Goa Travel Guide

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Goa

Goan sunset

This small state, halfway down India's west coast, was a Portuguese colony until 1961. This goes some way to explaining the alternative atmosphere here. Cut off from British India by a wall of mountains and vast alluvial plains Goa relied on trade with a declining Portuguese Empire, but what was lost in British trade it made up for in Portuguese attitude and it retains a distinctly laid-back feel today.

Goa was discovered by travellers in the late 60s who were relieved to have found somewhere away from the mainstream, where holidaying meant simply hanging out, smoking weed and partying on the beach, particularly at full moon. The state quickly grew a reputation for its hedonism and liberal attitude under a hot sun that sets in splendour every evening over the Arabian Sea. In recent years the authorities have tried to discourage the hippies and budget backpackers, angling rather for clientele with fatter wallets, and Goa is trying to shake off its image as a hippy hangout.

Now with a quick rail link to Mumbai and charter flights from the UK, thousands of tourists flock here each winter to relax and enjoy the Goan cuisine - a blend of exotic Indian spices with the Latin love of meat and fish. Many hotels and resorts have popped up over the last few years to cater for this ever-popular destination, but with more than 25 miles of beautiful sandy beaches there is still plenty of tranquillity to be found.

Resorts

See our separate guides to the following Goa holiday resorts: Anjuna, Calangute Beach, Baga Beach, Colva and Palolem

Attractions

Anjuna Flea Market © Wm Jas

Anjuna Flea Market

Once just a backpacker and hippy hangout selling kaftans and chillums, the Anjuna Flea Market is now more commercial with a broad range of goods on sale. Traders from all over India come to sell their wares: Lamani women from Karnataka, dressed in... see full details

Anjuna Beach © jo.in.pink

Beaches

Goa has some amazing beaches. In the north, Anjuna Beach once played host to hordes of hippies and is now home to Curlies, a trendy shack (bar). The new hippy haven is Arambol beach, also good for dolphin watching. The busiest, most commercial... see full details

Elephant Ride © RobRyb

Bondla Forest

Take the kids on a trip to Bondla Forest, in the foothills of the Western Ghats, where they can see exotic animals like sambar deer, wild boar, monkeys, langurs and maybe even leopards! There are also elephant rides available at the wildlife sanctuary... see full details

Mandrem Beach © Paul Mannix

Child-Friendly Beaches

There are a couple of great beaches to take kids to in Goa. The fishing village of Benaulim, near Colva has a few quiet spots with soft sand and beautiful clean water. A family favourite are the Mandrem beaches, which offer shallow waters... see full details

Dr Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary © Enygmatic-Halycon

Dr Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary

The Dr Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary is host to around 400 species of birds, both local and migratory. Here visitors can expect to see kingfishers, pintails, coots and egrets, as well as a few crocodiles, jackals and foxes, inhabiting the mangroves. Although this is... see full details

Dudhsagar Waterfall © ricardo.martins

Dudhsagar Waterfall

A great outing in Goa is a trip to the Dudhsagar Waterfall. The falls are located in a tropical jungle near the Goa-Karnataka border and are surrounded by a network of gently flowing streams. Swimming, hiking and picnicking are popular pastimes at the... see full details

Church of St Francis of Assisi, Old Goa

Old Goa

Old Goa was the State Capital until 1843 when it moved down river to Panaji. Once a byword for splendour, with a population of several hundred thousand, Old Goa was virtually abandoned from the 17th century as the river silted up and a... see full details

Panaji

For most Panaji is simply a busy bus terminal, however it is worth spending a few hours exploring this most sedate of State Capitals. Situated on the southern banks of the Mandovi River, Panaji only became the capital of Goa in 1843 when... see full details

Shopping For Kids

Children will love a shopping trip in Goa; there are a number of great stores in Panaji selling a variety of toys and games for kids. Totally Toys is a vast toys and games arcade, and Archies Gallery offers gorgeous giant-sized teddy bears.... see full details

Events

Goa Carnival

A throwback of 18th century Portuguese colonialism, the Goa Carnival is celebrated in mid-February each year and encompasses three days of music, dancing and general merriment. Though primarily a Christian custom, the carnival is celebrated with great enthusiasm by the local Hindu people and... see full details

International Film Festival of India

The International Film Festival of India (IFFI) runs for 10 days at the end of each year, and is on a par with the Cannes, Berlin, Venice and Toronto film festivals. This festival was first held in 1952 and has been hosted in... see full details

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