Goa

Information About Goa :

Lying on the western coast, Goa is India's smallest state and unlike any other, known for its endless beaches, stellar nightlife, eclectic seafood, world-heritage listed architecture. Spread across just 3,702 km, Goa lies in the Konkan region. It is a far cry from the hippie haven or a beach getaway, and one of the only few destinations that is open 24x7. The laid-backness (susegad) of Goa attracts as many international tourists as it does Indians, or even more so.

The Goans are quite friendly towards tourists and celebrate many festivals throughout the year, the most famous being the New Year and Goa Carnival. While the seafood is excellent, Goa has one of the best nightlife in India with trendy bars, beach shacks, elegant cafes, and many clubs and discotheques. Thanks to lower alcohol prices in the state, Goa is also great for younger tourists with relatively tighter pockets.

For those of us perpetually confused between North Goa and South Goa, this might help - the state of Goa is divided into North Goa and South Goa. While North Goa is the nightlife hub where all the touristy beaches, flea markets, and beach shacks are located, South Goa is the land of luxurious resorts and laid-back beach vibes.

Best Time To Visit In Goa :

The best time to visit Goa is from November to February when the weather is ideal for sightseeing and relaxing on the stunning beaches. The temperature during this time ranges around 20 to 30 degrees Celcius and it is also the peak tourist season in Goa. Monsoons from June to September are another great time to visit Goa if you love the beach during the rains. Summer is not a good time to visit Goa. With the temperature fluctuating between 25 to 35 degrees Celcius, the weather from March to May is extremely hot and humid.

How To Reach Goa :

Goa is easily accessible by road, rail, and air from most parts of India and international destinations. The Dabolim Airport (the only airport in Goa) is an international airport and a military airbase. It is connected by regular flights to all Indian cities as well as international destinations like London, Dubai, Moscow, Doha, Kuala Lumpur among others. The airport has two terminals where Terminal 1 is domestic while Terminal 2 is the international terminal. Vasco da Gama Railway Station and Madgaon Station are the two major railheads serving Goa. Both stations are extremely well-linked to all parts of India. Apart from this, plenty of long-distance inter-state buses ply to and from Goa which is connected through four national highways.

The nearest major entry point to Goa from different parts of the world is the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai. Mumbai being the major city is easily accessible to Goa via flights, railways, and roadways.

1 How To Reach Goa By Flight :

Goa international airport is located at Dabolim - 30 km away from Panjim. Multiple domestic airlines like Jet Airways, Air India, SpiceJet, and IndiGo provide daily flights from major cities such as Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi, Hyderabad, Pune, Chennai, Jaipur, Ahmedabad. Most international flights to Goa arrive via Mumbai. Only a handful of international flights from the Middle East, Russia, Europe, and Britain operate to Goa.

2.How To Reach Goa By Road :

Plenty of long-distance inter-state luxury and budget buses run from major cities such as Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, New Delhi to Goa. State-run bus service, Kadamba Transport is also a good option. Other state bus services - Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh - also have daily buses going to Goa. Various private players also run buses connecting many cities to Goa. For comfortable rides, super deluxe AC and Volvo buses would be the better options. These would generally cost between INR 1500 - INR 2500 depending on the distance and type of bus.

3.How To Reach Goa By Train :

Goa has six railway stations out of which the Madgaon Station is the biggest. Most people usually get down at Madgaon or Vasco-da-Gama in South Goa and Thivim in North Goa for Mapusa and other beaches. Other smaller stations include Pernem for Arambol, Karmali (Old Goa) for Panjim, and Canacona for Palolem.

Goa falls on the Konkan Railway line and is connected via direct trains to all the major cities from New Delhi to the south beyond Trivandrum. The most popular trains are the Goa Sampark Kranti Express and Trivandrum Express.

The train ride to Goa is worth the journey just for the view. The picturesque scenery of the Konkan region makes for an amazing sight. The train is also the cheapest option apart from being fast and comfortable.

Places To Visit In Goa :

1 . Calangute Beach :

Situated 15 km from Panjim, Calangute Beach is the longest beach in North Goa, stretching from Candolim to Baga. Due to its sheer size and popularity, it is a hub for tourists and backpackers from all over the world.

Popular as the "Queen of Beaches", the Calangute Beach of Goa is among the top ten bathing beaches in the world. Being one of the busiest and most commercial beaches of Goa, it is swarming with eating joints, shacks, and clubs serving cocktails, beer, and seafood. Calangute Beach is also known for its water sports activities like parasailing, water surfing, banana ride, and jet-skiing.

Calangute Beach

2 . Basilica Of Bom Jesus :

The Basilica of Bom Jesus Church located in Goa is one of a kind in India and is known for its exemplary baroque architecture. Built-in 1594 and consecrated in 1605, the building of this church coincides with the beginning of Christianity in India. The church is located in Old Goa in Bainguinim about 10 km away from Panjim. The oldest church in Goa, it holds the remains of St. Francis Xavier, a special friend of St. Ignatius Loyola with whom he founded the Society of Jesus (Jesuits). Even after 400 years, the remains are in good condition and are taken out once every decade.

Basilica Of Bom Jesus

3 . Water Sports In Goa :

Water Sports in Goa have always seen its fair share of excited tourists and adventure seekers. The beach capital of India enjoys a long and uninterrupted coastline with relatively calmer waves and even sea floors. While water sports in Goa can be enjoyed at any one of the beaches in the north or the south, they are more popular and draw huge crowds at Baga, Calangute, Benaulim, Candolim, and nearby beaches. While here, you can choose from a number of water sports activities such as kneeboarding, kite surfing, snorkeling, parasailing & paragliding, diving, kayaking, and many more. If you prefer so, you can engage in your preferred activities through quite a few vendors of these water sports on the beach. Alternately, you can also engage in your favorite activities through a number of licensed water sports package operators such as Atlantis Water Sports, Aqua Sports Goa, etc. The cost of these packages ranges between INR 2000 to 4000 or more, based on the activities chosen.

Water Sports In Goa

4 . Aguada Fort :

Fort Aguada is a 17th-century Portuguese fort looking out at the confluence of the Mandovi River and the Arabian Sea. The crumbling ramparts of the fort stand on the Sinquerim Beach, approximately 18 km from Panjim. The highlight of the fort is alone four-story lighthouse (which is one-of-its-kind in Asia )and a stunning view of the sunset.

Built-in 1612 as a protection from Dutch and Marathas, Fort Aguada was the most prized and crucial fort for the Portuguese and covers the entire peninsula at the southwestern tip of Bardez. The fort is so named after the Portuguese Word for water i.e. 'Agua' and used to be a replenishing source of freshwater for sailors. In fact, it has the capacity to hold 2,376,000 gallons of water and was one of the biggest freshwater reservoirs in Asia.

Aguada Fort

5 . Cruise In Goa :

Cruise in Goa allows one to explore the exotic scenery, pristine waters, and marvel at the breathtaking view of the sunset. There are several types of cruises in Goa ranging from simple evening cruises, elaborate and romantic dinner cruises, backwater cruises, and casino cruises. All of these usually originate from Miramar Beach in Panjim.

Several Goa cruises also offer dinner options along with guaranteed fun and entertainment activities are carried through the day depending upon the daytime, sunset, and moonlight. Booking a cruise getaway in Goa is fairly simple as a number of them also offer online booking options. Depending on your requirements and the time that you want to spend on the boats, you can choose a package that suits you the best.

Cruise-In Goa

6 . Baga Beach :

One of the most popular beaches in North Goa, Baga Beach is located close to Calangute beach, around 30 Km North of Panjim. Baga is the perfect destination to witness the dazzling nightlife of Goa as signature places such as Britto's, Tito's, and Mambos are located in the vicinity. Being one of the most visited beaches in the North, Baga also offers a vast range of water sports.

Baga is so named after the 'Baga creek' which flows into the Arabian Sea. It is also famous for its designer stores as well as its street-side markets. While at Baga, grab a sumptuous breakfast at Infantaria - a highly recommended eatery, relax by the beach all day, and in the evening let the party animal in you come alive. Baga Beach is considered to be the extension of Calangute Beach itself since both of these lies on the same stretch of the shore.

Baga Beach

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Goa

Goa