Goa might be the smallest state in India, but also the most popular one for parties and beaches. Tourists flock here from both India and around the world, especially during Winter months to enjoy sunny days, blissful beaches, fresh seafood, spicy curries, vibrant markets, wild nightlife and much more, all infused with the special and captivating blend of Portuguese and Indian cultures.
Our journey started from Delhi by taking a train to reach Goa (journey of 36 hours). We got down at Thivim station and a taxi escorted us to M N Resorts, Arpora which was a 30 min ride from the railway station. The resort was decent and pretty with a small pool in the centre.
As our resort was near Baga beach, that’s where we went first. It was my birthday and also my first time seeing a beach, so it was obviously special for me and I was so excited! We had dinner on the shack and heard the soothing sound of the waves.
Baga is a beach for clubs and crowd, which is not really our thing. Tito’s club is very famous there so you can go and chill there during night. But personally, you can skip Baga Beach if your trip is short as Goa has a lot more and better to offer than this.
Next we headed to Anjuna during afternoon which is famous for its various trance and rave parties and a vibrant nightlife that attracts thousands of tourists each year.
Unlike some cafes at other beaches which charge on hourly basis for resting on sunbeds, the cafes here let you rest for free if you order from here. Also, Anjuna is famous for its Spice Market and Saturday Night Market so you should even pay a visit there.
Our next place on the list was Chapora Fort.
Chapora is a perfect vantage point for gazing at the sea as the waves gently nudge the shore in silent harmony. A short, uphill walk leads to the worn-out walls of Chapora which are adorned with weeds and face the coast, offering a superb view of the Anjuna beach and Vagator beach. This historical site just lulls you into a state of calm and relaxation and is a must visit!
Fun fact, it’s also famous as Dil Chahta Hai fort. One scene where the main actors Amir Khan, Saif Ali Khan and Akshaye Khanna sit on one of the walls overseeing Vagator beach gives the feel of a free spirit living life to the fullest. As most of the Indians can relate to the fort more from the movie, the name has stood strong to this day. It’s funny that even one of the local snack stands have called themselves ‘Dil Chahta Hai corner’.
The next day we went to Calangute beach, tried the local Goan and South Indian Thali and is was JUST SO YUM! and not even expensive. I forgot to click a picture because I was very hungry and ate everything quickly. We also came across many small and beautiful Churches and Chapels on our way.
Calangute Beach was very crowded, and had a huge market where we shopped for Kurtas, Harem pants, Cashews, Feni, Port wine and cashews which are all famous in Goa. You can even get a permanent and temporary tattoo here as there are many such shops. I was disappointed with the beach though, it was very crowded and dirty with trash everywhere including plastic and glass bottles and also even oxes were roaming around. It was funny but I managed to witness this beautiful sunset.
It was Saturday night, therefore the time for Saturday Night Market at various places in North Goa. We went to the Arpora one, as we heard that it was a good one. It was a flea market with stalls for clothes, jewelry, braiding, food, tapestries, footwear, incense sticks and the list goes on. There was indeed a lot of variety there and I bought so many things.
Goa has a lot more to offer than just beaches, parties and water sports that beckons vacationers. Its a land of some of the most beautiful churches, and Basilica of Bom Jesus is a prominent one. We were allowed to click pictures and also got familiar with the ancient and traditional history of the church, which is famous for the remains of St. Francis. It’s in Old Goa, so was a bit far from our stay in North Goa but the visit was definitely worth it.
This basilica is considered as one of the seven wonders originated by Portuguese in the world. The work for this wonder started at the end of the 16th century by Dom Fr. Alexio de Menezes, a famous archbishop. This basilica was considered a landmark for Christianity in the country. St. Francis Xavier was one of the important figures who helped in spreading Christianity in the country. This church holds the earthly remains of the saint.
Goa is known for its epic beach parties, and underground raves. There are many establishments, old and new, which have made the nightlife in Goa an essential part of the local culture. From beachside parties and all-night clubbing to trance nights and jazz events, you can enjoy it all here. You’ll find clubs mostly everywhere in North Goa, either on thr beach side or the lanes. I’m not into clubbing so I only went to some like Love Passion Karma and Tito’s with the others. It was a great experience though, dancing all night and making memories.
After partying and chilling on other beaches of North Goa, we came to Morjim for some relaxation and peace, to feel the vibe, you know. It’s such a beautiful and tranquil beach, unlike the others because people come here to relax & bask in the sun and not for activity & adventure. If you too get tired from partying or stuff in Goa, you should definitely come here for some lazy evenings and see the sky change colours.
Next, we went to The Hippie Paradise and my favourite place – Arambol.
I have so many memories here, of shopping (the market is amazinggg), eating (food is so yum), watching the sunset, playing with the waves, dancing to music on the shacks, sunbathing, enjoying brownies and the list goes on. People from all around the world come here so you’ll see more of foreign faces than Indian. But everyone’s so friendly and nice here, it felt like I belonged there and I wish I could stay there longer. Maybe next time! .
The rock formations on Arambol Beach are a good place to chill if you want a good view of the beach and the waves crashing on the shore. We spotted many small crabs and fishes here and made sure not to slip on the slippery surface. Also it was a bit tricky to get on the top, so one should be careful. Looking back at the shore, the kids were making sandcastles and some young women were exercising on beach, not something we expected but it was a good view. Also, droning was tough as it was difficult to balance both at the same time.
Next on the list was Vagator Beach. Whether it is the endless party or food or water sports activities like parasailing, snorkeling, jet ski, windsurfing or scuba diving, Vagator Beach was just full of life. It’s for adventure but is very tidy and less crowded. I liked it because it was better than Baga and Calangute beach, peaceful and beautiful.
We tried parasailing which was so refreshing and fun. They usually offer packages which involves other adventurous sports as well but we chose to stick to Parasailing. They secure with a harness and dipped several times in water where we were even able to feel the jelly fishes. The view was breathtaking, horizon in the front with only water in view and a trail of beaches at the back.
At last, it was Tuesday night, hence we decided to go to Shiva Valley at midnight to lose ourselves at the Goan Trance Party. It’s located besides Curlies, another famous beach shack and it was a new yet crazyyy experience! The hippie vibe, neon ambience and psychedelic trance music echoing in our ears and our heart beating so loudly, we danced to the music all night.
And that’s how our trip came to an end. Goa is a memorable place where we had all the fun in the world. It was an unforgettable experience and definitely the place close to my heart.
You can also enjoy other experiences like Aguada Fort, Dudhsagar Falls, Cruise, Casino, Scuba Diving, Club Cubana, Thalassa, Cabo De Rama, etc. You should definitely head to South Goa for some relaxation and luxury vacation.
Tips
- Practice caution on beaches, keep your belongings safe and also apply sunscreen.
- Carry cash as ATMs are far away and usually have long queues.
- Pack wisely with comfortable clothes.
- Book accommodation in advance.
- Bargain at the flea markets.
- Respect the Culture, the Nature and Goa way of life
How to reach :
By air :
Goa is well connected by air from various cities in India. There are regular flights to Goa from Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and other important cities in India. Dabolim, the airport in Goa is 29 km away.
By bus
Panaji, also Panjim, the capital of Goa is well connected by good motorable roads with all the major destinations in India via the National Highways NH 4A, NH 17, and NH 17A. The Kadamba Bus Stand at Panaji is the major inter-state bus station within Goa. There are regular to and fro bus services run by the Maharashtra, Goa and Karnataka state transport services.
By train
Goa has two major railheads at Vasco and Madgaon.
There are also two Konkan Railway stations – Karmali and Thivam. Karmali is the station for going to Panjim and Thivam is the station to go to Mapusa or Calanguate. There are direct trains to Goa from most of the major cities in India.
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