There are many places to visit in Goa. And many things to do on your Goa vacation. In the ’70s, Goa was a sort of Mecca for hippies looking for spiritual enlightenment in India. Today it has grown from its original persona to a more conventional travel destination with a bonfire and beach rave subculture that exists in certain parts of the city.
Whatever your style maybe you can certainly find activities to entertain while visiting Goa; one of the most top travel destinations, with loud throbbing trance music pulsating out over the Arabian Sea from a beach hut, as their electronic answer to the waves of the ocean.
Your best bet for finding a good party is to hang out around whatever appears to be the most popular beach shack of the season and chat up the locals (but be wary of getting lifts to unknown venues with strangers).
Places To Visit In Goa
Anjuna
Like all of Goa, Anjuna was long held by the Portuguese. Anjuna became hippy central for hippies travelling to India. It has also been described as the home and capital of trance music, having an influence on many DJs in the genre of music. However, for the average tourist, the biggest draw is the flea market on the beach on Wednesdays, where you never know what you’re going to find.
Chandor
Nestled on the banks of the river Kushavati, Chandor is a more quiet alternative for spending a day, compared with the action and excitement of the main Goa party district along the Arabian Sea.
Colva
One of the main “resort beaches” in Goa, Colva is a beautiful white sand beach lined with many hotels of varying prices and amenities. If you want a room on the beach for cheap, or are willing to pay a little more, for a little better room this is a good place to stay.
Old Goa
Old Goa was the capital of the portion of India dominated by the Portuguese in the 15th century until they fled the area to escape a plague epidemic in the 1800s. The area contains many of the original buildings constructed with beautiful artistic architecture.
Panaji
Panaji is the current state capital of Goa, moved from Old Goa in 1843 when the Portuguese fled the original sight to escape a plague epidemic. Panaji is unusually quiet and relaxed for a state capital, especially compared with the jump in nature of the seaside areas of North Goa.
Ponda’s temples
A great day trip stop, Ponda is the sight of many famous temples, with over fifteen in the area. To get to Ponda you have to pass through Old Goa, making it a great opportunity to see both areas on the same day. While in the Ponda area, another great spot to check out is the Buddhist Caves.
Bamboo Huts in Goa
The bamboo huts in Goa are known as coconuts, and they have been the traditional building construction style for as far back as records go. Some of the resorts in the area feature huts as rooms for customers, however, these have been greatly modernized over their humble origins (i.e. indoor plumbing and tile floors).
Villa Anjuna
Villa Anjuna offers comfortable rooms, which are a bit pricey by Goan standards, however still cheap compared with U.S. prices. Located near some of the hottest clubs in Goa, this is a great place to stay, however, be warned if you plan to hotel hop that you must stay a minimum of three days to book a room here.
Agonda Beach Huts
The Agonda Beach huts look like a Tahitian resort, located right on beautiful, tranquil, and practically unpopulated Agonda beach, these bamboo and thatch huts are comfortable and include personal bathrooms (attached) with running water.
Shangrila Beach Hotel Goa
Located about a block from beautiful Majorda beach in Goa Shangrila Beach Hotel is truly a paradise, the rooms are moderately priced for Goa (about $32 American for a deluxe air-conditioned room).
Given the range of budget accommodation, few people travel with their own tent. An increasing phenomenon though (and a far cry from the triangular tents of yesteryear) is the organized camp of tepee-style tents, such as Bai Tereza Beach Camp at Coco Beach, where the guests gather around a bonfire at night.
There are a great number of campsites on any beach. Your best bet is to look around and find one that has available space where you feel comfortable. All sites have bare-bones amenities.
Other Attractions in GOA
While visiting Goa, you can enjoy some of the many unique attractions and activities offered in this colourful vacation destination
Yab Yum Resort
This resort specializes in healthy cooking and dome-style huts. A perfect place to get a Yoga lesson in their fully equipped shala, or if you are against exercise on vacation, just enjoy a nice massage.
Spice Village
There is no better way to take in the wonderful flora and fauna of South India than a visit to Spice Village. Come and learn what the spices you like on your food look like in the natural world, (if you get lost you’ll be able to make a delicious survival meal).
Taj Garden Retreat
Near the Periyar Tiger Reserve, Taj Garden Retreat is a great jump-off point for experiencing the tiger reserve, and to get a more authentic Indian experience than you’ll find on the coast. The grounds are lush with useful plants growing fresh spices and fruit.
Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary
Just south of the much larger Chorao sanctuary near Panaji, Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary is home to a wide variety of rare and beautiful birds. It is a great place to visit whether you’re a professional ornithologist, or you just want to see avian life in some of the best natural scenery imaginable.
Netravali
This 211 square kilometres wildlife sanctuary is home to many exotic animals, including king cobras, giant squirrels, great pied hornbills and black panthers.
Bhagwan Mahavir Sanctuary
Bhagwan Mahavir Sanctuary was formerly known as Mollem National Park, this 240 square kilometres national park has every type of south Indian reptile, mammal and bird you could imagine. A great place to take a day away from the beach and see some of the natural wonders of the country.
Temples and Landmarks in Goa
Goa is home to many historic landmarks and ancient temples which make great places to visit. On your trip, you can explore these ancient and mystic places of worship.
Sree Mangueshi Temple
This temple is one of the most famous temples in India, Lord Mangueshi (one of the many incarnations of Shiva) is worshipped here. Outside the temple, there is a seven-story tower of oil lamps or a “Deepmal,” which is lit in honour of Lord Shiva.
Sree Saptakoteshwar Temple
Lord Saptakoteshwar is called the “God of seven worlds,” in the Hindu religion and is one of the many incarnations of Lord Shiva.
St. Catherine’s Cathedral
St. Catherine’s Cathedral or Se Cathedral was built by the Portuguese during their domination of the region. It took eighty years to complete the construction of the cathedral, and it’s bigger than any cathedral ever constructed in Portugal.
Mahadeva Temple
The Mahadeva Temple at Tambdi Surla is one of the smallest of the famous temples in the area however it is magnificent in the detail of the stone architecture. The temple is dedicated to one of the incarnations of Lord Shiva.
Goa boasts some of the best coastline and waterways around the Arabian Sea, and with this comes a plethora of exciting water sports.
Water Skiing
The Arabian Sea off the coast of Goa is a perfect spot for water skiers whether you are a beginner or an expert, there are many rental locations available along the beach.
Windsurfing
The conditions of the water in the Arabian Sea along the Goan coast are often ideal for windsurfing, and with the many rental spots available it is a great way to spend an hour or two at the beach.
Parasailing
What better way to get a birds-eye view on your first day in Goa than to take a parasail up and own the coast?
River Cruises
Whether you take the cruise down the Mandovi River into the Zuari Bay or you go upriver to a mineral spring you will love this activity.
Goa Carnival
Known as Intruz the Goan Carnival in the city of Loutulim is a spectacular sight with colourful painted masks, floats and dancers.
Dolphin and Crocodile Sightseeing Tours:
A popular activity for tourists visiting Goa is boat tours to view dolphins and crocodiles (hopefully separately for the dolphin’s sake).
