One of India’s most favourite and visited destination, Goa is known for its natural beauty, clean beaches and awesome parties, it has everything that you would want in a travel destination: from adventure and water sports to parties and food.
If you are someone who loves art or history, then Goa is a great place to visit, as it is quite rich in culture and religion. Old goa offers you an old religious vibe, as it filled with churches like St. Augustine, Basilica of Bom Jesus and Church of St. Francis of Assisi. If you are looking to try your luck in gambling, then you can visit one of the Casinos.
While in goa, make sure that you try out the local cuisine, like pork vindaloo, Goan fish curry, sorpotel, prawns and bebinca, on top of all this, goa is known for cheap liquor. though goa is famous for its nightlife and beaches, that’s not everything that Goa has to offer, There are so many things available to do that it might get difficult or you to choose, which is why we have made a list of some of best places you should visit and things you should do while in this beautiful city.
Dudhsagar Falls which means Sea of Milk is a four-tiered waterfall which is located on the Mandovi River in Goa. It is just 60 km from Panaji, what makes this waterfall special is that it is one India’s tallest waterfalls with a height of 310m, you can take a trek to this astonishing waterfall, which offers you a wonderful experience, and is one of the most popular treks in the country, the trek area is surrounded by deciduous forests with rich biodiversity.
The Basilica of Bom Jesus is a Roman Catholic church, which is located in Old Goa and holds the remains of St. Francis Xavier. This historic church was build in the year 1594 and consecrated in 1605, the church serves as a symbol for Goa’s rich religious traditions and is popular for its baroque and Portuguese Colonial architecture in India. It is one of the Seven Wonders of Portuguese Origin in the World. Even after 400 years, the remains of St. Francis Xavier in a good condition and are taken out once every decade. The church also has a modern art gallery which consists of 20th-century paintings.
Beaches
Well, Goa is known for beaches, and for good reason, the state contains some of the best beaches in the world, are there are several options available in goa for you to choose from, there are a total of 48 beaches in Goa, there are several activities available here at these beaches like parasailing, banana ride, or jet ski ride, several parties also take place at these beaches, If you are looking for a peaceful experience, then you can rest at the shacks and enjoy few drinks. Some of the top beaches in Goa are Baga beach, Anjuna beach, Candolim beach, and Colva beach.
Water Sports
If you are looking for some adventure in goa, then there are several water sports activities available here for you to choose from, windsurfing, kneeboarding, flyboarding, kite surfing waterskiing, water scooters, boogie boarding, Ringo ride etc. These are just some of the water sports that are available on the beaches of Goa, popular beaches where you can find these activities available are Baga beach, Sequirem beach, Calangute beach and Colva beach.
Kayaking
Goa has some of the most beautiful rivers in the country, and kayaking tours allow you to explore these beautiful rivers, you gently move through the calming waters and thick jungles/mangroves. You’ll be able to spot many different animals in this trip, you might even find dolphins in the water, through the trip, you will be able to see the villages, churches, and the daily life of the Goanese people as well. If you are looking for more adventure, then there’s a Crocodile challenge at River Mandovi, where watch the Crocodiles up close in their natural habitat.
Scuba Diving
If you’re tired of the beaches and are looking for more exploration, you have another entire world which exists under the water, Scuba diving is a great way to explore the underwater unknowns and get lost in the deep sea and submerged life, Scuba diving is an experience that you won’t forget anytime soon, exploring the underwater vegetation, the species and fishes that live down there, we recommend that you to Grande Island, which is famous for providing some excellent spots for scuba diving, the spots offer a depth ranging from 7-20 meters, both beginners and experts can try this sport. The underwater is full of skates, sea turtles, shellfish, dolphins and exotic and colourful corals.
Paragliding
If you are someone who has a strong heart and is not afraid of heights, then paragliding is for you, people often confuse paragliding with parasailing, these both are different activities, Though fun, this activity is extremely dangerous, which is why it requires professional assistance and gear as paragliding is done alone. As long as you follow the instructions and wear proper safety gear, you’ll be safe, paragliding takes you up to 100 meters in the sky, many popular beaches in and around Goa offer paragliding, you can go Paragliding in Arambol, Anjuna, Calangute or in Colva. Paragliding in Goa will cost you around Rs3000 per person, this is for an hour, you can save money by opting for a lesser time like 15 minutes.
Casino Gambling
If you are willing to try out luck, then goa is the place to be, It is the only place in India where gambling is legal, Casinos in Goa can be found on boats, which are anchored in the Mandovi River, and onshore in some upmarket hotels. Most of the gambling takes place on the floating casinos, as by law, onshore casinos can only have electronic games, the casino market in Goa is dominated by Deltin Group and the Pride Group, some of the best casinos in Goa are Big Daddy Casino, Deltin Royale, Casino Pride and DeltinJaqk.
Dolphin Tours
One of the most amazing things that you can do while in goa, is going for Dolphin watching, you can view dolphins near the shores of many beaches like Candolim, Calangute, Sinquerim, and the Varca Beach, you are taken on a boat trip to get close to the dolphins, you can watch wild dolphins swimming past you, the trip is for an hour, and apart from dolphin spotting the trip will also take you around Goa’s very old jail, Fort Aguada, lighthouse and famous millionaire palace. The trip is going to cost you Rs 299 per person and is a trip worth taking.
Party On Beach
If you are a party junk, then you are going to love Goa, most of the famous beaches in goa have parties, Cavelossim and Palolem are great party destinations where parties happen regularly, once the dark hits, the beaches are suddenly transformed into night clubs so that the party can go on, most of the parties on the beaches are free to join, Psychedelic and trance music is usually played in these parties. Overall if you love parties or enjoy the hippie culture, then you should definitely visit these parties at the beach.
