The Goa, known as ‘Golden Goa’ (Goa Dourada) is a state in India. It got this title because of its beautiful beaches, forts, churches, waterfalls, seminaries and caves. Goa is not only famous for beaches and other attractions, but also for its churches and temples. The Goa travel will give you an idea about the Portuguese reign in India and the remnant of the forts built when they invade India. More information about the state and facilities will help you to explore the state completely in your Goa travel.
Goa Churches
The main tourist attraction of Goa is churches. The architecture of the churches is famous for their interesting blend of two or more forms of architecture. Old Goa is the world heritage site because of the churches here. This baroque architecture or the ornated altars churches were made in the time of Portuguese rule. The churches, monasteries, convents and temples remind who of the administrative capital of the Portuguese who nearly lost the place to the British and the Dutch.
Basilica of Bom Jesus
The church located in the old Goa which was the capital city during the Portugal rule. The Basilica of Bom Jesus is famous for the preserved mortal remains of St.Francis Xavier kept in a silver casket. The story behind the church is like this, St. Francis came to Goa in 1541 with a task to preach Christianity. After his death on the coast of China, he was brought to India but his body did not decompose. Even the inner organs were intact. This is indeed a miracle particularly when no embalming of the body had been done. The body is kept in a silver casket which is open to public once in ten years. Altars of the Basilica is richly gilded bur rest of interior is very simple. The walls covering surrounding the casket depict the life and journey of St. Francis Xavier. A modern art gallery is attached with the Basilica.
Mary Immaculate Conception
The marvel construction of this church attracts so many people to the church. This church is supposed to be one of the earliest churches constructed in Goa.
Reis Magos Church
This stunningly beautiful white monument church is visible from across the River Mandovi. It is one of the most famous landmarks of the Reis Magos village located in Goa.
Se Cathedral
It is nine kilometre from the capital city of Panaji and is in the old Goa. Se Cathedral is the largest church in Asia and was originally built of mud, stones and straw. The Cathedral is a fine example of the Tuscan-Doric style of architecture from the exterior and the Mosaic-Corinthian style from the interior. The church is dedicated to St.Catherine of Alexandria. Se Cathedral was built in the 16th century under the Portuguese rule in India. This Cathedral has five bells of which one is the famous Golden bell, the biggest in Goa and one of the best in the world.
Church of Lady of Rosary
This church is one of the finest examples of Maueline style architecture of the early Portuguese. It is on the top of the Holy Hill, the site believed to be the very place where Alfonso de Albuquerque led his troops to victory in 1510 AD.
St Augustine Church
It is the most spectacular monuments in Goa and is a very popular tourist attraction in Goa. Combined effort of 12 Augustinians makes it real in 1602.
St.Cajetan Church
This church is near to Se Cathedral church in Old Goa. The exquisite architecture of the church attracts numerous visitors towards it. The church is designed like the Basilica of St.Peter located in Rome.
The Church St.Francis of Assissi
This church is located in Old Goa at a distance of some 10 kilometres from the capital city, Panaji. The church of St. Francis of Assissi of Goa was build during 1517-1521 AD and is in the same complex in which Se Cathedral is located. The church is built in Tuscan style from the exterior and the Mosaic-Corinthian style from the interior. Archaeological Survey of India took over the church and converted it into a museum in 1964. The church museum showcases the antiquities, artefacts, painting and pieces of Hindu temple sculpture from Goa.
St.Paul Church
It is located on the route of Ponda from Old Goa. Local transport is always available to reach the church. The priests namely Diogo de Borba and Miguel Vaz made the effort for the church become true.
Goa Beaches
The Goa beaches offers sun and sand, and water sports facilities that included from water scooters to water gliding. In addition to the scenic landscape, the beaches in Goa are also known as shopping hubs. Moreover there are excellent facilities for a multitude of water sports ranging from parasailing to windsurfing. The important beaches of Goa are Anjuna Goa Beach, Arambol Goa beach, Agonda Goa beach, Calangute Goa Beach, Colva Goa Beach, Dona Paula Goa Beach, Miramar Goa Beach, Palolem Goa Beach, and Vagator Goa Beach.
Agonda Beach
It is the beast Beach for the person carving for solitude. Agonda beach is long and lonely, fringed with palms and casuarinas and dominated by a large hill to the south.
Anjuna Beach
This beach is located 18 km from state capital Panaji. The iconic status for its notorious trance parties and the exotic Wednesday flea market are the speciality of the market. In Anjuna you will find magnificent Albuquerque mansion built in 1920, flanked by octagonal towers and attractive Mangalore tiled-roof. Anjuna becomes a fair of colours.
Arambol Beach
The beach Arambol is located about 50 km from Panaji. This beach is a perfect haven for one seeking peace and tranquillity. The speciality of the Arambol beach is that it is an idyllic, rocky-bottomed cave, and a trail that emerges to a broad strip of soft white sand hemmed in on both sides by steep cliffs. A small fresh-water lake extends along the bottom of the valley into a thick jungle just behind it.
Bogmalo Beach
You were able to reach this beach easily from any part of the state. The beach is situated close to the airport of Goa. It lies at a distance of approximately 8 km from Vasco-da-Gama town. The beach is calm and quietude and the crass forces of commercialization.
Baga Beach
It is the most magnificent beach of Goa situated at a distance of approximately 10 km from Mapusa. Baga beach offers you scenic, unspoiled and pleasant environment. It is also admired for varied types of thrilling water sports and fishing. The beach is most famous for its vibrant nightlife.
Benaulim Beach
This magnificent beach is situated 2 km further from the Colva Beach. The belief is that Lord Parasurama’s arrow landed here, when he was creating Goa. Benaulium beach is calm and is a renowned beach for fishing. On the hill beyond the village you will find the church of St John the Baptist.
Cavelossim Beach
This beach is counted amongst the most beautiful beaches of India. It lies at a distance of approximately 12 km from Benaulim. The calm Cavelossim beach will provide all leisure’s for your holiday.
Calangute Beach
This beach has prime priority in the state’s tourism sweepstakes. This flagship beach of Goa, stretch to seven kilometres. Calangute beach is known by the sobriquet the ‘Queen of Beaches’ for its pre-eminence among the scenic beaches that dot the Goan landscape. In Calangute you will find excellent accommodation facility, particularly at the tourist resort and cottages. It lies on the shores of the Arabian Sea of North Goa in India. Being a popular holiday resort, the small houses amidst the coconut groves behind the beach are always in constant demand.
Colva Beach
Colva is the longest beach of Goa and is sprawling over an expanse of 20km. It is a calm beach with silvery sea bed.
Chapora Beach
It is the most popular and most visited beach in Goa. It is at distance of 10 km from Mapusa. The boat building and fishing legacy is the main attraction of Chapora Beach. It is a very picturesque and scenic beachfront amongst all other beaches in Goa.
It is the most popular and most visited beach in Goa. It is at distance of 10 km from Mapusa. The boat building and fishing legacy is the main attraction of Chapora Beach. It is a very picturesque and scenic beachfront amongst all other beaches in Goa.
Candolim Beach
It is the perfect place of vacation visitors, who wish to escape some times from the day to day tensions. Candolim Beach is on the northern side of Goa. The Candolim Beach offers you a large number of varied hotels and resorts in its near vicinity.
Dona Paula Beach
It is a small beach 9km southwest of Panaji. You will find beach resort and cottages near to it. The beauty of scenic landscape dotted with palm trees and casuarinas groves attracts tourist to Dona Paula Beach. It is the most well known among the Goa Beaches. Dona Paula Beach is an idyllic spot to relax and sunbathe. There is a romantic myth regarding this place. The name of the beach came from a viceroy’s daughter, Dona Paula de Menzes who threw herself off the cliff, when refused permission to marry a local fisherman. Due to this myth attached to this place, it also known as Lovers Paradise.
Miramar Beach
This beach is just 3 km from Panaji. The short distance from town make it a bustling tourist hub. The beach is situated on a good location for evening walks, the coast is spread up to 2-km, having a fine silvery sand bed. From this beach you can watch some spectacular sunsets. It is the rather crowded beaches in Goa.
Palolem Beach
This crescent shaped beach is well-known for its sweeping expanse of silvery sand and idyllic surroundings. It has a crescent shaped bay lined with swaying coconut palms hemmed by a pair of rocky crags. Palolem is one of the prominent beaches in the South Goa beach circuit.
Vagator Beach
It is 22 km from Panaji and is a popular beach in Goa. Vagator Beach is the beautiful travel destination to be visited. Night dance parties are the speciality of the beach.
Majorda Beach
This beach lies 5 km from the Colva Beach. The soft sands and aquamarine waters of Majorda Beach lure tourists from all over the world.
Varca Beach
It comes 2 km south of Benaulim Beach. Varca beach is a lush tropical paradise with an expanse of golden sands for a distance of 27 kilometres and it is located 45 minutes from the Dabolim airport of Goa.
Velsao Beach
This beach is getting popular among the tourists. Velsao Beach is situated on the southern coast of the state, and at a distance of 25 km from the capital city Panaji.
Goa Cruise
The Goan cruises are star attractions of Goa. You were able to choose river cruises as well as sea cruises for your Goa travel. The Goan houseboat cruising will be an absolutely wonderful, unforgettable experience in your holiday in Goa.
River Cruise
Cruising through breathtaking rivers and lakes, are one of the prime attraction of Goa travel. There are daytime, sunset or moonlit cruises are available in Goa. The river cruises on the Mandovi River will be an enjoyable experience for you. The sail across the river Mandovi give you chance to view some exotic blue waters of the river, the seagulls, and crocodiles. The inside facilities of the cruises are the specious double bedrooms with modern en-suit facilities. Well equipped top quality amenities are arranged inside the bathroom. Lower deck of the cruises has the arrangement of spacious dining room. Some cruises contain conference, or function room on the upper deck. There is also facility of live music band to entertain the visitor. It also serves you with some of the best available cocktails.
Sea Cruise
Goa Travel offers you some exciting Sea cruise along the Arabian Sea. The cruises are complete with facilities like restaurant and bars as well as sports, and massage parlour, besides good relaxing sleep in luxury rooms with executive suites, junior suites and ocean view room’s suite. The board includes live entertainment include a karaoke lounge, discotheque, pre-dinner lounge.
Exciting cruise offers
The sun set and sun down cruise are exciting cruise offers available in Goa. The sun set cruise programme includes entertainments like the Dekni Temple Dance, the Fugdi Dance and the Corredinho Dance. If you are on a river cruise you can spot some architectural building like Reis Magos Church, the Reis Magos Fort, the Aguada Fort and the Cabo Raj Bhavan. The sun down cruises starts off at 7.15 in the evening. Like sun set cruises it is also an hour’s trip and contains the same type of cultural programmes.
Full moon cruises are the exciting option. This cruise begins by 5.30 in the evening and continues up to 10.30 in the night. This longer trip offers a brilliant and glittering beauty of moon. Besides this there are private operators that conduct their cruises with interesting themes.
Honeymoon in Goa
Goa’s lush hill and the cool blue waters, cathedrals and the coconut groves, spice plantation and paddy fields, sun, sand and sea, the warm and friendly people make it wonderful honeymoon destinations in the world. The Goan atmosphere gives special bond for honeymoon couples. Goa remains perfect tourist spot all through the year, so if you married in summers, winters or monsoons Goa is the perfect honeymoon destination for your memorable day. This speciality of Goa makes it a more demanding honeymoon destination since long and still attracts several couples to the land.
The hotels and resorts also offer best facility for the couples. Goa offers best honeymoon package too for making your honey moon the most memorable one. This package includes the perfect accommodation options and travel services. The couple can enjoy the Goa’s delicious dish, music, remote beaches and hidden coves, lazy rivers for canoeing, birdsong and starry nights relaxingly. You will find wide range of budget, economical and luxury hotels in Goa.
The Goan cruise has also offering for honeymoon couples. If you are selecting sunset cruise the cultural troupes entertain you with Goan music and dance. Goa is famous for trance parties throughout the world, so if you wish for the same Goa will be the perfect selection. You can enjoy and celebrate dancing with your mate in the wee hours of the night. The awesome music and the picturesque beaches of Goa create a perfect venue for the parties.
New Year in Goa
Goa and its inherent party culture were always ready to fill your new year with expectation and promises. This ideal venue invites tourists and backpackers from all over the world descend on Goa to revel in the festivities accompanying the New Year celebration in Goa. There were locally brewed drinks, called fenny serves while partying in Goa New Year Celebration Eve. The fenny are usually makes in Guava, coconut, Cashew nut etc. Besides this, port wine is also available.
In Goa, for Christmas and New Year there are week full celebrations. Over this week Goa must be very lively, most of the hotels will have a number of special Gala dances that will continue into the early hours of the morning, beach and riverside shacks will have loud music and even in the smallest village there will be large family parties accompanied by firecrackers. New Year eve is completely filled with music, dance, and food and drinks in Goa. The Goan beach is hard with people till late hours of night.
In New Year, travellers from all over the world head for Goa to have ultimate fun and enjoyment. The peak tourist season of Goa starts with November and it lowers after the New Year. Hotels and resorts are all decked up in anticipation of the tourist influx and feverish competition ensues to entice the vacationers with exciting New Year offers. You can head to a wildlife resort and celebrate the New Year in Goa by lighting a bonfire and dancing the night way. Even the market places of Goa reflect the frenzy and excitement accompanying New Year.
Goa Travel
Goa is the very modern tourism destination of India and it has both Indian and western style of entertainments. There is plenty of excellent accommodation facilities are available here and lots of fellow tourists for company. The accommodation includes resort, cottage, budget hotels and luxury villas.
The luxurious hotels have clean and comfortable rooms, right on the beach and plenty of night life. The food of Goa is the mix of Indian and Portuguese style of food. You have the wide range of choice of mouth watering continental and Indian dishes. The capital city Panaji will give you the Portuguese styled cafes, whitewashed churches and view of overhanging balconies of Portuguese architecture. Old Goa, the former capital of Goa, will give you the traditional churches made of Portuguese empires, including the Convent and Church of St.Francis of Assissi and the famous Basillica of Bom Jesus. The mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier, who spread Christianity among the subjects of the Portuguese colonies, are entombed here. Goa travel helps you to mingle variety of people in Goa, experience the full-moon parties, and enjoy the shopping of handicrafts, jewellery and modern fabrics. Enjoy the sandy beaches, dense green coconut palms and the forts made by the Portuguese rulers.
Besides the Goan travel helps you to enjoy the wildlife sanctuaries, and many colourful festivals of it. In each and every way you will find Goa travel is for relaxation and experience the idyllic peace. The smiling people of Goa welcome you to their land with warmth and welcome services. From the Goa travel you will discover that it is a fascinating land blend with Latin and Indian cultures.
Old Goa
Old Goa is famous for churches made during the Portuguese rule, because which was the capital city during the Portugal rule. It gained height of fame during the Portuguese rein. Old Goa grew in size and splendour in the 16th century. Before the arrival of the Portuguese on the Goan shores, it was the capital of Sultan Adil Shah of Bijapur. During their time also this place was alive and prosperous. After defeating the armies of the Sultan, the Portuguese led by Alfonso de Albuquerque started building their empire around Old Goa. But the outbreaks of epidemics like cholera and malaria made the city highly inhospitable and the Portuguese moved their capital to Panaji in 1843. Today there was not much remains of the past. The remnants of the fort and other structure give a faint idea what this place must have been. The churches, monasteries, convents and temples remind who of the administrative capital of the Portuguese who nearly lost the place to the British and the Dutch.
The Portuguese colonised Goa for 450 years and this unique blend of Portuguese and Indian culture is evident in its architecture, mix of religions, cuisine and social structure. There are the colonial old quarters, the magnificent Mansion Houses built at the height of the Portuguese rule and Old Goa, built as a testament to the Portuguese wealth and power. Today the churches made this place make it the world heritage centre. You were able to see most churches built during the Portuguese rule stood fairly well over a period of time, withering a little bit in between, undergoing some repair every now and then. The architecture of the churches was different from the modern churches. Accorded the World heritage site status by UNESCO, the opulent buildings and churches of Old Goa today reminds one of the grandeur of a bygone era.
The Capital Panaji
Panaji is the capital of Goa and it is located along the banks of River Mandovi, is a small charming city. This fishing village starts to gain its prominence during the second half of the 18th century when the erstwhile power centre of Old Goa gradually faded in epidemics. The city conferred to New Goa on March 22, 1843.With the strengthening of Portuguese rein in India Panaji developed into a vibrant city bustling with commercial and tourism activities. The beautiful red-roofed houses, build in Latin style, many modern houses, well laid garden, statues and avenue’s line with Gulmohar, Acassia and other trees presents an enchanting spectacle in Panaji. Most of these buildings bear the hallmark of Portuguese architecture.
As a capital city it has a prominent role in Goa’s tourism scenario. Panaji is the first place to be touched up while you are landing in Goa and it is the travel hub of Goa. The airport Dabolim is located on the outskirts of Panaji, which connect Goa with other places in India and also welcomes good number of charter flights directly flying from Europe. The important government offices and educations institutions of Goa are houses here. The palace of Sultan Adil Shah of 15th century is a major landmark of the Panaji. The church of Immaculate Conception is Panaji’s main place of worship for the Catholics, where, in medieval times, all sailors arriving from Portugal congregated for thanksgiving mass for their safe passage. In your Goan travel you will find Panaji is an easy-going town with Portuguese styled cafes, whitewashed churches and overhanging balconies and it will be a delight after your journey.
Vasco da Gama
Vasco da Gama, main harbour and port city of Goa comes in South Goa. The city named after Portuguese voyager Vasco da Gama. His main missions for finding the sea route to India were to seek Christians and spices. The city of Vasco da Gama is the major commercial hub of Goa now. It is located on the narrow western tip of the Mormugao peninsula and this location made the city to prosper.
The Portuguese conquered the city in 1543 and within a short span transformed it into a bustling port throbbing with maritime trade. At the entrance of the city the salient monument, the 400-year old St.Andrews Church located. Near by the city centre you will find the Naval Aviation Museum, which is a popular tourist spot and is the only such museum in India. The museum profiles the evolution and history of Indian naval aviation through aircraft and rare photographs. All this things make the Vasco da Gamma to be a major tourist attraction city. Besides the excellent communication infrastructure has given a boost to tourism in Vasco da Gama. The Dabolin airport is 4 km away from the city. Moreover Vasco da Gamma is also a key shipping centre and a major railhead.
The people of Vasco love fun and music, so it is a matter of fact that Goa’s premier musical group, hails from Vasco. The town is also home to several English bands. The port of Vasco has berthing facilities for large cruise liners as well as a floating dry dock.
Goa Travel Tips
Most people come to Goa to relax and unwind there is more to Goa than just its fabulous beaches. Picturesque landscape, sun drenched beaches, historic monuments, make a holiday on the beaches of Goa is of timeless charm. Besides the wealth of scenic beauty, the warm and friendly nature of the Goan people adds to the charm. But with this entire positive one have to be little bit careful about the pitfalls and the needful things for a relaxed journey.
Best time to visit Goa
Goa is the tourist destination suit to all weather. The Goa weather is characterized by moderate temperatures without any major fluctuations throughout the year. But in the winter season you will find Goa a little crowded with tourist. In winter season one can enjoy the sun and sand bath, which is not as possible in summers.
Precaution for travelling in Goa
Instead of carrying large amount of cash you have to opt for travel’s cheques; it is readily exchangeable in most locations of Goa. Don’t accept food or drinks from strangers while you travelling in Goa, they might be a ploy to rob you of your valuables. You have to keep all your important valuables in your hotel. Never leave your baggage unattended. Before going to the seas for a swim or bath you have to consult with the lifeguards posted in the beach. You have to travel in groups rather than alone.
Goa habitat
Goa lies on the western side of Sahyadri ranges. This western ghat makes its eastern boundary. Rivers like Mandovi, zuri, Chapora, and Terekhol rise from this Western Ghats. Goa state is divided into two north and south. Mapusa, old Goa and capital city Panaji lies in North Goa. The main city of Goa is Margo and Vasco da Gama lies in the South Goa.
Goa cuisines
Fish curry and rice is the main food of Goan people. The Christians of Goa uses beef and pork. The Goan cuisines are spicy in nature and are a blend of Indian, Brazillian, and the Portuguese influence. Prawn Balchao, a spicy, oily, pickle like creation is one of the most popular local seafood delicacies of Goa. Goa’s prized dish is Pork sorpotel; it serves in feast days and on festive occasions. Another dinner of Goa is Bebinca, an eight-layered dessert made up of eggs, milk, and sugar, is a famous Goan sweet meat. The traditional drink of Feni is synonymous in worldwide.
Fish curry and rice is the main food of Goan people. The Christians of Goa uses beef and pork. The Goan cuisines are spicy in nature and are a blend of Indian, Brazillian, and the Portuguese influence. Prawn Balchao, a spicy, oily, pickle like creation is one of the most popular local seafood delicacies of Goa. Goa’s prized dish is Pork sorpotel; it serves in feast days and on festive occasions. Another dinner of Goa is Bebinca, an eight-layered dessert made up of eggs, milk, and sugar, is a famous Goan sweet meat. The traditional drink of Feni is synonymous in worldwide.
Sight seeing in Goa
The facilities of the beach, the exotic cuisine backing the pleasure of have on sun and sand, and water sports facilities that include from water scooters to water gliding make the Goan beach most popular in India. The beaches add enjoyment like glass of feni and beer, engages in shopping on the beachside, or have midnight bonfire on the beach. The important beaches of Goa are Anjuna Goa Beach, Arambol Goa Beach, Agonda Goa Beach, Calangute Goa Beach, Colva Goa Beach, Dona Paula Goa Beach, Miramar Goa Beach, Palolem Goa Beach, and Vagator Goa Beach. The cruises of Goa are another attractive option for sight seeing. The hour-long sunset and sundown cruises takes you down the river Mandovi from Panaji’s Bombay jetty returning after doing a round of Miramar beach while a professional troupe entertains you with folk dances and songs.
The walls of Institute Menezes Braganza depict scenes of Vasco da Gama’s journey from Lusiadas, the epic poem composed by the Portuguese national poet Camoes, who visited Goa at the height of its glory in the 16th century. The Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, situated at the western tip of the island of Chorao is an idyllic, mangrove retreat criss-crossed by a maze of tributaries and inland streams. A variety of local as well as migratory birds breeds and visits the area. Goa State Museum is a vast storehouse of invaluable collection of objects like Hindu, Buddist and Christian art which includes sculptures, paintings, coats of arms, coins, manuscripts and woodcraft. The most important coastal forts, Mormugao Fort of 1624, situated at the extreme northwestern point of Salsete. It has 10 km circumference and contains 20 bulwarks, three magazines, five prisons, a chapel and quarters for the guard and there were two beautiful fountains. Mormugao harbour is the principal centre of economic activity in Goa.It is one of the finest anchorages on the West Coast of India.
Goa Map
Goa map is the first thing you have to remember before start a trip to Goa, it will provide the basic idea of different tourist locations and the leading roads. Goa is known throughout the world for its picturesque beaches, Gothic churches, age-old ruins, unique culture and amazing folk music. Goa is an interesting tourist destination in India, and the flow of tourists to this state is increasing every year. Goa attracting the tourists who want to relax under the sun, those love the natural beauty and the people who enjoy the great parties. The local drinks fenny, delicious food and the wonderful weather add charm to the state. If you wish to explore Goa truly the Goa map will be very much helpful for you and it tell a lot about the state and the important destination to be visited.
The attractive beaches, mesmerizing sunsets, traditional churches, glorious temples, picturesque land of the state has made it one of the most sought after tourist destinations, both in India as well as abroad. This beautiful state is located in the western coast of India. This land is known as “Rome of the East’, ‘A Tourist Paradise’ and ‘The Pearl of the Orient’, world wide. If you wish to explore this pride land of India, don’t forget to grab hold of the Goa map. Once you have internalized the Goa map, you will be in a better position to put together the travel itinerary. The Goa map will be your best friend in your visit in Goa and help you to explore as much as possible.
The attractive beaches, mesmerizing sunsets, traditional churches, glorious temples, picturesque land of the state has made it one of the most sought after tourist destinations, both in India as well as abroad. This beautiful state is located in the western coast of India. This land is known as “Rome of the East’, ‘A Tourist Paradise’ and ‘The Pearl of the Orient’, world wide. If you wish to explore this pride land of India, don’t forget to grab hold of the Goa map. Once you have internalized the Goa map, you will be in a better position to put together the travel itinerary. The Goa map will be your best friend in your visit in Goa and help you to explore as much as possible.
Weather of Goa
Goa is the best tourist destination suit throughout the year. Moderate temperature without any fluctuations is the speciality of Goan weather. Goa is blessed with a tropical weather. The dry, hot and wet are the three seasons in Goa.
The busiest months of Goa are November, December, January and February. In these periods days are hot and evening cool, the beaches are perfect and swimming is safe. This weather continues up to middle April. The summer season of Goa starts from March and continues up to May. In this time temperatures hovers to mid-thirties and Goa become moderately hot. If you are planning to Goa in the summer season you have to bring cotton apparels and be prepared for a rise in humidity levels towards to the fag end of the summer season.
By May the Monsoon rain starts. This monsoon season lasts till September. You have to be ready to face rains and thundershowers in this period in Goan plains. The humidity levels are also high during this period. From June you can see most emerald green paddy fields and plants growing before your eyes. You can also experience that in this weather Goans are directing their attention to their family fields, where whole families can be seen tending their rice crop. The beaches are wind swept, rain lashed and deserted. This is an ideal period to relax, chill out and write that book or take up painting as you have always said you wanted to do.
The winter season lasts from December to February in Goan land. It is the pleasant weather in Goa. Temperatures hover in the lower twenties and the bright sunny weather makes for a perfect outing in the Goa beaches.
Shopping in Goa
Besides the scenic landscape and the beautiful beaches, Goa are also knows for shopping hubs. It is a shopper’s paradise with a vast wealth of indigenous artefacts. If you wish to take real joy of shopping in Goa then you have to go in the local markets and the flea markets in the Goan beaches. These bustling local markets are a kaleidoscope of rural Goa with villagers of the neighbouring areas bringing their agricultural produce here. The Friday market of Mapusa is particularly famous among the local markets. The Goa beaches too are shopping havens with noisy vendors feverishly trying to outbid each other. The Wednesday flea market of Anjuna beach is world famous with an astounding variety of shopping attractions.
Goa give you the chance to choose artefacts and momentous of your taste from the wide range of items. Artefacts made of shell work, bamboo work, brassware, curios and old coins, trinkets made of stones and corals, artefacts made of carved furniture, and beachwear are some of the popular entries in shopping carts.
You can do food shopping also in Goa. The food shops are open 7 days a week. Goa supply you surprisingly low cost and high quality food. If you wish, the bread man can deliver fresh pasteurised milk, butter and free range eggs are sold in the shops in morning and afternoon. You will get excellent quality beef, the chickens are free range. The Goat meat and chicken sold here are fresh and taste delicious. You will get plenty of fish like prawns, tiger prawns, lobster, crabs and mussels in the fish market.
Festival of Goa
The Goan festivals are integrated with the state’s culture and heritage. Among the festivals of Goa, some are steeped in religious undertones and others are expressions of the fun-loving nature of the people. Most of the Goans are Hindus, so they celebrate their traditional festivals. In it Ganesh Chaturthis is the most important festival of the state. The festival is related to the birthday of Lord Ganesh. It is marked by religious observations and rituals. The Christian community has also their own festival in Goa. On this the feast of St. Francis Xavier is the most auspicious one and devotees from all over the world come to Goa to pay homage to St.Francis Xavier, Goa’s patron saint.
The Goan carnival is known the world over for its fascinating parades and colourful celebrations. The carnival in Goa is essentially a spring festival celebrated with joy and revelry on the beautiful beaches of Goa. In the carnival days and nights the erstwhile Portuguese settlement of Goa sings, dances and makes merry.
Shigmo is the other festival universally celebrated in Goa, but especially in Panaji, Mapusa, Vasc Da Gama and Margoa. It is a spring festival celebrated on the full moon day of the month of Phalgun in March. Shigmo is a grand five day festival of colour, celebrated distinctively in the villages. Parade of the horse riders is the other part of the Shigmo festival, known in the name of Ghodemodni. Hypnotic and rhythmic music of drums and whistles accompany the martial dance, which parades down the main street, imitating horses and their riders. Second and third day of Shigmo Rombat takes place. Rombat is a procession of men in traditional dress carrying banners and umbrellas dancing to the music of drums. Young boys wave green twigs, signifying the arrival of spring. Most of the villages stage drama festival in the week of Shigmo.
Transportation in Goa
Goa provides you air, road and rail transportations. It is well connected with the other parts of India and the air root of Goa is extremely accessible. The Indian Navies airport at Dabolim near to Vasco-da-Gamma town is the main operator of national and internal flights. It is 30 km away from the capital city of Goa, the Panaji. There are charter flights from UK and other European courtiers, and the flights of Indian Airlines, Jet Airways, Sahara Airlines, Air Deccan and Spice Jet are operating from here. Air India has some exceptional international flights from Gulf countries.The hiring facilities like cab, metered taxi, city buses are available from the airport to your hotel or to any of the towns.
If you prefer to travel Goa by road, then rental car and air-conditioned buses are available for your service. National highway connects it to the major towns in India. There are bus services available inside the town and the neighbouring cities like Pune, Mumbai, and Bangalore etc.
The high speed Konkan railway service is always ready for your help, if you are choosing train for transportation in Goa. Vasco-da-Gama and Margo are the two major railway station of Goa. The trains of here is always demanding so if you are choosing train for transportation book earlier. Visit, enjoy and explore the Golden Goa’s major attractions.
