GOA with Fun

Goa, with its 131 km long coastline is set on the golden Konkan coast, on the Western Ghats, along the Arabian Sea. This small former Portuguese enclave is one of India's most dazzling tourist mosaics. Goa deserves every bit of the sobriquet 'The Pearl of the East'. The name Goa is derived from the Konkani word 'Goyan', which means a patch of tall grass. Panaji, Goa's capital Panaji has some fine beaches. To the north of Panaji, lie two of Goa's most popular beaches - Calangute and Baga. These two beaches together stretch for more than 7 km. Stroll along in the morning, as the brilliant rays of the rising sun fall upon the sea, and you would not know the difference between the sea and the sands. Watch fishermen taking in the morning's catch. Sinquerim, It is one of the best beaches in Goa with international class facilities for water-skiing, para sailing, fishing, scuba diving and windsurfing. Calangute, It is, undoubtedly, the most popular beach in Goa. You can stay here in any one of the many resorts and hotels that dot the beach, or you can spend your vacation with one of the families, which own houses near the beach. Access by Air:  You can fly to Goa from Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Cochin and Thiruvananthapuram. For overseas travellers, Mumbai is the best - connected airport for flights to Goa. Goa also receives Chartered Flights from Europe during its busy winter season between October and March. Access by Rail:  Getting to Goa, by train is convenient from Mumbai (490 km), Bangalore (430 km) and Delhi (1874 km). Access by Road:  Driving down by road from Mumbai (582 km) is smooth as well as picturesque, as Goa is situated right on the highway.

The state of Goa in India, was a Portuguese colony until 1962, and is famous for its Indo-Portuguese culture and architecture. Goa's beaches reflect its colourful mosaic of history. The combination of the "sosegãdo" or laid back lifestyle, bracing weather and Goa's carnival-like nightlife has been known to lure many into a psychedelic trance. As you vacation in Goa and feel the soft sand beneath your feet, you'll find that there is no place like a warm, inviting beach in Goa to make you feel at peace with the universe. Since we usually stay at my parents' flat at Monte-de-Guirim, near Mapusa, the only time we check into a hotel or resort is when we don't have our own transport and want to spend more time at the beach. The transport in Goa being what it is, its always better to have your own car or bike. I love to spend my Goa holiday gorging on the local crab, king prawns and typical Goan delicacies like chicken rechãdo and xãcuti. I also make it a point to visit my aunt's house in Mapusa, where she always has a delicious plate of fresh oyster deep fried in rava ready for me. The local brews, like cashew and coconut "feni," with their strong aroma, are definitely not for the faint of heart (or stomach). If you visit in the right season, you can sample the local "Urak," a lighter and sweeter-smelling distillate of feni. KOVALAM :- Kovalam is an internationally renowned beach with three adjacent crescent beaches. It has been a favorite haunt of tourists, especially Europeans, since the 1930s.A massive rocky promontory on the beach has created a beautiful bay of calm waters ideal for sea bathing. The leisure options at this beach are plenty and diverse-sunbathing, swimming, herbal body toning massages, special cultural programmes, Catamaran cruising etc. The tropical sun acts so fast that one can see the faint blush of coppery tan on the skin in a matter of minutes.Life on the beach begins late in the day and carries on well into the night. The beach complex includes a string of budget cottages, Ayurvedic health resorts, convention facilities, shopping zones, swimming pools, Yoga and Ayurvedic massage centers etc. Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of Kerala, is just 16 km away from Kovalam and getting there is no hassle. But if you are on holiday it is better to stay in Kovalam and visit the city.

Soft silken sands washed by surf, gentle palms swaying in the breeze, silvery fish brought in by slim boats, nights filled with fishermen's songs, the moon playing hide-and-seek with the sun and refusing to go to sleep, days of uneventful pleasure, of relaxed slumber...there are some who seek the mountains. We live by the beach!!!

Sun, surf and sand beckon thousands of sun-deprived tourists to India bcecause it has the most mind-boggling beaches seen anywhere in the world. Placid lagoons and backwaters, marine estuaries teeming with fish, bays and rough lava-rocked seas, crashing surf, pure powdery golden sands or palm-fringed shores where the mind is soothed by the serene murmurs of the sea - you have them all.

Wake up to yoga exercises in the morning and close your eyes to tender fingers massaging Beaches Travelyour body in the finest tradition of herbal massages. When it comes to choices on selecting a beach holiday in India, the options are unlimited. 7,500 km long, the Indian coastline provides hundreds of options for beach lovers. Leave all your worries back home and bask in the glory of Sun God. White and golden beaches of India, all desperate to welcome the little child in you.

The sea applauds the beach temple in Mahabalipuram, gloriously silhouetted against the spectrum of the seven colours in the sky. Puri, on the east coast, is surely the world's most picturesque beach. And then there is Digha, a three-hour drive out of Kolkata, a beautiful beach, splendid in its isolation. Both the west and east coasts of India offer verdant vistas of palm on the Arabian Sea shores or the Bay of Bengal. The coasts of India have their own seafood cuisine, relaxing spas, diving and water sports and great places to stay for a balmy holiday. Set amidst the blue of the Arabian Sea and the lush green vegetation of Kerala, Kovalam is one of India's best sea resorts. The long coastline lined with swaying coconut palm trees and dotted with an occasional fishing hamlet is fast developing into one of the world's best string of beaches.

Now fully developed as an international beach resort, Goa offers the best holiday villages on its beaches, especially at carnival time during Christmas. Everything about Goa is spellbinding, from the landscape dotted with Portuguese architecture to the way of life that exudes an irresistible old world charm. Enchanting little beaches that were home in the 1960s to the flower-power generation have now become reference points for the Generation X. Anjuna and Calangute beaches, and Miramar Bay in Panjim, are quieter. Beach vendors sell all manner of kitsch in Anjuna and Calangute. You can rent beach mats and mattresses, sunglasses, and the usual tourist bric-a-brac. You can even get all sorts of spaghetti, German bread and Italian food.

The beach at Calangute is rocky, while that at Anjuna spreads long it gentle waters affording you pleasures like crowded boat rides, motor scooter rides, spot-the-dolphins rides, and motorboat rides. You can stay at any number of places right from Panaji to Baga and visit beaches all along. Colva and Benaulim are quieter and less crowded than Anjuna. The Fort Aguada beach offers gorgeous views that merit a visit. Sinquerim and Candolim are also quiet beaches that afford anonymity.

Beach Travel in IndiaThe beach holiday to beat them all is in the islands of Andaman and Nicobar and the Lakshadweep, where you can see the myriad colours of the flashy fish in the coral reefs from above the green waters.

For the water sports lovers, India offers choices for all kind of travellers and for all level of enthusiasts. From the beginner level scuba diving and other water sports facilities of Goa to much tougher and more exciting options in Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep, you have endless choices. In India just take your pick from kayaking, windsurfing, canoeing, water-skiing and so on. For families, there are city beaches, which are good for short breaks and provide wholesome entertainment for the entire family.

Get ready for the beach holiday of your life that was always a part of your dreams.