The Travel Point

Overview

Situated on India’s west coast, Goa offers a unique blend of Indian and Portuguese cultures with miles of long sandy beaches, colonial whitewashed churches and emerald green paddy fields. Offering a laid-back charm and relatively untouched by mass tourism, South Goa’s beaches are lined with sleepy fishing villages, grand colonial houses and verdant farmland.

In the north find Mapusa’s colourful Friday market, a feast of spices, aromas and new, exciting flavours

Colva is one of Goa’s most popular beaches, offering a long stretch of uninterrupted sand and lots of shaded palms

Goa’s capital, Panaji is similar to an old Mediterranean village with leafy avenues, churches and museums to visit Some time spent on Goa’s shores is the perfect way to follow up an escorted tour or private journey through India

Best time to visit Goa

Goa's peak tourist season runs from October to January while the monsoon season is June to September
During the monsoon season there are fewer crowds and you can experience the region with not as many people on the beaches.

Goa holiday highlights

North Goa’s world renowned coast is scattered with stunning palm-lined beaches which are backed by lively resort towns, such as Calangute and Candolim. The region’s largest and busiest beach, which has been attracting international visitors since the heady days of the 1960s, can be found in Calangute, while the town of Baga attracts those in search of a lively nightlife. Slightly less frenetic and more relaxing than its popular neighbouring resort is the village of Candolim, which is frequented by visitors in search of sun, sea and sand.
All of our featured Goa resorts are scattered along the less developed coast of South Goa. Within easy reach of the bustling towns of North Goa the tranquil and often almost completely deserted beaches of the South are seemingly a whole world away. Offering a laid-back charm that once was widespread along Goa’s entire coast, and relatively untouched by mass tourism, South Goa’s beaches are lined with sleepy fishing villages, grand colonial houses and verdant farm lands. Escape to this paradisiacal spot – the perfect end to your Indian exploration.
Goa offers visitors in need of a spot of retail therapy a vast array of choices from authentic local markets to stylish boutiques showcasing the latest Indian fashion. Local handicrafts are popular choices for gifts or souvenirs and in Goa one can find beautiful terracotta, brassware and bamboo works up and down the coast. Three of the most popular shopping experiences in Goa are the Friday market in the inland town of Mapusa; the market held every Wednesday in Anjuna; and the night bazaar on Saturday evenings in Arpora.

Areas in Goa

The Church of Immaculate Conception

One of the most famous landmarks of Goa, Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Church in Panjim was built by the Portuguese in 1541 as a chapel. A fine example of Baroque architecture combined with Indian sensibilities. The location of the church in Panaji, makes it even more beautiful and stunning as it is surrounded by the municipal gardens. It was built for the sailors who disembarked here, after a long sail from Lisbon, Portugal as it was the first port before goint inland into older Goa.
Although the church spells grandeur from its façade, the interiors are fairly simple with optimal use of colour. During the Festival of Our Lady Of The Immaculate Conception, the church decks up in lights and decorations and looks even more beautiful! The festival is held on March 8 every year and is followed by a fair!

Verna Springs

Situated over the beautiful Verna Plateau, the Verna springs, also known as Kesarval Springs are a trulu rare sight of nature in all its candid beauty. The springs that rise from the rocky plateaus and forests of Verna are a welcome respite from the milling crowds that throng the other beaches. It is hard to believe that such greenery, hills and landscapes can exist in Goa too! Located about 22km from the main city of Panaji, they can be easily reached if you are driving in a car.
The gorgeous springs create a merry sound as they gurgle down the mountainsides and carry the promise of pleasure and refreshment. It is believed that the water here has magical and medicinal properties which can cure joint pains and ailments.

Baga Beach

One of the most sought after beaches in India, Baga Beach is the centre of tourist attraction in Goa. Situated in North Goa, pleasant ambience, scenic views of the shoreline and plenitude of things to do makes this fishing village one of the finest places to visit in Goa. On any visit to this sandy retreat, you can witness innumerable fishing boats docked by the shoreline.
Unlike most of the Goan beaches, Baga is secluded from the outside world. Well, this has contributed a lot to its charm and appeal of this beach. The salubrious atmosphere all through the year, the quiet and calm atmosphere, plenty of water activities and the beach shacks on this holiday destination entices visitors from different parts of the world.
Amongst all the activities, dolphin spotting, parasailing, banana boat rides and sun-basking are highly enjoyed at this beach. Though you can visit this sandy paradise at any point of the year, November to March is considered as the ideal time to make it to the Baga Beach.

Calangute Beach

One of the captivating tourist places in Goa, Calangute Beach is constantly bustling with tourists looking for some relaxed and good times. It is located about 15 kilometers from Panaji. The largest beach in north Goa, this place especially gets flooded during winter and summer months.
There are several accommodations available here. This is where one can dabble with some water sports such as parasailing and water skiing. With Baga Beach just a hop, skip away, you can reel in some vibrant nightlife too.

Anjuna Flea Market

Although Anjuna is a small village in Goa, its fame has travelled far and wide making it one of the most preferred places to visit in Goa. As much as this town is known for the St Michael’s Church, it is known for its flea market as well. Popularized by hippies, the flea market came into being during their time.
Decades ago, Anjuna was thronging with recluse hippies who came from different parts of the world. They would sell wares procured from different parts of the country and world in the form of a flea market. This was when the roots of the Anjuna Flea Market came into being.
This flea market is located towards the far south end of the Anjuna beach. Take a leisure walk through the market or get indulged in some local shopping, there are lot more to do in this market. It is in this market, where you can find merchandise ranging from clothing, souvenirs, jewelry, dancing dolls, electric and electronic items. While on a shopping trail in Anjuna Flea Market, make sure you have the required bargaining skills! Try using a scooter to reach here as driving can be a chaotic affair at times.