Goa
Goa is a tropical paradise, offering something for everyone with its sandy beaches, lush backwaters, limpid pools and rolling waves. People come to Goa to enjoy the sun and the sand, to meditate, to learn and practice yoga, to guzzle the cheap alcohol, to dance the night away, or to find themselves.
About Goa
Please find embedded below a Google Interactive Map of Goa.
View Larger MapPanjim is the state's capital. Vasco da Gama is the largest city and Margao is the main Railway Station. Goa's only airport, the Dabolim Airport, is a military base but allows civilian flights,both domestic and international. The Airport has regular flights from the Middle East oil rich Gulf countries like Dubai, Sharjah and Kuwait. The airport also gets a large number of international chartered flights every year during the holiday season from United Kingdom, Germany and Russia. Domestic airlines like Air India, Indian Airlines, Kingfisher Airlines, Go Air, SpiceJet and Jet Airways have regular flights to Goa from the major cities of India.
Goa is a mix of history and modernity, of energy and of ‘Sosegado’, the Spanish-origin Goan word for ‘relaxation’, or ‘serenity’. It has Temples and Churches, heritage buildings, five-star hotels and beach shacks, and activities that cater to a variety of holiday moods. Old Goa is steeped in old-world charm, with Portuguese-style buildings. Rivers run through it, offering chances for peaceful fishing or catamaran-rides, and the backwaters allow sun-burned tourists to daydream or watch for birds in their boats.
Popular beaches in Goa are Baga, Calangute, Colva and Anjuna. These are also the most crowded beaches during peak season, with music blaring out of every shack and parties happening everywhere. For those who prefer a little more peace, Agonda, Aguada, Candolim, Morjim and Asvem (limited facilities here), and Palolem are ideal. Recently two remote islands off Canacona, Anjediv and another, are getting popular with the tourists.
The History of Goa
At one time a peaceful sunshine state under various Indian kings, The Portuguese first landed in Goa as merchants, in the early 16th century, and it soon became its colony. The Portuguese ruled for about 450 years, until it was annexed by India in 1961. The Portuguese converted quite a large part of the population to Christianity.
The Right Time to Visit Goa
Goa is warm to hot most of the year, and has a humid, tropical climate. During the monsoons, the lowest season of the year, owners of beach shacks batten down their hatches, pack up and leave. The monsoon season lasts from June through till September. Foreign tourists mainly come during the festive Christmas and New Year holiday season and often spend all day and night in swimsuits and shorts. During In the summertime, which, in Goa is the rainy season, tourists from all over India come to spend their holidays.
Tour Packages
Goa tours are aplenty, depending on the activities you’re interested in. Religious tours, bird watching, river cruises, beach hopping and architectural tours are the common packages offered by most tour agents. Some offer food tours, yoga and meditation retreats, tiger and elephant tours, white water rafting, safaris, or island cruises. Expect to pay from $20 for a day tour, and upwards, depending on the activity, location and equipment during peak season.
Agents also offer tour packages leaving from Goa to other cities and tourist destinations in India. Travel to Jaipur, Rajasthan, Kerala, Darjeeling, Delhi and Agra and plenty more.
'The Golden Chariot' Luxury Tourist Train
Operates out of Goa or Bangalore and is a great way to see the important tourist spots of Goa and Karnataka States. The coaches of the train are coloured purple and gold, and has the logo of a mythological animal with the head of an elephant and a body of a lion. The Golden Chariot operates weekly.
The train has on board accommodations, spa treatments and dining. It has two restaurants, a lounge bar, and conference area, gym and spa facilities. It has onboard Wi-Fi connectivity, and satellite antennae providing live television service in the cabins.
The train sells a 7-day/8-night tour of Bangalore, Kabini, Mysore, Hassan, Hospet (for Hampi - Vijayanagara), Badami and Goa, before returning to Bangalore or Goa. Passengers have the option to start their trips from either Bangalore or Goa. The tourist attractions seen during the trip include the Nagarhole National Park, Mysore Palace, Srirangapatna forts, Hampi / Vijayanagr ruins, Hoysaleswara Temple, Gomateshwara and the Badami Cave Temples. A route map is shown on the right.
From October, 2009, the Golden Chariot is planning to to have two week tours that will cover Coimbatore, Madurai, Kanyakumari, Trivandrum, and Kochi also.
The Deccan Odyssey Luxury Tourist Train
Where to Stay in Goa
Your choice of accommodation depends entirely on your budget and requirements. Plenty of people stay in bamboo shacks right on the beach, so they can get to their sun-chairs and hit the waves in a few steps. The simplest, non-air-conditioned shacks are the cheapest, but be prepared to live the simple life with only a basic washroom, a bed, a table, a fan and mosquito net in the rooms. During peak season, prices range from about $30 onwards per night. For those who want a bit more luxury, the cheaper hotels on the beach provide comfortable and reasonably-priced rooms with all the amenities. Prices for these hotels are usually $50 plus during the season. Many 3, 4 and 5 star hotels are available, but you pay international rates for these, from $100 up. Home-stays, dormitories and hostels provide alternate accommodation, and prices here depend on the owners. Prices also depend on the beach you pick; the more popular beaches are also the highest-priced.
Getting Around in Goa
Goa has plenty of options for traveling around. The most liberating, and most tempting, are the scooters-for-hire. Ask any shopkeeper and he’will either have a scooter to rent, or direct you to another local who will let you have one. Prices are about $6-10 per day in peak season, and you pay for your own fuel. The roads of Goa are filled with bare-chested tattooed men flying about on their scooters, and women in shorts and bikini-tops careening around corners with their beach bags strapped to the bike! For longer distances, vans and SUVs on hire are available, or local ‘Tempo’ vans. For a quick trip somewhere, motorcycle taxis are a convenient choice. A ‘pilot’ rider will take a single tourist on the pillion to their destination. Ferries, auto rickshaws, taxis with no meters, and rental cycles, cars, and motorbikes are all available.
Tourist Attractions in Goa
Religious: Apart from the magnificent beaches, Goa offers plenty to the curious tourist. The Bom Jesus Basilica is one of the most prominent tourist attractions, and people of all religions visit every year. Designated as a World Heritage site, the Basilica houses a silver reliquary containing the bodily remains of St. Francis Xavier, the patron saint of Goa.
Historic: There are a number of forts in Goa, some well-preserved or converted into hotel properties, and some are just decaying monuments. A curious blend of Hinduism and Portuguese influence shows in the architecture of temples.
The old-world villas and houses that line the streets of Goa, and the old administrative buildings in the state capital, Panjim, are some of the most underrated attractions in Goa. Buy a guide book or just go for a stroll to see the grace and beauty of a bygone era. Panjim also has a few restaurants which the locals recommend, where the beach-hungry tourists never appear.
Flea Markets: Flea markets in Goa are a huge attraction for tourists of all ages. They started as markets for the hippies to sell their belongings as their money ran out, but now the markets are souvenir and garage sales open to anyone. Some markets last all day, some all night, and some for a few days, depending on where you’re staying. Ask a local for flea markets in your area, and check out the most popular Anjuna market (every Wed, throughout peak season), the Mapusa Friday Market, and local markets around you.
Nightlife in Goa
As the sun sets in Goa, people begin to wake up from their sun-and-beer induced lethargy, and come out of their shacks after long afternoon naps. The lights begin to flicker on in the shacks, and the easy listening music that’s been playing all day starts to evolve into party music. Goa comes alive at night, and there is a party almost everywhere. Alcohol is available almost everywhere and cheap. The music never stops! You hear a lot of names like Titos (Baga), Temptations (Vagator), Ziggy’s (Colva) for the music. Casinos, discotheques, theme parties, trance parties, fancy dinners, buffets, or just beer and fried fish by the beach – whatever you’re in the mood for, Goa has an option!
Eating Out in Goa
Goa’s staple food is fish-curry and rice, and this is generally a safe option. Turmeric, ginger, chilies, coconut milk and cardamom are the major spices here and can turn a simple fried Pomfret fish into a spicy delight! The best Goan dishes are Vindaloo, Xacuti, and Cafreal. Some good eating places are German Bakery (Anjuna), Britto’s (Baga), Infantaria (Calangute), Stone House (Sinquerim), and Quarterdeck (Panjim). Goa has some wonderful tiny bakeries and dessert places tucked away in corners, so keep your eyes peeled!