“Hey let’s go to Goa!!!”

"Beaches, Parties, Cruising, Crowd…” – These are the words that probably come to your mind when you plan a Goa trip. But, you would be surprised to know that Goa has a lot more to offer. While few places in Goa like  Anjuna, Bagha and Calangute have been the famed enough by travellers (both Indian as well as foreigners), there are a lot of other places which offer scenic beauty in a serene environment. Most of these are present in the southern part of the state, which is not the visited so frequently as its northern counterpart.

While North Goa is about parties and water sports, South Goa is more defined by its pristine beaches, reefed between the slopes of the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea. If you want to chill out and spend some quality time with your partner and friends, you are in the right place. And this is exactly what I wanted to do this time.

I decided to start with the Palolem Beach (which is also known as the Paradise Beach), located in the Canacona district of Goa. I had taken a bus from Bangalore which dropped me at the Canacona bus stand (around 15-20 km from the beach).   

Palolem Beach - view from hut shack

As soon as I entered the Palolem beach, I was taken aback by the colourful huts and cottages sprawling all along the beach. This beach has the most exquisite beach huts in all of South Goa, for all price ranges. In addition to that, the variety of food available in the restaurants at these beach shacks makes your evenings even more memorable. Starting from fried fishes on the shore to shopping in the beach lane, the beach has everything to settle you down and make your stay here worth it! But, the experience of staying overnight on a beach, swaying on a swing and listening to the roar of the waves, with your favourite people alongside, has a satisfaction level difficult to match.

Beach Shopping

The morning of Day-2 started with a mouth licking English breakfast. Refreshing, energizing, healthy and yummy – it encapsulates all!

After breakfast, it was time for a ride to other parts of the southern district. Another prominent beach that deserves mention is the Agonda Beach. A secluded, yet amazing beach- perfect for relaxing with sparkling water and beachfront. The corals offshore did wonders to give this place a spellbound look.

Agonda Beach

While pristine and almost-deserted beaches are the major attractions of South Goa, it is not only the beaches that make Goa trip a must. Churches and forts are some of the other attractions where you get a flair of the Indian as well as the Portugal architecture. One of the famous forts of Goa’s heritage is in Canacona- The Cabo de Rama Fort. This fort is surrounded by water on three sides and the fourth side is the gateway to the lush green Western Ghats, though the roads have been carved out to reach the beaches. While I was in Canacona, there was no way that I would miss this.

I hired a two-wheeler to drive up to the fort, which was located on a hilltop. It was an hour journey from Agonda beach. The weather was pleasant with rains dripping and drizzling. It was a wonderful experience to cross numerous landforms starting from paddy fields to cashew plantation and Eucalyptus lines!

Cabo de Rama Fort

As we reached the fort and climbed to the top of it, I was bemused by the view. A perfect combination of rocks, water and coconut groves awaited my eyes. With the clear sky and dazzling sun, the view was picture perfect.

This was the last tourist spot in my itinerary but the trip didn’t end till that night when my return travel was scheduled. I still had a few hours to spend. And what’s better than spending the evening in the Palolem beach amidst the sunset, snacks and few pints of beer!

Sunset

My heart was resenting to leave this place, but this trip will be one of my best retrospection.

Goa is a must visit if you are coming to an India tour. It reflects an ideal blend of Portugal and Indian culture. And when in Goa, apart from the parties in North Goa, try to explore the serenity of South Goa.

Cheers!

This was my experience from my short Goa trip. Do share the blog with your travel group, and maybe, just maybe, next weekend your group plans a trip to Goa!!