Coastal Heaven

By Author: Sanjay Gupta
Total Articles: 4
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With holidays and Christmas around the corner what better can be than the best beaches, a famous party culture, and a Christmas season filled with feasting and festivities. And, for all of this to come true, Goa should be high on your number one priority of your wanderlust list. Goa is India’s smallest state located in the cradle of Western coastal plains. The state has a legacy of more than four centuries of Portuguese rule, astonishing 17th-century churches and cathedrals at Old Goa that are the largest in Asia.

During the Christmas season, hotels, and resorts in Goa are jam packed as people from all over the world come to witness traditional Goan festivities and rituals. It is a heaven for foodies as at this time of the year the place is filled with roast turkey and sweet, Portuguese-influenced treats such as bebinca, and Goa's special Christmas dodol together with curries and international culinary treats. From palm-thatched beach shacks to luxurious heritage hotels in Goa, every place is lined with Goan delicacies and cocktails.

Goa Christmas experience is incomplete without attending Midnight Mass, but ...
... you have to keep in mind that the churches are crammed with locals and it is better to arrive early if you want a seat or even space to keep your feet inside. Top spots to catch Midnight Mass include Basilica of Bom Jesus, Old Goa where you can revisit the iconic times and lose yourself in the Portuguese-era interior. The Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception is Panaji’s most famous church. Other than that, there is St Alex’s Church at Calangute and St Anthony’s Church at Siolim with a statue of St Anthony who miraculously captured a deadly snake when the church was being constructed.

Goa is renowned as India's party capital and even has its own unique brand of trance music. Anjuna and other beaches in north Goa are where most of the action takes place. The Christmas festivities are just one of the reasons to plan a winter trip to Goa. This time of year is perfect for unwinding and relaxing on the beaches. It is a season of minimal rainfall and pleasant temperatures. Goa is also a treat for shopaholics and there are plenty of flea markets all over the city. Anjuna’s hippie Wednesday flea market is Goa’s most famous shopping trip followed by Saturday night markets at Baga and Arpora and Christmas markets in Panaji and Margao.

Goa is tourist friendly and you can easily choose a base and travel between beaches by taxi or hired motorbikes. The state has a little something for everyone and if you are one of the adrenalin junkies, then Goa beaches is perfect to get your blood going. You can go for paragliding, jet skis, banana boats, diving etc. at economical rates. Alternatively, you can also head to spice farms, wildlife sanctuaries, and waterfalls and experience the best of Goa’s heritage and culture and also the comfort of your hotel.