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Tuesday, April 08, 2014

G is for Goa!!!

Goa is my retirement plan. It was my first vacation with friends. It was my honeymoon destination and it will be where I live my last years. I love Goa.

Goa is all about the Beaches, the architecture and the culture. It owes its unique culture to Portugal. Being a Portuguese colony and then being a hub for hippies and expats from all over the world, sets the place apart from other Indian attractions.

I love the open carefree nature of the locals here. Though, as times change and globalization hit India, Goa also has been commercialized but still most villages still retain their charm.

A few of my favorite places in Goa are:

1) Panaji Mandovi River: Take a cruise along the river.















2) Forts I like:  Aguada is a 17th century Portuguese fort on the Sinquerim Beach. Chapora Fort along Chapora lake,Bardez.
Aguada


Chapora Fort-Famous Scene from a Hindi Movie 'Dil Chahata Hain'
3) Church to visit: Basilisca of Bom Jesus is a World Heritage site in Old Goa which holds the mortal remains of St.Francis Xavier.
Basilisca of Bom Jesus
















4) Mangueshi Temple in Mangheshi Temple, Goa. Goa isn't really famous for its temples and most temples were destroyed during Portuguese Inquisition but this temple is worth the visit.

5) Beaches : Well, this is what Goa is famous most for, at par with its food. I love all the beaches in Goa. I wont pick any. But I have spent maximum time in the Colva Beach. Maybe because I always choose Colva Beach Resort,GTDC as my accomadation in South Goa. Also the Candolim and Calungate beaches is on my most visited list of Beaches in North Goa.










6) Flea Markets: If you are into junk jewellery or antiques for home, dont miss the flea markets in Goa. My favorite are the Arpora Saturday Night Market and the Wednesday Anjuna Flea Market. Haggle a lot!















Also,while in Goa, do have food in one of the many beach shacks along the beaches. Yumm Food especially if you are into sea food.My all time favorite is Souza Lobo on the Calungate Beach.
 

This is my entry to the #AtoZChallenge 2014. I am having loads of fun reminiscing about my favorite places in the world (among-st the very few that I have visited!) . If you want to check out the whole list I will cover through the month, check out my theme post.

11 comments:

  1. Anonymous10:37 AM

    Wow. Goa...I loved the first line that says its your retirement plan. Let me tell you a secret its mine too :-p I have been there twice and I love it. Offlate I discovered it's my happy thought as well. When am down, stressed or tired closing my eyes and seeing the beach shacks revitalises me...:-)

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  2. seems like a tourist guide for Goa.. will bookmark this page for my Goa trip :)

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  3. Unlike the picture of how I imagine Goa, this gives me an idea of how it looks in real. Thanks for sharing the knowledge:)

    Check out mine: http://www.malavikka.blogspot.com//

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  4. What a cool place. I would love to visit there one day. :)

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  5. I love love love Goa.....delightful post....my retirement plan too btw...we'll meet there!

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  6. Lucky lucky you, it looks wonderful. So nice to follow and connect with an a to z challenger, and I look forward to more posts. http://aimingforapublishingdeal.blogspot.co.uk/

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  7. This looks like a very nice place to visit. Is that one building leaning like the tower of Pisa?? I have seen more than one tower lean, just wondering

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  8. One of my blogger friends just treated us to her vacation pics of Goa too! I really enjoyed them. It looks like a beautiful place.

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  9. I LOVE Goa :D Been there just once, a couple of years ago, but what fun we had. Spent 4 days so did a decent amount of beach hopping and lazing around. The Mandovi cruise was such fun!


    ~Shailaja's latest A~Z post

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  10. Never visited as yet.

    http://sinhasat302.blogspot.in/

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  11. Anonymous3:38 PM

    goa is one of the most wonderful place to enjoy and relax for me.
    Every year in December I travel to Goa for 20 days with y friends..I have many friends who work as trip planner experts and so it help me to visit and explore more in Goa.

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