Life's a Beach: The Best of Goa

A glorious mix of Indian culture and historic European influences makes Goa a state apart. Not quite like India, not quite colonial, not, really, like anywhere else on Earth. We love it. And here are our top ten reasons why:

 

1.Small is beautiful

A trip along National Highway 17 from the north to the south of this state will take a little over two hours. Besides its natural beauty, the fabulous beaches and sunshine, you will love the laid-back, peaceful, warm and friendly nature of the Goan people.

2.Temples to treasure

Goa has an impressive array of Hindu temples worth visiting - all the more impressive for having survived centuries of Portuguese rule. The temple of Shri Mangesh (at Priol-Ponda Taluka) is one of the best. Its distinctive white lamp tower and 'welcome gate' at the entrance act as landmarks for miles around. Other temples worth visiting are the Shanta Durga Temple, the Shri Ganesha Temple, the Mahalaxmi Temple, and the Shri Nagesh Maharudra Temple - all dedicated to goddesses and deities and all claiming healing powers.

3.Spirited nightlife

Goa offers everything from legendary full-moon beach parties to traditional floor shows. With a more liberal attitude prevailing here than elsewhere in India, clubs are generally a little livelier, music generally a little more pumping than other spots in the sub continent. Most of the large hotels lay on a live music event a couple of nights a week.  Goans love their music, and have a rich culture of traditional folk music and dance. Goans have song and dance routines for every conceivable occasion - all of which evoke the spirits, and are said to bring about good fortune.

4.Great food

Every taste is catered for in Goa, from rich curries to the more international palette. Although the staple diet of Goa is meaty fish curry and rice  - fiery but wonderful.  The influence of the Portuguese, Muslim and Hindu flavour on the original Goan cooking has resulted in an exotic mix of truly tasty and spicy cuisine. A Goan values his food as much as he does his daily siesta.   Seafood always has a pride of place in some form or the other, from fried fish to exotic concoctions like ambot-tik, a sizzling fish curry cooked with tamarind, sea food is usually a must on the menu.

5.Potent drink!

Goa's most renowned tipple is feni, a strong concoction distilled from coconut sap or cashew juice. Double distilled, deceptively clear and dangerously potent, it's not for the faint hearted. There are two types of feni, both of which are made from local ingredients. Coconut feni - or toddy - is made from the sap from a palm tree. Cashew or caju feni, is made from the fruit. Both are added to fruity cocktails or drunk neat as 'shots'. Beware.

6.Fascinating towns

Old Goa – the state's original capital, is now an atmospheric, deserted hinterland of once-mighty churches, and faded facades of Portuguese villas. It's been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESO and its religious buildings are a must-see. Panaji - The new state capital is a laid-back town with a cluster of striking buildings lining the southern shores of the wide Mandovi esturary. Take a day to explore its streets by foot and you'll discover colonial villas, welcoming tavernas and bustling coffee shops.

7.Vibrant history

Apart from the Portuguese, the fertile lands of Goa captivated many from the west - the Turks, the British, the French, the Dutch among them – hence this state's kaleidoscopic blend of cultures and traditions. Goa State Museum,  Panaji, has the best displays of Goan art and culture - especially its bronze statues, religious sculpture galleries and Hindu dynasty treasures. Portuguese coins and furniture represent the region's more recent past. Fort Aguada, near Candolim, is a dramatically situated heritage site with solid remains of structures built by the Portuguese, including a massive lighthouse (1612) and a rather impenetrable-looking old fort.

8.Wonderful wildlife

Bhagwan Mahavir Sanctuary, (Molem, 60 km from Panaji) is Goa 's largest wildlife preserve covering more than 200 square miles of canyon, valley and forest. Rich in wildlife, the sanctuary is especially worth visiting if you're a bird watcher. Devil's Canyon, a stunning area of waterfalls and tropical forest, requires permission to visit, but is worth the effort. Watch for roaming herds of buffalo and colourful, exotic birds - some only found in this region.

9.Blissful spas

Ayurveda Therapies (an ancient Indian 'holistic' remedy using herbs and hands-on treatments   to improve mind, body and spirit) is widely practised in Goa. Ayurvedic medicine's unique way of assessing the individual and creating a bespoke treatment which may involve yoga, meditation and herbal remedies can be experienced in the region's many day spas. You'll definitely leave feeling refreshed - at a fraction of the price you'd pay for treatment at home. Try the Natural Health Centre in Baga Beach for a good introduction to the healing powers of Ayurveda.

10.Stunning scenery

Goa's beaches form an almost continuous ribbon of fine, golden sands from Tiracol Beach in the north to Gaijibaga Beach in the south. Broken only by a couple of wide estuaries, and the mighty Mandovi River, these beaches are the lifeblood to the region. South of Panjim, beaches are less hectic, and more traditional. Head further south to Palolem's remote and tranquil stretch of sand and you'll realise why this place was considered so special 40 years ago.