Goa
Goa, a state on India's West coast, is a former Portuguese colony with a rich history. Spread over 3,700 km² with a population of approximately 1.4 million, Goa is small by Indian standards. It has a unique mix of Indian and Portuguese cultures and architecture that attracts an estimated 2.5 million visitors each year (including about 400,000 foreign tourists).
Goa is blessed with waterfalls (Dudhsagar, Amboli, Mangeli, Dodamarg) and ghats. Since the 1960s, Goa has been attracting a steady flow of visitors: first the hippies and returning expatriate Goans, then the charter tourists (starting with the Germans in 1987), pilgrims visiting Catholic and Hindu shrines, those opting to settle in Goa as their home, people going for medical treatment, and a growing number who attend seminars and conferences in Goa.
Regions
| North Goa (Bardez, Bicholim, Pernem, Ponda, Sattari, Tiswadi, Dharbandoda) The northern talukas. |
| South Goa (Canacona, Mormugao, Quepem, Salcete, Sanguem) The southern talukas. |
By Indian standards, Goa is a very small state with only two districts - North and South Goa. These districts are together further divided into 12 talukas. These divisions, however, don't make much sense for a traveller. North and South Goa are similar, and each has its own "coastal" and "interior" areas. The major division in Goa is between the central coastal areas where the beaches are, and the hinterland. The coastal areas were under colonial rule for longer, reflecting more of Portugal's influence, including having a relatively large Catholic population. The interior is more Hindu, and has more protected forest areas, mining zones and villages.
Cities
|
Goa's cities
For a state which claims to be "half urban", Goa has a surprisingly large number of villages. Even its "cities" are more like small, crowded (in Panjim's case, scenic) towns. No city has a population significantly more than 100,000, although some are close. The villages can be charming, and in a world of their own, though tourism and the real estate boom it engendered is seen by locals as destroying the very place the visitors come for. |
- 2 Mapusa — the town is in North Goa and around 13 km from Panji. Mapusa is one of the important market centres in Goa
- 5 Vasco da Gama — a populous town in the south Goa district of Marmagoa Taluka
Goa also has other smaller, charming and sometimes crowded towns such as those along the beach belt (Calangute, Candolim), and in the interior (Chaudi in Canacona, Sanvordem-Quepem, Bicholim, Pernem town, etc.) Some of these are gateways to the nearby touristic areas. In addition, Goa has nearly 350 villages, often scenic, with each having its own character.
Other destinations
- 1 The Garça Branca Ayurvedic Botanical Garden, Loutolim —
- 3 Mollem National Park
Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary and Mollem National Park is a pristine area diverse in flowering plant life and vegetation is habitat for many mammals, birds, butterflies and reptiles. The largest protected area in Goa. One can also find the Tambdi Surla Temple, Tambdi Falls and other attractions.
Understand
Goa's heart is in its villages. Prominent Goan architect Gerard Da Cunha has argued elsewhere that, unlike others, Goans don't live in the cities. They mostly live in the villages and they travel to work.
Not surprisingly, it's the villages of Goa which hold both charm and character. Living in Goa can be tough and slow, but holidaying there is just fine. Take an aimless ride on a relaxed evening or a languid morning, and surprise yourself with the charms of the Goan village.
Unlike urban areas, the villages tend to be neat and clean, friendly and even good value-for-money, except maybe in those areas where there are a lot of tourists already.
Goa has many different faces. The coast varies from the "hinterland". Some villages such as Assolna, Benaulim, Britona, Cortalim, Curtorim, Raia, Goa Velha, Mollem, Usgao, Reis Magos, Savoi Verem and Shiroda may offer something more unusual, but this list is far from complete. Villages such as these are often close to the places where most tourists stay, so a quest for accommodation is not likely to be a problem.
Goa is visibly different from the rest of India, owing to Portuguese rule which isolated it from the rest of India for 451 years. The Goan population is a mixture of Hindus and Roman Catholics, the distribution being approximately 65% Hindu and 24% Christian. There is also a smaller Muslim population. Despite this, communal violence has been virtually non-existent and Goa is regarded as one of the most peaceful states in India.
Goa's staple diet is fish, curry and rice.
Culture
Goan culture has been shaped mainly by the Hindu and Catholic population. People are mostly easy going ('sossegado' in Portuguese). With better connectivity by air and rail, there has been an influx of people from neighbouring states that has brought with it different cultures. Many Indians from other states have come and settled here.
Goan Catholics generally acknowledge their Hindu roots, and carry traces of a caste system within their social beliefs. It is recorded that in many instances the Hindus left one son behind to convert and thus continue to own and manage the common properties while the rest of the family preferred to emigrate to neighbouring areas along with the idols representing their Hindu deities.
Over the years large numbers of Catholics have emigrated to the major commercial cities of Bombay and Pune and from there onward to East Africa (to the then-Portuguese colonies of Angola and Mozambique), to Portugal, and towards the end of the 20th century to Canada and Australia. Many old Goan ancestral properties therefore lie either abandoned or mired in legal tangles brought about by disagreements within the widely dispersed inheritors of the property. Expat Goans have been returning to their home state, often purchasing holiday homes along the coast (which are then converted into 'rent back' apartments, hired out to short-staying tourists by agents).
The best time of the year to visit Goa is mid-November to mid-February when the weather is comfortable, dry and pleasant.
Arts & culture
Goa has a more than its fair share of museums, art galleries and libraries. You will find many government run museums in Panaji, including the Goa State museum, the Kala Academy, the Central Library and the Goa Science Centre. In Vasco da Gama, you can find the Naval Aviation Museum, a great place to see vintage aircraft.
Old Goa is a great place to see examples of Christian religious art, and sometimes, secular art. There you can find the Christian Art Museum and also a modern art gallery containing the works of surrealist Dom Martin. In Mormugao, you can find the Religious Museum of the Blessed Joseph Vaz. The Xavier Centre of Historical Research at Bardez also has a gallery on Christian Art.
Attracted by Goa's bohemian life, many artists, painters and architects have made their home here. They too have proceeded to set up art galleries and museums. An example of this is Subodh Kerkar's art gallery in Candolim. Benaulim also has the Goa Chitra Museum, containing the largest collection of ethnographic artifacts ever assembled in one place.
Goa has become India's creative hub, attracting contemporary artists, designers and creative coders and engineers. In this context, India's first Museum for Technology and Art, called Sensistan, chose Goa as its location. This museum features new media, light and sound installations, Virtual Reality applications and unique space design across 700 m² indoors and 1000 m² outdoors. This digital playground for all ages is located in Badem, Assagao, between Vagator and Chapora.
Other museums of note are Gerard da Cunha's architectural museum Houses of Goa in Benaulim, Big Foot(aka Ancestral Goa) at Loutolim, Salcette, an attempt to illustrate and recreate Goa's traditional past. There's even a vintage-cars collection of sorts -- Ashvek Vintage World, in Nuvem, Salcette
Goa's links with Portugal
Apart from the consulates there are cultural organizations active in Goa, with the Portuguese again being most active.
Fundação Oriente has a large presence in Fontainhas, the Latin quarter of Panjim, and sponsors cultural events that add variety to Goa's cultural scene. However, it faced some major problems when it was first set up. Goa's uneasy parting of ways with its former Portuguese rulers, and lingering ultra-nationalism amidst a section of freedom fighters could be seen as some of the reasons. The Fundação has also been subsidizing a book-publishing plan which has helped put out more Goa-related titles in what is otherwise a small but colorful market for books dealing with a tiny region of South Asia.
- Centro de Língua Portuguesa/Instituto Camões, AGVA House 9/32 Dr. Dada Vaidya Rd Panjim (Dr. Miguel Lume), ☏ +91 832 6647737, clpicgoa@gmail.com.
- Dempo Centre for Indo-Portuguese Studies, Dempo Trade Centre Patto Plaza Panjim (Ms. Isménia da Veiga Coutinho), ☏ +91 832 2437849, +91 832 2437850.
- Fundação Cidade de Lisboa, a Dias Building, 1st floor Rua de Ormuz Panjim (Dr. Jorge Renato Fernandes), ☏ +91 832 2223969.
- Fundação Oriente Delegation in India', ☏ +91 832 2230728, +91 832 2436108, fax: +91 832 2230291, oriente@sancharnet.in.
- Indo Portuguese Friendship Society (Francis Menezes, President / Gopal Vernekar, Secretary), Santosh Building, Altinho Panjim (near CBI Office), ☏ +91 832 2436875.
Public holidays
Goa has nearly two weeks of holidays each year. Government offices have a five-day week (closed Saturday-Sunday). Panjim closes early (around 8PM) each evening, and shops here could have a fairly longish siesta break (from around 1PM till up to 3:30PM). Goan shop owners take this siesta break seriously, and no business is conducted during this time. Bars, restaurants and other shopping centers are more buyer-friendly.
Major public or special holidays are around Christmas, Republic Day, Id-ul-zuha, Gudi Padva, Good Friday, Independence Day, Ganesh Chaturthi (both days), Gandhi Jayanthi, Dussehra, Diwali, Id-ul-fitr, Feast of St Francis Xavier, Goa Liberation Day, Mahashivratri, Holi and Id-e-milad. Banks may remain open during local religious celebrations.
Expect a huge influx of tourists and locals residing in other states during festivals like Ganesh Chaturthi and the Carnival, which is celebrated just before the beginning of Lent in the Christian calendar. It is advised to make bookings for trains, buses and flights well in advance if you intend on visiting the state during these times.
Goa remains green and beautiful because there are restrictions on buildings in green areas. Residential properties are crowded into marked zones and the green zone is always left undisturbed.
Read
- Goa Freaks: My Hippie Years in India by Cleo Odzer (1995). Cleo Odzer writes about her hippie years in Goa and her experiences.
- The Goa Inquisition by Anant Priolkar. This book by Anant Priolkar provides a very comprehensive account of the Goa Inquisition, an important period in the history of Goa. Bombay University Press. ISBN 978-0-8364-2753-0
Talk
Goa's state language is Konkani. Most Goans speak Konkani, English, Hindi, and Marathi. Portuguese is also known by a small segment, especially the elite and earlier privileged class or the older generation which studied in pre-1961 Portuguese-ruled Goa.
Different languages tend to be used for different purposes in Goa. Konkani is the most widely spoken. English and Marathi tend to be most widely read. Most newspapers are also published in these two languages.
Catholics largely use Konkani for their prayer services, while the language for religion for Hindus in the state is largely Marathi. The administration is largely conducted in English, which is also the language of publication of the official gazette and the language mainly used in the courts.
It can be rather difficult to learn Konkani. The language is written in four to five scripts, in and beyond Goa: Devanagari (the official script), Roman or Romi (widely used in Goa), Kannada-script, Malayalam-script and Perso-Arabic, reportedly used by some Muslim communities further south along the Indian west coast. Books to learn Konkani in the Roman script have also been published, making it easier for those not knowing the Devanagari script (used to write Hindi, Marathi and other languages) that is the officially-recognized script for Konkani in Goa.
Get in
Goa can be reached by its lone airport (Dabolim), by train, and by the many buses connecting the state with cities in India (primarily Mumbai, Mangalore and Bangalore). If you are travelling from Mumbai or Pune, car travel will provide you a journey through breathtaking scenery of the Konkan area.
By plane
The 1 Dabolim Airport 
(GOI IATA), in Vasco da Gama is Goa's only airport. Some airlines fly directly to Goa, but most international flights arrive via Mumbai. Air India has international flights to Kuwait and UAE twice a week. Air Arabia has discount flights to Sharjah. Qatar Airways has flights to Doha, along with convenient connections to Western Europe, Africa and USA.
Flights can be chartered to the United Kingdom, Germany, Russia and Switzerland.
Many domestic airlines have daily flights to and from Bangalore, Delhi, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Pune, Chennai, Jaipur, Ahmedabad and Kozhikode (Calicut).
On arrival, take pre-paid taxis from Dabolim Airport. A yellow pre-paid taxi booth can be found 30 m on the left when you exit the main building. There is also a pre-paid taxi stand in the international arrival area. Rates are slightly cheaper than the yellow cabs.
Many resorts pick up guests from the airport for free, so make sure you ask your resort for free pick-up.
By bus
There are bus routes from various cities, but most traffic is from Mumbai and Pune. Due to increasing demand from the south, there has been an increase in buses and trains from Mangalore and Bangalore. Overnight buses from Mumbai to Goa are an alternative to trains and flying. Book in advance during the crowded seasons (particularly during the Christmas-New Year rush, for Carnival, or when other Indian regions have school holidays when families travel).
Kadamba Transport Corporation is the Goa state-run transport service. Its buses have seen better days, and more efficient times. There are also other state-run buses run by the governments of Karnataka (some services are efficient, specially the Volvo buses), Maharashtra, and Andhra Pradesh. Many private players also offer bus connections to other cities, with varying levels of discounts and efficiency, with the two usually being inversely related.
Some of the more efficient private operators with well timed , well connected and clean services is VRL (Vijayanand Road Lines) based from Karanataka. They have a well connected and systematic service for passenger and cargo along the Konkan coastal belt and between the Western-Eastern-Southern states of India. Book online on their well maintained website VRL Travels Online booking
The main centre for booking train and bus tickets, in Panjim, is around the Kadamba inter-state bus terminus. Tickets for the Konkan Railway can also be booked here, though expect long queues during the holiday season (which in India, can also coincide with the timings when children have a school break).
By train
Indian Railways connects Goa with direct train services from Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Mangalore, Kochi, Kolkata, Thiruvanantapuram, Bangalore, Chennai and Hyderabad. The destination station is usually Madgaon in South Goa. Travelling to Goa by train is a real pleasure as the route passes through greenery and many tunnels. Goa is also connected to Pune via the Belgaum Miraj line.
A railway station some tourists tend to miss is Thivim, which is served by most trains and is 20 minutes away from Calangute beach by taxi. For budget travellers, this is the cheapest option, along with being faster and much more comfortable than travelling by road. It is advisable for tourists to make reservations well in advance as the major trains such as; Konkan Kanya and the Nethravati Express are usually heavily booked.
Trains from Mumbai and most other places have a quota of seats set aside for tourists. Quota tickets must be purchased in person at the rail station by the tourist and cannot be booked via a travel agent. Quota tickets are only sold at the station of origin. Tickets can be booked online.
Unless travelling on a shoestring budget, it is advisable to travel in air-conditioned sleeper coaches. These are quieter and much more comfortable. Each bunk is provided with two freshly laundered sheets, a blanket, and a pillow. You can also have a hand towel on request.
Most travel agents will book tickets for a small fee (₹200), but trains do get busy and you need to book in advance. Do not leave booking your ticket to the last moment as you may be disappointed. It is convenient to book online on IRCTC site, reservations open up four months in advance.
Travelling by train can be quite an experience as you are more likely to interact with Indians visiting Goa from different parts of the country, under more relaxed conditions.
See also Rail travel in India
By car
By ferry
Occasional cruise services used to sail from Mumbai to Goa, but these were discontinued because of security concerns and unpredictable weather and are unlikely to resume.
Get around
High resolution maps are not available for Goa. For example, some popular isles are not shown in many maps.
Parts of Goa lack sign boards, so finding your way around could be challenging. When in doubt just ask; usually people are friendly and helpful, but don't expect accurate answers (a so-called 'five-minute drive' could take twenty minutes).
When driving, expect surprises like domestic animals and little children darting across the road, unmarked speed breakers and speed bumps.
By motorbike
There is a choice of manual and automatic gearbox motorbikes and scooters to be rented (typically without helmets). Those planning to stay long may consider buying one instead. Rentals are around ₹300 a day (₹200 in non-peak season) for a Honda Activa scooter and a little more if one is looking for a geared motorcycle. Many small roadside shops sell petrol at ₹75 per litre, while the going rate at a station (these are hard to locate in the coastal areas) is around ₹65 per litre.
For the motorbikes, always ask for a discount if renting long-term (one month or more). You should not have to pay more than ₹100 per day. Ensure that you have all the ownership documents of the bike. Also, avoid taking motorbikes with yellow plates out of Goa, as it is a punishable offence. Hiring a bike with white plates is acceptable for local travel in the immediate vicinity but if you want to travel further afield then always rent a bike with yellow plates.
Wearing a crash helmet is compulsory when you go on any major roads (there is a ₹100 fine for not wearing one). Foreigners will need an International Driving Permit (Convention 1949); this is the first thing police will ask you for if stopped. You should also carry your normal driving licence with you.
By bus
Travelling by bus in Goa is extremely convenient as the road network easily connects all the places in Goa with roads. State Transport Corporation and private buses are available which serve transport services in major locations.
Despite the off schedule service, noise and overcrowd, there is some unique charm in travelling by private buses which are designed with colourful local characters.
Buses are an inexpensive and fares are often around ₹4-6. ₹10-15 for a 30-40 km ride.
By car
There are many car hire companies available, both for self-driving and cars with driver, and online taxi bookings are also available throughout Goa. As of 2016, rentals cost around ₹1,200 a day for Innova and around ₹3,500 for tempo traveler, ₹4,500 for Camry and little more for others.
By taxi
If you don't have a driving license, and are not allowed to hire bikes and cars, you can opt for taxi. In Goa you will easily get taxi services outside of a hotel, or can book online taxi booking. There is no taxi service from companies like Ola or Uber for booking taxi in Goa.
See
Art & culture
Goa has more than its fair share of museums, art galleries and libraries. You will find many government run museums in Panaji, including the Goa State museum, the Kala Academy, the Central Library and the Goa Science Centre. In Vasco da Gama, you can find the Naval Aviation Museum, a great place to see vintage aircraft.
Old Goa is a great place to see examples of Christian religious art, and sometimes, secular art. There you can find the Christian Art Museum and also a modern art gallery containing the works of surrealist Dom Martin. In Mormugao, you can find the Religious Museum of the Blessed Joseph Vaz. The Xavier Centre of Historical Research at Bardez also has a gallery on Christian Art.
Attracted by Goa's bohemian life, many artists, painters and architects have made their home here. They too have proceeded to set up art galleries and museums. An example of this is Subodh Kerkar's art gallery in Candolim. Benaulim also has the Goa Chitra Museum, containing the largest collection of ethnographic artifacts ever assembled in one place.
Other museums of note are Gerard da Cunha's architectural museum Houses of Goa in Benaulim, Big Foot(aka Ancestral Goa) at Loutolim, Salcete, an attempt to illustrate and recreate Goa's traditional past. There's even a vintage-cars collection of sorts -- Ashvek Vintage World, in Nuvem, Salcete The Latin Quarter of Panjim or Fontain has many heritage buildings, some preserved in their original condition.
Beaches
Goa is famous for its beaches, ancient temples and churches, and the Goan carnival.
- Agonda — also known as Turtle Beach, in the south.
- 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 too "crowded" for them. It is still the venue of a (vastly-changed and more mainstream) flea market held each Wednesday. In the nearby village of Arpora, two colourful Saturday night bazaars are held in the non-monsoon seasons. This is still part of "alternative" Goa, though charter and other tourists also visit in increasing numbers to "get a feel of the hippy years".
- Arambol beach — a quiet beach in North Goa near Pernem. Not too many facilities in terms of hotels or eateries. The water is shallow and good for swimming.
- Asvem beach — quieter beach in extreme north Goa's Pernem Taluka.
- Baga beach — family beach and charter tourist destination just outside Calangute.
- Benaulim beach
- Calangute beach — queen of all Beaches in Goa. Once highly rated. Now crowded. Expect traffic jams along the main crowded street. This beach is full of Indian tourists, provides a lot of noise, a lot of souvenirs, and some water sports beggars. You won't get peace here, but it does have many famous clubs, and some nice dining options.
- Candolim and Sinquerim — beaches in North Goa's Bardez taluka. Once humble fishing villages. Now the crowded concretised coast of North Goa. Goa's Benidorm. Or quickly getting to be as crowded.
- Chapora — 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, amid protests from traditional fishermen, who were affected by them) bring in their catch. Dil Chahta Hai Movie's one song was shot at this fort. Although in pretty damaged state, Chapora fort offers mesmerising views of sea and both beaches. It's a bit difficult to find the way to the fort, but bikers won't mind it. Built on a hill top, fort offers some resistance for climbing up.
- Colva beach — known for its scenic beauty. This is part of Salcete, Goa's only Catholic majority sub-district. Once a very hospitable area, now relations are getting monetised thanks to tourism. Salcete's beach stretch starts with Velsao beach and ends at Betul which is where the Leela and Holiday Inn hotels are. The other popular beaches on this stretch are Utorda, Majorda, Arrosim, Benaulim and Varca. The Southern beaches are beautiful, quieter and have a lesser number of shacks. It is easier to enjoy the natural scenic beauty of the Goa here versus the beaches in the Northern part of the state that are more commercialized. The southern beaches are more family geared and generally cleaner and more beautiful.
- Mandrem beach — in the extreme north Goa's Pernem Taluka.
- Morjim beach — a beautiful beach, inhabited by Russian tourists. This place is popular among kitesurfers due to the shallow depth of the sea and a very wide beach. Prices are high, with many restaurants offering Russian cuisine. Nightlife is vibrant here.
- Palolem beach — southernmost beach in Goa, situated in Canacona taluka. Scenic and quiet with nearby islands. Good eating options. It is becoming pricey (by local standards) and getting a bit crowded, but still less crowded compared to other popular beaches.
- Patnem beach — small and quiet beach in Canacona Taluka.
- Vagator beach — in Bardez, neighbouring Anjuna. Frequented by Western backpackers and home to raves.
Wildlife sanctuaries and others
- 1 Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary, ☏ +91 832 2612211. With an area of more than 240 km², this is one of the largest protected wildlife regions in Goa.
- 2 Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary. Sambar, gaur (Indian bison) and wild boar, amongst other animals. Elephants have also been spotted here at times.
- 3 Butterfly Conservatory Of Goa, Rajnagar, Pisgal, Priol, Ponda (Near Surya Masala Factory, en route Tropical Spice Plantation), ☏ +91 832 2985174. 9AM-3:30PM. Conservation project open for visitors. Watch free flying butterflies and an unique rain water harvesting experiment. ₹100.
- 4 Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary. If you want to see forest with rare plants and tall tree where hardly any light can reach to the ground then Cotigo Sanctuary is the place you should visit.
- 5 Dr. Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary. Though it remains open throughout year, one can visit this place only after getting permission from Chief Wild Life Warden, Forest Department, Junta House, Panaji.
- 6 Dudh Sagar Waterfall (दूधसागर जलप्रपात ದೂದ್ ಸಾಗರ್ ಜಲಪಾತ). With a mighty height of 600 m from top to bottom, the Dudh Sagar Waterfall attracts constant visitors throughout a year.
Do
- Carnival. Held in mid-February, just before Lent, the four-day event features lively processions, floats, the strumming of guitars, graceful dances and non-stop festivity.
- Diving — the season is between mid October to mid May. Diving is not possible during the monsoons in India (June till mid October). The water temperature is 27-30⁰ C. The local diving consists of dive sites around Grande Island, just off the coast near Vasco da Gama. The dive sites are mostly 12-16 m deep, visibility varies through the season with an average of around 5-6 m. Marine life is abundant, with many species of reef fish, hard and soft coral, and several shipwrecks to dive. Several dive centres conduct PADI courses, and organize dive trips to Pigeon Island (also known locally as Netrani Island) in the neighbouring state of Karnataka.
- Jet-ski — also banana ride and paragliding. Goa has one of the cheapest beach adventure sports rates. Head to Anjuna or Baga beach during daytime and you will find many small group of vendors offering these. If in a small group, with adequate bargaining and luck, you can bargain to around ₹800-1,000 (off season) for a 10-min jet-ski ride, 15-min banana ride and a 15min paragliding session, for each person. These activities are also available on less popular beaches and you could get a bargain there as compared to popular beaches where demand exceeds supply.
- Kitesurfing — not the best place in the world to try kite surfing, but it still has something to offer. Check Morjim, Arambol and Aswem beaches in North Goa. You can find instructors in Morjim, that take ₹8,000-12,000 for beginners course. 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 10-14 m² kites. Water is choppy most of the time, don't expect wave riding.
- Bungee Jumping &mdash at Mayem lake.
- Paragliding — check Arambol beach in North Goa for tandem paragliders.
- Relax at the beaches — Goa has an almost unbroken 70 km coastline of beaches. Don't forget to carry suntan, towels and chappals along when hitting the beach. Beachbeds can be hired for ₹100 per hour, bargain for a free beach bed if you are ordering snacks from the shack.
- Trekking and camping — October to December is the perfect time to go trekking in Goa. The Goa Hiking Association in Panaji organizes a major trekking program in October each year. The Goa Branch of the Youth Hostel Association of India also runs Trekking expeditions and Family camping trips in Goa every December. Some recommended places to trek and hike to include the Sahyadri Hills, Devils Canyon and the Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary in Mollem, the Chandrasurya Temple in Netravali (2 hr south of Panaji), and the Kuveshi Falls to Castle Rock just over the border in Karnataka state.
Volunteering
|
Be aware
Indian visa regulations insist that you now can only volunteer with an Employment Visa (ie; not on a Tourist Visa), even if you contract to provide totally unpaid work. Depending on your country, this can be expensive. |
- Volunteering Goa, based in Porvorim (on the main Panjim-Mapusa highway (NH17)), ☏ +91 860 5458574, info@volunteering-goa.com. You can experience the real Goa while helping in projects in orphanages, nature centres, animal rescue and charity shops.
Buy
Most of the Aparant outlets are open 9:30-10AM and then close around 6PM, depending on their location.
From wines to cashew-nuts, enchanting local music to alternative books and handicrafts, Goa has a lot. Goa's handicrafts are clearly under-rated and under-appreciated, even while being reasonably priced. Their range includes carved furniture, brassware, crochet and more (see section on the government-run Aparant emporia).
Global items come in amazing diversity specially at the night markets of North Goa. In Panjim, the 18th June Rd is faster emerging as a lure for shoppers and tourists. Mapusa, while hosting a traditional market each Friday, attracts a number of tourists, specially foreigners. Goa's talented goldsmiths are neatly lined up at Mapusa's market, and in parts of Margao and Panjim. Check out traditional Goan lacquer-ware toys (available at the Aparant emporia). There is a flea market at Anjuna.
Health tourism, foreign tourists increasingly go "shopping" for medical services. There are a number of outlets that offer a form of 'health tourism'. These include centres like Dr Pimenta's Dental Practice at Romano Chambers (near the Old Petrol Pump in Calangute) and Lake Plaza near Nehru Stadium in Margao.
Handicrafts
The Aparant network of outlets are managed by the State-run Goa Handicrafts network. In their 10 outlets across Goa you may find an interesting range of handicrafts from Goa. Items range include shell-work, ceramic, bamboo, paper mache, coconut-items and fibre. If visitors have a problem with carrying back some the (more fragile) handicrafts home, then fibre is a good choice. Four outlets are in Panjim, at Vasco da Gama, (on Swatantra Path, at the Vasco Residency) and at the local GTDC-run "residency" hotels in Margay, Mapusa, Calangute, the Bicholim Pottery Production Centre at the Industrial Estate, and at Loutolim's Big Foot.
In Panjim, the other outlets of Aparant are at the Udyog Bhavan, (opposite the Goa Police Headquarter, near the Ferry Jetty); at the main Kadamba bus-terminus; and at the Crafts Complex office of the Goa Handicrafts in Neugi Nagar, (Rua de Ourem). The largest number of items are available at the last location, about 2.5 km from the centre of town.
Products of dry coconuts and coconut-shells are carved and often designed to fit on a wooden base. Items produced include table lamps, flower pots, table clocks, different religious statues and decorative items.
Crochet items of beautiful designs and shapes. Likewise, sea-shells that were once discarded by the beach get transformed by artisans. Traditional ceramics include pots, ash-trays, flower pots andimages of gods. Same for the case of bamboo products.
A few of these items are produced in-house at the Goa Handicrafts' centre in Bicholim. Others come from artisans across the state. This network has done a fair job in highlighting the skills of geographically scattered local artisans, and also finding them the market to help sustain their talents.
Hand-painted ceramics, Goa has its own unique product.
Furniture, is another area of interest, in terms of shopping options. Despite its bulky nature antiques are also a growing business.
Eat
The Goan staple diet consists of rice and fish curry along with pickles and fried fish. This can be found on many of the beach shacks. The Goan cuisine is a blend of Portuguese and local flavours. Many dishes such as prawn balchao and kingfish in garlic have distinct Portuguese flavour. The cuisine is mostly seafood based, the staple foods are rice and fish. Kingfish (vison or visvan) is the most common delicacy, others include pomfret, shark, tuna and mackerel. Among the shellfish are crabs, prawns, tiger prawns, lobster, squid and mussels.
Dishes such as vindaloo, dopiaza, xacuti (pronounced "chacuti") and cafreal will be familiar from Indian restaurant menus abroad, and are typical Goan dishes. Bebinca is a traditional Goan layered pudding which can be found "home made" at certain hotels.
Most beaches have shacks that serve surprisingly delicious meals, especially seafood. They will usually consult you to see how you like your food. Don't miss the shack eating experience. Most fancy hotels and restaurants serve terrible food, it is best to eat at local places; ask a taxi driver where these would be and don't let him take you to any fancy restaurants as they receive commission.
Some good restaurants are:
- Britto's Bar & Restaurant, North Goa, (off Baga/Calangute)
- Florentine's
- German Bakery, Anjuna, North Goa
- O Coqueiro, Porvorim
- Souza Lobo Bar & Restaurant, North Goa, (off Calangute)
Drink
|
Fenifacts
North Goa dominates cashew production, while the South dominates coconut.
|
For a destination which tends to be costlier -- in almost everything -- than the rest of India, Goa has liquors and wines that are priced noticeably low. Products available range from wine (red and white), to the oddly-named Indian-made foreign liquors (IMFLs, which include whisky, brandy, rum, gin, vodka and more), and local liquors (basically cashew and coconut feni). Prices of domestic products range from ₹40 to ₹350 per bottle, depending on product and brand.
Feni
There are two local brews long made and drunk in Goa: cashew feni and coconut feni. One comes from the cashew apple, and the other from the sap of the coconut tree. Goa's feni-making has been much focussed on.
Feni-brewing skills have been honed by Goa's former Portuguese rulers. The cashew was brought in by the Portuguese, and today it seems like a closely integrated part of Goa. Cashew-apples go to waste in neighbouring states, and in the fruiting season, one could get a strong smell of semi-fermenting apples being transported specially from Maharashtra into Goa, at locales close to the border.
Feni has come to become synonymous with Goa. "Indigenous alcoholic drinks include coconut palm toddy from south and eastern India and the Goan liquor 'feni' based on coconut palm juice or cashew nut," explains the website of the Indian Embassy in Russia.
Feni has a own strong taste, and some like it but some don't. At one of the liquor outlets in Panjim, you can run into bus-loads of tourists picking up souvenirs of feni.
Wine and other products
Of course, there are a range of other options too. Local wines are priced at between ₹40-150 per bottle (of 750 mL).
Goa hosts the "Grape Escape", a festival of wines, around the start of each year, often held in mid-February.
Global Spirits and Foods, which operates out of the Pilerne Industrial Estate some 10 km from Panjim, wholesales a wide range of products from around the globe. Champagne and cognac from France; wines from Argentina, Chile, Australia and New Zealand; vodka from Poland; single malt from Scotland; and even the most popular distilled alcoholic beverage of Brazil Cachaca. (Cachaça is the product of the distillation of fermented sugarcane juice, with its alcohol strength between 38-51% (alcohol by volume). It is often said to differ from rum in that it is made from sugarcane juice while rum is made from molasses.)
In terms of local products, Madame Rosa has also been diversifying into coffee and other liqueur. Flavours include mango, anise, almond and chocolate mint. PVV (Pedro Vincent Vaz), another prominent brand, comes out with its cashew and palm products (in sizes of 750 ml, 180 ml and 60 ml). Other brands have names like Dom Pedro, Goan Treasure, Cashew Inside, Fruit Shape, among others.
Sleep
Goa is one of the more expensive states in India to stay in. During the peak season, which lasts from November to late March, the prices are very high. Especially in December, 5-star hotel rates range from around ₹20,000—35,000 per night. All tourist spots charge more in the peak season.
Huts/shacks are an economical and fun option to consider. These can be found in small Vagator which is up the road from Anjuna beach, prices range from ₹400-600 and you get a whole hut with a double bed, lock, towels and an attached bathroom with toilet. These shacks are closed during the monsoon.
The last week of the year, between Christmas and New Year the place is usually completely packed. Try to avoid that overhyped week and you will get a better deal without the added pressures.
Cope
The Central Library is in the old-style colonial Institute Menezes Braganza in Panjim. Don't miss the rare books section. There are also the municipality libraries in the main towns, including 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 nextdoor 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.
Money
Goa has a large network of banks, some of which will change currency. In the tourist pockets and urban areas, one comes across such services easily.
- Reserve Bank of India's Foreign Exchange Department, 3A/B Sesa Ghor, Patto in Panjim, ☏ +91 832 2438656, +91 832 2438659, fax: +91 832 2438657.
Leading hotels, shops and travel agents will also offer foreign currency exchanges.
Connect
Phones
Country code here is +91 (India), Goa is 832, or 0832 if the country code is not prefixed.
Goa's telephone directory hasn't been published for several years. In a state with among the highest teledensities (phones per hundred users) across India, this is a serious handicap. Old telephone directories have segregated phone subscribers on the basis of the many small phone exchanges in the State. (Previously, it needed a trunk-call to call from one exchange to the other, but at least this is not the case now.) So it can be very confusing to locate a particular phone number. However if you do have a phone number for the BSNL Co., then getting the address is easy by dialing 197.
Add to this the reality that the telephone network in Goa is frequently growing, and that telephone numbers have grown from four-digits to the current seven in not too many years, finding the right number you need can be tough.
Goa's main telecom ISP BSNL has an online telephone directory which is somewhat useful.
The Government of Goa's Department of Information and Publicity (at Udyog Bhavan, near Azad Maidan and the Goa Police Headquarters in the heart of Panjim) comes out fairly regularly with an under-priced -- but not easily available -- pocketbook of phone numbers. This focuses largely on politicians, government officials and media persons. Some useful fax numbers, email addresses and websites mentioned here. But don't expect officials to reply to your e-mail!
Yellow pages are also available. To inquire about local businesses contact Hello 2412121 (0832-2412121), The Talking Yellowpages Of Goa and Online Enquiry Hello Yellowpages Goa. Both these services from Hello Group Goa offer information on a range of businesses in Goa.
Mobile services have grown fast in Goa.
It is fairly easy to get a Prepaid mobile SIM card. It will cost around ₹100, just take a copy of your passport (visa page, entry stamp and photo page) and two passport photos to a phone shop and away you go. It is worth thinking about cost and coverage if you are travelling around India as once you leave Goa and travel to another state you then pay roaming charges for all calls. It is still cheap though. A single text to the UK from Goa costs ₹10 and calls cost about ₹12 a minute.
Internet
Internet cafes can be found in Goa's urban areas, tourist spots and hotels. It is not difficult to find an internet centre in a state known for its large expat and tourist population. ID has to be presented and foreigners will need to present their passport before being allowed to use the internet.
Stay safe
Be careful when wading at the beach as undertow riptide currents can be strong in certain beaches. Avoid the mouths of all rivers (such as the Mandovi River at Miramar), especially at low tide when the flow of the water current out to sea is the strongest. And just don't get into the water at all in the off season. The safe swimming period in Goa is November to early May.
Avoid contact with unprocessed cashew nuts as they contain an irritant ('urusiol') also present in poison ivy. The cashew apple is edible when ripe.
Goans are very friendly and helpful; should you have any problems, talk immediately to the nearest Goan shop, restaurant or bystander and ask for help.
Travel guides can be expensive and have been known to dupe foreign visitors. Beware of guides offering to take you to a disco with lots of attractive girls, who will dance with you. This is a sucker scam to cheat you of your money.
Befriend a decent taxi driver and agree on regular business.
Temperatures in winter and summer can be extreme, so do not forget sunscreen.
Any scam that offers a free ride in return for a "prize" will be guaranteed to disappoint.
Beware the 'ear doctors', who are more likely to accost men than women and 'produce' some tiny revolting creature, supposedly from your ear, for which they then offer a 'cure' It is, however, humorous to read the cards they print up promoting themselves.
While travelling by train, beware of pickpockets, strangers who offer you snacks or tea, and other such people who make trains in India a regular hunting ground. Make sure not to take off your footwear in non A/C coaches or you might not have anything to wear next morning. The same goes with all your valuables.
Don't trust travel agents who say that a train is fully booked. They want you to hire a car that costs more and provides them a kick back. A better thing to do is to check out the details yourself on the Indian Railways website. Also, you can book your railway ticket online.
Don't go in cheap disco clubs, which are mostly in Calangute, Baga and Anjuna. They steal your money and put you in trouble. The rates are mostly around 500 INR; avoid this.
Emergency services
Goa now has a number — ☏ 108 for medical emergencies. This service is run by the GVK EMRI (Emergency Management and Research Institute) and is based out of Goa Medical College (Bambolim) and has ambulances posted at various parts of Goa. These ambulances are fully equipped and have trained paramedics.
Go next
- Amboli — around 130 km from Goa, Amboli is one of the most preferred destinations for visitors, especially for honeymooners. It is in Maharashtra and features several spots such as Hiranyakeshi Temple, Nagatta Falls, Bauxite mines and Shirgaonkar.
- Gokarna — around 132 km from Goa and exact replica of Goa. It is surrounded with plethora of beaches like Kundle Beach, Paradise Beach, Om Beach and Gokarna Beach. Gokarna is also known as Rudra Yoni, where confluence of two rivers called Aghanashini and Gangavali takes place.
- Ratnagiri — The scenery of this place has been demonstrated by an integration of good civilization and natural geography. Ratnagiri is 250 km from North Goa and features deep valleys, green hills, and paddy fields. There is something unique for every visitor to enjoy and discover here.
- Sawantwadi — It is surrounded by spectacular greenery and range of hills 100 km from Goa. At Sawantwadi, you may come across amazing wildlife including tigers, leopards and wild boars. This place is recognized for its artwork including chitrakathi, kalasutri, bamboo work and other wooden products.