Goa Tourism

"Beaches, Sunsets and Crazy Nights" Goa Tourism When you think of Goa, you think of sandy beaches, amazing parties, beautiful little villages, delicious food, and a magical holiday experience. Yes, Goa is rightfully known as the most popular tourist destination on the West Coast of India, and not just because of its scenic beaches, but also because of its tropical climate and its rich Portuguese heritage, which you can still find lingering on in some parts of the town. Nestled in the Konkan Coast Belt, Goa has a coastline stretching for over a 100 kilometres, and attracts millions of visitors both from within and outside the country all year round. Goa is one such holiday destination which has something to offer to every traveller, regardless of budget and travel tastes, which is a reason why Goa is as much of a family retreat as it is a very popular honeymoon destination. The multitude of beaches in Goa ensures that you can take your pick depending on whether you want to experience the posh beach life from balconies of luxury resorts or get in touch with nature in makeshift huts. Some of the best beaches in Goa include Agonda beach, Baga Beach and Candolim Beach. Calangute Beach is the busiest beach in Goa, while Baga Beach is comparatively a lot less crowded. Download Goa PDF Guide > What's Great? Beautiful beaches and scenery. Get a first hand taste of Portuguese culture and architecture. Amazing nightlife. Frequent music concerts. What's not so Great? In the peak seasons, Goa can be very crowded. Can be expensive. Summers could be extreme. For Whom The Party Capital of India, Goa is for anyone who wishes to take a break from their routine life and relax by the beach. From youngsters, spinsters, bachelors, honeymooners to working adults - everyone gets their share of fun at Goa.

North and South Goa The north and south of Goa have radically different personalities. North Goa is where one can find authentic eateries, markets and parties whereas in South Goa one can find luxurious resorts and serene, private beaches. What Makes Goa An Amazing Tourist Destination If adventure activities are what you?re looking for, Goa has ample opportunities for you to explore the waters of this town whichever you want to. Regardless of whether you?re a first-timer or an experienced adventure enthusiast, a few of the adventure sports you can take a pick from include wakeboarding, kayaking, scuba diving, snorkelling and white-water rafting. The other big thing in Goa is its nightlife, which is a critical aspect of Goa?s tourism. The juxtaposition of beaches and parties is the focal point of Goa?s nightlife and keeps drawing tourists year after year. Numerous bars and pubs are dotting the stretches along the beach in Goa, accompanied by food stalls and souvenir shops; you might even find a tattoo shop or two! Shopping in Goa is one activity that every tourist loves to indulge in. Goa has plenty of flea markets and boutiques scattered all across the town, all of which offer great bargains on every item sold ? ranging from beachwear to shell work to junk jewellery and hippie clothing. Goa?s cuisine is a very famous draw, and tourists have the option of choosing between western restaurants and traditional eateries. Goa is famous for its locally made chilled beers (which are a lot cheaper compared to other states in the country), so you can taste the best of Goa without having to compromise on either quality or quantity. Nightlife of Goa Right by the sea lies the Party Capital of India - Goa. It is the perfect getaway for a short but fulfilling break from the monotony of our daily lives. To complete your experience, Goa offers an extremely exciting nightlife with pubs, casinos and affordable beer. People throng for its insane nightlife. From beachside bars to crazy discotheques, Goa is always ready to treat you with its lively vibes.  Read more aboutNightlife of Goa Beaches of Goa Goa beaches are famous across the country and it is the place associated most with beautiful beaches and with so many of these out there, read thisguideto get down to the 35 best beaches in Goa! History of Goa Goa, in the Hindu Scriptures, has been named as Gomanta which means the region of cows. It is believed that Parashurama, the sixth reincarnation of Lord Vishnu was the creator of the Goan region. A legend says that he along with ten sages had performed fire sacrifices in the lands of Goa. The gist of Sanskritisation in Goa's culture is said to be originated with the settlement of Parashurama and the sages from North following whom the people of Goa carry Brahminical hegemony. Walking down the lane of its History we come across another legend according to which Goa is considered sacred for its spiritually cleansing touch. Read more aboutHistory Of Goa Culture of Goa The Portuguese ruled Goa for over 450 years before being colonised by the British. Thus, a lot of the Goan architecture and culture has hints of Portugal. There are many beautiful churches such as Se Cathedral, Basilica of Bom Jesus, Church of St. Frances of Assisi and Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Church. The bell in the Immaculate Conception Church is the World's Second Largest bell and this building served as a lighthouse for sailors in the past. Apart from these, there are also magnificent forts such as the Regis Magos Fort. Goa is also known as the 'Rome of the East' and is graced by travellers throughout the world. This place is considered to be one of the most westernized states in India. The people natives of this place are known as ?Goans? and the language spoken here is Konkani. The Konkani dialect is influenced greatly by the Portuguese vocabulary as Goa was a former Portuguese colony. The Portuguese influence also shows greatly in the architecture that exists in Goa today. As this state was reined by many ethnicities throughout its history, traditions and festivals from all religions are respected and celebrated. New Years in Goa is a big thing and are celebrated on a huge scale. Read more about Culture of Goa Budget If spent wisely Goa is not a costly place to visit. There are hotels which offer rooms at INR 200 per night basis whereas other up-market hotels offer rooms for INR 2,000-10,000. Goa will cost you INR 7000 (inclusive of food and exclusive of water sports) per person for a week if you choose Budget and Mid-range hotels. At times travellers wish to stay for a longer period of time and hence a long stay might cost you INR 3500-8000 per month, depending on the location.

Itinerary Day 1 -Arrive at Goa and hire a bike, scooter or a car to visit Baga Beach and Calangute Beach. Indulge yourself in water sports like Parasailing and Jet Ski. Have lunch at Brittos. End the day with dinner at Mambo's or with a party in Tito's. Day 2 -Get up early in the morning and visit Fort Aguada and Fort Chhapora followed by Chhapora Beach. In the afternoon visit the churches - Basilica of Bom Jesus and Lady of Immaculate Conception. End the day with a party at Club Cabana. Day 3 -Take a road trip to up North. Visit Morjim, Arambol Beach and Candolim Beach. Spend the evening in Casino Cruise ship at Panjim Jetty. You may visit Dona Paula or Miramar before the cruise. Day 4 -You can spend the day visiting Panjim on your day of return. Take a walk through the streets enjoying the colonial architecture.

Restaurants and Local Food in Goa Goa is home to everything refreshing, zesty, exotic and colourful. And this includes Goan food. The food here is a blend of Konkani, Hindu, Portuguese and Catholic cuisines, providing wide and vibrant choices. Seafood, coconut milk, rice and local spices are the main elements of Goan cuisine and fish, curry and rice form the staple food. Goan food with its unique combination of coconut, rice, and spices form a rich Portuguese as well as South Indian cuisine.  Seafood like prawns, lobsters, crabs, pomfret fish, clams, ladyfish, mussels, and oysters is used to make a variety of curries, fries, soups and pickles. Fish curry, fried fish, fish cutlets are just some of the items that you must savour in Goa. Goa also offers a variety of options to vegetarians, however, don't expect a lot from it. Food Making your food hunt easier here are some famous restaurants which you may visit - Beach Shacks Thalassa for Greek Salads and Grills, La Plage for French Mediterranean Cuisine, Brittos, a plethora of Seafood and Multi-Cuisine, Souza Lobo for Goan Seafood dishes Read more about Beach Shacks Of Goa Restaurants Waves for Seafood and Italian Cuisine, Zeebop for Goan and North-Indian Cuisine, Home for European Cuisine, Smugglers Inn for British Cuisine, Bean Me Up for American, and Kamaxi Hotel for Goan food Read more about Traditional Goan Cuisine View 28 Restaurants in Goa >>

October - Marchis the best time to visit Goa November to February is generally considered to be the best time to visit Goa. The weather is perfect, not very cold, not very hot. It's also a good time as almost all the beach shacks are open during these months. Water sports, like banana boat ride, jet ski, parasailing, etc. are also open to tourists during these months on most of the popular beaches. Lots of music festivals including the Sunburn festival happen around December and January. If you like being in the crowd and are looking for fun party time, this is the time to go to Goa. Goa is considered to be one of the best places in India to enjoy Christmas and New Year season as the entire Goa is full of festivity. Weather in Goa Loading... Goa in Summer (March - June) Summers are not the ideal time to visit Goa. However, the advantages of visiting Goa in the off-season are cheaper accommodation and rates of food, booze, travel and absence of crowd and rush. Goa in Monsoon (July - September) Goa in monsoons could be quite the dampener. However, the flip side to being here this time is that all prices take a dip. You can also enjoy the trek to Dudhsagar Falls and see it in its best form. Goa in Winter (November - February) It is in the month of October that the monsoon starts to fade away and there is a slight chill in the atmosphere. The winter starts setting in from November. Due to proximity to the Arabian Sea, the winters are not harsh. The temperatures in winter are around 20-22 degrees Celsius. Monthly Weather in Goa Month Avg. Minimum (°C) Avg. Maximum (°C) January 15 32 February 18 33 March 19 35 April 21 37 May 23 35 June 22 29 July 22 28 August 21 29 September 21 29 October 19 30 November 17 32 December 17 32

Events in Goa Sufi Sutra International Sufi Music Festival By Kala Academy Goa 6th - 8th February Sufi Sutra is an annual peace music festival usually held in Kolkata, but this year saw it being extended to Goa as well. Several performers from different countries collaborated with rural Indian artists to create new, diverse trends in Sufi and traditional music and was a true delight indeed for all music lovers. Goa Carnival 2nd - 5th March A legacy of the years of Portuguese rule, the Goa Carnival has grown from a quiet event to a popular, large scale festival, attracting thousands of tourists from India and abroad. Spectacular and colourful floats parades are held in the popular cities of Goa. The atmosphere is infectious with the dances, musical events and the great food, all which are a major crowd puller. India Bike Week 24th - 25th November India Bike Week is an event which is considered to be the Biker's Heaven. It gives them the opportunity to meet and interact with bikers from all over the globe and share their personal stories and experiences. Also, there a Shigmo Festival 3rd March - 17th March Essentially a festival of masses, Shigmotsav marks the coming of the spring season in Goa. Dressed in flashy and colourful traditional costumes, the local folk groups give splendid dance performances. The float parade is the highlight of the festival. If you want to enjoy the true spirit of Goan culture, then join Goa during this festival. Igitun Chalne In Surigao May In this festival, thousands of dhonds, the devout fire-walking devotees of Goddess Lairaya, walk on burning coals so as to show their faith in the Goddess. It is held every year in May in the temple of Sirigao, about 30 kilometres from the capital Panjim. Water Sports Activities October - May If you're in Goa on vacation and you don't engage in any of the water sports activities, you're seriously missing out on something. There are several Water Sports Operators who offer all kinds of activities ranging from parasailing and windsurfing to scuba diving and water skiing. Calangute, Patolem and Grande Island are the places to be if you want to indulge in some water sports action. Sao Joao Feast, Across Goa (Siolim Particularly) 24th June One of the most celebrated Christian festivals in Goa, Sao Joao is the feast of St John the Baptist. Several customs are associated with this festival, the most popular being one in which the newly wed groom jumps into a well to impress his bride. In certain places, folk dances are performed and fruits and pleasantries are exchanged with one's friends and relatives. International Film Festival Of India -Iffi 20th - 30th November Since its inception in 1952, the International Film Festival has been one of the biggest of its type in India. It witnesses the coming together of film artists from all over the world, thus bringing together the diversity of the forms, aesthetics and contents. The main aim of the festival is to give exposure to Indian cinema and introduce it on the global platform.