Guest Post || 3 Days of Grace @Goa by Rommanne

Goa is one of the most beautiful and popular destinations of India! Planning a romantic outing, Go Goa! Reunion with school friends, Go Goa! Family holiday where the planned destination is a beach, Go Goa! You want to go parasailing with your loved one or go for a beautiful boat-ride to watch the sunset with dolphins jumping in the background, Go Goa! If you want to try your luck at a casino and let your hair down, Goa it is! If you want to be a part of rave parties to enjoy the nightlife of the place, Goa definitely is the best place. If you are fond of sea food, then this is the place to be! And if you are looking at having a relaxed weekend with chilled beer, then you are in luck as the taxes levied on alcohol is much less than any state in the country!

Here’s a list of activities to do in Goa. Before I share my itinerary, I would like to give you the various options Goa has to offer so that you can decide to tweak your itinerary to whatever suits you. I have divided the place into three categories, so that you can choose where to spend most of your time.

North Goa:

North Goa is famous for a number of beaches which is a must visit! This place is lively, full of folks in a holiday and merry making mood! There are a few activities on the beach like parasailing. If you wish to be a part of the hullabaloo then you should be at the Baga beach around 4:00 pm and wait till the sun becomes a huge red ball of fire and sets into the horizon.

Places to see in North Goa:

• Baga beach
• Calangute beach
• Vagator Beach
• Anjuna Beach
• Fort Aguada (Fisherman’s Cove)
• Chapora Fort
• Arambol Beach – know why Arambol beach is so awesome by clicking Arambol

Restaurants to eat in North Goa:

• Tito’s
• Ratnasagar Hotel
• Suza Lobo
• The Capricorn

South Goa:

If you like your beach less crowded and want a quiet walk holding hands with your loved one, then you must be at the southern end of Goa. If you dream of beautiful candle light dinners by the sea under a starry night then you have chosen the right place. There are local boat rides available to watch dolphins play in the sea, and to the virgin beaches situated a little away from the shore. Crystal clear water and warmth of the sands makes one wish that time stops for some time while they soak in the bliss of the tranquil surroundings. South Goa is definitely home to the best beaches of the Konkan coast of India.

Places to see

• Palolem Beach
• Candolem Beach
• Colva Beach (Babumoshai)

Places to eat

• The Pentagon
• Palacio do deau

Panjim:

The capital of Goa, Panjim houses the most beautiful and quaint churches in the area. Vasco-da-Gama arrived at India in the 15th century but has left behind a Portuguese culture in the streets of Panjim.

Places to see

• Church Square
• Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Church
• Goa State Musuem

 Places to eat

• Fisherman’s Cove
• Anantashram

 

How to travel in Goa?

The best and most pocket friendly option is to rent a bike. That is the best way to go around Goa. You could also rent a car. Remember to keep your driving license with you since the Goan Traffic Police is pretty strict when it comes to checking documents. Buses are a very few, and getting public transport during the night can be difficult, plus they charge you exorbitant rates.

Shopping at Goa

Flea markets are very popular in Goa and you will find a lot of stalls on the road and in crowded destinations. You don’t have to visit a shopping area as such. Plenty of beautiful skirts and blouses are available in floral patterns along with accessories. If you haven’t had the time to pack beachwear, you will find it in plenty on the streets of Goa.

Goan specialities

Thanks to the international tourist population, you will find all kinds of cuisines in Goa. There are plenty of restaurants serving continental food. However, do find time to taste the coconut gravy delicacies of the Malabar Coast which will steal your heart. Also try the local liquor Fenny (also called Feni), made of cashew or toddy palm. 

What to carry?

• Beachwear
• Sunscreen
• Good Camera
• A small torch
• Cash as not many places accept cards
• A good book
• Light music

My itinerary in Goa:

Day 1:

Relax in South Goa. Run to Colva beach in the morning and be back by noon before the sun sets ablaze. Post a shower you can dine in one of the restaurants in South Goa. I loved the restaurant called Babumoshai in Colva beach for serving delicious pomphrets. But you can pick any restaurant of your choice.

Move to Palolem beach in the evening.Be there by 4:00 pm. I would highly recommend a boat ride to Honeymoon Island. Tip the boatman to take you to areas where you can see dolphins play and lap in nature.

Watch the sunset from the beach. If you’re lucky on a non-cloudy day, the red ball disappearing into ocean blue is a sight to behold. Take a walk by the beach line. Find yourself a restaurant on the beach and enjoy candle light dinner.

Ensure you have a rented bike or have booked a taxi back. You may not find transport if you are really late. Also, lock your rented bikes well. People often find fuel stolen while they were away and are stranded at night.

Tuck in!

Day 2:

Book a cab and go towards Panjim. Leave early morning, and see if you could carry your bags with you.

Once in Panjim, visit the church square and eat at Anandashram near the Honda showroom. Walk down the narrow lanes with Portugal influence. Visit the church and head to North Goa beaches.

Baga beach is a good place to be. Try some water sports activites and enjoy the view of the crashing waves. Tito’s, at Baga Beach must be in your bucket list.

If you are a party lover, you must visit Anjuna beach. Curly’s is an awesome place with great music and good food. There are other places in the neighboring region as well.

Crash!

 Day 3:

Visit Chapora Fort and Fort Aguada. Do not miss Fisherman’s Cove, a lovely restaurant on Fort Aguada Road.

Spend some time in the flea markets and shopping centres and relax.

Head back to the beach in the evening! You can visit Calangute or Vagator beach.Or go back to Baga! Plenty of good food in the vicinity there.

Have a great trip to Goa and bring back wonderful memories. I am sure it will be worth a thousand smiles and wonderful moments that you will cherish in the years to come. Do mention what about Goa intrigued you the most!

 

About the author in her own words:    A Bengali brought up in the cosmopolitan city of Bangalore, I believe in living life to the brim. I have spent years to hone up my technical skills to get the coveted tag of an “Engineer + MBA” and worked with some of the best brands of the corporate world. I love to splash colors on canvas, disappear into a different world by picking up a good book and flipping a few pages, put together some spices and meat to please my taste buds, sway to my favorite tune each time I hear good music and of course explore a new place every time I get a chance! Well, this doesn’t even sum up 0.1% of me! Each article here is a bit of me, a bit of what I think, a little of what I feel and are pieces of the jigsaw puzzle which makes me, Me!

This is her second featured post on yatripandit.

You can check other amazing stories by Rommanne at http://www.rommanne.com

Disclaimer:  *Contents in this story is Authors personal views and presentation.

If you also want to get featured as a guest author on yatripandit.com, share your story with us on info@yatripandit.com

Please click on the ads which appear on the website. This blog is still very young and growing. If you like the story, do not shy away from reciprocating your love in form of likes comments and sharing on social media

Cheers !!