Public holidays in Goa

For a tourism intensive state like Goa it has nearly 14 days of holidays every year. Government offices normally work for a five-day-week with Saturdays and Sundays being the weekly off. The towns and cities of Goa close pretty early and 8 pm is often the closing time for almost every establishment in the state . There is also an afternoon siesta break in Goa which is from around 1.30PM till up to 3.30PM. The Goan siesta time is pretty infectious and even migrant traders who set shop in Goa get the bug of the Goan siesta and while they resist closure of their shops in the initial stages of their business in Goa, soon they also fall for the noon leisure trap of the Goan siesta. So all the restaurants, shops, and generally commercial establishments remain shut in this period.

The major holidays in Goa for the public are around Christmas time , Ganesh Chaturthi Festival and Diwali . Other public holidays include Republic day, Id-ul-Zuha, GFudi Padva, Good Friday, Independence day, Gandhi Jayanthi, Dussehra, Diwali, Id-ul-fitr, Feast of St Francis Xavier, Goa Liberation Day, Mahashivratri, Holi and Id-e-milad. Banks may remain open during local religious celebrations. The weekend holidays for the public sector are Saturday and Sunday.

During festivals such as Ganesh Chaturthi and Christmas, it is a special homecoming for naïve Goans. Goa is filled with a lot of Goan people these occasions with family, relatives and friends travelling to Goa to celebrate the festival from abroad or from other parts of India.

During Carnival and during the buildup for Christmas and New year, Goa is besieged with a high tourist inflow. Naturally the hotels and the guest inns are packed to capacity and therefore it is advisable to book your holiday to Goa in advance by making your bookings for trains, buses and flights if you intend to be in Goa during this period. The following is the month wise details of all the holidays that Goa has to offer throughout the year

January
1st- New Year's Day Festivity and lot of fanfare marks the onset of the New Year in Goa. People in Goa have lavish New years day with cheer, dance events and celebrations happening all around. Since there is a good catholic population in Goa, New Year is celebrated with a lot of energy and enthusiasm

26th- Republic Day of India
This day is declared as a National Holiday all over the country and marks a very special day in India's struggle for Independence. Most businesses and public places remain closed on this day as a tribute to the Republic of India.


March
Maha Shiva Ratri This is a Hindu festival which is celebrated all over the country and is The dedicated to the Hindu God Shiva. The people of Goa visit temples to give offerings to their God in the form of milk, fruits, etc.

Holi
Holi is the festival of colours and is celebrated all over Goa with pomp and colour. One of the most popular festivals of India, people from all walks of life irrespective of their religion celebrate this festival with lots of fun, cheer and happiness. If you venture out this day in modern Goa, expect to be smeared with colorful powder and even drenched in colored water.

The Festival of Shigmo
Shigmo is a colourful festival of Goa much like Holi. Each year around the month of March, the festival of Shigmo is celebrated in Goa. There are plenty of colourful floats and the streets in Goa come alive with the floats depicitng Goan ways of life etc. Shigmo is celebrated to mark the beginning of Spring.

April
Baisakhi
This festival marks the end of the harvest season and is a Hindu festival which is celebrated in the rest of India and actually not observed much in Goa. However there is a holiday sometimes.


Good Friday
Good Friday is the celebration of the death of Christ who died for the sins of mankind. Good Friday is the day when Jesus was crucified. Catholics in Goa observe this day with a great reverence and attend mass in the afternoon.

May
Eid-ul-Milad
This festival marks the birthday of the Prophet Mohammed for the Muslims and is celebrated all over Goa.

Buddha Purnima
This festival is celebrated to mark the birthday of Buddha amongst the Buddhist clan of Goa.

August 15^th- Independence Day of India
The independence day of India is a great day for every Indian and Goa is no different. The national flag is hoisted in every taluka and district in Goa and Goans show their pride in their belonging of India.

Ganesh Chaturthi
This day is celebrated to mark the birthday of the Hindu elephant God, called Ganesha. It is a major festival in Maharashtra and in some parts of Karnataka and is celebrated with equal enthusiasm and fervour in Goa.

October
2^nd – Gandhi Jayanti
This day is another important National Holiday as it marks the birth anniversary of the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi. Itr si also the Birthday of another great Indian freedom fighter Lal Bahadur Shastri. However this day is more dedicated to the great Mahatma.

Dussehra
This is a nine-day long festival celebrated with much fervor and enthusiasm in the north of India among the Hindus and is celebrated with equal festivity in Goa. Peole in Goa buy new some new things on this day and very often vehicles such as cars and commercial vehicles are bought on this day by the Hindus in Goa. You will see plenty of cars and other vehicles moving around ion Goa with a garland of flowers.

Diwali/Deepawali
The festival of lights is famous Indian festival all over the world and is celebrated in Goa with equal fervour. Lights mark the essence of this festival which is celebrated for days


December
3rd December - St Francis Feast

The feast of St Francis Xavier, the patron saint of Goa is celebrated on this day every year. Masses being as early as 5 am and continue till afternoon. It is a day which brings all Goans to the basilica at Old Goa to pay obeisance to the saint whose body is still miraculously preserved in a casket in the Basilica and is opened for veneration at that time of exposition of his relics every ten years which is a huge draw for tourists.

25^th – Christmas/X-Mas
The festival of Christmas in Goa is the most liveliest event of the whole Goan year and is the busiest week in the whole year for the tourism industry in Goa with hotels jam packed to capacity. Christmas carols, Brightly lit stars,Christmas buntings, Santa claus, dance events, and plenty of goodies make this day an unmistakable day for Goans. The celebrations continue till New year.

Goa's Links with Portugal and Europe

How is Goa linked with Portugal and rest of Europe

The consulate of Portugal has its presence in Goa and is located in Panjim city at Altinho where a fully functional consulate regularly caters to visa requirements as also to Goan aspirants for the Portuguese passport. Apart from the Portuguese consulate there are other cultural organizations which are active in Goa, with many Portuguese organizations setting shop here.

In Fontainhas, which is often termed as the Latin quarter of Panjim lies Fundacao Oriente which is a cultural organization and organises interesting programmes, majorly cultural and also sponsors such events thereby adding spice to Goa’s cultural space.

The Fundacao Oriente did face some opposition to set shop in Goa in its formative stages owing to some misconceptions of the colonial past of Portugal and many Freedom fighters had a lot of reservations which slowly dissipated owing to the secular nature of the organization. The Fundacao oriente also encourages Goa related book titles and also endeavours to subsidise such activities. The following are the offices of the different cultural organizations in Goa.

• Fundação Oriente Delegation in India Addres: 175, Filipe Neri Xavier Road Fontainhas Panjim Goa 403 001 Tel : 0832 - 2230728/2436108 Fax : 0832 - 2230291 Email : oriente@sancharnet.in / foriente@dataone.in

• Centro de Língua Portuguesa/Instituto Camões Address: AGVA House 9/32 Dr. Dada Vaidya Road Panjim Goa 403 001 Tel : 6647737 Email : clpicgoa@gmail.com Contact : Dr. Miguel Lume

• Fundação Cidade de Lisboa ADDRESS: Dias Building, 1st floor Rua de Ormuz Panjim Goa Tel : 2223969 Contact Person : Dr. Jorge Renato Fernandes

• Indo Portuguese Friendship Society Address :Santosh Building Near CBI Office Altinho Panjim Goa Tel : 2436875 Contact : Francis Menezes, President / Gopal Vernekar, Secretary

• Dempo Centre for Indo-Portuguese Studies Dempo Trade Centre Patto Plaza Panjim Goa 403 001 Tel : 2437849 / 50 Contact Person : Ms. Isménia da Veiga Coutinho

The following are the offices of various European Consulates or their representations in Goa

1. British Deputy High Commissioner's Consulate
Dempo Tower, EDC complex, Patto -Panjim,
Telephone: 2438897

2. The German Consulate
CMM House,
Rua de Ourem, Panjim
Telephone: 2235526

3. The Consulate General of Portugal
Smt. Parvathi House No. 38 & 39,
Fr. Agnelo Road, Altinho, Panaji,.
Telephone: 2421525, 2424524, 2424526, Fax: 2421522

4. Austrian Consulate
Salgaocar House,
Dr. Luis Gomes Road,
Vasco-Da-Gama, Goa
Telephone: 2513811, 2513816

5. Italian Consulate
B-1 Sesa Ghor,
Patto, Panaji
Telephone: 2438944

So where is Goa? what about Goa?

Goa is the tiniest state located on India’s western coast with a rich history and is a former Portuguese colony replete with natural beauty , beautiful landscapes and stunning beaches which form its basic attraction for the worldwide tourist to flock to this place . Goa is set on an area spanning over 3,700 square kilometers and hosts a population of approximately 15 lakhs( 1.5 million). In its most culturally diverse form, Goa has a very rare and unique blend of ethnic Indian culture mixing with vibrantly western influenced Portuguese culture with both Hindu and catholic populations in the state living harmoniously for centuries . Its beautiful temples and gothic architectures churches have an estimated 3 million visitors each year

What is the capital of Goa
The capital of Goa is at Panaji which is also known as Panjim, Ponnje in Konkani or Paingim in Portuguese. It is one of the most beautiful cities in India which showcases the colonial history of Goa. It has plenty of the typical yellow and blue colored Goan houses which gives you a feeling of being in a street in Portugal or Spain.

Goa’s Tourism History
Goa has been a tourist hub in India. Since the hippies first discovered Goa in the sixties, it ahs only become famous all over the world in good time and has been attracting a steady flow of visitors. In fact following the hippies were visitors from the United kingdom who to this day are the backbone of tourism in Goa. Expat Goans aided the flow and thereafter charter tourists simply took over the reins of exploring Goa to the fullest.

Many of such foreign visitors have also settled Goa as their permanent home while many others visit the state faithfully and take medical treatment etc. the business class have also found this place the most ideal one for seminars and conferences in Goa.

On the Indian map, Goa may seem similar to rest of India. But a closer look will reveal that Goa si visibly and practically different from the rest of India. Its civic sense , easy going nature and peaceful society isolates it from the rest of India as being the most peaceful yet fun loving place in this part of the world.

The traditional Goan village
The entire state of Goa has a lot of countryside view to offer.In fact the saying Goes that Goa’s heart is in its villages. One can distinctly observe that unlike the rest of India and Indian cities, Goans don’t like to live in the cities and would rather prefer the laid back village life. Goans don not mind traveling to the city space from their village environments, daily to work.

It is therefore not surprising that the villages of Goa hold out the Goan charm and character than any other place of Goa. However for the first time visitors, living in relaxed Goa can be pretty tough and slow especially if one was working in Goa for a living. However only the true Goan seems to understand the charm of living in Goa and enjoys his favorite turf without any complaint and is pretty charmed about the Goan village.

The villages of Goa are picture perfect abodes where you can smell the breath of fresh earth and the virgin smell of flowers and fauna. There is a sense of neatness and cleanliness which is almost practiced without saying.

Goa has many different facets to its beauty. While the Goan coastline is always in demand for its alluring beauty, it vastly varies from the "hinterland". Some of the villages in Goa have a rich history and many stories attached to its . You might just want to take a sneak peek into some of the villages which are mentioned below.

The villages in Goa which are worth visiting are Moira, Divar island, Nachinola, Neura, Corlim, Bastora, Reis Magos, Goa Velha and Britona in the north while in the south it could be Assolna, Cansaulim, Velsao, Nuvem, Savoi verem, Usgao, Curtorim, Raia, Carmona, Shiroda, Mollem etc.This is an almost unending list. In these villages it may be difficult to locate accommodation as these places may be visited by tourists but they would not be staying here overnight and would rather prefer the coastal belt villages or the smaller towns and cities.

The People of Goa
The Goan population is a blend of ethnic Hindus and Roman Catholics, who have been living in harmony for centuries. While there are over 60 % Hindus in Goa, Catholics account for over 30 % of the population.

There is also a relatively small Muslim population and some other migrant population in Goa of people who have made this place their home for the last couple of decades. Despite the mix of two very distinct communities in Goa , it has never witnessed serious communal clashes in the past and Goa is therefore regarded as one of the most peaceful and riot free states in India.

The Goan Catholics who often acknowledge their Hindu roots, also carry a distinct caste-system within their social fabric of the catholic world. The Portuguese are known to have converted Hindus into Catholics during the period after the inquisition of Goa in 1510 and the Catholics of modern Goa are originally Hindus with Hindu ancestors which have been traced by many. It is believed that in many cases, the Hindus left one male member behind to convert and thus continue to own and manage the common properties while the rest of the brethren and family chose to retain their Hindu roots and preferred to emigrate to neighboring areas along with the idols representing their Hindu deities.

Over the four and half centuries of Portuguese rule, a large numbers of Catholics have migrated to the major commercial cities of India in Bombay , Pune and also to former Indian city of Karachi which is now in the country of Pakistan. Goans also migrated overseas to former Portugal colonies in East Africa and in countries such as Angola and Mozambique and even to Portugal itself and towards the end of the 20th century many Goans sought greener pastures to Canada and Australia.

Due to the large scale emigration of Goans to other countries many of the old Goan ancestral properties lie either abandoned or mired in legal wrangles and stalemates owing to the sense of disagreement within the widely dispersed inheritors of the property who are unable to come to a common table to mutually solve the issue.

However in recent years, expatriate Goans have been returning to their home state out of nostalgia and a sense of belonging and purchasing holiday homes along the Goan coastline which is further ploughed back into the Goa accommodation sector though the medium of “rent back” apartments which are hired by short term tourists coming to Goa for a holiday.

The best time of the year to visit Goa is mid-November to mid-February when the weather is comfortable, dry and pleasant.

Where to stay in Goa while on a holiday

Goa has caught the imagination of many tourists all over the world and is a regular destination among holiday plans to the picturesque state of India.The question uppermost in many travelers minds while traveling to Goa is where to seek accommodation in Goa or simply where to stay in Goa while on a holiday to the beach capital of India.

It has to be understood that while Goa is a prime tourist destination of India, it is not extremely expensive to stay in Goa. Cheap accommodation in Goa is available and depending on your budget and taste, one could take a call on the type of accommodation that you desire. So from the swanky five star resorts to the cottage room there is plenty on offer as far as accommodation in Goa is concerned. All that one has to do is decide where to stay depending upon the factors mentioned above.

In this post I am listing various options to choose from. You can also directly click here and make a quick choice by glancing at the options available.

If you are looking for five star accommodation for your holiday in Goa, the following five properties should excite you

(1) The Taj Exotica is a 5 star property located in South Goa and is an entire village in itself as it sits pretty on over 56 acres of lush greenery by the beach front and is a delight for serenity and tranquility lovers. A Taj group hotel, the pure white sands of the Benaulim beach are bound to captivate many a reluctant swimmer and delight you to the joy of the hospitality at the Taj. To book the Taj exotica hotel “click here”

(2) The Majorda Beach Resort is a premium 5 Star hotel located on the Majorda beach on the south of Goa and has the unique distinction of being the first resort in India to be awarded the  ISO-9001-2000 certification.The Majorda beach resort has 120 rooms including over 10 cottages and suites which sit on nearly 22 acres of green landscape. Want to stay at the Majorda Beach resort? Click here

(3) The Leela Kempinksi goa hotel is a 5 star super class resort ideally situated on the southern tip of Goa’s mobor beach and is the perfect place for a great getaway.Besides a range of cuisines that the Leela puts on offer its hospitality is world class and class of the Leela hotels is bound to enthrall any traveler. It ahs over 185 rooms, suites and villas to pamper your holiday spirit to the fullest. To book the Leela click here

(4) The Bogmallo beach resort is the only resort close to the port city of Vasco-da-gama in Goa and is only 4 kms away from the Dabolim airport. It is an idyllic haunt for travellers from allover the world and is located right on the beach. The moment you step out of the Bogmallo beach resort you will find yourself immersed in the sands of the Bogmallo beach. The rooms are exquisitely designed and offer an undisturbed clear view of the wide beach expanse. To book the Bogmallo beach resort click here

(5) The Cidade de Goa hotels is located at the nostalgic Dona Paula beach which has been a romantic destination for tourists to revel in the gush of the waves at the Dona Paula promenade. This hotel is the pride of Goa and is one of the foremost to decorate the beaches in the north of Goa to welcome tourists with its arms wide open. To book the Cidade de Goa hotel click here.

(6) “Intercontinental the Lalit Goa resort” is located on the famous Palolem beach in South Goa and is a property abounding in lavish greenery. The hotel sits amidst a massively wide area of over 85 acres of prime coastal space and affords a golf course in its premises besides various other facilities which are bound to pamper the traveler to the fullest. To book the Intercontinental The Lalit Goa resort Click here.

(7) Park Hyatt Goa resort and Spa is a beautifully designed classic property situated on the Arossim beach in south Goa and is only a 15 minute drive from the Dabolim airport. One of the recent entrants in the Goa hospitality industry, it has a colonial class stamped on its architecture to suit Goa’s heritage and historical roots. It ahs superb dining options at its various restaurants and it is simply a pleasure to stay at resort. To book your holiday at eh park Hyatt Goa resort and Spa click here.

(8) The Alila Diwa Goa Resort is a unique city hotel and resort and is also among the latest hosts in Goa. Resting on the beautiful Majorda Beach in South Goa the Alila has class written allover it. A stylishly designed Goan resort it has an ability to relax you while its super hospitality will leave you spellbound and seeking for more. It endeavor's to create valued customer experiences and cherishes its moments with its valued clients. To book a holiday at eh Alila Diwa hotel click here.

If you were to choose among the 4 star and  3 star resorts in Goa the following options could well interest you.

(1) The Nanu resort which is located on the Betalbatim beach is an idyllic destination to spend your holiday without the worry of being disturbed while being on a serene beach hardly frequented by people. 19 kms away from Dabolim airport, the Nanu beach resort is a mere 7 kms from Margao city. Owned by Goans, the resort is a luxurious beach paradise and offers authentic Goan cuisine and blends convenience with taste. To book the Nanu resort click here.

(2) Neelams the Grand hotel is a four star property located on the most famous Calangute beach in north Goa. It is occupying a space of over 8000 square metre property and is a towering view with four imposing buildings overlooking a large swimming pool among them. The Neelam grand offers four categories of rooms which are the superior rooms, superior deluxe rooms, superior suites and Deluxe suites.To book the Neelams grand click here.

(3) The Ronil beach resort is a vibrant 4 star hotel on the busy Calangute belt in north Goa and is one of the most popular names in the hotel and hospitality industry of Goa. The Ronil gives a special Goan touch to its hospitality  and this can be seen while on a stay at the hotel with the service that they deliver. The Ronil has over 20 deluxe and 106 standard rooms for your comfort. To book the Ronil resort Click here.

(4) The Palmarinha resort at Calangute is a 3 star property located on a secluded spot in the Calangute area. It is surrounded by lush greens, green fields and hilly slopes. The resort boasts of modern comforts and allows its guest to indulge in the holiday spirit with a Goan ambience.It is merely a 20 minute walk from the Calangute beach and there is a shuttle available every hour to the resort. Palmarinha hosts over 80 Deluxe Rooms which are spacious in their outlook with an attached sitting room with chairs and a coffee table. it also has over 36 suites and 19 apartment styled 2 bedroom suites thereby totaling over 135 rooms. To book the Palmarinha resort click here.

(5) Whispering Palms beach resort Goa is another hot property located in north Goa. A 4 star resort, it was set up in the year 1992 and therefore celebrates nearly 2 decades of super service in Goa’s hospitality industry. it is a favourite hunt for many travelers thanks to its delightful mix of an old world charm which beautifully blends with modern hospitality.It is set almost in perfect picture postcard surroundings in the north and is comfortably sandwiched between the Aguada foothills and the hamlet of Candolim. it exudes a blend of Portuguese architecture with comforts of the modern age. To book the whispering palms beach resort, click here.

(6) The Varca Palms beach resort is an idyllic place in south Goa on the Varca beach and is sitting on over 14 acres of lush Varca beach area and provides the much needed tranquility and serenity to the traveler.The hotels has a separate swimming pool for children and a lovely games room and food to suit both kids and adults. Making a booking at Varca Palms Beach Resort is easy with our secure online form; just enter your dates and click.

(7) The Sonesta Inns is another lovely place to spend your holiday in 3 star comforts. The hotel is close to the beach and yet away from the crowds. Located on the long stretch of the white sands of the Calangute beach, the Sonesta Inn is an ideal spot for all holidaymakers and business travelers alike. it hosts a90 person conference room and is an ideal spot for holiday makers to find their feet. water polo is a favourite pastime at the hotel besides other seasonal sports activities. To book the Sonesta Inns, fill the form by clicking  here.

(8) For nature freaks, the Widernest nature resort is the place to find your greens thriving and rich. The resort is built on the Lasni temb mountain and is far far away form the beaches of Goa. 817 metres above the sea level, this secluded resort of Goa is an untold thrill for nature lovers and is nestled amidst a thick forested cover in the swapnagandha valley where the holidaymaker can revel in a sunrise to sunset spell of Goa’s changing colours. the resort welcomes you with the gushing sound of a cascading fish pond which has the potential to reverberate in your ears for a long time to come.The resort houses a serene meditation center besides a restaurant serving ethnic Goan cuisine made from the naturally fresh ingredients. The infinity pool is a breathtaking sight and the heavenly cloud bar can soar your spirits higher than usual. To book your escape to the Wildernest nature resort click here.

(9) Marquis beach resort, a 3 star hotel s located on the Candolim beach and is an excellent location for adventure sports lovers to try their skills. This resort also arranges in  organising boat trips to enable holidaymakers to enjoy Goa from sunrise to sunset.In close proximity to this resort are the lighthouse, shopping area, flea & Saturday markets.Affordability and wide range of facilities at her resort makes Marquis Beach Resort an excellent choice and a value for money proposition. To book your holiday at Marquis click here.

(10) Estrela Do mar beach resort is a place where you feel at home owing to the ambience creation in the hotel which is located at Calangute in north Goa. with lovely rooms, a conference rooms, classic swimming pool, a beach side shack, sweetly constructed cottages , the Patio restaurant etc the hotel becomes an ideal destination to relax and unwind. To book the Estrela click here.

(11) The Bambolim Beach resort is another  3 star charming resort in Bambolim, close to Panjim. The resort is set up in blocks of six cottages encompassing a total of 191 beautifully designed rooms with a rustic outlook. The Hotel is hardly 25 kms from the Dabolim airport and seven kms from Panjim city. The food at the Bambolim beach resort is mostly authentic Goan.the resort is an ideal place for travelers who want to escape from the city and still stay close to it.To book the Bambolim beach resort click here.

Besides these you also have a wide host of other hotels, resorts, guesthouses ,cottages and rooms in Goa which can be booked by clicking here.

Britain Unveils new visa plans from August 9 2011

Britain has announced a new visa category to facilitate the immigration for exceptionally talented people from India and other non-EU countries in the fields of science, humanities, engineering and the arts.

The new Tier 1 (exceptional talent) category will open on 9 August 2011, and will have 1,000 places in the first year of operation, official sources here said. The new category will facilitate not only those who have already been recognised but also those with the potential to be recognised as leaders in their respective fields, the sources added.

There will be 500 places available between the August 9 and November 30 and a further 500 places available from the December 1 to March 31, 2012. The number of places will be reviewed at the end of March 2012. The immigration category will be overseen by four ‘competent bodies’, which will advise the UK border agency on these ‘exceptionally talented’ migrants to ensure that they are the brightest and best in their field.

The bodies are: the Royal Society, a fellowship of the world’s most eminent scientists, will be able to nominate up to 300 places; the Arts Council England, the national development agency for the arts, will also be able to nominate up to 300 places; the Royal Academy of Engineering, Britain’s national academy for engineering, will have up to 200 places to nominate; and the British Academy, the national academy for the humanities and social sciences will be able to nominate up to 200 places.

The Immigration minister, Mr Damian Green said: “The UK is a global leader in science, humanities and engineering and we are a cultural centre for the arts: we will continue to welcome those who have the most to offer and contribute to our society and economy”.

Migrants seeking entry to the UK under this category will not need to be sponsored by an employer, but will need to be recommended by one of the competent bodies. While the government has allotted a number of places to each body, it will be open to the bodies to transfer additional places to those with more demand if this becomes necessary, the sources added.

Those admitted under the category will initially be granted permission to stay for 3 years and 4 months. They will then be able to extend their stay for a further 2 years, and settlement may be available after 5 years’ residence in the UK.

Mr Alan Davey, the chief executive of arts council England, said: “We welcome the launch of this special visa scheme, which will enable the very best artists of international standing to live and work in the UK”. It will be for each competent body to select those who will qualify for recommendation, and we have also published the criteria for their endorsement.

The president of the British Academy, Sir Adam Roberts, said: “The Humanities and Social Sciences are flourishing in the UK and attract many excellent scholars from overseas. The British Academy is ready to play its part in identifying those outstanding scholars for whom Tier 1 is the appropriate visa category.”

Goa holidays - a ready reckoner

Goa has long been known as a paradise for vacationers who have traditionally preferred Goa in comparison to other holiday destinations in India owing to Goa's charming beauty and westernized culture.Couple this with the three "S"s which Goa is famous for- Sun, sea and Sand, and you have a cocktail for a holiday destination that you should not miss. Goa's never ending strip of sun kissed beaches , magnificent churches, beautiful ancient temples, liberal lifestyle and a great legacy of the erstwhile Portuguese rule makes Goa a natural hotspot for tourists with a leisure holiday on mind.

Although Goa is a destination for tourists from all over the world it is not an expensive destination to say the least and you can afford a holiday in Goa at a cheap cost. Something that the backpackers discovered long ago and continue to do so by traveling to Goa regularly.Goa holidays have been the favourite of people on low budgets as well as the high net worth travelers simply because it has the will to accommodate a wide category of tourists.

Goa's natural beauty to a large extent is the result of the Portuguese rule in Goa which extended to this place from the year 1510 to 1961 encompassing over 450 years of colonial rule which transformed Goa into a place blending the west with the east and its cuisine, local habits and dress codes are ample testimony to this fact. Goa's architecture of major houses and antique mansions is a glaring evidence of the impact which Portugal had over tiny Goa. The Portuguese culture has left an indelible mark on Goa's lifestyle which has endeared tourists to this place which is an ideal holiday destination with affable and friendly people to supplement a well-deserved holiday.

Goa is among the younger states of India and is very small in size compared to majority of the other Indian states and covers an area of only 3,702 km . In fact it is a linear stretch of coastal paradise known as the Konkan belt facing the Arabian Sea. Goa's coastline has a length of around 100 kilometres and the Goan mainland comprises of many rivulets, the major ones being the famous Mandovi in Panjim, the river Zuari in Cortalim, the Chapora river in Chapora, the terekhol river, the sal river in Salcete and the Betul river in the south. The Mormugao harbour is the natural harbour on the mouth of the Zuari river and is a busy port serving the needs of Goa's logistic operations.

Historically it is known that the Mandovi and the Zuari rivers are the lifelines of Goa with their tributaries claiming over 70 percent of Goa's area. Goa is blessed with more than eight marine and about ninety riverine islands and forty estuaries. The entire navigable length of Goa's rivers is around 157 miles.

Goa has plenty of beach area and several beaches are made famous over the ages. Each beach in Goa has an identity of its own and a following which goes beyond the seas. The most famous beaches of Goa are the Calangute beach, Anjuna Beach, Vagator beach, Dona Paula beach and Miramar beach in the north and Colva Beach, Benaulim Beach, Majorda Beach and Arossim beach in the south. The beaches have popularized Goa as the beach capital of India and it is rightly so. Over a million visitors visit Goa every year and holidaymakers to Goa are often known to find quick relaxation in Goa owing to Goa's laid back natural feeling which is summed up by the word "succegado", nostalgic to Goa and which means "laid back".

Goa's lush green surroundings give you a feel of openness and one can indulge in free spirited movement in Goa while following action after action and pursuing endless opportunities to roam around and enjoying all-night partying at certain locations. Goa's fun is not limited to the rich pockets and people of every budget can enjoy the spirit of fun and abandonment.

The Culture of Goa showcases a distinctly different cultural outlook compared to the rest of India. Its population has a wonderful mix of both Hindu and Christian people who live in perfect harmony in this most peaceful state of India. The traditional customs of the Hindus still remain intact in Goa and the traditional shigmo is one such festival which makes good entertainment besides many other such festivals of the Hindus. The Catholics in Goa celebrate feasts at various occasions including the feasts of every church in Goa. Goa has hundreds of Churches one in every village and city and as such festivities in Goa abound throughout the year .The traditional Carnival is observed in Goa with great fervour and marks Goa's distinguished western flavor in Eastern India.The people of Goa therefore observe the festivals of Christmas, Easter, Ganesh Chaturthi and Shigmo with equal zest.

Goa's staple food is fish curry rice and fish in itself is a desirable delicacy for almost every Goan and many lip-smacking fish preparations continue to decorate the Goan menu for ages. The Goan cashew feni is a natural brew extracted from the juice of the cashew fruit in Goa and has made Goa famous by its nostalgic delight all over the world. The Cashew feni is also known to have great medicinal value and is often used in Goa with other natural additives as a cure for many ailments. Goa is also known to extract maximum produce from its natural resource of palm trees which provide Goans with a great income and often runs households entirely on the coconut trade. Coconut vinegar is also very popular among Goans and unlike other places in India which use citric acid as vinegar, Goans continue to use natural palm toddy to produce vinegar which is used for various Goan preparations including the tasty delicacy called "Goan sannas". Palm trees also yield a brew known as "Maddancho Feni "which is prepared from palm toddy.

You can reach Goa by air, road and rail. Daily flights are connected to the major cities in India including Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai etc. Goa is hardly at a distance of 600 kms from Mumbai and buses are plying to Mumbai, Bangalore and Pune daily .Train services to Goa rae mainly along the Konkan railway route and several trains run through Goa which include the Konkan kanya, Matsyagandha express, Mandavi express, Netravati, Hapa express etc. The major stations in Goa include Margao, Vasco, Tivim, and Karmali. Although Goa has a large coastline, travel by sea has still not caught fancy and has been interrupted several times after being launched.

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