuries ago but still continue to be prominent spaces in the state of Goa.

So here we go. Let us begin to know more about these tourist places near Candolim Beach.

Fort Aguada:  Well, this certainly has to top the list of tourist places near Candolim beach and one cannot give this beautiful place a miss when one visits Candolim. It is an extremely different fort which was built in the latter half of the seventeenth century by the Portuguese in order to keep the Dutch away from their territory. It is a massive structure and once you stand on top of it you can almost see the whole of Goa and this makes it a very picturesque location as well. It has a different feel altogether and is generally not very crowded.

Basilica De Bom Jesus:  this is one of those world famous places in Goa and is pretty well reputed. Catholics in India as well as a large number of foreigners visiting from outside make sure they visit this place before leaving Goa. Technically speaking it is not one of those conventional tourist places near Candolim  beach because it is located around 20 kms away but I think that despite the distance one must visit the place. It houses the body of the dead saint Francis Xavier since over 400 years. Once in every decade the body is brought out for public display.

Fort Reis Magos: This is another one of those Old Portuguese forts which were built during the middle of the 16th century at the narrow estuary of the Mandovi River. This was another attempt to keep the Dutch invaders at bay. A large number of restoration work has been undertaken to keep this famous fort in good condition and to secure it from the ills of vandalism as well as weathering.

Dr. Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary: well, this is also a place you must visit. It is around 12 kms away from Candolim beach. It is famous for its mangroves and has birds such as eagles, kingfishers, egrets, herons, and coots and pintails during winter, apart from animals like jackals and crocodiles as well. Winter is the best season to visit this place as summers can get too hot.

So, all in all, there is not a dearth of tourist attractions to see while you are Candolim. So, better get set to get the real experience soon