When searching for their next destination, travelers usually look at travel trends, or for off-the-beaten-track places. Goa, in a way, is both.
Located in the coastal Southwest India, Goa is known for its lively beach environment.
It has been called a “party city” or a center for hippies but has much more to offer hidden among its extensive of coastline.
Goa’s climate attracts those looking to defrost on its scenic beaches, but its culture also brings in tourists who long for a taste of architecture, gastronomy, and tranquility.
Table of Contents
About Goa
Goa is usually referred to by regions (North and South) and has a population of almost 1.5 million.
The area continually brings in tourism, both foreign and domestic, which has been stably rising over the past few years.
Goa has made headlines for the diverse attractions it holds for its visitors, including a feature in the New York Times’ “36 Hours in” series.
At this rate, Goa is progressively catching the curious eye of more and more travelers around the world. So, the incentive to visit is clear, and after booking flight tickets to Goa, it’s all about what you want to visit and experience.
Beaches
As I mentioned, a trip to Goa isn’t complete without a visit to its beaches. Offering a variety, Goa welcomes tourists into relaxing under the sun with a tide brushing your feet.
Among the top beaches in Goa, you can find Mandren Beach in North Goa, one of the most scenic beaches in Asia. It is a common destination for honeymooners and couples.
The village is small, which allows for slow days of swimming and sampling the cuisine, both elements of a zero-itinerary vacation. Other beaches include Cavelossim, Candolim, and Baga.
Nature and Adventure
Goa is full of life. Along the Mandovi River, you'll find the Dudhsagar Falls, around 40 miles away from Panaji. The waterfalls have a height of over 1,000 feet and a width of about 100.
A forest surrounds the falls and holds a rich diversity of wildlife. This is a good option to visit during Monsoon Season.
A second option is the Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary, in Northeastern Goa.
It's great for animal encounters (the good kind), and you may find yourself face to face with wildlife such as the sambar deer, Indian bison, and others.
It acts as a sanctuary due to the protection it brings to injured leopards that have come too close to civilization only to be hurt in the process, as well as dancing bears and cobras that have been retired from their lives as entertainers.
Architecture
There are also many significant temples in North Goa that are open all year and worth visiting.
The largest and most visited is the Mangheshi Temple, which has a long history and has gone through several renovations.
You can see the daily rituals and take it all in. If you're going to visit, however, beware of the dress code.
Other commonly visited temples include the Mahalakshmi Temple, the Gopal Ganesh Temple, and the Nagesh Temple.
Foodies
While TripAdvisor has plenty of suggestions, bloggers have made a point of trying and writing about great places to eat in Goa.
What better place to spice up your little black book of exquisite dishes than spicy Goa?
Pair a good meal with some beautiful views, friendly people or even live music and you have yourself foodie heaven.
There's more than meets the eye when it comes to Goa and your inner nature-lover, architecture hunter, and foodie will thank you for going.
_________
This post was brought to you by Southall Travel.
Ahmed Gusto says
food is mainly Ok in there. in my experience the seafood which I was served last November wasn't fresh. been a coastal area I expected a fresh dish. Goan bread is awesome by the way.
Karthik Shetty says
Hi Ximena,Nice article . This time i had visited to Goa for new year celebrationhad a good time Baga Beach and Dudhsagar Falls. in this journey i took the help from heybnb as they have rentals from local people who helped me alot to explore the place . Goa is perfect place to have a fun