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Christmas holidays in Goa
Xmas holidays and you plan to go out for a vacation, well then you ought to know, that the unanimous Xmas holiday destination inevitably has all roads leading to Goa, with its carnivals and jubilation, Goa resembles an informal United Nations conference with a strictly `dressed down` dress code
Xmas holidays and you plan to go out for a vacation, well then you ought to know, that the unanimous Xmas holiday destination inevitably has all roads leading to Goa, with its carnivals and jubilation, Goa resembles an informal United Nations conference with a strictly `dressed down` dress code
Goa is the smallest and one of the young states of India . It was liberated in December 1961 from Portugese after their 451 years old rule. It was conferred statehood in 1987 separating it from 25 years old Union Territory of Goa, Daman and Diu. It is situated on the western coast of the Indian peninsula.
Goa is gifted with natural beauty and offers a host of attractions to visitors . The entire territory of Goa is dotted with some of the most magnificent Churches, Temples and age old ports. It has many beautiful beaches which have gained international acclaim. Goa is a very popular travel destination for sun sand and leisure.
This land of orthodox Roman catholics is famous for its sea food and wine, cashew and Feni . It is replete with the atmosphere of song and dance and merriment.
Places to see
Beaches
Goa is justifiably famous for its beaches, and westerners have been flocking to them since the early 1960s. they sometimes suffer from bad press in both the western and Indian media because of the real or imagined nefarious activities of a small minority of visitors. Just stroll down Calangute beach all the way up to Baga, during Xmas time, and you`ll see familiar faces sporting life-couldn`t-be-better smiles.
Nudism & Local Sensibilities
Don’t make the mistake of thinking that because Goa is so welcoming, friendly and liberal, that you’re at liberty to disregard local sensibilities and go topless or prance around in your birthday suit whenever the mood takes you.
Places to eat
Scottish missionary Edward Aitken wrote of the people of Goa in 1889, ‘while they carry through the world patronymics which breathe of conquest and discovery, they devote their energies rather to the violin and the art of cookery. Goans are passionate about the food and there are several local specialities including the popular pork vindaloo. Other pork specialities include the chourisso (goan sausage), and the pigs liver dish known as sorpotel. Xacuti is a chiken or meat dish ; bangra is Goan mackerel; sana are rice; cup cakes soaked in a palm toddy before cooking, dodal and bebinca are special Christmas sweets; and Moira Kela are cooking plantains (banana-like fruit) from Moira village in Bardez. The plaintains were probably introduced from Africa and can be found in the vegetable market close to the Indian Airlines office in Panaji. With the ready availability of commercially produced alcohol contrasts markedly with most other parts of India. Most common of these is feni, a spirit made from coconut or cashews. A bottle bought from a liquor shop costs only slightly more than a bottle of beer bought at a restaurant. Reasonably palatable wines are also being turned out. The dry white is not bad; the red is basically a port. As always, the quantity depends on the price you pay.
How to reach
Air- Goa’s international airport, Dabolim is 29km from panaji, on the coast near Vasco da Gama. Most of India’s airlines operate services here, as well as several direct charter companies that fly into Goa from the UK and Germany. There are numerous flights between Goa and Mumbai. Indian Ailines flies daily (with two flights on Monday and Thursday) for US$ 75, and Jet Airways has two flights daily (three on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday) for US$90. Sahara Airlines also flies to Mumbai (US$ 90) and Delhi (US$ 210).
Indian Airlines has daily direct flights to Delhi (US$ 210) and Cochin (US$ 110), and four flights a week to Bangalore (US$ 95) and Chennai (US$ 125). Gujrat Airways flies direct to Pune (US$ 90) on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Train- The completion of the 760km Konkan Railway linking Mangalore to Mumbai in 1998 has opened Goa up. There was only one direct express between Margao and Mumbai CST and five between Margao and Mangalore or Kankanadi. Numerous passenger trains depart from Kurla. Trains to Bangalore take about 15 hours and cost Rs.191/ 679 for sleeper/1st class, or Rs.953 for air-con two tier sleeper. Mumbai cost Rs.202/706. Getting to Delhi from Goa takes about 44 hours and the fare is Rs.376/1545 in sleeper/1st class, and Rs.1939 for air-con two tier sleeper.
Goa’s two main stations are at Margao and Vasco da Gama. Seats or sleeper can be booked at either of these, or at the train reservation office at Panaji’s Kadamba bus stand. Other useful stations on the Konkan route are Mapusa Road for Mapusa and Old Goa for Panaji.
Taxi- It takes 14 hours to drive the 600km from Mumbai to Goa, but this can be done over two days. You’ll have to pay for the taxi’s return trip, so the cost will be around Rs.6000. Secluded and picturesque beaches framed by palm trees, lazing around in the sun -- this is possible on the golden beaches of Goa. Anjuna, Aguada, Baga, Betul, Calangute, Dona Paula are some of the well-known beaches of Goa that allure the visitor to stop by and wet their feet in the wonderfully azure waters of the sea.
Goa is gifted with natural beauty and offers a host of attractions to visitors . The entire territory of Goa is dotted with some of the most magnificent Churches, Temples and age old ports. It has many beautiful beaches which have gained international acclaim. Goa is a very popular travel destination for sun sand and leisure.
This land of orthodox Roman catholics is famous for its sea food and wine, cashew and Feni . It is replete with the atmosphere of song and dance and merriment.
Places to see
Beaches
Goa is justifiably famous for its beaches, and westerners have been flocking to them since the early 1960s. they sometimes suffer from bad press in both the western and Indian media because of the real or imagined nefarious activities of a small minority of visitors. Just stroll down Calangute beach all the way up to Baga, during Xmas time, and you`ll see familiar faces sporting life-couldn`t-be-better smiles.
Nudism & Local Sensibilities
Don’t make the mistake of thinking that because Goa is so welcoming, friendly and liberal, that you’re at liberty to disregard local sensibilities and go topless or prance around in your birthday suit whenever the mood takes you.
Places to eat
Scottish missionary Edward Aitken wrote of the people of Goa in 1889, ‘while they carry through the world patronymics which breathe of conquest and discovery, they devote their energies rather to the violin and the art of cookery. Goans are passionate about the food and there are several local specialities including the popular pork vindaloo. Other pork specialities include the chourisso (goan sausage), and the pigs liver dish known as sorpotel. Xacuti is a chiken or meat dish ; bangra is Goan mackerel; sana are rice; cup cakes soaked in a palm toddy before cooking, dodal and bebinca are special Christmas sweets; and Moira Kela are cooking plantains (banana-like fruit) from Moira village in Bardez. The plaintains were probably introduced from Africa and can be found in the vegetable market close to the Indian Airlines office in Panaji. With the ready availability of commercially produced alcohol contrasts markedly with most other parts of India. Most common of these is feni, a spirit made from coconut or cashews. A bottle bought from a liquor shop costs only slightly more than a bottle of beer bought at a restaurant. Reasonably palatable wines are also being turned out. The dry white is not bad; the red is basically a port. As always, the quantity depends on the price you pay.
How to reach
Air- Goa’s international airport, Dabolim is 29km from panaji, on the coast near Vasco da Gama. Most of India’s airlines operate services here, as well as several direct charter companies that fly into Goa from the UK and Germany. There are numerous flights between Goa and Mumbai. Indian Ailines flies daily (with two flights on Monday and Thursday) for US$ 75, and Jet Airways has two flights daily (three on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday) for US$90. Sahara Airlines also flies to Mumbai (US$ 90) and Delhi (US$ 210).
Indian Airlines has daily direct flights to Delhi (US$ 210) and Cochin (US$ 110), and four flights a week to Bangalore (US$ 95) and Chennai (US$ 125). Gujrat Airways flies direct to Pune (US$ 90) on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Train- The completion of the 760km Konkan Railway linking Mangalore to Mumbai in 1998 has opened Goa up. There was only one direct express between Margao and Mumbai CST and five between Margao and Mangalore or Kankanadi. Numerous passenger trains depart from Kurla. Trains to Bangalore take about 15 hours and cost Rs.191/ 679 for sleeper/1st class, or Rs.953 for air-con two tier sleeper. Mumbai cost Rs.202/706. Getting to Delhi from Goa takes about 44 hours and the fare is Rs.376/1545 in sleeper/1st class, and Rs.1939 for air-con two tier sleeper.
Goa’s two main stations are at Margao and Vasco da Gama. Seats or sleeper can be booked at either of these, or at the train reservation office at Panaji’s Kadamba bus stand. Other useful stations on the Konkan route are Mapusa Road for Mapusa and Old Goa for Panaji.
Taxi- It takes 14 hours to drive the 600km from Mumbai to Goa, but this can be done over two days. You’ll have to pay for the taxi’s return trip, so the cost will be around Rs.6000. Secluded and picturesque beaches framed by palm trees, lazing around in the sun -- this is possible on the golden beaches of Goa. Anjuna, Aguada, Baga, Betul, Calangute, Dona Paula are some of the well-known beaches of Goa that allure the visitor to stop by and wet their feet in the wonderfully azure waters of the sea.
Gleaming white-washed churches with Portuguese-style facades pepper the Goan landscape. The Church of Immaculate Conception in Panaji, is the Goan capital`s main place of worship. Old Goa boasts of the maximum number of churches. It has half a dozen imposing churches and cathedrals such as Convent and Church of St Francis of Assisi, and Basilica of Bom Jesus, the world renowned church contains the body of St. Francis Xavier, a foreign pupil of soldier turned saint, Ignatius loyala.
Goans have an easygoing way of life, humour and civility that is hard to beat. During festivals and Fairs they are at their boisterous best. Though the biggest celebrations here are during the Mardi Gras Carnival in February/March and Easter. But it is during Christmas that Goa makes merry, and life here actually seems to be only about fun and frolic!