Biking in Goa

No single word can describe the beauty of Goa. Lush greenery, serene waters, and quiet roads allure many to come to Goa again and again. Goa offers so many opportunities of fun and adventure that in a single visit it is almost impossible to uncover the face of Goa. Cycling or biking is also one of the adventurous activities that many bikers from Goa indulge into. Goa beaches are very famous and they sometimes cast a shadow on other beautiful hidden jewels of Goa.

Today, there are many tours arranged for cyclists. Organizers provide everything including cycles. Sightseeing in Goa is a never-ending activity and you actually need a month or so to visit and enjoy every place. Portuguese ruled Goa for 450 years. The old Goa is famous for many cathedrals like that of St. Francis Xavier's, where his body is still preserved. There are many forts such as Aguada and Tiracol that offer great terrain for biking.

The journey on your cycle will be fascinating as you will cross the rivers and climb up to the hills. You can visit the famous Shri Chandreswar Butnath temple, which is situated on a good height and it gives a challenging opportunity to bike. Wildlife sanctuaries like Cortigao are also some of the less crowded places to bike freely.

Try to avoid the months of summer as it is pretty hot out there after the months of February. December and January would be ideal. Although Goa has become a great tourist attraction in the recent years, there are some things that you may not be able to purchase that easily in Goa. So carry the important stuff with yourself.

Things to Carry

• Water bottles
• Biking shoes, sandals, comfy shoes, and socks
• Jacket, gloves, and helmet
• Sun cream, mosquito repellent, sunglasses
• Goa travel book

While in Goa, India, enjoy the true India amalgamated with western values and take with yourself an experience that completes your life.

Houseboats in Goa

Goa is the favorite destination of couples. It is known for its culture. Unlike Kerala and Kashmir, Goa has a modern touch. Winter would be the best season to visit Goa. Spending your night in houseboats in Goa is the most romantic and adventurous thing you can do on your trip.

Goa beaches are popular and people visit them quite often on their visits; however, they miss to the experience of the tranquil and serene backwater, the calmness of rivers like Chapora, Mandavi, and Siolim, chirping morning birds, unseen rustic lands of unknown villages, diving fishermen, lush green shores of rivers and brooks, and the ripples in the waters when a river meets the sea.

Houseboats offer you this odyssey to the land of peace. In this expedition, you can do many activities and many houseboats offer great deal of activities that keep you busy.

Houseboats in Goa, India

Santa Lucia: It is a wooden houseboat situated in the backwaters of Goa. It has three deluxe bedrooms, one lobby, two sit-outs, and a bar. The crew is amazing and pamper all your needs. They allow you catch a fish which will also be cooked and served by the chef. It has three different cruise options -

Paradise Fiesta or Overnight Cruise – Timing is 5 PM to 1 PM(next day). The activities include line fishing, swimming, extraction of shellfish, in-door games, and bird watching.

Afternoon Cruise – Timing is 10 AM to 3 PM

Evening Cruise - Timing is 4 PM to 9 PM

Proud Mary: It is believed to be the largest houseboat in India situated at Siolim jetty, with six deluxe bedrooms, hot water showers, and a cozy sun-deck. Goan and Indian cuisine are available.

It leaves Siolim jetty at around 4.30 PM and returns at 1 PM the next day.

Just a Saiil Houseboat Goa: It is also situated in the Siolim river and has two luxurious bedrooms. They offer exciting activities including fish catching and bird watching. It leaves at 10 AM and returns at 9 AM the next day. It costs around 11,000 Rupees for one couple.

There are many other cruises and boats that cater to the specific needs of the bird-watchers, married couples, friends, and families.

Islands in Goa

Goa is not only blessed with beaches and nature, but also with several islands in and around the state. The islands in Goa have scored the most from the fact that there has been always some mystery attached with them. You must certainly visit the islands in and around Goa on your trip to the state. The islands in and around Goa never run short of options, be it nature walking or water sports.

Islands in Goa
Chorao Island
The Tiswadi island of Chorao is located 5 km from Panaji. Some ten families of Goud Saraswat Brahmins were the earliest settlers of the island. Today, the people of these islands are known as Chodankars. The Chorao Island is a pretty place that has some old villas and a whitewashed church. You can reach this island by taking a ferry from Ribandar, which is on the road to Old Goa around 3 km from Panaji.

Divar Island
This beautiful island is situated on the north side of Old Goa and can be reached through a ferry. It is connected by ferry to four places which are Narve, Ribandar, Old Goa, and Panaji. Karmali is the nearest railway station to the island. The government has maintained the island well with elegant Portuguese Villas dotted at the countryside. There's a church on this island which is the main attraction and is located in a small and typical Goan village.

Grand Island
This island is off the coast of Vasco da Gama and offers a grand experience to adventure lovers. This island has several excellent scuba diving sites. It would bring you delight that none of the Goa beaches would give you. A trip to this island is recommended for having a good snorkeling experience.
When you plan your Goa travel, ensure that you visit these islands for the best adventures.

Forts in Goa

The forts in Goa are mostly an inheritance from the Portuguese, which signify their presence on this land several years ago. The conquerors led by Albuquerque looked for expanding their territory for which they built huge forts at planned locations for warding off hostile attacks. These forts built by the Portuguese proved to be quite successful as they would stand hugely in front of the enemy troops.

These forts were eventually reduced to a state of disrepair and ruins when the Portuguese domination diminished. In recent years, these forts have been refurbished as heritage hotel properties to bring back Goa's rich legacy. Some of the important forts in Goa are:

The Aguada Fort: This fort is situated on the northern side and it overlooks the Aguada Bay that's situated at the banks of the river Mandovi. This fort was built in 1612 as a protector against attacks from the Marathas and the Dutch. The fort is believed to be the strongest fort and it remains the only fort not to be conquered by any attackers.

Terekhol Fort: This fort lies on the northern tip of Goa at the mouth of Terekhol River and was captured by Portuguese to protect their coastline. This fort was originally built by Maharaja Khem Sawant Bhonsle in the 17^th century and was revamped extensively in 1764.

Chapora Fort: Adil Shah of Bijapur had built this fort on the southern peninsula of the Chapora River. This fort was mainly known by the name Shahpur and now it's mostly in wreck. This fort unlike the Aguada fort didn't remain unconquered.

These forts reveal the history of Goa that was under the Portuguese rule for several years. Some Goa hotels have also take responsibility of refurbishing some forts as a part of advertisement and attracting the people to their hotels.  

All About Goa

Goa is the smallest state in India by area and is the fourth smallest by population. Panaji is the capital city of Goa while Vasco da Gama is known to be its largest city. The state is split into two districts, i.e. South Goa and North Goa. It has everything that every traveler looks for such as attractive beaches, natural beauty and temples. This state is situated along the western coast of India that previously belonged to Portuguese.

Goa is extremely popular for its beaches, world heritage architecture, and places of worship. Every year millions of international as well as domestic tourists visit this beautiful state. You must visit this place if you want to know all about Goa beaches as you can truly experience its beauty only after you visit there.

Depending on your budget, you can choose to explore Goa in several ways. You can hire a cab to roam around the city or you can even hire motorcycles or opt for a passenger seating on a motorcycle taxi. There are many private buses that also connect various cities within the state. Auto rickshaws are also another option to travel within the city.

As far as accommodation is concerned, there are many hotels in Goa that cater to various budget travelers. The hotels range from budget to luxury hotels, beach resorts and budget hotels.

Your Goa travel cannot conclude just by visiting scenic places and churches, but only by experiencing the day and night activities. You can know all about Goa just be experiencing its nightlife on a cruise that houses all the things that you need.