Goa a tiny state in western face of India is a paradise for back packers’. Nicknamed as “Rome of the East” and also as Beach Paradise of India, the little state is renowned to the world for its scintillating beaches, ethnic temples, gothic churches, glorious history, rich flora and fauna, interesting sightseeing places, scrumptious sea food, glamorous nightlife, colorful festivals, heritage, culture and many more. The small scenic state in true sense is a paradise for any tourists, who are looking for leisure trip, fun-filled beaches and wildlife tour, honeymoon vacation, weekend tour and New Year Celebration. Goa is an ultimate tour travel destination in India, where every year millions of tourists from across the corner of the globe come to relish in the heavenly atmosphere, exploring the tourism fascinations.
Best Time to Visit
Goa is a destination of all season and though during the monsoon season, tourism is quite lull but still there are immense presence of tourists and visit Goa. Though if you are looking for a best time to visit Goa, it is just after the monsoon takes break, close to short Christmas and New Year Period is the best time (Mid July to September and winter months between November to Mid February).
Weather
Goa experience moderate climatic condition and thus the travel even during the summer month is pleasant. Summer Season starts from March and lasts up to May, Monsoon from June to September and Winter from October to February. March to May is warm and thus there is less number of tourists and is ideal for those tourists who want to be stay away for sometime from the maddening crowds. Monsoon season gives break to all the water sports and beach activities and keep the tourism of Goa bit isolated but as the Monsoon is over, Goa gets into a refreshing look with fresh clean beaches, evergreen surrounding and the nights gets festooned with bright fireworks. This is the time when Goa is at its peak of tourism season.
Attraction of Goa
Goa main attraction are its playful pristine and scenic beaches, where most of the tourists are seen sun-bathing, most of them enjoying the time of their life with family members, friends and dear ones and some water enthusiasts playing with the waves and enjoying water sports and facilities. The pretty state has many wonderful attractions as mention on top and out of all, beaches outshines them all and so it is often nicknamed as “Beach Capital of India”. Some of the top beaches to name are Anjuna Beach, Calangute Beach, Baga Beach, Candolim Beach, Vagator Beach, Benaulim Beach, Dona Paula Beach, Colva Beach, Palolem Beach, etc.
Beside these, there are wildlife Sanctuaries to the lists of attraction and are important parts of the tour travel Goa. Churches, Temples, heritage forts and the interesting cities and shopping malls are also of importance to
list in tourist attractions.
Goa Beaches
The diversity of renowned Beaches in Goa offer something for everyone, each different from other from luxury resorts to makeshift huts, and trance parties to tranquility. Some Beaches are rocky, some sandy; some teem with happy holidaymakers while some are the picture of tranquility; some encourage swimmers while some prefer sunbathers. The Goa beach that's right for you will depend on the kind of experience you want to have.
List Of Goa Beaches
Calangute : Calangute is the most popular holiday destination in Goa. Calangute Beach is colloquially know as the Queen of all the Beaches. Excellent accommodation facilites are available, particularly at the tourist resorts and cottages.
Colva Beach : It is about 6 kms from Margao. Colva Beach is the pride of Salcete and the only rival to Calangute by its scenic splendour. Here the sand, sea and sky blend in enchanting natural harmony unsploit by man.
Dona Paula : An idyllic picturesque spot. This place is called the Lovers Paradise in Goa, named after Dona Paula de Menezes. Water scootering facilities also available here.
Miramar beach : A lovely golden beach of soft sand surrounded by overlooking palm trees facing the blue Arabian Sea, is the nearest to Panaji.
Anjuna : A popular beach area adjacent to Chapora fort. In Anjuna there is a magnificent Albuquerque mansion built in 1920, flanked by octagonal towers and attractive Mangalore tiled roof.
Vagator : It is a popular beach dominated by Chapora Fort to the north. To the south of Vagator is Calangute beach.
Arambol Beach : A unique beach in the North of Goa, it is simultaneously rocky and sandy along the beach and much after for its serenity.
Palolem : The most enchanting beach in Goa is relatively desserted, with backdrop of western ghats, situated in Southern Taluka of Canacona. 16 Kms from Panaji. is the most popular holiday resort in Goa.
Goa Water Sports
Surf the seas, Skim the waves or Float across the skies. The fabulous golden coast of Goa is a paradise sprinkled with Water-Sports excitements like Windsurfing, Parasailing, Jet-skiing, or just Swimming, there is something for everyone. Water-Sports are yet another reason why people come back to Goa again and again. So get set to taste real thrill and adventure in Goa, you can always follow your sporting pursuits, even while on a relaxing vacation.
Goa Night Life
Vibrant Night-Life in Goa is exuberance of endless fun and frolic. Party lovers can celebrate in revered Nightclubs with loads of enjoyment and immense boozing. Plenty of fine Discotheques strewn all over are favourite hangout for the vacationers. Invigorate your evening in nightclubs and discos; Soak yourself in lively and relaxing atmosphere night party leaving behind all your tensions. You can shake your legs on rocking numbers played; try your luck at any of the fascinating Casinos of Goa or visit night markets which are worth for the Food, Entertainment and Shopping.
Goa Sightseeing Tours
Goa is the perfect place to go on a Sightseeing Tour. These Tours will truly show you an entirely new side of Goa that is sure to take you by surprise. There are many different Tours organized by different travel agents as per your requirements and budget such as North Goa, South Goa, Waterfalls, Wildlife Sanctuary, Spice Farms; all are unique in their own way and are a must visit. Cruises like Sun Set Cruise, Sundown Cruise, Dinner Cruise, Dolphin Cruise and breathtaking Backwater Thrills is another option. Excursions can be organized almost any day of the year.
Goa is a state which is gifted with incredible natural beauty; from her beaches and gently rolling hill to her vegetation and animal life. To protect some of this natural beauty from rush of modern development, Goa has set aside four wild-life sanctuaries nested in the wooded areas of in-land Goa. The Bhagwan Mahaveer, Bondla, Cotigao, and Dr.Salim Ali Wild life sanctuaries are open to visitors interested in a glimpse of Goa's natural environment.
Goa is one of the few states which has maximum area under legal protection. Goa has as many as six Wildlife Sanctuaries. They are
1. The Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildife Sanctuary and Mollem National Park, Sanguem
2. The Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary, Canacona
3. The Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary, Mollem
4. The Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary, Valpoi
5. The Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary, Sanguem
6. The Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, Chorao
Bhagwan Mahavir Sanctuary
The Bhagwan Mahavir Sanctuary at Mollem covers an area of 240 square kilometers and is the largest wildlife preserve in Goa. This sanctuary lies on the eastern border of the state, close to the village of Mollem at the foot of the Western Ghats. The Bhagvan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary is 53 kilometres away from the state capital, Panaji. The sanctuary primarily consists of evergreen forests and deciduous trees.
Within the Bhagvan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary is the Molem National Park. Herds of deer and gaurs (Indian bison), clusters of monkeys, Malayan giant squirrels, cobras and pythons are housed in the sanctuary. There are also elephants and tigers, but spotting them could be a tough job. The sanctuary is also home to a few black panthers; and spotting them is not an easy task either.
Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary
Cotigao is Goa's fourth wild-life sanctuary and encircles 86 square kilometers of deciduous forest and picturesque natural vegetation. The park, created in 1969, lies 12 kilometers from Palolem, a popular southern beach resort in Canacona taluka, and is best seen with private transport. It is open from 9:30am to 5:30pm, as are most of the other sanctuaries, and has a small rest house where visitors can spend the night if they receive permission in advance. Wild-life may be harder to observe in this park, however, owing to the presence of human inhabitation, scattered throughout the country are the Kunbi and Velip tribal communities, The "Kunbi", a popular folk dance of Goa, originated from this tribe who are thought to be the descendants of the aboriginal communities of pre-Aryan settlement. Guides are available in this park and may be helpful in locating various animal and plant species, including a small waterhole known to attract the reserve's wildlife.
Bondla Sanctuary
Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary is 38 km away from Margao. It is a wonderful jungle resort and a perfect place for wildlife tourism. Hundreds of nature lovers come from across the globe to enjoy the verdant beauty of Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary. The sprawling deer park in the region attracts a good amount of tourists throughout the year. If you want to stay in the sanctuary, there are arrangements for it too. Within the sanctuary, there are a number of cottages maintained by the forest department. You will have to reserve a cottage in advance to get the facility of staying in it.
Other than the deer, the sanctuary is also home to Gaur and Sambhar. Regular bus service from Panaji and Margao has made this wildlife sanctuary easily accessible and hence very popular. Bondla Sanctuary is only 8 sq. km in size. Moist Deciduous Forests combined with patches of Evergreen forests make for the vegetation of the region. Among the carnivores that prowl the forest, panthers, jungle cats and leopard cats. There are also porcupines, wild boars and Malabar Giant Squirrel. Here you will also find the flying lizards.
More than a hundred species of birds have made this sanctuary their home. There is a Nature Education Center where visitors can see different exhibits. There is also a library here. Tourists can watch video and cine movies that are screened here.
Dr. Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary
Also known as Dr. Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary - The sanctuary is named after one of India's most prominent ornithologists, Dr. Salim Ali - the Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary is spread over an area of 1.78 sq kms. The Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary is located at the western tip of the Chorao Island along river Mandovi near Panaji. It is fully covered with mangrove species. A variety of local and migratory birds can be found on this island.
This sanctuary can be visited any time of the year. However, permission from the Chief, Wild Life Warden (Forest Department, Junta House, Panaji-Goa) is required. One needs to take a bus or a cab from Panaji to the Ribandar ferry wharf and then take a ferry across the Mandovi River to the island of Chorao. The sanctuary is within walking distance from the ferry wharf at Chorao. There are also some private parties who take tourists around in their canoes fitted with outboard motors.
