GOA-The beach paradise

Donapaula

Goa is a tourist resort known by its renowned beaches. It is the smallest state of India located in western coast bounded by Maharashtra to north and Karnataka to east and south. Goa was a province of Portuguese till 1961.So the influence of Portugal culture still exists.

A different face of Donapaula

Best time to visit: October to February

Attractions:            Goan beaches known as Anjuna, Agonda, Arambol, Baga,Betul, Calangute, Colva, Donapaula, Miramar,  Palolem, Polem and vagator, Goan Museum,Forts,Churches ,Temples , Mosque and Aquarium.

Miramar Beach

How to reach:

By Air:   Goa is connected by domestic flights to major cities of India. The Airport of Goa is at Dabolim near the port town, Vasco-da-Gama and 30 Kms away from Panaji, the capital city of Goa. The national airline Air India operates a few international flights, especially from the Gulf countries.  Besides  Air India,  Air Arabia and Qatar Airways also operate international flights to Goa.

A view in Goan Aquarium

By Rail: The railway network connects Goa with major cities of India especially New Delhi in north and Trivandrum in south. The high speed Konkan railway has daily trains from Mumbai to Goa which takes only 8-9 hours. The major railway stations in Goa are Madgaon and Vasco-da-Gama. For advance booking and other details please visit: www.konkanrailway.com

By Road: Goa is connected with all the major towns in India via the National Highways NH4A, NH17 and NH17A. In most places along the way, the highway roads are in excellent condition and motorable at fairly good speeds. There are bus services operating from Goa to most towns and cities in neighboring states, such as Mumbai, Pune, Belgaum, Hubli, Bangalore, Mangalore etc. at fairly regular intervals throughout the day.

Shanta Durga Temple

Accommodation:

Goa Tourism department provide comfortable and safety accommodation on reasonable rate. For booking online visit:  http://www.goatourism.gov.in/staying-in-goa Many private hotels and guest houses are in Goa with luxury and comfortable rooms to suit your budget.

Se Cathedral

Basilica Church

Things to remember: Ø The peak season in Goa is between October and January. It is also the time when Goa is most crowded. Hotel tariff is high during this time. Ø  The south and north Goa trips of GTDC (Goa Tourism Development Corporation) almost cover Goa in full. Ø Do not concentrate only on the more famous beaches such as Calangute and Baga. Goa has a number of relatively less crowded beaches which will give you more privacy and even more pleasure. The seas in Goa are often rough on certain beaches especially around the monsoons. Ø Cuisine in Goa is not limited to just the Goan variety. In most places you can find everything from Continental, Chinese, Tibetan, Indonesian, Thai, Portuguese and even Mexican dishes on the menu. Fresh seafood dishes are probably the safest and tastiest bet in most small restaurants that you will visit. Ø If you are a foreign national (probably coming for the first time), be warned that you will be quoted some truly exorbitant prices for most things that you ask for, right from household goods to taxi rates etc. However always check around with a number of sources for an approximate reasonable price before striking a deal. Always be ready to bargain in most small establishments. As a thumb rule offer 20% of the asking price, and be prepared to pay 35-40% % of the original asked price. Ø Shop at Government emporia/handicraft centres for quality products at reasonable prices. Ø Guides may be hired from Government approved agencies. For verification, you may ask for identity card.