So our next
destination to visit was Goa. Goa is one of the destinations in India where one
would always be ready to go. Though we went in peak season (Oct-Jan) and
especially due to Diwali vacation it was over crowded, yet we had a pleasurable
tour as Goa has so many hidden gems to offer that you can never get tired of it.
Hotel Booking:
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Cygnett Inn
Celestiial Goa, GOA
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1168-D, Beside Jambaleshawar
Temple, Xiimer, Candolim, Goa 403515
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Candolim Beach, GOA, IN
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(Through MMT)
Tips and Tricks:
- Goa is divided into 2 parts : North & South. North Goa is more lively and crowded and South Goa is its opposite.
- Candolim is the preferred area
to stay as Calangute and Baga region is over crowded any time.
-Airport is far away from North
Goa. So it is better to ask your hotel for pick up and drop off arrangements.
(Cost varies from 1200-1600)
- If you are travelling from
Mumbai by train, Thivim is the nearest station for North Goa.
- Hiring a bike is better than
hiring a car as the roads are narrow and very busy.
So let the trip begin!
Day 1:
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We checked-in at our hotel at
around 1pm, took some rest and then went out to hire a bike(Activa in our
case). As it was peak season, we paid 400/- per day otherwise in normal season,
you can easily get a bike @ 250/- per day.
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As soon as we got the bike, we
headed towards the busy streets of Calangute and Baga.
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On Day 1 we had no time left so
we decided to stroll around Tito’s lane which is in Baga area. It is one of the
most happening streets of Goa. Tito’s and Mambo’s are the 2 famous night clubs
here.
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As the sun set, we sat on the
sand Baga beach, breathing in the moist air of Goa and gulping the beautiful
atmosphere.
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You can try Hukka at any of the
shacks in Baga beach.
Day 2:
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After taking a heavy brunch at
our hotel we headed towards Fort Aguada which was around 5km from our hotel.
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Fort Aguada and its lighthouse
is a well-preserved seventeenth-century Portuguese fort standing in Goa, India,
on Sinquerim Beach, overlooking the Arabian Sea.
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Sinquerim is also a nice beach
with Hotel Taj adding to its beauty! You can enjoy water sports over here.
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After enjoying the first half
of our day at Fort Aguada and Sinquerim beach, we went back to our hotel for a
short while as the weather was very hot and humid.
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In the evening, we went to
Vagator beach which has Fort Chapora (Dil chahta hai fort!) on its shore.
Vagator beach is one of the most beautiful beaches of Goa and must be in your “To
visit” list if you are in Goa.
Day
3:
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The day started with street shopping and shop hopping (Ladies you know!).
Having not planned much, we decided to go to Thalassa which is near Anjuna
beach. Thalassa has Outdoor tables shaded by palm trees where one
can take advantage of sea views at this Greek-style restaurant. The
restaurant is very busy in the evening time hence we decided to visit in less busy
hours i.e. in the afternoon. We ordered Pasta and Thick shakes (Non-alcoholic
group (Wat the hell are you doing in Goa!!), Yes we do exist :D).
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Later, we went to Curlies beach
shack which is also near to Anjuna beach. Curlies is a rustic beach shack with rooftop seating
offering Goan dishes, cocktails and club nights. Make sure you reach
Curlies before the sunset. Just sit on the rocks on the beach and look at the
sea and the sunset. You will definitely forget all the worries and will dive
yourselves in the deep sea of thoughts. Having a beer besides is an add on which
unfortunately was not an option for us!
Day 4:
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Today we decided to visit the capital city of Goa – Panjim.
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If you are in Panjim, you can spend your day visiting so many old and
beautiful churches, do some shopping for souvenirs and cashew. Also the most
unique attraction of Panjim are the floating Casinos. Deltin is the leading
brand in it.
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We visited “Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Church” (Yes the famous
church which we have seen in many bollywood movies like Josh, Murder 2 etc) and
Dona Pola (famous for movie shoots like Singham, though you can skip this)
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We had also planned to visit the Casinos and hence we went to Deltin’s
office but we were not allowed to enter as they follow “Decent” dress code
(Shirt + Trouser/Jeans) for MEN only and we were in shorts which is but obvious
dress code while you are in Goa. It was very disappointing but we had our Plan
B ready to recover the loss!
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We went back to the hotel and executed our Plan B. We spent the entire
afternoon in our hotel’s swimming pool. The day ended with a dinner date by the
sea at Hotel Taj Fort Aguada.
Day 5:
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4 days are not at all enough if you are in Goa but if you have a handsome
CTC, it’s better to get back to work!
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P.S. : In my case, I don’t have a handsome CTC but the high Hotel tarrif provoked
the decision of only 4 nights stay in Goa!
Things missed out :
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Morjim beach (famous for turtles)
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Deltin Royal Casino
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LPK club
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Anjuna flea market (Only on Sundays)
Thanks for sharing your experience
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