Bound by the Arabian sea on the west, Maharastra state on the north, and Karnataka on the east and south, and a colony of Portugal till 1961, Goa is a melting pot of cultures.
A part of India, Goa is a haven for tourists. First gaining notoriety with the hippies, drugs, nudity on the beaches, Goa today is more sedate, like a wild girl, who has mellowed down with age, but still retaining a twinkle of mischief in her eyes.
With beaches, beaches, and more beaches, offering accomodation to suit most pockets, Goa is a favoured destination of tourists, not only from India, but also abroad, specially from Continental Europe and the United Kingdom.
North Goa with it’s Baga, Anjuna, Calangute, Candolim, and a few others are the ones favored by the hippies in the old days, and hence are the most developed and happening with pubs, shacks and numerous other food and entertainment joints scattered around within a 30 minute distance at most. There is enough fun and merriment not only for the grown-ups, but kids too, with plenty to keep them busy and happy!
South Goa, which has gained popularity in the recent past, is the domain of large resorts like Club Mahindra, Hyatt, Leela, and a few others. Places where you don’t need to step out once in.
To get around Goa, the most preferred transport is motorcycles, which can be hired with a driver, or for self driving. However, taxies are also a plenty.
For history buffs also there is plenty with ancient forts like Tirakol, Aguada and a few others. Old Goa, called ‘Velha Goa’ in Portugese is like a time capsule with old colonial houses, narrow roads, old churches like the Basilica of Bom Jesus, which contains the remains of Sant Francis Xavier, have been categorized a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Goanese people are a friendly, helpful and welcoming lot, with a easygoing lifestyle. With tourism playing a very important role in Goa’s economy, the entire establishment is geared to making your stay welcoming and pleasant.
Goa can easliy be accessed by road, train and air. A overnight ‘Volvo’ bus brings travellers in comfort from Mumbai to Goa’s capital Panjim. The train station at Mudgao is connected to most Indian cities, with direct trains from Delhi, Mumbai and other cities, while Dabolim International Airport offers connectivity, not only with Indian cities, but also those abroad.
