Night Activities in Goa

We go to places we do not know, we do things we have not done yet, and we meet strange and different people that we have never met yet; we do this because we exist and what we find every time is a strange connection with the people and places we come across, even though they are thousands of miles away from us. When you visit Goa, you find that strange connection with the beaches, with the sea, and with the people.
Goa, India sports some of the most sensational beaches around the world. Goa beaches become alive with the rising sun, get into their puberty by the evenings, romance with the young night, and never sleep at all. The night in Goa never gets old, and people discover the desires and temptations that once made them swoon over her.
Goan culture is a mosaic of different faiths and traditions from different times of history. Goan music has an essence of equal composites of western liberation and eastern bondage of love. The soothing music and mouth-watering delicious sea food are a specialty of Goa. If you are in Panaji, places like Rio Rico Bar, the Venite, and the Fountainhas may serve your purpose.
Club West End, Club Cabana, Paradisio, Congo, etc., are the places where you will find your true self again. Youngsters enjoy beating the floor on a loud music, drinking some of the finest of the wines, and lingering over sizzling food. These places give you that opportunity to be yourself and enjoy till you feel the adrenaline rush.
If you have deep pockets, you can spend your time on a cruise and en route enjoy the calm rivers, bird sanctuaries, forts, and lots more. Cicade De Goa Beach Resort is one of the classy casinos in India where you can try your luck.
Although there are wads of means to keep yourself engaged in Goa, your delightedness sees no bound when in a company of your favorite one.

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.

Canoeing in Goa

Goa in India is a home of adventure and fun. Picturesque beaches, old temples and churches, and crowded markets, all add to the beauty of Goa. Goa beaches are the cleanest and the most fanciful beaches in India.

Rivers in Goa, such as Chapora, Mandovi, Baga, etc., are the main tourists attractions. They provide a golden opportunity for the people to have fun in the sweet waters.

Conoeing and kayaking are the sports that are enjoyed by the people across the continents. There is a little difference between canoeing and kayaking. In kayaking, you paddle to speed the boat, whereas in canoeing, there are no paddles and you simply use oars to direct and speed the boat. Both of these adventurous sports are available in Goa.

Goa rivers are calm and placid. In this tranquility, there are set small islands and villages. By the shores of these rivers, you will see a splendid untouched greenery. Watch fishermen diving and catching fishes. Dive into the water for snorkeling if it is permitted by the instructor.

If you are going with your better half, there is nothing like sailing along the serene and quiet shores of the Goan islands. It is so peaceful that you will never forget this experience even if you try to.

You can always take a few things like snacks, drinking water, towel, medicine, sunglasses, sun cream, etc., with you before you go on canoeing.

Visiting places like Goa will help you regain your lost passion and zeal, your lost peace of mind, and the lost love for 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.  

Beaches in Goa

Where is Goa is a question that doesn’t need a formal answer as it’s known to everyone. Goa is unbelievable and for that matter is unlike any other state in the country, irrespective of the flower children who came in the early 60s and settled here or the Portuguese who came here and settle down some 500 years ago, looking for spices and found it extremely difficult to leave. Goa travel is a respite from the hard work for the modern day tourists and it offers something unique to everyone.

If you want to roam along the beaches with your kids and loved ones, enjoying the midnight sight and dancing to music, then there is no better place than Goa. There are lots of activities you can do such as adventure sports and water sports (like wind surfing, water skiing, and parasailing) or could simply sit on the white sands and enjoy the company of your loved ones.

Although Goa beaches comprise a small fraction of the region, they are highly popular. The beaches experiencing the tides twice a day, refashioned by the yearly monsoons here always have something new to offer. You can also view gentle aquatic hues, mingling with the beaches, giving endless pleasure to the tourists. Each of the beaches in Goa has their own uniqueness if that is what you are looking in them. Calangute, Anjuna, Palolem, Arambol, Colva, Vagator, and Betul are some of the most famous beaches in Goa.

Besides the beaches, there are several other landmarks that also fascinate the tourists from far off places. These include forts, churches, museums, monuments etc.  Fort Aguada, Chapora, St. Ana Church, and Church of Lady of Miracles are some of the major attractions. Shree Hanuman temple, Shri Dattatraya temple etc. are some of the important temples in the state.

Goa is thus blessed with some wonderful climate and beaches that fascinate people from all around the world.

Churches in Goa

There are several churches in Goa built by the Portuguese. Several wonderful churches were built by them in Old Goa, which are well known all over the world. The churches in Old Goa remind of its former magnificence which once rivaled that of Rome. It was known to the world as the ‘Pearl of the Orient’ or ‘Golden Goa’ in 16th and 17th centuries in its days of glory. You can know all about Goa India by visiting some of the churches.  

The Portuguese Viceroy, Redondo, specially made the Se or St. Catherine’s Cathedral to be an extravagant church worthy of wealth, power and eminence of the Portuguese who subjugated the seas from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Today, there are no churches bigger than this, even though it was overwhelmed by problems, as it didn’t have the relevant funds for construction. The church was built in 80 years and was not sanctified until 1640. 

One of the most impressive and renowned churches in Goa contains the leftovers of St. Francis Xavier, Patron saint of Goa, Apostle of the Indies. The construction of the church started on November 24, 1594 AD from the funds donated for this cause by Dom Jeronimos Mascarenhas. It was blessed by the Archbishop Dom Fr Aleixo se Menezes on May 15 1605 AD. It became the first church in India to be raised to the status of a minor basilica in 1946.

You can get more Goa information by visiting the churches that are one of the landmarks of Goa.

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.