Lying on India’s west coast, Goa is the country’s premier beach destination and a popular year-round holiday hot spot for both international and domestic vacationers. Renowned for its exquisite beaches, great weather, mouth-watering cuisine and a fascinating fusion of cultures, Goa is more than your standard sea-and-sand resorts.
As part of colonial Portugal for 400 years, Goa bears a distinctly European flair. Its architecture, in particular, showcases the Portuguese influence, in tandem with more traditional Indian and Islamic styles. Colonial homes, grand places of worship and monuments make Goa’s cities distinctive and unique.
Goa is India’s unofficial ‘beach capital’ and they certainly don’t disappoint. If you like your beaches golden, palm-fringed and stretching out to as far as the eye can see, you’re in luck, and you’ve got plenty to choose from. Lapped by the warm waters of the Arabian Sea, even on the busiest of beaches you’ll find plenty of turf to stake as your own, so be ready to settle down with a good book and a cold beer from one of the beach-side bars.
While they’re the jewel in Goa’s crown, the region’s beaches are not the only draw: move inland and you’ll find lush jungles and lazy rivers. For the intrepid explorer, a world of discovery awaits just off the beaten track and sets Goa apart from many other holiday destinations.