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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