The Enchanting, Alluring, Captivating Beauty of Goa - Its Beaches
God, in his infinite wisdom, took special pains in creating some truly beautiful places on Earth.
You can think of Bali as a beautiful destination; of islands in the Mediterranean and Aegean Seas; of the Bahamas and a dozen other places.
Goa is one such paradise on earth.
Goa owes its attraction to its beaches spread along the sunny coastline.
The weather is barmy.
If it is snowing in Europe and up there in the North, here in Goa it is warmth and cool breezes in winter.
If it is hot in the plains, summer breezes are refreshing on the windy coastline of this lovely tourist state of India.
Even in the rains, Goa takes on a different hue and charm.
If the coastal beaches and weather form two bases of the triangle of attraction, the warm hospitality of its people undoubtedly occupies the apex, with its rich legacy of Portuguese culture and cuisines blended into local Konkani styles.
Together they leave a deep impress on your soul, making you want to return again and again.
The beaches draw tourists so much that they often tend to ignore the beauties to be found in the green clad hills and forests, water bodies and undulating landscapes.
If beaches are what you are after, Goa has its fair share.
From North to South, you will come upon a succession of beaches, each with its unique identity, contributing as a whole to the beauty of Goa.
Arambol, the Northernmost, comprises of two beaches about 50 kilometers from the capital city of Panaji.
This is a rather quiet area with cashew groves in the background and rather rocky outcrops.
Tourists visit Arambol to bathe in the hot springs here and then explore possibilities of paragliding or a boat trip to watch Dolphins cavort.
Anjuna Beach in the North stretches to a distance of 30 kilometers and its outstanding feature is a backdrop of craggy rocks, white sand and the flea market as well as innumerable food stalls.
At one time, when flower power was at its height, Anjuna really rocked.
Baga and Calangute are still further south and perhaps the most popular of beaches with crowds of tourists thronging the area, reminding you of the Cote d'Azur.
Get away from it all and go for parasailing or windsurfing or jet skiing.
At night you meander along and join an open dance, drink Feni, the cashew liquor or simply sprawl.
After Calangute, Benaulim Beach comes as a pleasantly quiet change where you can relax in total serenity.
Candolim is just as serene, if a bit more populated so you can consider another beach, the Cavelossim.
It is pristine, clean and delightful.
Then you go on to Colva and to the South of Goa with its distinctive culture and lifestyle.
Colva is close to Margao and a very well known beach famous for coconut palms, white sand, sea food and a vibrant night life.
While here tourists make it a point to visit the Our Lady of Mercy Church dating back to the 1600s.
There are dozens of other beaches such as Dona Paula, famous for water sports; Majorda for its scenic beauty and cleanliness as well as sea foods and Miramar, a 2 kilometer long stretch of white sand with waves gently caressing the coastline and coconut fronds swaying in the breeze.
Birds--the feathered kind--are the chief attraction at Miramar.
Goa wears its beaches like a necklace, each one sparkling and coruscating, inviting and beckoning and so tempting you will want to linger here.
You can think of Bali as a beautiful destination; of islands in the Mediterranean and Aegean Seas; of the Bahamas and a dozen other places.
Goa is one such paradise on earth.
Goa owes its attraction to its beaches spread along the sunny coastline.
The weather is barmy.
If it is snowing in Europe and up there in the North, here in Goa it is warmth and cool breezes in winter.
If it is hot in the plains, summer breezes are refreshing on the windy coastline of this lovely tourist state of India.
Even in the rains, Goa takes on a different hue and charm.
If the coastal beaches and weather form two bases of the triangle of attraction, the warm hospitality of its people undoubtedly occupies the apex, with its rich legacy of Portuguese culture and cuisines blended into local Konkani styles.
Together they leave a deep impress on your soul, making you want to return again and again.
The beaches draw tourists so much that they often tend to ignore the beauties to be found in the green clad hills and forests, water bodies and undulating landscapes.
If beaches are what you are after, Goa has its fair share.
From North to South, you will come upon a succession of beaches, each with its unique identity, contributing as a whole to the beauty of Goa.
Arambol, the Northernmost, comprises of two beaches about 50 kilometers from the capital city of Panaji.
This is a rather quiet area with cashew groves in the background and rather rocky outcrops.
Tourists visit Arambol to bathe in the hot springs here and then explore possibilities of paragliding or a boat trip to watch Dolphins cavort.
Anjuna Beach in the North stretches to a distance of 30 kilometers and its outstanding feature is a backdrop of craggy rocks, white sand and the flea market as well as innumerable food stalls.
At one time, when flower power was at its height, Anjuna really rocked.
Baga and Calangute are still further south and perhaps the most popular of beaches with crowds of tourists thronging the area, reminding you of the Cote d'Azur.
Get away from it all and go for parasailing or windsurfing or jet skiing.
At night you meander along and join an open dance, drink Feni, the cashew liquor or simply sprawl.
After Calangute, Benaulim Beach comes as a pleasantly quiet change where you can relax in total serenity.
Candolim is just as serene, if a bit more populated so you can consider another beach, the Cavelossim.
It is pristine, clean and delightful.
Then you go on to Colva and to the South of Goa with its distinctive culture and lifestyle.
Colva is close to Margao and a very well known beach famous for coconut palms, white sand, sea food and a vibrant night life.
While here tourists make it a point to visit the Our Lady of Mercy Church dating back to the 1600s.
There are dozens of other beaches such as Dona Paula, famous for water sports; Majorda for its scenic beauty and cleanliness as well as sea foods and Miramar, a 2 kilometer long stretch of white sand with waves gently caressing the coastline and coconut fronds swaying in the breeze.
Birds--the feathered kind--are the chief attraction at Miramar.
Goa wears its beaches like a necklace, each one sparkling and coruscating, inviting and beckoning and so tempting you will want to linger here.