Sun, sand and surf: an apt description for Goa? But Goa is so much more. Ancient temples and ancient churches? Yes. Portuguese colony? carnival city? The original hippie haven? Yes again! Beach Paradise, the holiday capital of India… the list goes on.
Goa, ‘Pearl of the Orient’, is located in the south-west of India in the coastal belt known as Konkan. While naturally blessed with a fortuitous combination of long beaches, forested hills and fertile plains, Goa’s potential as a holiday resort is the result of a potent combination of historical occurrences and the absorption capacity of its own captivating spirit.
Goa, past and present
Divinely attributed to Lord Parshuram, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, Goa’s ancient rulers included the Rashtrakutas, Kadambas, Silahar, Chalukyas and Bahamanis.
More recently, significant from a tourist point of view, Goa became a coveted colony of the Portuguese, remaining so until liberation by the Indian Army granted it the status of a Union Territory, later elevated to a state. of the Indian Republic.
It is to this fact, perhaps more than any other, that a Goa holiday owes its special appeal. Because, if Goa had been a British colony, history would have been written very differently. Under Portuguese rule, Iberian culture found a melting pot ready to blend with Goa’s original fun and sensual spirit. The best of what both worlds had to offer was assimilated into a single people, leading to a flourishing of aesthetic, musical, and even culinary arts.
The spirit of Sucegado – carefree enjoyment and tranquil peace is probably Goa’s most important, albeit intangible, export to the leisure holiday industry. Also reflected in its ‘happy’ acceptance of the Portuguese cultural encroachment is Goa’s inherent adaptability and willingness to mix, qualities that make the holiday and tourism industry very useful.
A melting pot of races and religions, the melding of Eastern and Western cultures in their own unique spirit of joy and self-satisfaction is what attracts choc-a-bloc Indian and foreign tourists to vacation in Goa.
Such a thriving holiday destination on the world tourism chart, Goa has many attractions to offer. Carefree beach in the true spirit of Sucegado, adventure, water sports, high culture, churches and Old Goa’s alluring anachronism, wild parties, culinary adventures… The Goan vacationer is charmingly eclectic in his vocation.
Beaches Holidays in Goa
The undisputed beach capital of India, Goa’s coastline is liberally dotted with sand and waves: from popular tourist spots where you usually see more skin than sand, to unspoiled paradises worth discovering.
Starting from Calangute in North Goa, clustered around Panaji, the capital of Goa, and further down Margao in South Goa, are the most popular beaches on the tourist circuit. These are densely surrounded by the usual tourist agencies: hotels and facilities offering modern luxuries, restaurants, shops, resorts, entertainment centers, spas, resorts, the works.
Outside of this ring, north of Calangute or south of Margao, Goa’s beaches become refreshingly more pristine and uncrowded. There, it’s just the sea, the sand washed by the waves, shimmering or alternatively shaded by abundant palm fronds, and you!
Some of the popular Goa holiday beaches
Vagator – 22 km from Panaji, this crescent-shaped beach in the Chapora River basin, in the shadow of Chapora Fort, is a quiet place to relax, but during the Christmas season it’s a setting for late-night hen dos.
Anjuna – 18 km from Panaji, nestled between the sea and the hill, this is a scenic beach with magnificent natural beauty that makes for an excellent holiday.
Baga – One of the North Goa beaches, it is comparatively emptier and surrounded by scenic beauty.
Calangute: A favorite with tourists, Calangute in North Goa, 15 km from Panaji, is the ‘Queen of Beaches’. The downside of the Christmas rush means that this stretch of sand is crowded at any time of the year.
Sinquerim – 13 km from Panaji, Sinquerim is a popular holiday beach for its water sports facilities offering jet skiing, para sailing, diving and surfing.
Miramar – Located just 3 km from Panaji, it understandably sees a tourism rush and is dotted with holiday homes of the rich and famous. However, located at the mouth of the Mandovi River where it meets the sea, it is interesting for its view of the Aguada fort.
Aguada: Famous for the 17th century Portuguese fort, it has now been converted into a hotel. Although its grounds take up much of the surrounding area, the beach is open to general tourists.
Agonda: Secluded, this beautiful stretch of silver sand is refreshing – just the vacation to relax on the sand and listen to stories from the sea. The nearby Cabo de Rama is historically interesting. Local legend has it that Lord Rama stayed here with Sita during his exile.
Majorda: A local version of the ‘Ramayana’ says that Ram was kidnapped as a child and raised in Majorda. Later, the Jesuits discovered the best punch in Goa here and today’s Christmas attractions are still the bakeries, the best in Goa.
Colva – 39 km from Panaji and immensely popular, Colva offers a comfortable holiday with hotels, clubs, shops and restaurants. Colva is also famous for the Church of Nuestra Señora de la Merced, which has the statue of Menino Jesus.
Benaulim: Less than 2 km from Colva, this charming holiday destination also has a thriving handicraft center that attracts tourists for its traditional rosewood furniture. The Church of San Juan Bautista on a hill is quite famous, as is the monsoon festival of Sao Joao celebrated as thanksgiving.
Varca, Cavelossim, Mobor – these beaches south of Benaulim are really attractive. Cleaner and less crowded than others, they are packed with exclusive Goan beach resorts and food shacks. A vacation here also offers opportunities to watch wild dolphins.
Palolem – 70 km south of Panaji, this white sand beach is a commercial activity, including restaurants and shops. Weekends tend to get especially crowded here.
CHURCHES IN GOA – HOLIDAYS
Another contribution of Portuguese rule to Goa’s holiday potential is the appearance of splendid churches, especially in Old Goa. Originally spread with passionate fervor by the ancient rulers, Goa, the Rome of the East, sees the dominant influence of Christianity, both religiously and culturally. Visible expressions of this are the Churches of Old Goa. Historically, these can be classified into the following periods, reflecting changing architectural styles and iconography.
Early Period – Written by the oldest church in Goa, Our Lady of the Rosary at Monte Santo in the ‘Manueline’ style named after King Emmanuel of Portual. It is a mixture of Gothic and Renaissance with motifs that represent the Portuguese seamanship. Since the construction is not suited to the Goan climate, very few of them can be seen by tourists today.
Baroque Period: ‘Golden Goa’, a time of hectic missionary activity, including the arrival of St Francis Xavier, saw many grandiose churches in the contemporary European style built. These include the Basilica of Bom Jesus and the Augustinian Church of Our Lady of Grace.
Indian Baroque Period – Reflects local Goan influences in style and design, including the exterior façade and the inclusion of tropical motifs such as flowers and fruit. Among them are the Church of San Francisco de Asís and the Church of the Holy Spirit, Margao.
Rococo Period: Characterized by the smaller size of the building but with an exquisite ornate finish with local motifs, it is also known for the use of Stucco on the exterior façade. San Esteban in San Esteyan near Panaji is a notable example.
Modern Period – From the 19th century onwards, this period saw the liberation of Goan churches from the rigid norms of the past as different styles flourished. An example is Nossa Senhora using the Gothic style.
Most of the churches in Goa continue to serve their spiritual purpose, being revered by Hindus and Christians alike, while also serving as artistic and cultural attractions for tourists.
Goa Hindu Temples
Goa Hindu temple architecture is another tourist attraction of a Goa holiday characterized by the influence of local style on the rigid architecturally rigid structure. The Maratha influence on Goan religious architecture lies in the Deepmal or Lamptower, which is two to six stories high, decorated with oil lamps on festive occasions. The Mughal influence seems to be expressed in the dome that covers the central sanctuary instead of the traditional shikhara, as well as in the Naubat Khana, a small tower at the entrance to the courtyard. The Portuguese Christian influence is visible in the curved roofs of the Mandapas.
Not many of Goa’s early temples survived the Mughal and later Portuguese invasions (the exceptions are the “Pandava Caves” dedicated to Lord Shiva, located at Aravelam and the Shiva Temple at Tambdi), in which temples were demolished and churches were erected in their place. As a result, most of the surviving temples encountered by the tourist in Goa are comparatively modern. The Mahalaxmi Temple in Panaji was the first temple allowed by the Portuguese, after much deliberation, in 1818.
goan cuisine
Food is another attraction for tourists in Goa. Sightseeing in Goa is a wonderful way to experience Goa’s inimitable cuisine, which is as much a mix of different cultural invasions as its art, music, culture and literature. The staple food for both Hindus and Christians is rice and fish curry. And as tourists’ taste buds succumb to the temptations of Ambot Tik (prawns/fish in a tangy spicy sauce), Sorpotel (moist and spicy pork) and Xacuti (spicy meat dish), washed down with Feni (a concoction powerful and spicy made with cashews) may be too much for the uninitiated palate. Desserts in Goa come in the form of the sinfully delicious Dodol (made from Goan coconut and brown sugar) and Bebinca (a dish baked with coconut juice and egg yolk).
Truly, this incredible potpourri of beach, nature, food and drink, culture and kitsch, religious fervour, profanity and fun galore that tourism in Goa represents would be hard to find anywhere else in the world.