Start your Indian holiday at Goa!

For many world travelers, India is the ultimate destination on their bucket list. A country saturated in history, culture and religion with endless landscapes and giant cities to be explored - it’s a tiring, confusing and wild, and yet a rewarding country to visit. For travelers who are ready to hit the giant subcontinent but aren’t looking to dive immediately into the deep end (like the major hubs of Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai), there’s a perfect destination for you. Only a short trip south from the west-coast hub of Mumbai is the coastal state of Goa: India’s tropical paradise. With beaches, a rich history, friendly locals and a laid-back atmosphere, Goa is the perfect starting point for your journey in India. 

Exploring North Goa

Goa is most easily explored when broken up into three regions: north, central and south. The Northern Goa scene (generally) runs from Vagator in the north down to Sinquerim in the south. Home to some of the safest beaches in the state, visitors can expect to find resort-packed waterfronts with thousands of foreign and domestic tourists (in the high season). Beaches, restaurants, bars and hawkers fill this northern Goa region, which is also famous for its peak season party vibe. If you’re looking for the traditional “hippie” Goa, the North is the region you should head for. Most foreigners frequent the Baga, Calangute and Candolim and Anjuna areas, where some of the most popular public beaches can be found.

Moving Down to Panjim and the Central Goa Region

The capital city of Goa, Panjim is where visitors will encounter the “Old Goa” scene. Filled with remnants from its colonial past, it’s best to explore this old fashioned region of Goa on foot, armed with your Goa tour guide. Here one will discover quaint alleys, loads of green spaces and colorful, colonial churches and buildings illustrating the streets. Top attractions in the Panjim area include the Old Goa Cathedral, Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Church, Kala Academy, 18^th June Road (tourist region) and the string of beaches dotting its coastal face (Miramar and Dona Paula are two local favorites). For an entirely different activity in the area, visit the Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary to spot both rare and endangered bird species, or head to the Spice Plantation for an encounter with elephants.

Moving South Along the Coast

Southern Goa is the most charming of the state’s regions. It’s filled with friendly small towns, less-crowded beaches, great (authentic) restaurant selections and some excellent inland activities and destinations. If you are looking for a quiet, secluded and relaxing vacation in Goa, this is the spot to go. Some of the best areas to visit along the southern Goa strip are Benaulim & Colva (loads of accommodation options here), Palolem (for both upscale resorts and ultra-budget options) and Patnem - for the quietest getaways of the area. For alternative activities (when beaching it gets a bit too tedious) the Mesolithic rock carvings of Pansaimol, Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary and the Cabo de Rama Fort ruins are some interesting day trips and excursions to take.

Looking to get a bit further out during your Southern Goa stay? A short bus or train ride will ferry you to Karnataka’s unforgettable beaches of Gokarna (Om and Half-Moon Beach are truly one of a kind!) With such a long stretch of coastline available, don’t settle for the first beach that you arrive at. Whether it’s resorts and partying or solitude and deserted sands you’re looking for, Goa can and will deliver.

When should you Go? November-February is the peak time to visit (for the most agreeable weather patterns), March-May is the hottest and most humid time (but less crowded), and the monsoons roll into the region between June and October.

Image Details and Licenses: https://flic.kr/p/aCGEYY (Sergi Hill, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) https://flic.kr/p/5tnd3S (Amit chacko Thomas CC by 2.0), https://flic.kr/p/ePaWJn (Eustaquio Santimano, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0),  https://flic.kr/p/5He1zT (Mikhail Esteves, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0),  https://flic.kr/p/kFNzyR (Sitabja Basu, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)