Best time to visit: Well, for Goa fans like me, every season
is just perfect to visit the state. However, if you’re a first timer, then
might as well live it up.
Post October 15 is the time to be in Goa when it becomes the
party capital of the country. October to December is the time you can let lose
as you can enjoy stunning beach parties in the evenings. But make sure that you plan
your trip in a way that you can enjoy the lazy, chilled out, yet happening place that Goa becomes on the weekend.
As for me, I visited Goa this year in September for 4 days.
Not a bad time either since Goa was met with a lovely rain or two. At 3pm, we
could conveniently head to the beach and enjoy the weather.
Water sports: The sporty clan can enjoy a variety of water
sports such as scuba diving, parasailing et al after October 15. However, if
you must enjoy at least one water sport, you can head to Donna Paula for jet
ski, an experience you will relish at just Rs 250.
Beaches
South Goa: If you are the meditative type who
just wants to enjoy the serenity of pretty beaches and relax in a quiet, calm
place, you can stay in South Goa.
A beach that you must not miss in this part of Goa is Palolem, a beach most popular in South Goa for its beauty. You can also the view the sunset from here.
North Goa: If you like to party and want to stay at a place buzzing with people, you can stay in this part of Goa. Here is more the on the refreshing beaches of North Goa, frequented by partygoers:
Baga Beach
The great stuff:
- What sets Baga apart from the other beaches of Goa are its ferocious waves. You are more likely to enjoy wild gushes of water here on this beach than on any other.
- The security is quite stringent here and the beach is guarded by the guards till late evening. Everytime you go in a little too ahead, a whistle will blow and the guard will ask you to step back.
- The best time to visit this beach is early morning and evening, starting 5pm. In the morning, the beach is thronged by just the right number of people. In the evening, you can enjoy the cool breeze.
- You can enjoy the night life at Baga beach on a Friday or a Saturday night when there’s groovy music playing and a table for four is lit up with lanterns. The cherry on the cake is the view of the beach!
- Baga Beach also boasts of some really cool hangouts where you can enjoy great food. Topping the list is Britto’s, popular for its desserts and sea food. The sea food here is quite popular with Bollywood stars too. The ambience will enchant you. Make sure you grab the seats that overlook the beach.
- Fiesta is another popluar destination for foodies with the advantage of a great well-lit up, straw hut-like ambience.
The not-so-great stuff
- In the late evening hours, shady people can be found on Baga Beach. Avoid them.
- Baga Beach also has some dark, shady streches, avoid visiting them. them.
- At night, finding your way back to where you entered from can be quite confusing, especially since the area is not well lit up.
- As long as you're having fun, ignore the cows!
Tito’s Lane: The lane leads up to Baga beach.
The lane derives its name from Tito’s, a nightclub and a restaurant, one of the first nightclubs in the state to have gained popularity. However, the rush here has declined since many a nightclub have cropped up in the area. Mambo’s nightclub is one of them, located right next to Tito’s.
On weekdays, the restaurant is not as happening, but on weekends, it attracts a good crowd, though the place is never overcrowded. Also, on the weekend, you can enjoy live music and the fireworks. However, nothing too great about either.
The lane derives its name from Tito’s, a nightclub and a restaurant, one of the first nightclubs in the state to have gained popularity. However, the rush here has declined since many a nightclub have cropped up in the area. Mambo’s nightclub is one of them, located right next to Tito’s.
On weekdays, the restaurant is not as happening, but on weekends, it attracts a good crowd, though the place is never overcrowded. Also, on the weekend, you can enjoy live music and the fireworks. However, nothing too great about either.
The food at Tito’s restaurant is delightful.
Good news: The vegans too can have a good and enjoyable meal here.
Good news: The vegans too can have a good and enjoyable meal here.
Must try: Dal makhni and definitely do not miss the
watermelon mojito, a specialty at Tito’s restaurant.
Another good café located on Tito's Lane is Café Cape Town. A café in the open, this one is quite popular with the foreigners and wifi enabled too.
However, if you do not want to try any of the joints above,
Domino’s or Café Coffee Day can rescue you.
Anjuna Beach
One of the most happening beaches on Goa. It attractes people people from diverse cultures. This is one of my favourite hangouts in Goa.
The great stuff
One of the most happening beaches on Goa. It attractes people people from diverse cultures. This is one of my favourite hangouts in Goa.
The great stuff
- You can relish the view of the sun setting here too.
- The clear, blue waters will tempt you to enjoy a dip or two.
- The mighty rocks will enchant you. Geographically, this beach is a wonder. Find out for yourself
- When the sun is setting, you can ask a boatman to row you into the sea on a boat.
Curlie's, Anjuna Beach
Anjuna and Curlie's go hand in hand.
Life is slow paced and breezy at Curlie's. Here, you can simply grab a chair, order for your meal, along with smoothie and watch people passing by and the view of the beach. You could also try your hand at a game of pool.
Curlie’s also boasts of an awesome terrace
where parties happen every night beginning 9pm. At daytime, the ground floor is
more popular, but as the sun begins to set, people move to the terrace. As
evening sets in, the place turns into a huge crowdpuller.
What I tried at Curlie's: I tried fish finger and chips at Curlie’s. However, I have
tasted better fish fingers. The ones I had were bland, perhaps keeping in
mind the taste buds of the foreigners. So, I called for the schezwan sauce to
tingle my taste buds. My friend tried vef bruschetta and did not like them either.
Other attractions at Curlie’s include crocodile spotting and
a morning cruise on which you can spot dolphins.
Guess there’s a lot of drug peddling that happens around
here. I was questioning one of the waiters about the beach and he insisted with
a sly smile, “Ask directly whatever it is. Do not feel shy.”
There is a narrow lane and you
will have to walk it to get to Curlie's. During day time, it is safe as the lane is dotted by a little flea market on the sides, but come late evening or at night, the lane can get dark
and shady.
Candolim Beach
Relatively, Candolim is a more quiet, calm beach that attracts family crowd. Nothing too great about this one. However, the lane that leads up to the market is quite attractive in evening with little joints that usually have karaokes. You might skip this one if you like.
Relatively, Candolim is a more quiet, calm beach that attracts family crowd. Nothing too great about this one. However, the lane that leads up to the market is quite attractive in evening with little joints that usually have karaokes. You might skip this one if you like.
Panaji:
The capital city of Goa is, well, just how a city is, except
that it is flanked by beaches.
The Panaji market is alright, and you may skip it.
However, if you are adventurous and like taking a risk or
two, you might head to the casinos. Panaji is thronged by them. Most casinos will offer you chips worth Rs 1000 and
unlimited drinks and snacks at a package of Rs 2000.
All the best!
Nightclubs: If you’re a party animal, try SinQ or Qubana. They’re
hip and chic. Mambo's or Tito's are good too, but I suggest going SinQ or Qubana instead.
Aguada Fort: A fort like any other. This is where the song
‘Dil Chahta Hai’ was shot. You can easily skip this one.
Take aways
- Junk jewellery, bags, clothes- well, you can skip them. You will find the same kind of stuff back in your hometown.
- You may carry feni back home. A Goa specialty, the feni is made out of cashews, widely cultivated in Goa. If you want to experiment a bit more, try coconut feni.
- You may also take home the drum cashews, which are thrice grilled and thus softer than an average cashew. These cashews can be eaten with or without their cover.
Tips for women travellers
- If you’re an all-women’s group, you just gotta be a little more cautious. Some stretches on the beach are isolated and avoid heading there at night.
- Hire a scooty if you can ride one. It’s amazing fun and cheap too!
- Or simply hire a cab. Make sure you bargain well.
- If you do have men with you, ask them to hire a jeep or a bike and Goa will be a lot, lot more fun! Or better still, be a woman biker or a jeep-er!!
- Also, wear whatever you want to, no one cares in Goa!
The security guard at Baga Beach. It was fun interacting with him! 
Aguada Fort!
At Mambo's nightclub
Britto's
Time to jet skii at Donna Paula!
Late evenings at Baga are beautiful
My favourite beach in Goa- Anjuna
Relishing watermelon mojito at Tito's restaurant
That's Curlie's behind me! 
Strawberry dessert at Britto's
