Goa
- Introduction
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Population:
1.3 million
Area: 3701 Sq. Km.
Capital: Panjim
Main Language: Konkani, Marathi, English & Hindi
When to Go: October to March
It's a shame Goa
comes burdened with a history of louche living, because there's so
much more to it than sun, sand and psychedelia. The allure of Goa is
that it remains quite distinct from the rest of India and is small
enough to be grasped and explored in a way that other Indian states
are not. It's not just the familiar remnants of European colonialism
or the picture-book exoticism that make it seem so accessible, it's
the prevalence of Roman Catholicism and a form of social and
political progressiveness that Westerners feel they can relate to.
Although Hindus outnumber Catholics, skirts far outnumber saris, and
the people display a liberality and civility which you'll be hard
pressed to find
elsewhere in India.
This former Portuguese enclave on the western coast of India has
enjoyed a prominent place in the travelers' lexicon since the heady
days of the 1960s when it became a landmark on the hippy trail
thanks to its cheap accommodation, the easy availability of drugs,
and the overrated opportunity of getting back to nature by
frolicking stark bullock naked on the beach.
Travelers in Goa still feel obliged to 'hang out' meaningfully, be
mellow and wear pretty silly tribal costumes, but the (in)famous
hippies have now been replaced by backpackers, Indian visitors and a
bevy of bewildered package tourists on two-week jaunts from Europe.
Although there's a palpable nostalgia for the days when the parties
were always bigger, better and more authentic than they are now,
Goa's current semi-resident Westerners are less inclined to rue the
past, and more likely to be spending the low season
(March-September) in New York, Amsterdam or Colombia. |
Goa
- History
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| Goa's
history stretches back to the 3rd century BC when it formed part of
the Mauryan empire. Later it was ruled by the Satavhanas of
Kolhapur and eventually passed to the Chalukyans of Badami control
from AD 580 to 750.
Goa fell to the
Muslims for the first time in 1312, but the invaders were forced out
in 1370 by Harihara I of the Vijayanagar empire, whose capital was
at Hampi. During the next 100 years Goa's harbors were
important trading places for ships carrying Arabian horses to Hampi
to strengthen the Vijayanagar cavalry.
Blessed as it is by
natural harbours and wide rivers, Goa was ideal base for the
seafaring Portuguese, who arrived in 1510 aiming to control the
spice route form the east. They also had a strong desire to
spread Christianity. Jesuit missionaries led by St. Francis
Xavier arrived in 1542. For a while, Portuguese control was
limited to a small area around old Goa, but by the middle of the
16th century it had expanded to include the provinces of Bardez and
Salcete.
Fortunes made from
the spice trade led to Goa's golden age. The colony became a vice regal
seat of the Portuguese empire. But competition from the
British, French and Dutch in the 17th century led to decline.
The Marathas almost
vanquished the Portuguese in the late 18th century and there was a brief
occupation by the British during the Napoleonic Wars in
Europe. But it was not until 1961, when they were ejected by
India, that the Portuguese finally disappeared from the
subcontinent.
Dangers &
Annoyances in Goa
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As with any
tourist enclave, security can be a problem in Goa. Theft from
room is something to watch out for, particularly on party
nights at places like Anjuna and Vagator, or if you're renting
a flimsy beach shack. Never leave money, passport or
other valuables in your room. Many guesthouses and
hotels provide safe deposit boxes.
Muggings have
been reported in Goa, particularly in quiet, until lanes away
from the beach. Avoid being alone at night unless there
are plenty of people around.
The Arabian
Sea can be a little deceptive and every year people drown
here. Most of the min beaches are safe enough, but there
are no beach patrols so ask local advice about undercurrents
and rips. It's not a good idea to go for a midnight dip
on your own, especially if you've been drinking, and the sea
is definitely not safe for swimming during the monsoon.
Look out for jellyfish, which can occasionally drift in from
deeper waters.
Hotels and
taxi touts are becoming a major annoyance at Goa's beach
resorts. If a driver tells you the hotel you want is
full, closed, burnt down or whatever, it's because he wants to
take you to one that will pay him commission. Treat
touts with suspicion. And to avoid this problem, book
your hotel room in Goa with us well in Advance. We have
hundreds of hotels in our database to suit your budget.
So, book your hotel here !!
Hotels in Goa - India
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Accommodation
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Accommodation
prices in Goa are based on high, middle and low season.
Year round, there's a state-imposed 'luxury tax' of 8% on
rooms over Rs. 100 and 12% on rooms over Rs. 800. To get
the complete information about hotels, their rates, click on
this link
Hotels in Goa - India
.
If you still
need more hotels to choose from, the click
here. |
Food and Drink in Goa
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Goans are
passionate about their food and there are several local specialties,
including the popular pork vindaloo. Other pork specialties
include the chourisso (Goan sausage), and the pig's liver dish
known as sorpotel. Xacuti is a spicy chicken or meat
dish; bangra is Goan mackerel; sanna are rice 'cupcakes'
soaked in palm toddy before cooking; dodol and bebinca are
special Christmas sweets, the latter made from layers of sweet
pancake
Commercially
produced alcohol is readily available and inexpensive in Goa,
but that hasn't stopped the Goans from enjoying their own
brand of firewater. Most common of these is feni.
A bottle bought from a liquor shop costs only slightly more
than a bottle of beet bought at a restaurant. It's very
strong, both in taste and in effect, and is best mixed with a
soft drink (soda) such as Limca. Reasonable palatable
wines are also turned out in Goa. |
Getting there and
Away
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| Air
Goa's airport, Dabolim is 29km from Panaji, on the
coast near Vasco Da Gama. Dabolim was declared an
international airport in 2000. If you book international
flight from Goa, it will involve a domestic flight to
Mumbai (Bombay) or any other international air port and
a connection there. Book
your Air - Tickets online here .
Bus
Long-distance interstate buses operate to/from Panaji,
Margao, Mapusa and Vasco.
Train
The 760km Konkan Railway linking Mumbai with Mangalore
opened in 1998, finally making Goa accessible by train.
The main Konkan Railway station in Goa is Margao, but
express and passenger trains stop at most other stations
along the line. For detailed train time tables,
fares and other information visit our Indian
Railways section.
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Getting Around
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Bus
The state run Kadamba bus company is the main operator,
although there are also private companies. Local buses
are cheap, services are frequent and they run to just about
everywhere.
Car
Self drive car rental is available in Goa, but it's
expensive. A non air conditioned Maruti car costs about
Rs. 900 for 24 hours with 150 km per day. It's generally
cheaper to rent a taxi or car and driver for a specific trip
or for a day's sightseeing.
Motorcycle
Goa is one of the few places in India where hiring a
motorcycle or scooter is cheap and easy, and the relatively
short distances make travel a breeze. Many travelers
find that having their own transport is the only way to enjoy
Goa. Bikes available include old Enfields, more modern
Yamaha 100s and Hero Honda 100s and the gearless Kinetic Honda
scooters. Prices varies according to season and the
length of rental. In peak Christmas season, on a daily
basis, you're looking at up to Rs. 300 for a scooter, Rs. 400
for the small bikes and Rs. 500 for an Enfield. You can
hire them for Rs. 150/250/350 (in the same order) in off-peak
season.
While most
bikes will have some sort of insurance, if you're involved in
an accident you'll probably be required to pay for the damage
to the rental bike, at the very least. Make sure that
you carry the necessary paperwork (licence, registration and
insurance) at all times because licence checks on foreigners
have traditionally been a lucrative source of baksheesh for
the police. |
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Book Your Air Tickets to Goa
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| Get
the cheapest Air Tickets to Goa. Click on the following
image to book the air tickets online !!
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