Goa Overview

Overview

Goa is certainly one thing; unique. An often bizarre combination of India/Portugal and Western European, Goa can be bemusing.  It is also a fantastic place for first time visitors to India to experience the culture without feeling overwhelmed. 

The main tourist resorts are beach towns such as Calangute and its smaller relative, Anjuna.  Calangute has creature comforts such as Dominos Pizza and Baskin Robins Ice Cream, whilst remaining esentially `Indian`.  Originally a Portuguese colony, it has white washed churches and religious icons galore, hand in hand with saris and tuk tuks. The beach shacks are excellent value for money, namely Lucky Star and Mambo's and the food can be excellent.  The town isn't beautiful however and is most suitable as a base for exploring.  Anjuna has a wonderful coastline and a fantastic fleamarket on a wednesday, with everything from jewellery to Birkenstocks.

 Mapusa is 10km inland from Calangute (100/-  by tuk tuk) and offers an insight into Goan life behind the tourist scene. The bustling market is a must, especially on a friday, where you can wander down the vegetable alley, or the shoe alley, or the metal alley and haggle to your hearts content.

Panjim, or Panaji, is Goa's capital and holds the air of small town colonialism with style.  A calmer place than the coast and with an admirably stylish Marriott Hotel with views over the river, Panjim makes an excellent port of call.  With a coyboy style restaurant complete with Indian waiters dressed in leathers saying howdy, and casino boats for tourists fancying a flutter, Panjim is far from culturally traditional India. But the Portuguese architecture, tree lined boulevards and magnificent churches of Old Goa offer a view into a Goa gone by, with all the advantages of a flourishing tourist agenda.

 In all, Goa is a fusion of Portuguese, Indian and tourist influences which can at times seem tacky, at best, a fun and different place to visit.  The weather is excellent, the food is great and the bars are open late.  The best time to visit is traditionally September - March, but in May it can feel far less Westernised as there are less European tourists and it's when visitors from Mumbai flock to the coast. The weather is still fabulous and there can be more opportunity to bartar as its the end of the season.