Holidays in Goa

On your holiday to Goa you will visit one of the smallest states in India's, with a territory of 3,702 sq km is located in the Western Ghats. Goa is caressed by the Indian Ocean and touched by the influence and traditions of almost five centuries of Portuguese rule, holidays in Goa are indeed a tropical paradise sprinkled with a little of the Mediterranean.

Goa at a glance:

• Country Profile - Goa Holidays
  
• Getting Around Goa
  
• Climate for Goa Holidays
  
• Places of Interest in Goa
  
• Eating/Drinking in Goa
  
• General Information for Holidays in Goa
  
• View Google Map of Goa

View Map of Goa

Country Profile - Goa Holidays

A holiday in Goa will take you south of Mumbai, surprisingly Goa is not just miles of palm-fringed sandy beaches. On a holiday to Goa you will also get an opportunity to see rich green paddy-fields surrounded by wide slow-flowing waterways, where white churches gleam and colourful distinctive houses are set amidst tropical flowering trees.

Here and there are the striking remains of fortresses which conjure up images of the past. Taking a Stella through the narrow streets of Old Goa, a wonderful town with Portuguese style houses, you could almost believe you are in the old part of Lisbon. The Portuguese influence didn't stop there, you will find the Goans themselves have inherited the Portuguese love of music and renditions of the old 'Cantades' are a regular occurrence.

In complete contrast there are also deep valleys and fast flowing rivers surrounded by wooded uplands, as well as temples brimming with ancient Hindu culture.

North Goa: There is a lively mix of fascinating colourful markets and restaurants offering delicious specialities. The fresh fish and seafood are amongst the best you will find anywhere in the world. Holidays in North Goa

South Goa: There is a much slower pace to life with quiet fishing villages nestling on the coast and paddy fields with natural wildlife inland. Holidays in South Goa

Goa offers a wonderfully gentle introduction to the fascinating mystique of India.

Capital: Panaji
Population: 1.4 million (approx.)
Language: Konkani (English and Portuguese widely spoken)
Currency: Indian Rupee
Religion: Hinduism and Christianity

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Getting around Goa

Taxis: For tourists, white Maruti Van Taxis serve as the main means of travelling between resorts. One will find them lined up outside most charter hotels, where a board invariably lists the destinations in and around the region. The fixed rate fares only apply to peak season, and at other times one should be able to negotiate a hefty reduction from the demanded fares.

Motorcycle Taxis: Goa's unique pillion-passenger motorcycle taxis, known locally as "pilots", are ideal for nipping between beaches or into town from the resorts. Bona fide operators ride black bikes with yellow mudguards and yellow number plates. Fares, which should be settled in advance, are almost half the auto-rickshaw rates.

Ferries: If auto-rickshaws are the quaint, essentially Indian, mode of transport, flat-bottomed ferries are their Goan equivalent. Crammed with cars, buses, commuters on scooters, fisherwomen and clumps of bewildered tourists, these blue-painted hulks provide an essential service, crossing the coastal backwaters where bridges have not yet been built. They are also incredibly reasonable, and run from the crack of dawn until late in the evening.

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Climate for Goa Holidays

From October to March the weather in Goa maintains a steady, relaxing course, with temperatures staying between 25C (77F) and 30C (86F).

Max Temp C	Oct	Nov	Dec	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr
Goa	29	31	28	28	27	27	25
London	10	7	6	7	10	13	17
Sunshine Hours	Oct	Nov	Dec	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr
Goa	8	9	9	11	12	9	8
London	2	1	1	2	4	5	6

Goa Holidays - View 5 Day Forecast

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Places of Interest in Goa

Panaji: The capital of Goa and headquarters of North Goa District, a small and charming city on the left bank of silvery Mandovi River, with beautiful red-roofed houses, built in Latin style, also boasts of many modern houses, well laid gardens, statues and avenues lined with Glmohar, Acassia and other trees. Enchanting panorama unfolds from atop Altinho (HillTop).

Vasco-Da-Gama: A modern, well laid out city close to Mormugao Harbour, has beautiful and extensive avenues. The air terminus of Goa at Dabolim lies on the outskirts of the city. It is also the railway terminus for passenger service on the South Central Railway.

Crocs and Spices: Spend a morning on a boat trip along the waterways of the river Zuari, with the chance to see Kingfishers, Fish eagles and Kites and, when the tide rises, perhaps even a crocodile. After your morning on the water, climb up into the hills to visit a 160 year old spice farm with a wonderful Goan style lunch.

Waterfall and Wildlife: A visit to India's second highest waterfall, a 603 metre fall of water into a pool perfect for swimming and the opportunity to visit a wildlife sanctuary.

Castaway cruise: A relaxing day with the chance to see dolphins, take a swim or do a little fishing and enjoy a barbecue on a beautiful secluded beach.

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Eating/Drinking in Goa

Visitors to Goa tend to think that food and drink in Goa means the famous fish, curry, rice and feni package. And for most Goans these are indeed the three basic necessities of life; fish, curry and rice.

They combine to make a heavenly daily meal for the average Goan. But Goan cuisine, like the land itself, has many flavours and tastes with its vast treasure trove of culinary delicacies.

The long period of Portuguese rule, besides that of the Muslim and Hindu kingdoms, has left an indelible influence on the original style of Goan cooking and this has led to an exotic mix of truly tasty and spicy cuisine. Most people who sample Goan cuisine, enjoy this different and unique style of food which has a distinct and unique combination of spicy flavours.

A Goan values his food as much as he does his daily siesta (break). And in his daily meal, seafood always has a pride of place is some form or the other. From fried fish to exotic concoctions like ambot-tik, sea food is usually a must on the menu, except for the occasional break for some religious observance.

Alcohol in Goa is cheap and there is a variety of it. A must try in Goa is the coconut drink. The coconut, still wearing its green husk, is opened at the top, and to its innocent liquid is added some not-so-innocent feni (a potent alcoholic drink made from cashew fruit), crushed ice and some sweet, fruit-flavoured cordial.

Nightlife: The strangest custom one comes across in some areas as they make a trip to Goa is the presence of a bar-cum-restaurant in almost every third house. All the trendy looking rooms of the houses are open to the public with a couple of chairs and a table. The atmosphere is just great - relaxing and conducive to a pleasant night out with family and friends. Most of the places serve exquisite seafood and other Goan delicacies having well stocked bars. And if you want to jive the night away, there are a couple of nice discotheques in Goa.

The pubs in Goa provide an evening filled with fun and excitement. There are various pubs in Goa spread all over Goa, each designed with a different theme. Large groups of tourist as well as locals gather at these pubs to enjoy their favourite drinks and listen to the latest music. Most of these pubs provide all this and more at very affordable rates.

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General Information for Holidays in Goa

Time: +5.5 hours GMT

Electricity: 220 Volts

Weights and Measures: Kilo and Metric system.

Banks: Open from 10:00 - 14:00 Mon to Fri, and 10:00 - 12:00 on Saturday. Some banks also have evening branches. Travellers cheque transactions usually cease 30 minutes before the official bank closing time. In some tourist centres, there may be foreign exchange offices that stay open longer.

Passport/Visa Full passport (valid for at least six months on your return date). Visa: British Citizens require a visa for travel to Goa. Due to changes to the Indian Visa application process, please make sure you have sufficient time to obtain your visa before your departure date, as seasonal demand is extremely high at present. Anyone other than British Citizens should contact the Indian High Commission in London or (if living in Scotland only) Edinburgh to clarify their visa requirements and the time it will take to obtain one. Please note that you are responsible for obtaining the correct visa before your date of travel. If you are unable to travel because you have not obtained a visa for entry to Goa, normal cancellation terms will apply - please refer to our Booking Conditions.

Business hours: Government offices are open from 10 am to 5 pm, Monday to Saturday, and are closed every second Saturday. In most of the state capitals, the main post office (usually called GPO) is open until around 7 pm daily.

Shopping: The visit is not complete unless you take back a souvenir of their memorable sojourn in this magnificent paradise. The excellent local handicrafts of Goa are easily the most popular souvenir items and include brassware, terracotta, shell work, crochet, carved furniture, bamboo work, pappier-mache, etc. These are available in the Government Emporia and also at shops and stalls near the popular tourist spots.

Another item which is on the list of every traveller to Goa is a pack of the famed cashew nuts. These are available practically everywhere. There are shops specialising in selling only cashew nuts. The nuts are available in a wide variety of tastes ranging from plain, salted and masala. The prices vary based on the quality and flavour.

There are also many fascinating options in the lifestyle and fashion shops which have come up in recent times. Some of these are located in fabulous old Goan houses which have been painstakingly restored. These shops make the best selections in home styling and fashion available to the tourists at quite reasonable prices.

It is also a fascinating experience to go around and shop in the traditional markets of the Goan towns and villages. These markets are a mirror of Goa's ethnic culture and provide a glimpse of the typical Goan way of doing business.

The charm of shopping in Goa lies in bargaining to your heart's content in markets and shops until you finally bring down the price and make the purchase a worthwhile experience.

Shops and markets opens around 10:00 (it varies with city) and closes at 20:00, markets are usually closed on Sunday and public holidays. But you will also find some shops open on Sundays.

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