Things to do in Goa
Expansive beaches, delicious food and parties that last well into the night. The state of Goa on the west coast is indeed India , but slightly different.
Goa belonged to Portugal until 1962. And you notice that in the region that mainly attracts travelers with its beaches. The former Portuguese colony was not united with the rest of India until 1962. The link between east and west can be found everywhere. Here you eat Indian curry on a typical Portuguese terrace and you go to the Catholic church in your newly purchased Indian sari. Goa is a regular stopover on almost every tour of India.
Vacation Goa
Goa was known in the 1960s for the large number of hippies who moved to this region in India. Those hippies still live in Goa and live among the other 1.5 million inhabitants of the province.
Goa is now popular among a very wide range of travelers as a summer holiday destination. What do you want from Indian cuisine , the prospect of spiritual enlightenment, sun, sea and an endless stretch of coastline?
Palolem Beach
The beach is therefore Goa’s biggest draw. The most beautiful beaches can be found in the north of the province. Lie down on the golden sand between the tall palm trees and your relaxing holiday has begun.
While the beaches in the north are beautiful and wildly popular, it pays to travel a little further south too. At Palolem Beach you can enjoy the sun that burns on your skin with behind you brightly colored beach houses against a background of palm trees.
And although Indian women elsewhere prefer to bathe in their entire sari, in Goa, no one is surprised by a bikini or bathing suit anymore. Very nice if you like to lie on the beach in your bikini.
Goa: the sights
Anyone who spends their entire stay in Goa on the beach misses a lot. The hinterland is fertile and green with both rice terraces and fruit plantations, lowlands and hilly areas. On the hills that are closer to the sea, you can still find old Portuguese fortresses.
In the old town of Goa, the Portuguese started their trade in spices and exotic substances from their Indian territory. The city is still dotted with monumental Portuguese-style buildings. The largest church in Old Goa is Se Cathedral. Green fields and manicured gardens surround the white church in Southern European style.
The Basilica of Bom Jesus is a good example of Baroque architecture in India . The body of Fransiscus Xavier is kept in the basilica. This canonized missionary died on the way from India to China . The body only returned to India after two years. Still, according to legend, his remains still looked in prime condition.
Panjim
These churches are just a few examples of the architectural gems you will find in the old town of old Goa. Although the town of Goa is the center of the region in cultural and historical terms, it is not the capital of the province. That’s Panjim.
Some 200 years ago, Panjim was named the capital of the province of Goa and the city of Goa lost its status as a center of power. The provincial capital of Panjim is still a hub of activity against a backdrop of old-fashioned Portuguese architecture.
Goa is one of India’s richest provinces. Financial life, however, plays out more strongly along the coast and in Vasco da Gama. This is Goa’s largest city and a busy trading city. It is the economic center of the province, but a lot less interesting for travelers than the old town and the beautiful beaches.
Weather Goa
Summer is the best time to relax on Goa’s beaches. The weather forecast then sounds promising: warm and sunny with a calm sea. Perfect for swimming and diving. The high summer season in Goa runs from November to March.
If you go on holiday to Goa just before or after the high season, you will find quieter beaches and you will pay less for your accommodation in the Indian province. The seawater is sometimes too rough for swimming during that period and in April it can be very hot and humid.
What to do in Goa?
- Visit the weekly Anjuna flea market. Traders from all over South India flock to Goa’s northernmost village every Wednesday. Buy bracelets, incense and scarves. Don’t forget to haggle!
- Unwind on Palolem beach, one of Goa’s southernmost beaches that has retained its original beauty. Eat fresh fruit on a rented sunbed at one of the many beach bars while a herd of cows slowly pass by.
- From Panjim it is an hour by bus to Fort Aguada, an old Portuguese fort in the middle of Goa. On the edge of the fort walls you can marvel at the luxury resorts where the Indian jet set resides.
- Escape the busy trains and overcrowded buses and rent a motorbike. The otherwise hysterical Indian traffic is relatively quiet in Goa. On the motorbike you discover the relaxed life of Goa at your own pace.
- In Panjim you take a city walk through the clean streets. The Portuguese colonial past has left its mark on the houses and churches. Visit mass in the snow-white cathedral, Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception
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