Goa
2 ToursRenowned for its beaches, places of worship and world heritage architecture, Goa is visited by large numbers of international and domestic tourists each year.
It also has rich flora and fauna, owing to its location on the Western Ghats range, which is classified as a biodiversity hotspot. Goa is India’s smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located in South West India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its western coast. Panaji is the state’s capital, while Vasco da Gama is the largest city. The historic city of Margao still exhibits the cultural influence of the Portuguese, who first landed in the early 16th century as merchants, and conquered it soon thereafter. The Portuguese overseas territory existed for about 450 years, until it was annexed by India in 1961.
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Best Time to Visit
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Key Attractions
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Anjuna Beach
Close to the Chapora Fort, its key attraction is a magnificent Albuquerque Mansion built in 1920, flanked by octagonal towers and an attractive Mangalore tile-roof. Anjuna was the second-home (and main location) of the hippies in Goa, in the 1960s and 1970s, after other destinations like Calangute got more "crowded" for them. It is still venue of a (vastly-changed, more mainstreamed) flea market held each Wednesday.
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Arambol Beach
A quiet beach in North Goa near Pernem. Not too many facilities in terms of hotels or eating joints. The water is shallow and good for swimming.
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Palolem Beach
A scenic beach in extreme south Goa. Getting a bit crowded. Good eating options. Turning pricey though (by local standards). The rocks and islands off its shore are definitely scenic.
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Patnem Beach
A small and quiet beach in Canacona taluka
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Vagator Beach
A beach in Bardez, neighboring Anjuna
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Morjim Beach
Beautiful beach, inhabited by Russian tourists. Prices are high, many restaurants with Russian cuisine. Nightlife is vibrant here. This place is popular among kite surfers due shallow depth of the sea and very wide beach.
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Asvem Beach
Quieter beach in extreme north Goa's Pernem taluka
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Mandrem Beach
Another beach in extreme north Goa's Pernem taluka
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Candolim and Sinquerim Beaches
It is in North Goa's Bardez taluka. Once humble fishing villages. Now the crowded concretized coast of North Goa. Goa's Benidorm. Or quickly getting to be as crowded.
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Colva Beach
This beach's spectacle of sea, sand and sky blend in an enchanting natural harmony, weaving their magic spell on the visitors. Known for its scenic beauty. This is part of Salcette, Goa's only Catholic majority sub-district. Once a very hospitable area, now relations are getting monetized thanks to tourism.
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Calangute Beach
Aka Queen of all Beaches in Goa. Once highly rated. Now crowded. Expect traffic jams along the main crowded street. Beach is full of Indian tourists, a lot of noise, a lot of souvenirs and water sports beggar. You won't get peace here. Many famous clubs are located here. Nice eating options.
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Baga Beach
A family-beach and charter tourist destination just outside Calangute.
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Chapora Fort
Home of the Chapora fort. Close to Vagator and Anjuna beaches. Also site for a fishing jetty where trawlers introduced into Goa in the 1960s and 1970s, amidst protests from traditional fishermen, who were affected by them, bring in their catch
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Relax at the beaches.
Goa has an almost unbroken 70 km coastline of beaches
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Visit libraries.
Central Library in Institute Menezes Braganza (Panjim) and Mapusa's Athaide Library. Other research institutions with good collections include the Xavier Centre of Historical Research at Alto Porvorim, the also-Jesuit run Thomas Stevens Konknni Kendra next-door at Porvorim, the Goa University, and a quaint Konkani-focussed library called Amchem Diaz (Our Traditions) that functions out of the first floor of a commercial establishment not far from the Margao bus stand and the local court.
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Sea Diving.
The season is between mid-Octobers to mid-May. Diving is not possible during the monsoons in India (June till mid-October) The water temperature is between 27 to 30 degrees. The local diving here consists of dive sites around Grande Island, just off the coast near Vasco Da Gama. The dive sites are mostly 12 to 16m deep, and the visibility varies through the season, with an average of around 5-6 m. Marine life is abundant, with many species of reef fish, and hard and soft coral, and several shipwrecks to dive.
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Kitesurfing:
Goa is certainly not the best place in the world to try kite surfing, but it still has something to offer. Season starts in January, you can expect 1-2 windy days a week during January and February, and 2-3 days a week during March. Most people use 10-14m² kites. Water is choppy most of the time, don't expect wave riding.
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Paragliding:
Check Arambol Beach in North Goa for tandem Para gliders.
Nearby Places
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Badami
Only 260 Kms far from Goa, Badami is famous for its cave temples.
Tours around Goa
