Goa – a land known as much for its rich cultural
blend of Indian and the Portuguese influences as for the sizzling
pure shores of golden sand and the aquamarine Arabian sea
– is virtually one of the hottest Indian destinations. Travel to India is not complete without a
trip to Goa. Why, after all, it is the gem of the west coast
of India. Pick Your Trip presents Goa as
the dream destination of the month. Find out all about Goa,
the hottest of Indian destinations for a holiday in
India.
About Goa
Places to visit in Goa
Best times to visit Goa
Goan Culture
Goan Festivals
Goan Cuisine
Where
to Stay? About
Goa
With
Panjim as its capital, Konkani, Marathi and English as its most
spoken languages, in this secular state, the population follows
Hinduism, Christianity and Islam. Goa boosts of some of the
finest churches and temples in the world. Goa also happens to
be one of the most prosperous states in the country with excellent
banking and financial services and socio-economic indicators.One
of the most traveled tourism destinations in India
- Goa has a range of spots to offer, exquisite churches, ancient
temples, adventurous forts, wildlife preserves, scenic beaches
and even get away lakes.
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Places
to visit in Goa
The
capital of Goa - Panjim, is well-connected with other parts
of India through air, rail and road. The Dabolim Airport is
30 km from Panjim. Vasco-da-Gama is the nearest Railway Station
and the Kadamba Transport Corporation, Panjim is the nearest
Bus Station.With all of 3,702 sq. kms of area Goa is enough
to sweep you of your feet with its spectacular sunrises and
sunsets. The wide and serene beaches are ideal for sunbaths
and romantic strolls. The churches and the temples are a must
visit for the pilgrims. It offers a stretch of 105 kilometers
of coast and an unmatched array of 40 beaches to choose from
for the tourists. Gasper, Dias, Calangute, Baga, Anjuna, Condolim,
Bogmalo, Colva and Vagator are amongst the more popular ones.
Most of the northern beaches offer adventure gelled with a very
active nightlife. The southern beaches are paradise for the
tourists seeking tranquility amidst the silvery sand and the
palm groves.Shopping which is a must for a holiday is true fun
at Goa with several shops making loads of stuff easily available
for the tourists. The items may vary from Carpets to Papier
Mache, Textiles and Silk to Wood Carvings. Some of the restored
Goan houses have the best of lifestyle and fashion shops.
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Best
times to visit Goa
At
any time of the year Goa, is fun and laid back. It experiences
lovely and relaxing climate. The visit will be memorable with
the summers on the golden sands and the winters in the warm
waters. This coastal state has a magic of its own during the
rains, usually from June to September (up to 325 cms). The warm
tropical showers turn the countryside into the picturesque greenery;
the sea waves seem to welcome one and all and the tourists cannot
ask for better package than Goa in the rains. The beaches are
intertwined with several waterways and the two rivers, namely
Mandovi and Zuari. The Goan coastline is heaven on Earth for
swimmers, anglers, water sports buffs and sunbathers. Cruises
in Goa are unforgettable experience for lifetime of tourists
coming to India. A cruise on the Santa Monica yacht is as much
fun with the accompanying song and dance as the one along the
Mandovi river. On these cruises make sure to watch the splendid
sunset and the unparalleled moon rise. Along with beautiful
beaches, Goa has remarkable lakes too. The Mayem Lake, 35 kms
from Panjim, is an example. It is an ideal picnic spot with
cottages and the awesome environs. Boating is one activity every
tourist visiting this artificial lake in Goa must indulge in.
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Goan
Culture
The
state is a unique medley of the East with the West. The Christmas
is celebrated with equal zest as Diwali, the spirits are as
high at the Carnival as on Durga Pooja. The fun and frolic never
seems to end. Beer is enjoyed as much as the traditional tipples
of Feni, the local Hootch, and Toddy (Todi), a derivative of
palm sap. The Portuguese who ruled for over 450 years on Goa,
gifted chilies to India besides introducing tobacco, litchis
and oranges. The other introductions range from Pineapple from
South America, papaya from the Philippines and Cashew from Brazil.
Maize, Peanuts and Sweet Potatoes came from Africa. Not to forget
the Roman Catholicism, which lead to the construction of the
churches as magnificent as those in Italy. Later they moved
on to establish smaller colonies in Daman, Diu and Bassein (Vasai).
Moving on with the Portuguese influence on the styles, we spot
the wrought iron balconies of the colorful houses in Panjim.
Besides the cultural diversity, the state has a distinct topography
with lush green paradise edged on the one side by the wooden
foothills of the Sahyadri range and on the other by the Arabian
Sea.
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Festivals
of Goa
Goa
has its fair share of festivals. On one hand the Goans celebrate
the Carnival and Shigmo as festivals of joy, on the other, Shivaratri
is one of austerity and penance. The celebration of the Carnival
and the Shigmo comprises of various types of theatrical performances.
The festivity commences with the canoe race at the Baina beach.
The traditional Khell tiatr or the konkani drama is on the steps
of the classical Yakshagana dance of Karnataka. It is based
on old Hindu tales and has a rather stilted style with a Sutradhar
or a commentator and a Kodangi to provide the comic relief.
On the whole it is ideal for complete entertainment. The themes
of the performances have shifted from family disputes during
Portuguese regime to political satire and contemporary issues.
While celebrating Shigmo women hold lamps on their heads and
perform the lamp dance. Besides the Shigmo, Goa carries forward
a tradition of several folk dances. Even though Fugdi and Dhalo
are the most common folk dances. Dekni is a rare dance form
that combines traditional and modern music. The word 'dekni'
in konkani stands for 'bewitching beauty'. On this occasion
the women dance to the 'Ghumat' i.e. the folk drum. Kunbi and
Morulem are other examples of the traditional folk dance. Top
Goan
Cuisine
Goa being the coastal state has remarkable seafood to offer.
Right from the simple fish curry and rice to ambot tik, Caldeirada
and Recheiado, the goan cuisine is amazing. Goan cuisine has
always been admired, with its gamut of Portuguese-Goan dishes.
To feast on these visit a Goan home or drop in at any of the
authentic restaurant. Other eating joints offer an international
cuisine, with options of Italian, French and Fusion foods.
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