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Explore Goa

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Enjoy the beaches of Goa i.e.Colva, Anjuna, Baga, Calangute and many more. We also have special packages for children and Vegetarian people just for you.

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Read More On Goa
Sightseeing	About Goa

Goa, a tiny emerald land of 3,702 Sq.Kms. on the west coast of India, with its natural scenic beauty, attractive beaches, churches and temples, famous for Its architecture, feasts and festivals and above all hospitable people with a rich cultural milieu, has an ideal tourist profile.

Goa Sunset

Econced on the slopes of the Western ghats (Sahyadri ranges), Goa is bounded on the North by Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra, on the East by Belgaum, on the South by Karwar Districts of Karnataka, and on the west by Arabian Sea.

And to most Goans, this is best expressed in the lines of the Konkani poem penned by the eminent Goan poet B. B. (Bakibab) Borkar:

"If I am to be born again and allowed to choose my birthplace...
I shall choose Goa... because its scenic beauty
has a supernatural quality of refining the human mind
and turning it inward into the depths of creativity and spirituality."

Variously known as "Rome of the East", "Tourist Paradise" and "Pearl of the Orient", the state of Goa is located on the western coast of India in the coastal belt known as Konkan. The magnificent scenic beauty and the architectural splendors of its temples, churches and old houses have made Goa a firm favourite with travelers around the world. But then, Goa is much more than just beaches and sea. It has a soul which goes deep into unique history, rich culture and some of the prettiest natural scenery that India has to offer. Much of the real Goa is in its interiors, both inside its buildings and in the hinterland away from the coastal area. Besides the natural beauty, the fabulous beaches and sunshine, travelers to Goa love the laid-back, peaceful, warm and friendly nature of the Goan people. After all, more than anywhere else on planet earth, this is a place where people really know how to relax.

The tourist season in Goa begins in late September and carries on through early March. The weather in these months is usually dry and pleasantly cool.

Summer 24deg - 32.7deg C
Winter 21.3deg - 32.2deg C

Rainfall 320cm (June - September)

Then the weather gets fairly hot around May and by end of June, Goa receives the full blast of the Indian monsoon with sudden downpours and tropical thunderstorms. However it is also during the monsoon that Goa is probably at its most beautiful, with greenery sprouting all around.

Shopping

For travellers to Goa, the visit is not complete unless they take back a souvenir of their memorable sojourn in this magnificent paradise. Naturally, shopping should be a priority on the itinerary of every tourist, along with the sightseeing attractions. The excellent local handicrafts of Goa are easily the most popular souvenir items and include brassware, terracotta, shell work, crochet, carved furniture, bamboo work, papier-mache, etc. These are available in the Government Emporia and also at shops and stalls near the popular tourist spots. Another item which is on the list of every traveller to Goa is a pack of the famed cashew nuts. These are available practically everywhere. There are shops specialising in selling only cashewnuts. The nuts are available in a wide variety of tastes ranging from plain, salted and masala. The prices vary based on the quality and flavour. There are also many fascinating options in the lifestyle and fashion shops which have come up in recent times. Some of these are located in fabulous old Goan houses which have been painstakingly restored. These shops make the best selections in home styling and fashion available to the tourists at quite reasonable prices. It is also a fascinating experience to go around and shop in the traditional markets of the Goan towns and villages. These markets are a mirror of Goa's ethnic culture and provide a glimpse of the typical Goan way of doing business. Two of the most famous such market areas are Mapusa and Anjuna. The Friday Market at Mapusa, where stalls sell everything from curios and old coins to dried fish and spices. The Wednesday Market at Anjuna Beach started by and for foreigners is an extremely lively spot where souvenirs, beachwear, trinkets and handicrafts are sold at bargain prices. Most deluxe hotels and resorts also have good in-house shops, but the price ranges are usually higher.

The charm of shopping in Goa lies in bargaining to your heart's content in markets and shops until you finally bring down the price and make the purchase a worthwhile experience.

Goa- Cuisine

CUISINE
A Goan values his food as much as he does his daily siesta (break). And in his daily meal, seafood always has a pride of place in some form or the other. From fried fish to exotic concoctions like ambot-tik, sea food is usually a must on the menu, except for the occasional break for some religious observance.Goans take pleasure not only in what they eat, but also how they cook it.

Although modern conveniences have almost completely taken over in urban areas, the traditional way of cooking in clay pots on firewood continues in most rural areas of Goa. This style of cooking adds an additional smoky flavour to the food, highly valued by Goans. Despite the two schools of cuisine traditions influenced by the respective religions of Hinduism and Christianity; there are some meeting points that present an interesting harmony. This blend of various cooking styles and influences is what makes Goan food so unique among the cuisines of India.

With a wide variety ranging from prawns to sausages, chicken to beef, and numerous vegetarian dishes, Goan cuisine is able to satisfy even the most finicky gourmet appetites. Goa has some magnificent culinary delicacies like the prawn balchão and sorpotel which have become famous around the world. While Hindu Goan food does not seem to have picked up any major Portuguese influence, the Christian food has been influenced not only by the Portuguese, but also by its overseas colonies.

Goa- Cuisine

Traditional Goan cooking calls for plenty of muscle and time. Grinding is always part of the recipe and the nicer the dish the longer it takes to make. Goan food is simple but most, though not all, of it is chili hot, spicy, and pungent. Items made from rice, fish, and coconut abound in nearly every Goan meal. Seafood such as prawns, lobsters, crabs, pomfrets, clams, ladyfish, mussels, and oysters are used to make a variety of curries, fries, soups and pickles. Besides fresh seafood, dried and salted fish dishes are also highly prized by Goans.

So here is a taste of Goa and if you are travelling to Goa don't forget to pack a healthy appetite.

Panaji

PANAJI- HOW TO GET THERE

SEA:The ferry departs from the Ferry Wharf at Mumbai and drops you directly in the heart of Panjim, near the Secretariat in 8 hours. The catamaran will cover the 225 Nautical mile distance to Panjim, Goa, effortlessly gliding over the seas, at cruising speed of 30 knots about (60 kmph).

The Swedish designed and built, 34 metre Marinteknik Fast ferry, is a low resisitance, semi-planing catamaran, with a very shallow draft and high stability.A notable feature of the Marinteknik Fast Ferry is low noise levels, below 70db. Safety features of International SOLAS standards, ensure a safe journey to Goa.

Departure from Mumbai: At 9 am on every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
Departure from Panaji: At 9 am on every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

MAPUSA
HOW TO GET THERE
Road: Mapusa is the pass through point for all buses travelling to and from Goa to Mumbai, Pune and a number of other destinations. So the bus stand near the main square at the entrance to the city is a busy hub of activity with hundreds of travel agents stalls for inter-state travel bookings.

Mapusa

Mapusa-Buses

Most local buses for all the nearby beaches of Calangute, Baga, Anjuna, Vagator, Chapora, and Arambol and other surrounding areas leave from the Kadamba bus stand on the southwest edge of town.

Motorcycle taxis are also available near the main town square and are often the quickest mode of transport to the beachside. Tourist Taxis charges are considerably more, so it is best to share the fare with four or five other travellers if possible.

Rail: The Konkan Railway coming in from Mumbai stops for a few minutes at the Tivim (Thivim) railway station which lies at a distance of 12 kms from Mapusa. There are rickshaws and tourist taxis available here to take you to the nearest beach hotel or resort. Here too, it is best to share the ride with as many passengers as possible and also to fix up a fare for the trip before starting the journey.

MARGAO - HOW TO GET THERE

Rail: Margao's new Train station, the only stop in Goa for quite a few long distance express services on the Konkan Railway, lies 3 kms south of the town centre. The Reservation office (Monday-Saturday, 8.00 am-4.30 pm, Sunday 8.00 am- 2.00 pm) at the station is divided between the ground and the first floor.

Mapusa

There is also a 24-hour Information Centre and round-the-clock pre-paid auto rickshaw stand outside the exit.

Road: Local private buses to Colva and surrounding villages make stops at various places inside the town. Long distance buses to Panaji, Vasco and destinations outside Goa, stop and leave from the main Kadamba Bus Stand, 3 km away on the outskirts of the town.

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