Goa Tourism – Ultimate Guide To Plan Your Summer
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Holidaying in Goa! Sounds quite amazing and thrilling, right? It is the desire of almost every adventure and party lover to visit Goa at least once in his lifetime if not every two or three years. Its tranquillity, serene beaches, and interesting spots are sure to mesmerise you. This place is, no doubt, the perfect spot to enjoy the essence of western culture in the traditional land of India. It is a perfect holiday destination for both foreign and native travellers as it has something for everyone.
Goa turns quite magical during the month of December and January. However, the summer of this wonderful place is equally welcoming. There are many factors, which makes Goa a perfect holiday spot for most of the tourists even during the hot summer days. If you are planning a trip to Goa anytime soon, then this article will give you a useful insight to how you can make the best of your summer vacation.
Goa in summers: to go or not to?
Many people think that visiting Goa in the summer season is not a good idea. We agree, it’s not because it is not a ‘good’ but a ‘great’ idea. Don’t frown! We will tell you why summer can be a good time to enjoy Goa. The first and the most important reason of visiting Goa in summers is that you can enjoy a luxurious holiday without burning a hole in your pocket as it is off-season. Also, since the crowd is not so large during this time, you can explore various sightseeing spots in Goa without any inconvenience, especially the beaches. You can also enjoy splendid views in the mornings and evenings.
Moreover, you can not only get cheap air tickets to Goa but can also buy specialities of Goa like handicrafts, cashews, and Goan liquor cheaper. Another key aspect of visiting Goa during this time of the year is attractive hotel deals. So you can save a lot and spend your savings on partying in some of the best night clubs here.
Besides, summertime festivals like Shigmo around March, Easter around April, and Sao Joao festival in June will make your trip worthwhile. Lastly, it is important to mention that even though, summer is the lean season in Goa; yet Goa receives lakhs of tourists from within and outside India during this time owing to the reasons just discussed.
Planning is highly important!
When you are planning a tour to Goa, you should plan your budget first as all the necessary decisions like booking a hotel, mode of travel, and shopping will be based on it. Once you have decided your budget, you must book flight or train tickets in advance as availability won’t be an issue then. In case of booking Goa flight tickets, advance booking will provide you the benefit of low airfare.
Packing for the Goa trip!
Goa is a beach destination; hence, there are certain specific things that are a must to carry. Start with light coloured, comfort fit cotton clothes, basically, anything in which you can stay comfortable and beat the heat. Moving on, do not forget to carry sunscreen lotions, bandanas, hats, sunglasses, comfy flip-flops and anything that can save you from the sun. Lastly, some emergency stuff such as power bank, ID proof, first aid, wet wipes, and medications are a must.
Where to Stay in Goa
Coming to accommodation, there are all kinds of hotels you can find in Goa, such as 3-star, 4-star, 5- star, resorts, beach hotels, guest houses and more. You can pick any option based on your budget and your requirements. There are many travel sites to help you with Goa hotel bookings . They also offer discounts and offers. If you intend to book a luxury accommodation, choose South Goa. And, if budget is on your mind while choosing accommodation, then North Goa hotels and resorts must be your pick.
North Goa vs South Goa
Well, if you are planning to visit Goa for the first time, you must know about the speciality of both north and south Goa. North Goa is a crowded happening place and a haven for party lovers. Here, you can explore everything local. You will love the beaches here like Baga Beach, Anjuna Beach and Calangute Beach apart from others. You can also experience thrilling water sports and street food on the North Goan beaches.
On the other hand, south Goa is the new area where you won’t find much crowd. South Goa beaches like Agonda and Palolem are serene and soothing. If you are on a romantic holiday then you will love the quietude of the pristine beaches here. We suggest that you visit north Goa first as this is the zone where you can experience fun, magic, and excitement.
Places of Attractions in Goa
Without any doubt, Goa has a variety of attractions for tourists. Take a look:
- Dudhsagar Falls: This is a 600m high exotic waterfall located about 28kms away from the main city.
- Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary: Located 52 km from Panaji covering an area of 8km square, this spot is a must visit for nature lovers.
- Basilica of Bom Jesus: Located 10 km from Panjim, this oldest church dating back to the time of Portuguese rule is a must visit. More churches are St. Antony’s Church, church of St. Catherine, and Church of St. Lawrence.
- Ancestral Goa: Get a glimpse of the Goan culture in this cultural museum of Goa in Loutolim.
- Fort Aguada: This is a 17th century Portuguese fort featuring a lighthouse. Chapora Fort is equally famous.
- Museums: Some museums in Goa worth visiting are Naval Aviation Museum, Houses of Goa museum, Sunaparanta centre for arts, The Archaeological Museum Old Goa, Museum of Goa, and Wax world museum.
- Mahalaxmi Temple: A famous temple of the Goddess of the Shakti cult located 4km from Ponda.
Goa for adventure junkies
If you miss out the adventure activities in Goa then your trip can’t be called complete. Summer is the month when you can explore all the adventure activities such as paragliding, parasailing, scuba diving, dolphin spotting, jet skiing and lots more. If you happen to plan your trip to Goa during rainy season, then you can just enjoy nature with zero adventure activities as they are put to halt. Also, water sports cannot be enjoyed in winters. So, if you are a true blue adventure junkie and want to taste the fun of all adventure activities then it is summer when you need to plan your trip.
Food in Goa
The Goan cuisine is spicy and has a glimpse of various cultures like the Konkani and the Portuguese apart from the Bahamani Nawabi traditions. Seafood like fish, prawns, mussels, oysters, and crabs are quite popular. However, you can also enjoy other cuisines like Chinese, Mexican, Thai, Mughalai, South Indian, Italian, Portuguese, Korean, and Vietnamese in various restaurants of Goa. Some popular Goan delicacies are Bebinca, a popular sweet, Ambot Tik- Fish in Gravy, Crab Xec Xec- coconut gravy dish, Fish Curry Rice- staple food of Goa, Chicken Cafreal- spicy chicken, Sorpotel- pork stew, Mackerel Reacheado- fish with stuffed spicy masala, Sanna- fluffy coconut and rice flour bread, and Goan Sausages made of pork meat and fat.
Shopping in Goa
Shopping is great fun in Goa with a number of flea markets and night bazaars like Mapusa Market, Panjim Market, Anjuna Flea Market, Calangute Market Square, Baga Market, Saturday Night Bazaar at Arpora, Mackie’s Night Bazaar and more. You can buy handicrafts, accessories, clothes, artificial jewellery, souvenirs, spices, pickles, cashews, antiques, textiles, carpets beachwear, footwear, and lots more.
Goan Nightlife
When the sun goes down, Goa becomes even livelier with some great party music, neon lights, and delicious food. You can sing, dance, booze, and chill-out completely. There are countless nightclubs, discos, pubs and bars in Goa along with some beaches that are open all night.
Casinos in Goa
In Goa, gambling is legal. You can also visit casinos to try your luck or simply have a drink and enjoy the ambiance. Some popular casinos here are RED, Casino Pearl, Grand7 Casino, Casino Palms, Casino Pride, Casino Paradise, Casino Royale, Deltin Royale and more.
The information in this article will surely help you plan and enjoy your Goa trip. This land of sun, sand and sea is simply worth a visit. Apart from the natural beauty and ancient monuments, the beaches are sure to make your summer trip an awesome one. So, if you want to make your summer vacation more exciting, Goa is the place you should head towards.
