Much has been shared and published about Goa – a very touristy and popular beach destination in India, but for those who have not been there yet it is a beckoning destination holding much allure.
Even for those who have already been there, Goa is a place you can visit again and again. After all who wouldn’t want to sit by the sea, walk on the beach, and have the waves crashing on your feet?
My trip to the sea was long overdue but something or the other kept happening that didn’t let my sand-kissed dreams come true. As Marcel Proust said the real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes, the thought of travel excites me not only because I’ll be getting to witness new terrains but new places also mean meeting new people and mingling with the local taste and cultures.
PM Dahal arrives in Goa
Why Goa?
Mainly because of the sea, and also because I had heard a lot about what a delightful place Goa is. After having been there, I can vouch that the beach and the sea don’t disappoint.
Trip highlights
I didn’t visit all the touristy spots in Goa so my suggestions are based on what I explored in the city.
South Goa for historical sites
Besides some grand churches established by the Portuguese, and temples that were reconstructed with the idols saved from Portuguese invasion, there are some museums worth visiting as well.
Beaches
Goa is synonymous with beaches. Rather than visiting multiple beaches, I preferred choosing one with lesser crowd and having a good time there. Vagator beach in North Goa is a good one (recommended), because you know Baga and Calangute are overrated (and overcrowded). Colva beach was a bit crowded as well, and not very clean too but it is still a good spot for enjoying the sunset. But the Majorda beach in the south is much better for this.
Cruise ride
It wasn’t what I expected it to be – too crowded, too much noise. However, the Dolphin ride was rather relaxing and rewarding.
Evening spots
Aguada Fort (North) and Dona Paula view point (South) are good spots to spend your evenings. Panjim, in the evening, is lively, and so is the Calangute market which, I think, is ideal for late evening excursions.
Food
My family and I loved everything we ate in Goa. I specially love coconut and since everything was garnished with it, I became a foodie in Goa. Try the Goan fish curry with rice, Goan chicken, and uniquely fried prawns.
How to get there?
Fastest way to reach Goa from Kathmandu is to fly. As there are no direct flights, you need to catch connecting flights via Delhi or Mumbai. I recommend flying to Mumbai and taking a train to Goa. I thoroughly enjoyed the rail trip.
Tips
Keep a good number of hours between your flight’s arrival and train’s departure. You don’t want to be running crazy to catch your train.
Download an offline map in Google Maps or use any other offline map to make commuting easy.
The writer is a software professional who believes that photography is the most poetic form of expression.
