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.
Advertisement
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.
Last updated: 12-Jan-2011
Tips & articles
-
Most lip-smacking street food
18 March 2012
Lunch tastes best from a curb-side cart: grab your fork or simply use your fingers, and munch your way through...
-
The right place at the right time
9 February 2012
Visiting a city at the right time of year can make all the difference to the experience, whether that means...
-
Riding the Rails in India
25 August 2011
India is a big country, in the way that elephants, and skyscrapers, and continents are big. To walk from the...
Thorn Tree forum discussion
Recent posts
-
RE: India High Season
by abbas_s 27 May 2012
Train tickets need to be booked in advance, but that is always the case.. Accommodation, again I would strongly recommend booking about…
-
RE: Goa Accommodation
by Donkeystone 27 May 2012
The last available Goan palace on a bank of the mandovi river sold out a few years ago and became a cottage emporium, a shame really because…
-
RE: Goa Accommodation
by Pirate_at_50 27 May 2012
+for a week in Goa+ I just noticed that part. Get a charter. And pretend you're "not with them". India takes a little more than a week…
Goa
Things to do
- All things to do (204)
- Activities (26)
- Entertainment (25)
- Restaurants (84)
- Shopping (20)
- Sights (49)
- Tours (0)
Make it happen
Our Top Picks For Goa
-
1 Old Goa
Shiver in the shadows of grand cathedrals, once the ecclesiastical wonder of the Eastern world
-
2 Anjuna
Observe the hip and the hippies at Anjuna's lively Wednesday market
-
3 Mapusa Market
Get right to the heart of a local market, with all its rush and bustle
-
4 Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary
Hole up in a forest watchtower and wait it out for the indigenous beasties
-
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
Our favourite Goa Blogs (beta)
-
Remembering Shigmo On Gudi Padwa
Blog: Windy Skies - 23 March 2012
-
Goa – Where Old Hippies Go To Die
Blog: Vagobond.com - 17 January 2012
The smallest state in India was and is a veritable Mecca for those interested in exotic culture, far out spiritual experience and unregulated drug and alcohol experiences. [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more!
-
Guest Post - India, the Coastal Delight
Blog: A Wandering Mind - 15 November 2011
Given that India is the largest peninsular country in the world, there is a vast coast line with the Bay of Bengal, Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea sweeping in on three sides of the nation.
