Goa - a tourist destination
Goa is a tiny state of India located on the west coast. It is the smallest state and covers an area of 3702 sq.kms. On the map of India, Goa is located between 14o N and 15 o N Latitude and 73 o E and 74 o E Longitude. it is a beautiful state with evergreen forest, rivers, wild & domestic animals, variety of birds, beaches, waterfalls and so on.
The language spoken in Goa is Konkani,
Marathi, Hindi, English, Portuguese, Urdu,
Kashmiri and so on. People in Goa are called
Goans & are simple in nature, very loving
& peaceful.
In the past, before 1961 Goa was under the rule
of Portuguese and you will definitely find
some touch of Portuguese lifestyle still in the
life’s of the few Goans. Goa was liberated on
19th December 1961. Portuguese houses are still
existence in Goa. People are very fond of music,
dance & drama.
People of all kind of religion, taste, culture,
lifestyle are seen living in peace and harmony. Every year, thousands of people visit Goa – Domestic as well as foreign tourist & they just love to be in Goa. The population in Goa is around 1,169,793 according to the 1991 census of India (1.2 million). The density of population is 316 per sq km. Most of Goa's population is rural (59%). Panjim is the capital city of Goa
Climate of Goa :
Goa has “Equable Climate” as the summers are not very hot and winters are not very cold and mostly suitable for any kind of tourist as there is not much change in its climate throughout the year. the plus point is that, it is located near the sea so the climate is moist.
Goa gets rainfall in the beginning of the June till October. it may rain ( Drizzle) in the other months(in rare case as climate is unpredictable) but the rainfall season is from June to October.
The best time to visit Goa is from October to May. Most tourist visit during the month of December (Christmas time) who come for short vacations.
Rivers of Goa :
There are nine major rivers in Goa flowing from East (Western Ghat) to West (Arabian Sea) except Sal River. Terekhol, Chapora, Baga, Mandovi, Zuari, Sal, Saleri, Talpona, Galgibag are the main nine rivers of Goa. Out of nine rivers, six originate and flow exclusively within the state boundaries and do not have any interstate implications. However, river Terekhol and Chapora originate in Maharashtra state while Mandovi originates in Karnataka. Rivers are very useful for transportation of mining ores, irrigation, fishing (Fish found in rivers is very tasty), etc.
Beaches of Goa
Beaches are on the top of the visiting list as many people visit Goa just because it has beautiful beaches. The west of Goa lies the Arabian sea and it has well known beaches like Arambol, Anjuna, Vagator, Baga, Calangute, Palolem, Majorda, Coco beach, Colva and so on. It has shallow coast There are many shacks on the beach so one can enjoy the sun, sand, swim in the waters along with fresh juices, fresh sea food (eg. Lobsters, Crabs, Shells, Prawns,Mussels etc), enjoy the music, drink & rest. Some shacks even have T.V, games like pool, Chess, beach volleyball, and so on.
Some shacks even provide huts to stay on the beach instead of in hotels as it is cheap, save cost on transport (if you are a frequent visitor on the beach), close to the beach(Nature), food & drink available, and so on. Sometimes there are parties on the beach.
Boats on the beach take tourist for Dolphin ride.
Each beach in Goa is unique and has some speciality.
Water sports in Goa
a. Windsurfing
b. Para Sailing
c. Water Scooter
d. Banana ride
Transport in Goa
a. Goa by Air: Dabolim is the main entry point for Goa situated at a distance of around 29 km from Panaji on the coast near Vasco da Gama.Most domestic airlines operate in Goa apart from chartered private airlines operating from UK and Germany. Indian Airlines has direct flights from Delhi and Mumbai daily. Air India also flies to Goa. Now the tickets price is hiked due to hike in fuel price.
b. Goa by Rail: It is not difficult to reach Goa by trains, especially after opening of the Konakan Railway that connects Margao and Vasco da Gama to major cities in India. You can take trains from Delhi 1,874 km), Mumbai (490km), and Bangalore (430 km) to reach Goa comfortably. From the railway stations, you can hire taxis and motorcycle taxis to reach the desired destinations.
c. Goa by Road : Moving around in Goa is quite easy. One can find bus, rickshaws, motorcycle taxi, cars (Hire Taxi services). Several ferry services are also available.
If you want to rent a bike or car for your vacation, (if you’re not an Indian, then please find out about the traffic rules and regulations, carry your driving license & also papers of the vehicle so that your not fined by the cops/ Traffic police).
Waterfall in Goa
Goa is a tiny state of India located on the west coast. It is the smallest state and covers an area of 3702 sq.kms. On the map of India, Goa is located between 14o N and 15 o N Latitude and 73 o E and 74 o E Longitude. it is a beautiful state with evergreen forest, rivers, wild & domestic animals, variety of birds, beaches, waterfalls and so on.
The language spoken in Goa is Konkani,
Marathi, Hindi, English, Portuguese, Urdu,
Kashmiri and so on. People in Goa are called
Goans & are simple in nature, very loving
& peaceful.
In the past, before 1961 Goa was under the rule
of Portuguese and you will definitely find
some touch of Portuguese lifestyle still in the
life’s of the few Goans. Goa was liberated on
19th December 1961. Portuguese houses are still
existence in Goa. People are very fond of music,
dance & drama.
People of all kind of religion, taste, culture,
lifestyle are seen living in peace and harmony. Every year, thousands of people visit Goa – Domestic as well as foreign tourist & they just love to be in Goa. The population in Goa is around 1,169,793 according to the 1991 census of India (1.2 million). The density of population is 316 per sq km. Most of Goa's population is rural (59%). Panjim is the capital city of Goa
Climate of Goa :
Goa has “Equable Climate” as the summers are not very hot and winters are not very cold and mostly suitable for any kind of tourist as there is not much change in its climate throughout the year. the plus point is that, it is located near the sea so the climate is moist.
Goa gets rainfall in the beginning of the June till October. it may rain ( Drizzle) in the other months(in rare case as climate is unpredictable) but the rainfall season is from June to October.
The best time to visit Goa is from October to May. Most tourist visit during the month of December (Christmas time) who come for short vacations.
Rivers of Goa :
There are nine major rivers in Goa flowing from East (Western Ghat) to West (Arabian Sea) except Sal River. Terekhol, Chapora, Baga, Mandovi, Zuari, Sal, Saleri, Talpona, Galgibag are the main nine rivers of Goa. Out of nine rivers, six originate and flow exclusively within the state boundaries and do not have any interstate implications. However, river Terekhol and Chapora originate in Maharashtra state while Mandovi originates in Karnataka. Rivers are very useful for transportation of mining ores, irrigation, fishing (Fish found in rivers is very tasty), etc.
Beaches of Goa
Beaches are on the top of the visiting list as many people visit Goa just because it has beautiful beaches. The west of Goa lies the Arabian sea and it has well known beaches like Arambol, Anjuna, Vagator, Baga, Calangute, Palolem, Majorda, Coco beach, Colva and so on. It has shallow coast There are many shacks on the beach so one can enjoy the sun, sand, swim in the waters along with fresh juices, fresh sea food (eg. Lobsters, Crabs, Shells, Prawns,Mussels etc), enjoy the music, drink & rest. Some shacks even have T.V, games like pool, Chess, beach volleyball, and so on.
Some shacks even provide huts to stay on the beach instead of in hotels as it is cheap, save cost on transport (if you are a frequent visitor on the beach), close to the beach(Nature), food & drink available, and so on. Sometimes there are parties on the beach.
Boats on the beach take tourist for Dolphin ride.
Each beach in Goa is unique and has some speciality.
Water sports in Goa
a. Windsurfing
b. Para Sailing
c. Water Scooter
d. Banana ride
Transport in Goa
a. Goa by Air: Dabolim is the main entry point for Goa situated at a distance of around 29 km from Panaji on the coast near Vasco da Gama.Most domestic airlines operate in Goa apart from chartered private airlines operating from UK and Germany. Indian Airlines has direct flights from Delhi and Mumbai daily. Air India also flies to Goa. Now the tickets price is hiked due to hike in fuel price.
b. Goa by Rail: It is not difficult to reach Goa by trains, especially after opening of the Konakan Railway that connects Margao and Vasco da Gama to major cities in India. You can take trains from Delhi 1,874 km), Mumbai (490km), and Bangalore (430 km) to reach Goa comfortably. From the railway stations, you can hire taxis and motorcycle taxis to reach the desired destinations.
c. Goa by Road : Moving around in Goa is quite easy. One can find bus, rickshaws, motorcycle taxi, cars (Hire Taxi services). Several ferry services are also available.
If you want to rent a bike or car for your vacation, (if you’re not an Indian, then please find out about the traffic rules and regulations, carry your driving license & also papers of the vehicle so that your not fined by the cops/ Traffic police).
Waterfall in Goa
a. Arvalam Waterfalls- Arvalem waterfall with an altitude of 70 feet is located at Arvalem, about 2 km from Sanquelim and 8 km from Bicholim, in Valpoi taluka, North Goa. It falls in a straight drop and is in its highest glory during the monsoon season. The fall looks stunning with the thunderous gush of water cascading down the rocky terrain of the mountain behind it. The monsoon rain roils the water of this waterfall into a muddy brown color. In the vicinity of this picturesque site is the 5th century Rock Cut caves called the "Aravalem Caves" and Shree Rudreshwar Temple.
b. Dudhsagar Waterfalls- Dudhsagar Waterfalls- springing from from a lofty height of 600m is located on the Goa-Karnataka border. It lies at a distance of 60 km from Panaji and 10 km from Colem Railway Station. The name of this waterfall evolves from the Konkani name for the falls, Dudhsagar meaning ‘sea of milk’. This is because froth is formed due to the speedy surge of water from the majestic heights. The fall looks stunning post monsoon as it ripples with bubbling foam-like water. The Dudhsagar Falls is one of the most interesting falls of India and the largest and highest fall of Goa. Nearby is the Tamdi Surla Temple built by the Kadambas
c. Kesarval Waterfall- Kesarval Spring is situated 22 km away from Panaji on Verna plateau off the Panaji-Margao highway. The spring is surrounded by tropical woodlands and swaying betel palms and emerges from the hard rocks. The spring is in its full glory in the monsoons and looks fabulous, brimming with sparkling water. The word "Kesar-val" is derived from the Indian word for eagles that used to maintain a colony here among the afforested slopes. The spring has a reputation among the locals and the bathers who come from faraway places, of having medicinal properties in its water.
Markets in Goa
a. Anjuna Flea Market : Famous all over Goa the "ANJUNA FLEA MARKET", is worth a vist. Where you can shop, drink, enjoy music, feel the cool breeze and roam around. Buyers and Seller from all round the world can be seen in this market. This market was originally started in 1970's by the foreigners (Hippies) who wanted to sell off their second-hand goods like cameras, watches, clothes, accessories, etc. Now it has emerged as one of the major attractions of Goa. This market is full of Tibetan craft stalls, Nepalese, Israelis, Gujaratis, few Goans, Kashmiris etc . One can shop for jewellery, clothes, Variety of bags, Tattoing( both permanent & Mehndi), hair cutting, Shoes, Cds, Hats/ caps, Show pieces, Carpets, Shawls, etc. There are even eatable stalls. You will also get tender coconuts to drink & eat. There are small restaurants where you will get good food & drink to eat like Sea Breeze, Lawrence Pizza Hut, Café Looda, Naz – Lavi, and so on.
Markets in Goa
a. Anjuna Flea Market : Famous all over Goa the "ANJUNA FLEA MARKET", is worth a vist. Where you can shop, drink, enjoy music, feel the cool breeze and roam around. Buyers and Seller from all round the world can be seen in this market. This market was originally started in 1970's by the foreigners (Hippies) who wanted to sell off their second-hand goods like cameras, watches, clothes, accessories, etc. Now it has emerged as one of the major attractions of Goa. This market is full of Tibetan craft stalls, Nepalese, Israelis, Gujaratis, few Goans, Kashmiris etc . One can shop for jewellery, clothes, Variety of bags, Tattoing( both permanent & Mehndi), hair cutting, Shoes, Cds, Hats/ caps, Show pieces, Carpets, Shawls, etc. There are even eatable stalls. You will also get tender coconuts to drink & eat. There are small restaurants where you will get good food & drink to eat like Sea Breeze, Lawrence Pizza Hut, Café Looda, Naz – Lavi, and so on.
Market Day : Every Wednesday in Anjuna (close to the Beach)T
imings From : 9:00 AM till sunset
b. Arpora Saturday Night Bazar Alike the Anjuna Flea Market, this market is also a must place to visit. The "Arpora Saturday Night Bazaar" as the name suggests is held every Saturday night, at Arpora village which is inbetween Calangute & Anjuna. You will find lot of activities going around over here. The lights in the night atmosphere make this place livelier. Even here there are Buyers and Seller from all around the world. There are many artists performing on the Stage, which is right at the center of the market. Food stalls includes variety that varies from tandoori tikkas to Italian pizzas and pastas. For those who enjoy shopping and eating this is the place to be.
Market Day : Every Saturday
Timings From : 7:00pm till late night.
c.Friday Market in Mapusa:
In Mapusa, there is market every Friday. people come from the surrounding villages to sell things. buyers come from all the corners of Goa. mostly you get thing for cheap (low price) market is crowded and there are a variety of things available.
Market Day: Friday
Time: Whole day i.e 7.00am to 7.00pm
clubs:
1. Tito’s in Baga
2. La Calpso in Calangute
3. Trafllick chowk in porvorim
4. Mamboos
c.Friday Market in Mapusa:
In Mapusa, there is market every Friday. people come from the surrounding villages to sell things. buyers come from all the corners of Goa. mostly you get thing for cheap (low price) market is crowded and there are a variety of things available.
Market Day: Friday
Time: Whole day i.e 7.00am to 7.00pm
clubs:
1. Tito’s in Baga
2. La Calpso in Calangute
3. Trafllick chowk in porvorim
4. Mamboos
