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Goa- the name conjures up images of sun-baked sands, heady feni, and palm fronds
waving in a cool sea breeze. All that may sound a wee bit clichéd, but Goa definitely
isn’t. One of India’s hottest destinations for well over two decades now, Goa
was- and still is- where everybody goes to party. A sunkissed land dotted with coconut
trees and rice fields; old Portuguese churches and the prettiest of beaches- where
February means Carnival and every day is an occasion for celebration. |
Goa’s beaches
are where much of the action is; some of the best beaches in India, these are the major
reason why Goa attracts so many thousands of tourists- Indian and foreign- every year. The
state’s beaches stretch all along the coastline, from the northern border with
Maharashtra right down to the south, where peaceful stretches like Palolem are a godsend
for anybody looking for an escape from the crowds.
The three main
areas where Goa’s best beaches are concentrated include Mapusa, Panaji and Margao.
Along most of the major beaches are resorts, hotels, cottages, restaurants and souvenir
shops by the dozen, and usually an interesting flea market as well. All of which means
that you can get a fairly complete vacation- with accommodation, dining, entertainment and
shopping- all on one beach. What more could one ask for?
Best time
to visit
Goa is a year-round destination, but the best time to go is in winter, between late
October and early April. The winter weather is balmy, the days are sunny and the nights
cool, especially on the beach. The summers are very hot and humid and it rains heavily
from June to August, making it unsafe to swim.
The carnival period
in the month of February through to early March is another peak time, attracting a lot of
tourists to Goa. It is a great season with parades, pageants and merrymaking late into the
night.
Access
Goa is well connected to Mumbai and other major cities by air, rail, road and a limited
catamaran service, the latter only from Mumbai. Dabolim Airport, 30 km from Panaji, is the
only airport in the state, but it’s got plenty of flights coming from the rest of the
country.
Goa is also well
connected by train, with Margao being the main station for the Konkan Railway plying
between Maharashtra and Karnataka. Trains come in from Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore,
Trivandrum and other major cities of the country. National Highways link Goa with other
cities and there are regular overnight coaches and buses. Driving down from Mumbai is also
a good idea, since its useful to have a vehicle in Goa.
The best way to get
around Goa is to hire a vehicle, as public transport systems can be a bit unreliable:
there are no metered taxis and the bus service is erratic. Riding pillion on motorcycle
taxis is extremely popular and inexpensive. You can also rent cars or two-wheelers for the
day.
Accommodation
Options for accommodation are virtually unlimited in Goa and you can find a room to fit
any budget. There are luxury hotels in prime locations near the beach, holiday resorts,
tourist bungalows, beach shacks, dormitories and paying guest accommodation with local
families. Also available are hostel and dormitory style accommodation that is
perfect for students and backpackers on tight budgets. All three areas- Margao, Mapusa and
Panaji- have low-priced, state-run GTDC tourist hotels. Most tourists prefer to stay
around the beaches in north or south Goa.
Book in advance
during peak season, as accommodation can get very scarce at this time.
Mapusa, in the northernmost part of Goa,
is the state’s main market town. The administrative capital of Bardez Taluka, Mapusa
is 13 km south of Panaji.. The town's name, pronounced `Map-sa’, after the Konkani
words for `measure’ and `fill’, is an indication of its commercial nature.
Besides being a busy market town, Mapusa is conveniently close to some of Goa’s most
popular beaches.
Calangute: About 8 km south from Mapusa, Calangute is Goa's most popular beach, a highly
commercialised but sizzling beach that offers good sunbathing, passable swimming and the
most delicious food along the coast. Though the beach itself is not spectacular, and the
coarse golden sand drops steeply creating an undertow, there is something about Calangute
that attracts the Indian tourist and Western sun-worshipper alike.
Baga: A
happening beach 10 km west of Mapusa, crescent-shaped Baga is less crowded than Calangute,
but comparatively safer for swimming. Baga has soft white sand and a green backdrop of
paddy fields. Baga is popular for water sports - parasailing, jet skiing, body boarding
and surfing, though the waves aren't good enough for the professional surfers. Another hit
with tourists are the dolphin cruises on a boat out at sea, bringing you within touching
distance of these smiling creatures. Baga's nightlife is more sophisticated than
Calangute's, with music, dance and wine.
Anjuna: The
"hip" beach that has lived up to its swinging reputation since the 70s, Anjuna
has traditionally been a rave centre and attracts partygoers and backpackers to its famous
beach parties, especially around the Christmas-New Year season. Anjuna's golden sands and
tall coconut palms make the beachfront a pretty hangout place and the sea is safe for
swimming.
Small Vagator and Big Vagator: A little
ahead of Anjuna lie the two Vagators - the big and the small
Vagators. Both are secluded, palm fringed, quiet places tucked away in the northernmost
tip of Mapusa. Small Vagator is a small cove - its fine silver sands and
rocky sea shore surrounded by black laterite cliffs.The main Vagator beach (Big
Vagator) is overshadowed by the 500 year old Portuguese fortress of Chapora that
sits atop a rocky outcrop.
Arambol: Way off to the north, near the border
with Maharashtra, lies Arambol (also called Harmal), pretty but not overcrowded.
Arambol’s stretches of soft white sand would be just what the doctor ordered for your
peace of mind. It is also the paradise for the hippies, as there are regular
"trance" parties and even "full moon" parties.
Also near the Maharashtra border is Querim beach (pronounced
‘Keri’) an idyllic beach but with barely any facilities or supplies available.
Equally peaceful and bereft of logistics are Mandrem (just south of Arambol) and Morgim
(Morji), on the Chapora estuary. Mandrem, a lonely stretch of white sandy beach with a
couple of beach shacks, is frequented mostly
by tourists who want to get a full body tan, away from prying eyes of interested locals.
At the foot
of Fort Aguada lies the pretty palm-fringed Sinquerim beach, and near it Candolim
beach, both popular with tourists.
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Panaji, the capital of Goa, is a tiny
city that packs in a large punch. The church on the main square, the Baroque architecture,
pretty villas, cobbled streets and interesting buildings give Panaji a distinctly
Portuguese ambience. The city lies along the left bank of the Mandovi River, and close at
hand are a bunch of good beaches, perfect for lolling around and soaking up the sun.
Dona Paula: Dona Paula is a pretty and peaceful beach
shaded by palms and casuarinas, 9 km southwest of Panaji. Dona Paula is quite a hotspot,
not only for its beauty but also because of a romantic legend that gave the beach its
name. Dona Paula de Menezes was a viceroy’s daughter who jumped off a cliff when
refused permission to marry a local fisherman. The hapless maiden is said to be entombed
at the nearby Raj Bhawan’s Cabo Chapel.
Dona Paula beach
offers water sports facilities, especially water scootering.
Miramar: The beach closest to the capital Panaji (3 km), Miramar is
conveniently located in the heart of the state capital which is also why it is rather
crowded and often dirty, though you can watch some spectacular sunsets, as the sun goes
down at the confluence of the River Mandovi and the Arabian Sea
Bambolim: 7 km from Panaji along the Panaji-Vasco
road to the airport, Bambolim is a minor beach frequented more by the local populace
rather than by tourists.
Caranzalem: Though not very pretty, Caranzalem
(between Miramar and Dona Paula) is quiet and safe for swimming. It has water scooters
and other water sports facilities as there is no undercurrent.
Vaniguinim: The Vaniguinim beach
overlooks the Mormugao Bay but is accessible only from the Cidade de Goa Hotel.
Bogmalo: Just 4 km from the
airport is the small cove at Bogmalo, not easily accessible, and, therefore fairly empty.
Bogmalo lies between Panaji and the port town of Vasco da Gama; it’s good for
swimming, and not too crowded.
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MARGAO
Margao, the
capital of Salcete taluka and the chief town of South Goa, has a decidedly Portuguese
flavour and an old world charm. It’s a vibrant cosmopolis with a migrant populace from Maharashtra and Karnataka,
peppering the existing Konkanese and Portuguese cultures; and this is also where some of
Goa’s top beaches are.
Colva: Colva beach, 6 km
from Margao, has a throbbing nightlife but a somewhat downmarket ambience by day. Colva’s
highly commercialised with resort complexes, large holiday crowds, trinket stalls, discos
and restaurants, but a walk of a few hundred metres along the beach in either direction
takes visitors to the quieter, more private spots. If one can get away from the crowded
main beach, Colva is a great place to shack up. There’s good accommodation, great
restaurants, the waterfront is clean and the water’s safe for swimming.
Benaulim: Benaulim lies right in the centre of Colva, 7 km west
of Margao. Benaulim remained a sleepy hamlet for centuries, then woke up with quite a
bang- and is today a popular tourist hotspot with a crop of luxury resorts, time-share
apartments, guesthouses and moderately priced hotels. Dozens of restaurants and beach
shacks dot the seafront, serving authentic Goan seafood besides a variety of other
cuisines. Despite its popularity, Benaulim still has an air of tranquility: the beachfront
is beautiful, with silver sands, shady palm trees and safe waters.
Mobor: Mobor is the spot where Colva ends and the River
Assolna meets the sea, and the site of an
exclusive luxury resort. The beach at Mobor lies in a sheltered cove overlooked by cliffs
on one side - it makes for a picture perfect setting.
Majorda: Majorda lies 2 km north
of Colva, and is a pretty beach dominated by a luxury resort, hotels, restaurants, shops,
boutiques and the best European bakeries in Goa.
South of
Margao lie a host of quieter, more isolated beaches; venture beyond Cape Rama to the peace
and beauty of the beaches at Palolem and Galgibaga- perfect for a day away
from the crowds of bathers flocking around the more touristy beaches.
Nearby Agonda
and Rajbag beaches lack shelter from the sun, making them rather isolated and
inconvenient.
Further information on Goa and its
beaches can be obtained from Goa Tourism Development Corporation Limited, Trionora
Apartments, Dr. Alvares Costa Road, Panaji, GOA - 403 001. INDIA.
Telephones: (91-832) 2226515, 2226728, 2224132,2436666 Fax: (91-832) 2423926.
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