Holidays in Goa
Goa is sumptuous in every way, be it the cuisine, culture or the craze. Holiday in Goa will consist of delightful moments feeling alive and completely mesmerized by the beauty and brightness of this tiny west coast state of India.
About Goa
Washed by the Arabian Sea on the west coast, Goa enjoys scenic beaches, amazing weather and thence flourishing tourism. The Vedic, Muslim and Portuguese rules in Goa in a long historical timeline have given Goa a distinct identity which speaks for itself through architecture, dance, music, food and even the festivals. You can lucidly imagine how you can spend your vacation in Goa. If not, read on.
Things to do in Goa
There are so many things to do in Goa that you will need to take a long vacation to enjoy everything that this little state has to offer. Some of the most enjoyable things to do in Goa are bulleted below:
Beaches in Goa
Starting with the obvious, there are about 18 accessible beaches in Goa. Anjuna, Baga, Calangute, Candolim, Arambol, Miramar and Dona Paula are some of the popular public beaches in Goa. Activities in the beaches in Goa include swimming, wave and wind surfing, sunbathing, water skiing, parasailing and other water sports. You can also enjoy the pulsating night life in Goa in the open discos in Anjuna and Baga beaches.
Goa Shopping
Shops in Goa sell all modern items as well as handicrafts and antiques made of brass, shells, terracotta, bamboo and papier mache and so on. As a tourist you can gorge on handicrafts, small trinkets, shell-jewelry, low cost garments and beachwear, colorful hats and cashew nuts which cost lesser than anywhere. Check out the Friday market in Mapusa and the Wednesday market in Anjuna beach.
Goan Cuisine and Liquor
Goa is the glutton's hub. Although sea-fish and rice form the staple meal for Goa locals, gourmands have a wide range of food choices such as Portuguese inspired Goan food - Sorpotel, Prawn Balchao, Chicken Cafreal and Xacuti, Racheido and Caldeirada and so on. Liquor is cheap in Goa and drink-lovers have an array of choices from the local Feni, Todi and Hootch to many imported brands.
Cruises and Boating in Goa
The waterway in Goa also includes rivers and lakes along with the Arabian Sea. Tourists love to go boating in the Mayem Lake or cruise in the Mandovi River and River Sal, watch dolphins swimming in the river while enjoying the blissful life in Goa go by.
Goan Culture:
Dance, Music and Festivals - Goa has a vibrant mix of mainly Konkani and Portuguese culture. This vibrancy is visible through
- Colorful Carnivals such as Christmas Carnival and Goa Carnival
- Folk Dances such as Fugdi, Dhalo, Ghumat, Dekni, Lalit, Ranmali and so on
- Music such as Suvari, Banvad, Lavni, Guduliya Geetam, Ladainha and Pavada and many more
Sightseeing in Goa
Holidays to Goa is incomplete without at least one sightseeing tour. Portuguese and Islamic architecture inspired monuments in Goa contributes to the rich history Goa boasts of.
- Forts Aguada, Tiracol and Chapora and so on talk about the bygone days when Goa enjoyed ruler patrons
- Basilica of Bom Jesus is a World Heritage site. Other churches such as Reis Magos Church, Chapel of St, Jerome, Church of Holy Spirit and many others are famous for their holy history and amazing architecture.
- Temples of Shantadurga, Mahalakshmi, Bodhgeshwar and Shri Mahalsa and others attract Hindu tourists.
- Other places of tourist interest are Buddhist caves in Rivona, Archeological Museum in Old Goa, Secretariat building in Panaji and so on.
