ABOUT GOA

The tiny emerald state of Goa is an idyllic world which makes time speed by. Its people, culture, distinctive cuisine and the all important beaches make it a wonderful holiday destination. When you say 'Goa' what instantly comes to mind is a picture of a wide sunny beach, beautiful blue sky, swaying palm trees, sandy coves, and an unspoilt tranquility. Apart from its verdant landscape, inviting beaches and invigorating air, its long and varied history makes this short stretch of land so interesting. It is literally a island and a paradise combined.

WONDEFUL GOAN BEACHES

 Paradise indeed!, because Goa's 82 mile coastline has some of the world's best beaches. Though the beach area is rapidly getting built up, there are still vast areas of beautiful unspoilt almost virgin beaches to frolic. Deciding where to go can be difficult but if you are looking for plenty of company, Calangute, Baga ,Colva & Chapora have it all – a great beach, lots of people, beach front eating shacks and during the season (November to April)  - music and dancing. The more tranquil and silent beaches are Quieter Anjuna, Arambol  Vagator, Benaulim and Palolem a near deserted paradise. But no matter where you settle, the soft silversands of Colva hold out the promise of sheer enchantment. Benaulim is another beautiful beach of this part of Goa. Then there is Bogmalo beach, a stone's throw from the airport. A short drive from Panjim brings you to the tranquility of Siridao beach, a small, secluded beach that is a haven for shell collectors. Southernmost of Goa's beaches are the beautiful sands of Betul, with its aura of sublime peace. Many of the beaches now have well-developed beach resorts which enable you to combine the comforts. Bicholim Province is another that adds to the North of Goa. It delights travellers with Bicholim, Shri Datta Mandir, Vithal Mandir, Arvalem Caves and Waterfalls, Mayem Lake and not to miss the Saptakoteshwar Temple. South Goa comprising Sanguem Province that encloses Sanguem, Tambdi Surla Temple, Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary and the Dudhsagar  waterfalls.  

Old Goa:

The Procession of All Saints, on the fifth Monday in Lent, is the only procession of its kind outside Rome. Thirty statues of saints are paraded around Old Goa's neighbouring villages.

Museums and Art Galleries

Archaeological Museum and Portrait Gallery : Located in Old Goa, museum on history of Goa, Visiting hours 10 am to 5 PM, Friday closed

Archieves Museum of Goa : Located at Patto, Panaji, Visiting hours 1 pm and 1400 to 1730 hrs, Saturday closed

Museum of Christian Art, Rachol : Located in Old Goa, Visiting hours 930 to 5 PM, Monday closed

Renaissance Art Gallery : Located at Panaji, Visiting hours 930 - 5 PM

Goan food and drinks:

Goan food is an interesting blend of the Indian and the Portuguese. It is basically konkan, curry and chilly based, with plenty of cokum and coconut milk. Curries are given portuguese names like balchao, apa ade baweoro, fish balchao, mutton xacuti and reachardo. A 'must have' is the spicy goan sausage and the delicious 'bebinca', a coconut milk delicacy. The cuisine is basically  'non vegetarian' and spicy, though mild and vegetarian dishes abound. Most shacks on the beach will ask you how spicy you want your food to be and there are several options for the not so adventurous. Just ask for the kind of food you want, Goa has it all – The idyllic Goan life is as dependent on eating and drinking as the afternoon siesta. The local choice of drink is Feni, distilled from cashew or coconut pulp. I would recommend the cashew feni, which tastes wonderful. Experiment with it as a cocktail base. It blends itself to a great many interesting combinations.

Festivals and the carnival:

The Festival of Merry-Making - this colourful three-day Goan festival, celebrated just before Lent, personifies fun and frolic. The word carnival is said to be derived from the Latin 'caro' meaning meat, and 'vale', which translates to 'good-bye'. This evolved to become carnivale. Some also link it to carnislevamen or 'the pleasures of meat', focusing on its enjoyment during the festivities, before the abstinence that follows during Lent.. The Goa Carnival celebrated on the three days just before Lent, is an integral part of the Portuguese heritage of the state that was a dominion of Portugal till 1961. The carnival epitomises the fun-loving culture characteristic of Goa. It was introduced by the erstwhile rulers as a rowdy celebration in which flour, eggs, oranges, lemons, mud, sand-filled gloves along with dirty water, various liquids and glue were aimed at  passersby. Blows with brooms and wooden spoons were dealt out liberally. It was also an occasion for unchecked eating. People gorged on rich food at lavish feasts. Even the convents distributed cakes and pastries. The carnival in Goa has retained the core of these festivities, while adapting and amalgamating it with the local culture. Though it is celebrated for only three days, the preparations start many days in advance,and build up to a frenetic pitch by the eve of the carnival.    

A King of Chaos called King Momo is elected. He presides over the three-day festivities that attracts visitors from all over India and abroad. Street plays, songs, dances and impromptu skits mocking the establishment are performed before an enthusiastic and interactive audience. Various competitions are organised. Floats depicting popular lullabies and nursery rhymes make a whimsical and colourful addition to the streets. Cultural functions and competitions abound in the three days of revelry. The festival today has no religious undertones and has come to be a cultural highlight of the state rather than of religion.

Shopping

You can buy gifts, sovieniers and handicrafts from all over the country in Goa. Be it Tibetan Jewellery, gems, fur coats, ready to use powdered masalas, home made taddy vinegar (Kokum) or port wine, feni, cashew liquor you can get them throughout the length and breadth of the state.

Comelot : near Ribandar, for stylish interiors

Luisa : in cavellosim, South Goa

Wendell Rodricks : a famous boutique

Mapuca Friday Market : for touristy knick knacks, kokum, taddy vinegar, black jaggery, dried fish, prawns. Goan chilies (must buy), coarse sea salt etc etc.

River Cruises are a pleasurable exotic experience in Goa

Sunset Cruise ,Sundown Cruise ,Exciting Evening Cruise a one hour cruise including folk dances and live music Delightful Dolphin Cruise ,Breathtaking Backwater Crocodile Cruise etc

Aurvedic massages and health tourism: Ayurveda is an Indian system of natural cure. It promotes good health and beauty. It cures by eliminating the fundamental causes of diseases. Ayurvedic remedies work by removing toxins from the body. It is said that Ayurveda is as old as the world itself. Its very basis is the spiritual knowledge of the ancient seers. Goa has many such aurvedic massage centers which offer the best of authentic Kerala ayurvedic massages and treatment for many ailments A faster and deeper cleansing and re-balancing can be accomplished by using Ayurveda's traditional rejuvenation therapy. Commonly called Panch Karma. Ayurvedic rejuvenation therapy is the oldest scientific system for detoxification.

 Geographical Area:
3702 sq. kms

Altitude:
Sea level to 1,022 metres

Location:
Between latitudes 15° 48'00"N - 14° 53'54" N
& longitude 74° 20'13" E - 73° 40'33" E

Temperature:
Maximum: 34° C
Minimum: 20° C

Rainfall:
March-April: Traces
May - June: Moderate(About 400-500mm)
July-August: Maximum(About 1500-1800)
September-October: Moderate (About 200-400mm)

Languages Spoken:
Konkani, Marathi, Hindi, English and Portuguese.