The Best of Goa This Season
newsdepo.com
There are as many must-do Goa itineraries as the number of friends who have “done” this holiday destination on the western coast of India. And to say nothing of the tailor-made trips on offer on travel portals.But the one and only itinerary that works besThe Best of Goa This Season
There are as many must-do Goa itineraries as the number of friends who have “done” this holiday destination on the western coast of India. And to say nothing of the tailor-made trips on offer on travel portals.But the one and only itinerary that works best here is driven by serendipity. Besides fixing the details of how and when to arrive and depart, and where to stay, leave everything else to chance, to a good sunshade and a lot of energy.December is the month when half of holidaying India is preparing for their New Year’s eve in Goa; the other half has either missed the bus or is looking elsewhere to “do” better.This is also the month when a big number of foreign tourists — mostly from the Western world and cooler climes — starts pouring in Goa for sun and sand, quite like the migratory Siberian birds that fly south in winter to warmer climates such as India. As any local taxi driver will tell, December and January generate so much business in Goa that a man with modest expectations can actually take it easy the rest of the year. Even if it sounds like a tipsy wish, it gives an idea of the scene in Goa during this time.Long or short? It all depends on how much you love being in Goa. Five days is a good enough introduction for a first time visitor, even though there are many people doing a touch-and-go version in three days. At the other end of the spectrum are those who return to Goa for a week or so, year after year. There’s still another set, who have built a permanent abode in the state and have witnessed the frenzied, and ugly realty boom.Where to stay?The state is small and divided into two districts — North Goa and South Goa. North Goa is where all the happening beaches are — full of tourists, and shacks serving local food and drinks late into the night. Popular beaches here are Calangute, Candolim, Baga, Vagator, Morjim, Sinquerim, and Anjuna, among others.South Goa beaches are for tranquility, for relaxing with the waters of the Arabian Sea lapping about you, for collecting sea shells, and watching the sun set and the moon rise over the sea. Some wellknown beaches here are Varca, Majorda, Betalbatim, Bogmalo, and Arossim.In the center is the capital city of Panaji by the massive river Mandovi, and it has a character quite its own, distinct from either North or South Goa. A part of it is wrapped in the time when the Portuguese colonists lorded over it, another part is brash and loud, quintessentially like the rest of youthful India.Depending on how you want to structure your holiday, you could choose to stay at either of the these places as all have hotels aplenty. Except for December and January, reservations are not hard to come by. Most hotels are equipped to deal with tourists from non-English speaking countries, with the staff speaking French, German, Russian, Spanish and Hebrew among other tongues.While this makes up the average Goa itinerary, the other cities that one mustn’t miss visiting are Vasco da Gama and the Mormugao port.History and culture What makes Goa unique in the whole of South Asia is its colonial history. The Portuguese ruled Goa for a grand 450 years — from 1510, when they defeated the local ruler, to 1961, when the state was annexed by India, forcing the Portuguese to leave. Through the rough and tumble of the sub-continent’s history in these centuries, the Portuguese nurtured their tiny corner, giving it a distinct syncretic culture that has no parallel.Goa’s architecture, food, drinks, religious rituals and means of celebrating life are a seamless blend of local and Portuguese influences.Besides the regular Hindu and Christian festivals, the Goa Carnival (next in March 2019) is a big attraction for tourists. This festival was brought to Goa by the Portuguese and retains the original flavor. And a purely Indian cultural fest is the threeyear-old Serendipity Arts Festival, December 15-22, featuring curated sections of visual arts, performing arts, theatre, photography and more.Forts and churchesThe Portuguese built beautiful forts, churches and other buildings in Goa, most of which stand tall to this day. The fort tour of Goa is a day-long exercise and offers an insight into the measures the Portuguese took to defend their most prized colony. When one surveys the waters of the Mandovi and the Arabian Sea from the top of these forts, one realizes how the Portuguese kept a check on the Dutch and other European merchants, who tried hard to wrest Goa to get control over a highly important trading outpost on the western coast of India.While the selfie-obsessed crowds at the Aguada fort can be unnerving, the Chapora fort is tranquil, perhaps because of a tough walk uphill to reach the spot where the famous scene from the Bollywood film “Dil Chahta Hai” was shot, in which the lead actor Aamir Khan attempted to gulp a live fish.The best kept secret, however, is the Reis Magos, the first fort that the Portuguese built in Goa, in 1493. Renovated and protected by the Archaeological Survey of India and the government, the entry is ticketed unlike other free-to-enter forts.That ensures a thinner crowd and a more sublime experience of a spot from where the Portuguese successfully fought off the Dutch blockade of the Mandovi river in the early 16th century.The church tour is another day-long affair with the Basilica of Bom Jesus taking the priority as here lie the mortal remains of Saint Francis Xavier, who passed away in 1552. A Unesco World Heritage Site, it is one of the oldest churches in Goa. One must, however, take a local’s help and visit the smaller churches in Goan villages, ensconced in the midst of lush green tropical foliage.Food, drinks & partyingGoa is the most authentic party destination in India, and the mood is manifested in almost all hotels that host weekend parties for guests who cannot have enough of the revelry outside.The best open party destination is Tito’s Lane, but only for those who can stand the crowds. Following close behind is the Brittos restaurant by the Baga beach, where every emotion gets an opportunity to drown in loud music and drinks. Neither of these is for the faint-hearted.For a calmer experience, head to the the quieter beach of Calangute. It hosts one of the finest restaurants in all of Goa, serving authentic local food. That’s Souza Lobo, run by a Portuguese family, one of the rare ones that chose to stay on after 1961.The gastronomical experience is not complete without a meal, drink and hookah (a tobacco pipe that draws smoke through water in a bowl at the bottom) at a shack on the beach. With muted lights, open-air seating and a dark sea yonder, it’s an ethereal experience. Most shacks offer a choice of the catch from the sea/river before it lands into the cooking pot — crabs and fish are brought to the table in all their glory so diners can make a selection.Almost every restaurant serves “authentic” Goan fish curry but it’s best to ask a local for a restaurant serving home-style fish curry. Starlight, on the way to the Baga beach, is one such example.ShoppingThat’s not a difficult subject: almost all the beaches are lined by similar-looking shops selling an assortment of clothes and accessories. While quite a bit of it is available in every other tourist spot in India, the local items that stand out are made of coconut shells, dried palm leaves and other raw material.It’s difficult to miss the shops selling one of the most famous local produce — the cashew nut. India is the largest producer of cashew nuts in the world and some of the finest ones are grown in Goa. The locals distill a spirt from the cashew called Feni, and it’s a must-buy on every tourist’s list. It may not be every drinker’s cup of spirit due to its strong flavor and aroma, yet it’s popularly believed that if you haven’t tasted feni, you haven’t done Goa.With so much to absorb, no wonder, people return the next year for another round of Goa.https://www.blouinartinfo.com/ Founder: Louise Blouin Read more