Goa Tourism
Goa Tourism
Goa is one of the most favorite destination among Indian tourists due to its pristine beaches. Dotted with hundreds of impressive beaches in Goa, the incredible coastline of more than 100 km offers beautiful views and serenity where tourists enjoy in the sun
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 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.
Goa offers various opportunities to have an action-packed and fun-filled vacation. Be it honeymoon for newly wed couples, a relaxing family vacation, a vacation with friends, chilling out on the beautiful sandy beaches under the pleasant sun, visiting the old and heritage sites, go for an evening cruise — glittery, crowded and noisy. For the newly married couples, Goa has peaceful and serene beaches where one can enjoy complete privacy and togetherness.
The Goanese flavour of variety of landscape is also to be enjoyed in the various Heritage Sites that are recognized by the entire world as exotic and charming and definitely worth visiting. One such Heritage site is the Reis Magos Fort that is located about in North Panaji. The majestic Reis Magos Fort is located on the northern bank of Mandovi River across to the city of Panaji in North Goa. Another pristine Heritage Sight is the Se Cathedral. It is one of the biggest Churches in the whole of Asia and is dedicated to St Catherine. Shri Mangueshi Temple or the Mangeshi Temple is a major Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. Another prominent landmark is the majestic Aguada Fort that was built with the purpose of protecting Goa from the attacks of the Dutch and the Marathas by preventing them from entering the Mandovi River.
Goa not only attracts the visitors for its fun-loving atmosphere, but it is also thronged by visitors who are interested to know its history and love to explore its rich heritage. The popular churches of Goa are must-visit sites for every tourist. Some tourists visit such religious places for spirituality while others just love to explore such sites. Well, whatever the reason is, you must visit top churches in Goa while spending your vacation in this party land.
Photo courtesy Google
Chapel of St. Francis Xavier.
Church of St. Cajetan.
Catholic Church of St. Francis Assiss.
Basilica of Bom Jesus.
Se Cathedral.
Immaculate Conception Church.
Things to know before Goa Tour.
1. Drugs are illegal in Goa though widely available. Keep in mind that purchasing and carrying drugs is fraught with danger and can lead to fine and imprisonment
2. Dial 108 in case of emergency. To connect to police (100), fire brigade (101) and ambulance (102) can be dialled
3 .While visiting churches in Goa, cover your legs and shoulders. Avoid beachwear in religious places
4 . If you choose to visit Goa during the summer, be sure to take special care of your skin. The heat can cause sunburns and heat strokes for many, and it is best to stay indoors or out of direct sunlight during the afternoons. Using sunscreen is also advisable
5.Avoid walking along dimly lit or unlit deserted narrow road beach areas alone at night
6. Avoid wearing a bikini or skimpy clothes outside the resort area.
7.Free wifi is common in beach shacks, nightclubs and other eateries. Ask for the password.
8.Smoking is banned at many (not all) restaurants though open-air eateries and beach shacks are mostly okay with it. It would be prudent to confirm before smoking in public places.
The Best Resorts in Goa
We cover our favourite places to stay below, but if you’re in a hurry, here are some of our favourite resorts and boutique accommodations in Goa:
- Yab Yum Resort, Ashwem Beach (North Goa) – We love the tranquility, eco-friendliness and quiet vibes at this lesser known resort .
- Anahata Retreat, Ashwem Beach (North Goa) – Also on Ashwem beach, Anahata is a beautiful retreat, built from reclaimed materials.
- Turiya Boutique Villa, Canacona (South Goa) This beautiful and intimate villa is set in a quiet, out of the way corner of Canacona for easy access to Agonda & Palolem beaches.
- Shunya Noi Varo, Siolim (North Goa) a beautifully restored villa, nestled along Goa’s backwaters near Panjim.
- Casa da Graça, near Panjim (North Goa), another beautifully restored.
- Portuguese villa, overlooking the Zuari river.
- La Mangrove, (South Goa) Chic “eco tipis” tucked away in the very south of Goa.
- Beaches In Goa
- Despite being the smallest state in India, Goa is synonymous to many captivating things that are best showcase of a life without stress and worries. The multitude of beaches in Goa offer a range of activities such as beautiful walks along the palm fringed shores sprawled with unique shells and intriguing boat rides. There are range of beach huts where tourist can stay in and restaurants in which one can taste local and delicious sea food. There are numerous beaches in the Goa but the beach that is perfect for you will fully depend upon the kind of experience you want to have. Some of the popular beaches of Goa can be named as Arambol, Agonda, Anjuna and Vagator, Calangute, Candolim, Cavelossim, Colva, Dona Paula - a popular beach. Palolem, Sinquierem, Bogomolo - a beautiful and serene beach near Vasco Da Gama.
Wildlife sanctuaries.
Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife, Sanctuary,Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, Mollem National Park, Bondla wild life Forest, Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary, are some of the famous wild life centuries.
Monuments & Forts
Chapora Fort, Fort Aguada, Teracol Fort, Reis Magos Fort, Mormugao Fort, Rachol Fort, Naroa Fort, Corjuem Fort,Cabo De Rama Fort in Goa.
Food in Goa has variety and several options, which can clearly be termed has fusion foods. When in Goa, do not miss the local staple delicacies including fruit rice and fish curries. Goan food is known for its different flavors. Sea-food, prepared from freshest pf catches, is another item that is also not be missed. Food of this beach state is also an important display of its vibrant culture.
Goa was a Portuguese colony till 1961 and this can still be felt in air, mannerism, architecture and everything else including food. When Indian and Portuguese cooking styles are clubbed with aromatic spices, the result is finger-licking food.
Scenic beauty
Goa has number of other scenic options. One such attraction is Waterfall. Goa lies between Sahyadri hills and Arabian Sea. Goa is full of beautiful springs, lakes, and waterfalls. While traveling to these places one gets to see the natural beauty of Goa. Dudhsagar Water Falls.
Mayem Lake, Arvalem Waterfall, Kuskem Waterfall are some of the famous water falls in Goa.
Impact of tourism in Goa
- It helps in creating job opportunities and in the development of economy.
- Most of the rich and famous metropolises are investing in Goa which has pushed up land prices and has created overcrowding.
- Garbage is one of the problem in Goa and there is no proper infrastructure to deal with it. Tourist places are piled up with garbage because of the increased number of tourist in Goa. As a result Goa is facing a major problem of solid waste management.
- Most of the tourist prefers to visit places in the North which has resulted in the exceeding carrying capacity. Goa’s tourism belt is getting overcrowded.
- Overexploitation of beaches due to the tourism related activities. Infrastructure.
Food in Goa.
Food in Goa has variety and several options, which can clearly be termed has fusion foods. When in Goa, do not miss the local staple delicacies including fruit rice and fish curries. Goan food is known for its different flavors. Sea-food, prepared from freshest pf catches, is another item that is also not be missed. Food of this beach state is also an important display of its vibrant culture.
Goa was a Portuguese colony till 1961 and this can still be felt in air, mannerism, architecture and everything else including food. When Indian and Portuguese cooking styles are clubbed with aromatic spices, the result is finger-licking food.
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