There’s no place like Goa. There’s a sense of revelry, merriment and abandon in the air that is almost sinful. Eating, drinking, singing, and dancing are what Goans love to do, and their conviviality is infectious. The celebrations reach fever pitch at Carnival and Christmas; almost every little hamlet has its own little temple or church with its very own feasting and festivities. In fact, there seems to be a party going on in Goa all through the year. Many pubs and cafes have live bands playing on weeknights and countless shacks on the beaches of Goa resonate with classic international music.
The smallest state in India at 3,702 square kilometers, Goa is located on the West coast between Maharashtra and Karnataka, and is one of the prime destinations on the domestic and foreign tourist circuits. This has something to do with the joie de vivre of the place, but there are more specific reasons.
Goa has all kinds of beaches, from the popular, lively and noisy to the pristine and secluded. It has excellent seafood and the much-loved kaju feni (traditional local liquor made from the cashew fruit). It has some of the most beautiful churches in the country. The Basilica of Bom Jesus, a UNESCO World Heritage site due to its exquisite baroque architecture and history, is one example. Goa also has numerous temples dedicated to deities ranging from Shree Bhagawati to Brahma to Kalikadevi, worshipped with equal gusto.
Then there is the shopping — apart from cashewnuts and feni, the flea markets of Goa are famous for quaint and exotic artefacts as well as hip casual wear, bags and accessories. Coconut palms are everywhere, and few people are aware that Goa has a rich forest cover of teak, sal, bamboo, cashew, mango and jackfruit trees, with several nature reserves like Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary, Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary, etc.
Adventure sports is another attraction. Parasailing, paragliding, water-skiing, windsurfing, dinghy sailing, water scooters, Banana rides and Ringo rides are available on most beaches. You can also go go-karting and knee-boarding, and car and bike rallies are popular.
There’s a lot to do in Goa. But you may choose to do none of it. You can enjoy the place just sitting by the beach, sipping a drink, reading a book, wading in the waves, listening to music, dancing, or stargazing.
BEACHES (SOUTH GOA)
BETALBATIM BEACH
The picturesque beach of Betalbatim also known as Sunset Beach, is a small stretch of beach that has emerged as one of the thriving beach destinations of Goa. It is located about 8 kilometers from downtown Margaon and is easily recognisable by the presence of cold pine groves. The beach is the perfect place for seeing dolphins and various species of birds.
PALOLEM BEACH
This is a cosy beach with white sand facing a blue bay between two headlands. Palolem has lately been popular for its “Silent Noise” parties that do away with loud blaring music after 10 pm, allowing people access to DJ music on headphones.
AGONDA BEACH
With its white sands, palms and casuarinas, Agonda is a quiet, lonely beach with almost no tourists, no vendors and no restaurants.
COLVA BEACH
Colva is a busy beach with all modern amenities like air-conditioned resort complexes, tourist cottages, discotheques, food and shopping stalls.
Majorda, Bogmalo, Benaulim, Arossim and Varca are other interesting beaches in south Goa. Arossim is particularly preferred for its excellent water sports.
BEACHES (NORTH GOA)
SINQUERIM BEACH
Sinquerim is the first in the series of North Goa’s beaches, starting from Fort Aguada with amazing facilities for water sports. This is one of the finest beaches in Goa with world-class facilities for water-skiing, parasailing, fishing, scuba-diving and wind-surfing.
CALANGUTE BEACH
A sedate fishing village in the ’70s, Calangute is today known as the ‘Queen of Goan Beaches’. Fringed by windswept palms and popular restaurants and food shacks, it is thronged by people all through the year. This bustling place is a good beach to start out with in Goa.
BAGA BEACH
The beautiful Baga is a continuation of Calangute Beach towards the north and is extremely popular among tourists. The beach’s sand is believed to have natural curative properties, leading to tourists smearing the wet sand all over their body.
VAGATOR BEACH
Vagator Beach is probably the most photographed beach in Goa. The northern half of this picturesque beach faces a bay that curves from the headland to a hillock, crowned by the Chapora Fort. It is a favourite venue for midnight parties during peak tourist season.
ANJUNA BEACH
This beach was famous for the ‘flower power and peace’ generation of the ’60s and for its trance parties. The attractions include its soft sand, unusual rock formations and the weekly flea market where you get almost anything from apparel and jewellery to yak cheese and hookahs.
CANDOLIM BEACH
This serene beach is very popular among international tourists. It is a peaceful retreat, ideal for sunbathing and water sports, thanks to its proximity to the more popular beaches such as Calangute and Baga.
MORJIM BEACH
This is an unusual beach where you can see Olive Ridley turtles and signboards and menu cards in Russian as it’s a favourite hangout for Russian tourists.
ARAMBOL BEACH
is another popular hangout among foreign tourists with all sorts of Tai chi, henna, tattoo, yoga and meditation services available.
OTHER ATTRACTIONS
FORT AGUADA
Fort Aguada is located on Sinquerim Beach. It was built in the 17th century by the Portuguese to defend themselves against the Dutch and the Marathas. This historic fort offers panoramic views of the beaches around and even has a lighthouse on the property.
MAPUSA
Mapusa is the capital of the district of Bardez. It is famous for its weekly Friday bazaars where one can buy anything from fruits and vegetables to a wide variety of handicraft and souvenirs.
BASILICA OF BOM JESUS
One of the most popular churches in Goa, the Basilica of Bom Jesus is located in Old Goa which was the capital city during the rule of the Portugese. The Basilica of Bom Jesus is famous for the preserved mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier.
MARY IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CHURCH
One of the earliest Churches to be constructed in Goa, this is one of the most famous landmarks here. Tourists come to the Mary Immaculate Conception Church to feel blessed and to marvel at the magnitude of its architecture.
DHUDHSAGAR WATERFALLS
The Dudhsagar waterfalls are located in the Sanguem district of Goa near the Goa-Karnataka border, at a distance of around 60 kilometers from Margao.
SAHAKARI SPICE FARM
Located at a distance of just 2 kilometers from Ponda, the Sahakari spice plantation is famous for its farms and fruits. One of the most unique spices grown here is vanilla. The farm is spread over 130 acres and also has two small streams flowing right through it.
ABYSS SPICE FARM
This spice plantation near Ponda is located on high mountains amidst stunning surroundings. Many tourists visit the Abyss spice plantation as it is famous for the medicinal herbs that are grown here on a large scale.
SAVOI SPICE PLANTATION
This spice plantation is located at a distance of around 10 kilometers from Ponda. The main spices grown here are cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, turmeric, ginger, basil, nutmeg and pepper. The cashew distillation unit is an added attraction here.
Parasailing
This involves flying by means of a special parachute called a parasail, which is towed by a speedboat via a 300-feet rope. The parasailor takes position on land attached to the parasail harness, and when the speedboat takes off, he or she takes just one or two steps ahead and is swiftly lifted into the air by the parasail.
Jet Skiing
The most adventurous water sport in Goa is Jet Skiing. The sport is very popular among tourists and sets their adrenalin rushing. Jet skiing requires a jet powered water scooter that is accelerated by a powerful engine.
Water Scooter
For those who love to feel the ocean waves splashing across their face while rushing through water, water skiing is just the right option. Water scooters accommodate two people at a time and provide all the fun of a motorbike at sea.
Banana and Ringo Rides
Banana and Ringo rides are the latest additions and the most delightful of water sports in Goa. The entire family can go on a Banana ride, trying to balance, and manoeuvre a giant inflated banana-shaped float, often flailing into the water! Ringo rides are for individuals, who can go adrift on inflated rings that are tossed and turned by choppy waters.
Windsurfing
Windsurfing combines elements of surfing and sailing. It consists of a windsurfing board, usually two to four metres long, powered by the wind. Dona Paula bay is considered an ideal location for beginners.
Dinghy sailing
Dinghy sailing is a popular water sport in Goa. It is almost like wind surfing but does not require as much effort as wind surfing. The gentle winds of Goa are highly conducive to sailing in these 15-feet long sailboats. Again, Dona Paula is one of the best places to try this sport.
Scuba Diving
While underwater visibility in Goa is limited, the waters teem with a wide range of fish species and coral that you must not miss. The shallow depth of the continental shelf limits diving to 24 metres, greatly reducing risk of decompression sickness. The waters around Grand Island are ideal for diving; popular diving sites here are Suzy’s Wreck, Davy Jones Locker, Sail Rock, Turbo Tunnel, Surge City, Uma Guma Reef and Bounty Bay.
Swimming
The waters around Goan beaches are warm and mostly safe, making swimming the most welcoming, accessible sport around.
Any time of the year is a good time for Goa though the season from October to March has the most pleasant weather and calm seas for water sports.
Note that the week between Christmas and New Year is absolute peak season in Goa; beaches and restaurants are crowded, and rates for everything from hotels to water sports are much higher.
Goa Carnival in February is a four-day celebration that begins on the Saturday before Ash Wednesday. Led by King Momo, the carnival has its own rhythms of guitars, drumbeats and folk songs with a colourful parade of floats and dancing troupes. Again, the carnival draws huge crowds, so you should decide whether you want to attend or skip it.
Feast of St Francis of Xavier on 3rd December every year is a major celebration at the Basilica of Bom Jesus in old Goa.
Area: 3,702 sq km
State: Goa; divided into two districts – North Goa (headquarters Panaji) and South Goa (headquarters Margoa)
Distance from nearby towns/ cities: Mangalore (360 km), Pune (460 km), Bangalore (575 km), Mumbai (600 km)
Take away: Cashews, cashew feni, thongs, sarongs, art jewellery, papier-mâché objects, wooden furniture, bamboo and seashell handicrafts
