A small region that is easily to explore, with forested bread trees and mahogany groves, a gentle sun penetrating the green hills, crowded bazaars, white churches sheltered by palm trees, extraordinary temples, and strong Portuguese influences which dominates for over 400 years…Is it somewhere in Portugal? Maybe India?…Well, we are in Goa, a small region in central India, located on the west central coast, a stretch of golden sand which merges with the greenish blue of the Arabian Sea, an accessible and exciting Asian paradise, with a rich history & culture, which attracts annually millions of tourists. An economical way to visit the attractions of Goa is renting motorcycles or scooters.
Goa assembles a collection of cities customize each one, that do not have the same look, reason why the region enjoys a special charm. Divided into two parts, the South, which is the countryside, a quiet area away from the noise and frenzy, and the North, where are the popular cities like Chapora, Anjuna or Vagator, famous for their beautiful beaches, being a lively area. Among the most popular beaches are Candolim, Arpora and Baga. Also, Agonda is famous for the sea turtles that come here each year to lay their eggs.
The best time to visit Goa is from January to April, noting that in December, is filled with tourists attracted by the excellent climate in winter, especially around Christmas, for which starting from February is not quite so crowded.
From a visual standpoint Goa is surprisingly a Catholic state, since its roots, being under Portuguese domination until 1953, for which you’ll see altars and portraits of Jesus almost everywhere. Although Hindus occupy two thirds of the population, in Goa will meet the most liberal people across India!
To admire the architectural perspective, the unique mix between Baroque, Renaissance and Portuguese elements, you should visit Old Goa, considered the spiritual heart of the country, located about 25 km from Anjuna, with its baroque churches and high altars, the most impressive being the Basilica of Bom Jesus and one of the largest Roman Catholic edifices in Asia – Se Cathedral. Moreover, here you will find restaurants, tattoo centers, shops and a few centers of … hypnosis, but I think you can ignore the last part. 🙂
You can visit the markets where spices abound, with so many flavors, textures, colors … or to buy a velvety silk shawl, to cover your bare shoulders in a sunny day or to bathe in the wonderful Arabian Sea.
In the culture of Goa lots of religions were assimilated, which is reflected in the way how temples were constructed, with Hindu architecture. Some of the most remarkable are: Shree Kamakshi Temple at Shiroda, Shree Laxmi Narsimha Temple at Nagueshi, Shree Shantagurda Temple at Dhargal, Shree Shantagurda Temple at Fatorpa and Shree Shantagurda Temple at Kavlem.
Panaji is the state capital, with his palms and colonial-style houses stretching one side and another of the road, being a green, peaceful and lively city, in a sharp contradiction to other cities in India. Located on the banks of River Mandovi with very nice houses, with red roofs, reflecting the Latin influences and avenues full of trees, Panajin is a charming little town worth visiting.
Spices & rise plantations, palm trees dancing in the wind, or…http://tripelonia.com/headline/discover-india-travel-to-goa/250
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