sassilysoloThere are places around the world that can send you in a state of trance! They have literally everything to offer – a blissful solitude and a sprightly atmosphere all at one place.
Goa, India is one such heaven, defining joy, peace, tranquillity and crazy for long.
I have been to Goa several times but every time it looks like a new space to me, similarly beautiful with pristine beaches and a strangely beautiful architecture. One of these many times on my travels, I had the privilege to travel with a resident of Goa and got to visit some such nooks and corners that were totally untouched by the tourists thronging the place every year. But then the thronging Goa has another charm to it. The beaches, the parties, the islands – everything is beautiful in its own way.
Best time to visit Goa
Goa is a coastal region which means frequent rainfall is a common phenomenon. However, that does not deter the travelers from exploring the surprises that Goa holds.
Monsoons hit Goa usually from mid-June to October. It turns Goa into a lush green paradise with the locals welcoming the rains with full vigor and zeal. It is also the time to celebrate the festival of Sao-Joao, held during the late June. It is a peculiar event where men jump into overflowing balls to find and fetch the bottles of feni – a local liquor.
The winters in Goa start from mid-November and end till mid-February. They are the most-visited months in Goa. The place throngs with travelers from all over the world not only because of the pleasant weather conditions but also because this is the time when Goa witnesses its most famous festivals, Sunburn, being one of them. Besides, this is the time when Christmas celebrations are in full froth which renders the State sprightly.
Summer in Goa starts from March and end till May. The weather is very hot and humid resulting which it is not the time favored by many tourists. However, if you are looking for a quiet getaway, it can be a good time to visit Goa as the prices of almost everything slash exceedingly.
How to reach?
I usually fly to Goa but once I had the chance to take a train and I never regretted that. Konkan Railway’s stretch is famous for passing through some breath-taking sights, across the Arabian Sea. I would recommend taking a train journey to witness some of the most beautiful sights you would ever see.
Where to stay?
Goa is a tourist destination. This means that it is practically full of hotels, homestays, beach shacks and villas. Your preference of stay would depend on the kind of ambiance you are looking for – a beach-facing villa or a laid-back homestay. You can find out more about the places to stay at here.
Where to go?
Goa has everything you ever look for in a vacation, the serenity of a countryside and quiet beaches and celebrations and parties like never seen before.
Beaches
The tropical state of Goa stretching along the Arabian sea has beautiful beaches and a sunny sky to get that perfect tan. Some of its most tranquil beaches are Calangute, Baga, Candolim, and Anjuna in the North and Colva, Cansaulim, Majorda, and Palolem in the South.
A quiet escapade, Palolem beach, faces the Canacona Island and is known for its calm waters and a long seabed. The waters thus remain shallow up to several meters into the sea. It is also known for its colorful beach shacks and ‘silent discos’ where people wear headphones. Taking quietude to another level!
Velha, Goa
What is a visit to Goa without a visit to its beautiful and oldest churches! The churches of Goa are a UNESCO world heritage site and a must-visit. Some of its churches like the Se Cathedral, the Church of St. Francis of Assisi date back to as early as the 1600s and display finest Portuguese architecture.
Water Sports
Goa’s lengthy coastlines, windy beaches and teal blue skies with mildly rough waters are an adventure seeker’s paradise. Be it knee-boarding, jet skiing parasailing, kayaking wind-surfing, wake-boarding, scuba diving or white-water rafting, Goa has everything you can think of. It’s beaches at Baina, Calangute, Candolim, Miramar, the Mhadei river and the St. George Island and Devagh Island are a host to these water sports.
Into the wild
Located in the Northern Goa, Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary is the home to the rare variety of flora and fauna. Not just this, the sanctuary houses some breathtakingly beautiful waterfalls, the most famous and visited among which is the Dudhsagar falls. The falls form a natural pool and are in their full froth during the monsoons.
Nightlife
The nightfall in Goa is not the end of the day! Goa comes to life with the sunset. The alluring markets, thriving nightclubs, river-cruising at the sunset and live music can transcend you completely. The streets of Baga, Colva, Candolim, Calangute and Vagator beaches throng with people with Baga topping the charts throughout the year. You can head to a beach shack along the Anjuna beach to lose yourself in a soulful music with a variety of dishes to gorge on.
The smallest state of India is among one of the most visited in the country. It is perhaps the only place that can lift your spirits and calm your soul at the same time!!
