Goa, the land of beaches, is the smallest state in India and yet, arguably, the biggest tourist destination of the country. There is hardly a list of best places to visit in India that doesn’t feature Goa at the very top. The beaches, the markets, the parties, and the natural beauty of this marvelous destination on the west coast of India is what mesmerizes everyone. In this article, we will cover the best places to visit in Goa, the best time to visit Goa, and the foods to try in Goa.
10 Best Places to Visit in Goa
Calangute Beach
Goa might be the beach capital of India but amongst all the beaches in this state, Calangute Beach is known to be the best. Also known as “Queen of Beaches”, Calangute is known to cater to all kinds of travelers. It is a perfect getaway for the hippies and the best time to visit this beach is during the Christmas season and in the month of May. The Calangute beach portrays a perfect environment of the local Goan culture and it is said that the breach was discovered by the hippies themselves in the early 60s.
Basilica of Bom Jesus
Constructed in the year 1594, the rise of this church matches the origin of Christianity in India. Probably the most famous church in Goa and one of the most revered by Christians globally, the Basilica of Bom Jesus in Old Goa is famed for housing the mortal remains of St Francis Xavier.
This complex, along with some other churches of Old Goa, features on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Its exterior facade, built using black granite, is noted for Baroque architecture combined with Doric, Corinthian, and composite influences.
Vagator Beach
No trip to Goa is complete without visiting Vagator Beach. It is located in North Goa, at the northern edge of Bardez taluka. Enjoying a perfect location, it is in close proximity to various other popular beaches. To its north lies the Morjim beach while to its south is the Anjuna beach.
In the beach capital of India, there is another very distinct beach that lures a lot of travelers every year and that is Vagator Beach. Known to be one of the cleanest and beautiful beaches of Goa, Vagator offers all the visitors a chance to experience a beach trip of their life.
Dudhsagar Falls
One of the most scenic waterfalls in India, Dudhsagar literally means ‘Sea of Milk’. Though perennial, the beauty of the waterfall increases multi-fold during the rainy season. Dudhsagar Waterfall is situated inside the Bhagwan Mahavir wildlife sanctuary in the Sanguem district of Goa close to the border with Karnataka.
Dudhsagar waterfall is one of the tallest falls in India. The fall looks more beautiful as it is surrounded by lush green western ghat. Dudhsagar Falls is a four-tiered waterfall that is well-known for its cascading appearance. The term ‘Dudhsagar’ translates to ‘milky white sea’ due to its white sprays and foam. This is one of the best places to visit if you are in Goa.
Dona Paula
Dona Paula in Goa is a small beach situated on the beautiful and popular sea stretch that spans 5km from Panaji. The place is also known as Lovers Paradise. The beach has a jetty adjacent to it, which is famous for the view of the Arabian Sea that it offers. There are a lot of water sports activities that take place over here. For the sports enthusiasts, Dona Paula Sports Club offers some of the best water sports facilities at Dona Paula Jetty including Water-scooter rides, Motor-boat rides, etc.
The beach is very popular as a lover’s paradise because of a myth attached to this place. As per the legend, Viceroy’s daughter Dona Paula de Menezes jumped off the cliff after facing objections from her family due to her love affair with a son of a fisherman. So, the beach is popular by the name of Dona Paula.
Anjuna Flea Market
Goa’s Anjuna beach is not only famous for its picturesque beauty but also for the markets in Anjuna beach. Also known as Anjuna Market, the markets of this beach are filled with Kashmiri stalls and coffee shops. On Wednesday, a flea market is held in Anjuna Beach. Amidst the picturesque beaches, the palm tree-lined shores, the market sells different kinds of things from junk jewelry to colorful sarongs.
In Anjuna, you can find a treasure trove of souvenirs, handicrafts, hippie clothes, and trinkets at a cheap rate. This weekly market started in the 1960s as a way for hippie travelers to barter their unique products.
Baga Beach
Baga beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in Goa. Unless the monsoon, time these beaches receive brilliant sunlight throughout the year. Baga is a long sandy beach packed with bright cabins, resorts, and fishing boats. Being more quiet and secluded, it is situated between tall hills and the dark blue Arabian Sea.
The Baga River flows down from one side offering a pleasant for children and those who love the water but can’t risk the rip currents that swirl around the mouth, where the river and the sea meet, and on the far right bank, tourists at Baga beach will see a group of black rocks against which the sea crashes.
Chapora Fort
The Chapora Fort in Goa is such a fort that continues to attract tourists and buffs in history because of its amazing history and architectural style. Located near Anjuna Beach, Chapora Fort offers a beautiful scenic view of the Anjuna and Vagator coasts. This is a must where we should go and explore the hidden history behind the fort.
Chapora fort is another famous destination for travelers and is mainly a favorite nighttime hangout for human beings to relax out. The fort overlooks the Chapora river and consequently its name. However, there may be a more interesting call given to this castle i.e. ‘Dil Chahta Hai’ Fort.
Butterfly Beach
Butterfly Beach is a tiny beach cove that lies just 6 km north of Palolem beach. The sands here are perfectly white and the water translucent. Butterfly Beach is one of the most picturesque beaches among all the beaches of Goa. It is serene, peaceful, and mesmerizing. This beach would be the best place to unwind and relax.
The Butterfly Beach is called so because the shape of the valley in which it is ensconced is similar to that of a Butterfly. The Butterfly Beach is located between the beautiful Palolem and Agonda beaches of South Goa.
Ashwem Beach
Ashwem Beach is the beach you will pass first, of the two we talk about in this guide, when coming from the airport up North. It is a pretty beach with lovely palm trees lining the back and lots of happening beach shacks with sunbeds and good food. Sadly, a lot of rocks have come up this season due to sand erosion so it is not as beautiful as it once was but it still beats a lot of the beaches before it.
Ashvem beach is for the party people. The palm-fringed coastline and silvery sand contribute to the perfect party setting at Ashvem. Beachside huts are available at this beach for accommodation. And if you love partying but are on a pocket-friendly trip, Ashvem beach is certainly better than Baga and Calangute.
Also read: Essential Tips for Planning a Solo Trip
Best Time to Visit Goa
The name, Goa will bring images of nightlife parties, sandy beaches, small peaceful villages still mirroring European culture, interesting cuisine, and a stylish vacation. Yes, Goa is the Las Vegas of India.
Most tourists head to Goa for the hedonistic beach lifestyle. If you want to have fun in the sun, the best time to visit Goa is during winter when the days are endlessly clear and warm.
Goa in Summers
Summer is not the ideal time to visit the region. However, this is the time to enjoy cheaper accommodations, crowd-free beaches, and better tickets. The temperature can go as high as 37 degrees C and drop to 19 degrees C, at the minimum level.
The tourist season winds down in March, as the heat and humidity climb. Hotels generally drop their tariffs at the start of April. Some bars, restaurants, and beach shacks close by mid-April, but there are still plenty of options available.
Goa in Monsoon
The monsoon season in Goa is also the off-season to visit this place. While the rain is quite a relief for the locals against the scorching heat, for tourists, it is more of a spoil-sport. That is because most of the beach shacks remain close as a lot of the staff goes to their hometown.
Goa in Winters
Winter is the peak tourism season of Goa. The climate will be cool and you can find many exciting water activities open on the beaches. Carnivals and festivals are common in Goa during winter. The temperature will not rise above 22 degrees C during the winter season. This is the right time to enjoy strolling through spice plantations, enjoying adventure activities, and a romantic beach vacation in Goa.
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6 Food to Try in Goa
Pork vindaloo: Derived from the Portuguese words for garlic (Alho) and wine (vinho), combined in a marinade, this spicy Goan curry originated from a Portuguese sailor’s dish made with – yes, that’s right – pork, garlic, and wine. Goan cooks substituted palm vinegar for red wine and added chili peppers and spices.
Sorpotel: ‘Soro’ is a Konkani word that translates to alcohol or liquor. Sorpotel (also known as sarapatel) is a famous food of Goa. Pork and beef or mutton liver are used for this dish. The meat is parboiled and the fat is fried. Onions, garlic, and masala prepared are added along with other spices and herbs. Sorpotel can be consumed any time of the day.
Goan Pork Vindaloo: ‘Vin’ comes from the word vinegar and ‘Ahlo’ means garlic in Portuguese. It is said that this Goan food was previously called Vindahlo but because of the use of potatoes, folks started calling it Vindaloo (aloo means potatoes). The dish consists of pork, onions, chilies, garlic along with Vinegar and other spices. Masala is prepared using chilies and other ingredients and is then mixed with meat and vinegar.
Goan Fish Curry: Goan fish curry or the Xitti Kodi is the staple diet of every Goan making it a famous food of Goa. The Goan fish curry is loaded with various spices along with coconut. Raw mango is also used to give the dish a tangy flavor. The main ingredients of the dish are a decent-sized Pomfret and raw mango.
Chicken Cafreal: Cafreal chicken is a spicy green-colored dish that will leave your mouth watering. Grinding green chilies, herbs and various spices together make the masala for the chicken. Then, the chicken is mixed with this masala and fried. This Goan dish does not require anything on the side but it may be served with
salads.
Sanna: Also known as idli in India, sanna are spongy steamed rice cakes. The plain version is often eaten with Goan pork sorpotel curry, and a sweet version called Godachi sanna is made with jaggery – unrefined sugar made from cane or palm.
Interesting facts about Goa.
- Over a third of Goa is covered by forest
- Goa is the smallest state in India
- Portugal ruled Goa for almost 450 years
- It’s home to India’s only legitimate two-wheeler taxis
- Over 400 species of birds have made Goa their home
- The non-decomposing body of St. Francis Xavier
- The first English medium school was in this state
- Dudhsagar Falls which has a height of 310 m is one of the highest falls in India
- Goa has the highest GDP per capita among all Indian states.
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