Introducing Goa
Swaying palms, white sands and sparkling waters: the three essential elements that attract 2 million visitors annually to Goa’s balmy shores are plentiful in this tiny, glorious slice of India hugging the country’s western coastline and bounded by the Arabian Sea.
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A solitary Portuguese outpost in India for almost 500 years, the influence of colonial rule can still be seen everywhere: in the exquisite, crumbling architecture; in the East-meets-West cuisine which combines coconut milk, palm vinegar and chillies with the refined flavours of Lisbon; in the melancholy strains of fado that still waft occasionally on the bougainvillea-scented breeze; and in the siesta-saturated joie de vivre that Goans themselves call susegad.
Nowhere else in India will you find the laid-back languidness of a Goan lunchtime, the easy charms of its people or the soothing serenity of a day on its beaches. Here in Goa, a herd of water buffalo will greet you at breakfast; a lily-covered lake might provide the scenery for your morning walk; a sea eagle will be your afternoon companion along a deserted stretch of pristine beach; a gorgeously spice-laden vindalho (vindaloo) might make your evening repast and a fiery glass of cashew-palm feni liquor your bedtime tonic.
But there's far more to discover here than the exquisite pleasure of warm sand between your toes. Pep up your stay with a wander around a vanilla-scented spice plantation, stroll the bird-filled banks of the state's gentle rivers, poke around centuries-old cathedrals, and venture out to white-water waterfalls.
All is not perfect in paradise, however, and Goa has problems aplenty – the state's environment, in particular, is sorely taxed. Nevertheless, with a slowly growing group of environmentalists and ecofriendly individuals on the scene, the picture remains relatively rosy for this most magical of miniature states. So, come, minimise your impact as much as possible, and unwind to the swaying palms and Portuguese rhythms of Goa's still-irresistible charms.
Ready to go?
These tours & activities make it easy:
- Go on a 2-day jungle adventure to Mollem National Park
- Observe Goa's stunning undersea life on a snorkeling day trip
- Disover Goa's Portuguese heritage on a historic sightseeing tour
- Go Crocodile watching and ride an elephant on a private eco-tour
Last updated: Feb 1, 2013
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Goa
Things to do
- All things to do (219)
- Activities (39)
- Entertainment (25)
- Restaurants (84)
- Shopping (21)
- Sights (49)
- Tours (1)
Make it happen
Our Top Picks For Goa
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1 Old Goa
Shiver in the shadows of grand cathedrals, once the ecclesiastical wonder of the Eastern world
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2 Anjuna
Observe the hip and the hippies at Anjuna's lively Wednesday market
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3 Mapusa Market
Get right to the heart of a local market, with all its rush and bustle
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4 Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary
Hole up in a forest watchtower and wait it out for the indigenous beasties
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5 Chandor
Take a tour of a colonial mansion masterpiece, a relic of Goa's grandiose yesteryear
Fast Facts about Goa
- Main languages
Konkani, Marathi, English and Hindi
- Staple lunch dish
fish-curry-rice
- Strangest historical relic
St Francis Xavier's fingernail, Chandor
- Population
1.34 million
- Capital
- Best hidden sight
Netravali Bubble Lake