INTRODUCTION..... Goa is a
tiny speck of sun-drenched, palm-fringed, hillock-speckled,
lush-green-field-dappled paradise, skirted by white-topped sprays of salty
blue waves. But then, Goa is a lot of things. This little seaside state,
with an identity that's a seamless blend of Latino influence and Indian
tradition, was crackling enough to have been one of the Millennium
destinations of the world.
GOA LOCATION.... The
essence of Goa lies in its marvelous expanses of palm-fringed beaches and
azure-blue seas, all warmed by the sun and local hospitality. Goa is all
about relaxed lifestyle, enlivened by the Goan love for music and dance,
spiced up by its superb cuisine. Summers on the golden sands, winters in the
warm waters, or soaking in the Goan rains - Goa is exhilarating round the
year. The scenic splendor of Goa simply dazzles as nature bares her
treasures, unfolding miles and miles of glorious vistas of rivers, ponds,
wooded hills and valleys. Whitewashed churches and temples at strategic
points heighten the effect.
There's more to Goa than sun, sand and
natural beauty. The allure is quite distinct from the rest of India - it's
not just the familiar remnants of European colonialism or the picture book
exoticism that makes it so accessible, it's the prevalence of a form of
social and political progressiveness that westerners feel they can relate
to. Goans are friendly and happy-go-lucky. They are fond of the good things
in life and are certainly not caught up in the rat race.
WHAT
TO SEE IN GOA : PanajiPanaji, the Capital of Goa, on the
banks of the river Mandovi, was originally a major port. It still retains
the old, narrow streets in Fontainhas. The Church of our Lady of the
Immaculate Conception is one of the oldest buildings (circa 1541) in the
city. An evening cruise on the river is a must. Here you get a beautiful
view of the capital. There are refreshments and traditional entertainment on
board.
Old Goa 10 km east of Panaji, Old Goa
was the capital of Goa during Portuguese rule. This has given it a rich
architectural legacy of many beautiful churches like the Basilica of Bom
Jesus, Se Cathedral and the Church of St. Francis of Assisi.
Fort
Aguada Built by the Portuguese in 1612 to defend Goa, the fort is now
better known as the location of the Taj Group's luxury resort. Walk along
the keyhole shaped jetty for a superb view of the coast from Sinquerim
almost up to Baga, and then, walk up the hill to see the citadel and the
1864 lighthouse. The fort also has a prison that is no longer in use.
Beaches:
North to South Querim, Arambol, Mandrem, Morjim, Vagator, Anjuna, Baga,
Calangute, Candolim, Sinquerim, Vainguinim, Siridao Bogmalo, Velsao,
Arossim, Utorda, Majorda, Betalbatim, Colva, Benaulim, Varca, Cavelossim,
Betul, Palolem
BEST TIME TO VISIT..... High
SeasonNovember to March
Low SeasonApril to
October
GOA CLIMATE :Tropical - between
23-35° Celsius
Throughout the year: Warm
Clothing
Cottons,
throughout the year.
HOW TO REACH BANGALORE.....
Goa is linked by air to Bangalore, Mumbai (formerly Bombay), Delhi,
Kochi (formerly Cochin), Thiruvananthapuram (formerly Trivandrum). Both
domestic carriers, Indian Airlines and Jet Airways, fly there. The flying
time from Mumbai to Goa is just under an hour.
It is advisable to book
both your inbound and outbound sectors well in advance.
Goa is
linked by the South Central Railway division (having major stations for halt
at Margao, Vasco da Gama and Colem, linking Goa with the neighboring state
of Karnataka) and the Konkan Railway division (having major stations for
halt at Pernem, Thivim, Karmali, Margao, and Canacona linking Goa with
Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Uttar
Pradesh and Delhi).
Goa is linked by road to Ahmedabad (1138 km),
Aurangabad (699 km), Bangalore (592 km), Mumbai (597 km), Chennai (923 km),
Pune (473 km).
