Here’s Why You Must Visit Goa This Summer

Goa Beach

It is no exaggeration to say that Goa is one of the most sought-after beaches and party destinations for tourists, from all around the world. It witnesses a huge influx of visitors, each year. The peak season of Goa falls between the months of September to February, when millions of tourists, both locals and foreigners visit Goa to have a fun-filled time. The main reason for this is a pleasant weather in Goa during these times. This can said to be a great season to visit Goa but the price tag of everything goes high. Summer Holidays in Goa will be great and beneficial for your pocket too, as this is an off-season time. Thus, here’s why you must visit Goa, this summer:

Easy availability of air tickets- The best part of traveling to Goa in summers is that there is easy availability of the air tickets. You will easily get the tickets on the day and time which you want and that too at cheaper prices in comparison to the peak season. You are going to save a lot of money.

 

Cheap food and accommodation –Food and accommodation will also be cheaper during summer time. When the crowd would be less, there food as well as accommodation of your choice will be available to you easily and at extremely low rates. It is the best time to avail impressive discounts and freebies.

Secluded beaches – If you love seclusion then this is going to be the best time for you. As the crowd will be less, people on the beaches are also going to be less. You can enjoy your moments of privacy at the secluded beaches of the southern part of Goa.

Excellent bargain on Shopping – Goa is a state, which is visited by all kinds of travelers, starting from backpackers to jet-setters. This place houses everything, from flea markets to designer showrooms. You can shop for cane furniture, faux handbags/purses, clothes, shell jewelry and knick-knacks, funky clothes etc. The flea markets of Goa during off-season offer excellent bargain on shopping. If you want cheap booze, again Goa it is! You can also buy cashew nuts of excellent quality from this beach state.  

No long queues for water sports - Indulging in water sports is a major attraction amongst the tourists. Another benefit of summer holidays in Goa will be that there will be no long queues for water sports.

Written by Geetika Handa

The Different Hues of Holi Celebrations in India

Holi Celebrations in India

Holi in India is boisterous, loud, absorbing, in-your-face and, most importantly, memorable. There are no half measures to celebrating Holi – you’re either in or out. Especially if you’re visiting from abroad, expect a lot of eyeballs, prolonged stares and curious approaches. But, don’t let unwanted attention bog you down and take away from the spirit of Holi. This post is a brief description of the most popular Holi celebrations around India.

     1 -  Uttar Pradesh – Barsana, Mathura, Nandgaon and Vrindavan

Being the birthplace of Lord Krishna, who is believed to have been a huge Holi patronizer himself, Holi is at its whackiest best here. Drums of colored water are poured on the processions of hundreds dancing in the streets as the ladies take to mock-beating men with lathis (bamboo sticks). A word of caution – it’s relatively safer to enjoy the celebrations from a distance. Bring your SLR to good use. 

Lathmar Holi Barsana

      2 -  Udaipur, Rajsthan  -  Shiv Niwas Palace

The royal family of Udaipur throws open the gates of the majestic Shiv Niwas Palace on Holi every year. Holi is celebrated in the manicured lawns of the palace as people drown each other in huge tanks of colored water. Water canons throw jets of water in different colors as people engage in spirited revelry, inebriated under the influence of cannabis-laden bhang.

Grand Holika Dahan Festival in Shiv Niwas Palace Udaipur, Rajsthan

3 - Goa

If it’s a celebration, Goa is already doing it. The colorful Holi festival goes by the name of Shigmo in Goa. The Shigmo Festival is the festival of spring and is celebrated over a week amid much pomp and fanfare. Gulal and Neel are the most widely used colors and thumping drums roaring choruses make for the music. Local troupes enact the story behind the festival and parades are organized at Panaji, Mapusa, Vasco da Gama and Margao.

The Shigmo Festival in Goa

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Here’s Some Money Saving Tips for Backpackers in Goa Trip

Backpacking, an economic traveling concept, is fast gaining popularity across the globe. It is quite popular with students and budget tourists traveling on a shoe-string budget. Goa, located in the western parts of India, is too inviting a sizeable chunk of backpackers throughout the year. The salubrious climate, hospitable people and laid back ambience is conducive for the tourists. Here are a few money saving tips for backpackers during their trip to Goa.

  

Breathe the economic air in Goa 

Accommodation (Lodges, budget hotels and Homestays) 

Backpackers do not seek lavish accommodation. When it comes to the accommodation needs of backpackers, Goa has a lot of options in store. Besides a large number of budget hotels, Goa has many village cottages and Homestays that are rented by the locals at reasonably low rates. Apart from saving money, you’ll get to experience local traditions and ways of living life. 

Eat at Beach Shacks, Avoid Restaurants 

During your trip to Goa, if you are looking forward to get entertainment over relaxation, you won’t need to look anywhere else other than beach shacks. At a very cheap price, these beach shacks let you savor authentic Goan delicacies. Being a coastal area, Goa offers a scrumptious variety of seafood delicacies. So if you love non-vegetarian food, Goa is an absolute haven for you. Moreover, if you are staying in Homestays, you’ll get authentic Goan home-made food included in the rental price. 

Bargain While Shopping 

The flea markets of Goa are quite popular with local and international tourist alike. The most popular names in the list include the Wednesday Market of Anjuna Beach and Ingo’s Saturday Night market of Arpora Beach. Always make it a point to bargain in these flea markets. Compare the price tags of different vendors and then make the last choice. Don’t spend anything on clothing. 

Beware of Touts and Follows Rules 

Goa has never been in the news for major safety issues. However, a few stray incidents may make you think twice, but Goa, at large, is a quite a safe destination for tourists and backpackers. Though the people of Goa are quite helpful and friendly, it is advisable not to trust anyone with cash or belongings is not a wise thing. Also, you should never entertain touts trying to fool you with unnecessary offers. Do not try anything out of the box, adhere to the safety guidelines and always use your common sense.

Some Useful Tips for Solo Traveler in Goa

It is needless to mention that Goa has topped the popularity charts as a cosmopolitan destination. From being a hippy idyll in the early 60’s to the beach capital of India, this tiny Indian state has come a long way. There is always a perception that  Goa trip can be enjoyed only if you are in a group of 7 to 8 people. This is the reason why most people are apprehensive visiting Goa on their own. 

But there is a section of tourists who loves traveling alone and I’m one of them. This post will include some first hand tips for a solo traveler(male and female) in Goa. Read on….

Check thoroughly about the Goa hotels 

If you are a first time traveler to Goa, check thoroughly about the hotels and beachfront properties on the internet. Read reviews, suggestions and tips on the travel forums (such as the trip advisor). A good research will help you find a good hotel in a great location. 

Advance Planning is Required 

Advance planning is quite important if you are a first time traveler, especially solo traveler. It is important for you to determine what has to be carried or what does not have to be carried along. If you’ll think smartly , a safe and secure vacation to Goa is guaranteed. Before embarking on a Goa trip, it is important to ensure that you carry just enough cash. Carrying a lot of cash can be  a risky affair. Handbags carrying important essentials must be tucked under the arm while front pockets must be used for carrying cash. Use artificial jewelry while traveling and staying at the beachfront properties. All the travel documents must be in order along with the attested photocopies. 

Fort Aguada Goa

 Don’t Disclose Personal Information and accompany the guide 

Always ask for a reliable and trustworthy guide from your hotel’s travel desk. Keep your hotel authorities informed about your whereabouts at the time of sightseeing. Never disclose personal information to unknown and strangers and be alert all the time. 

Dress Appropriately and Conservatively 

The best way to get unnoticed in the public places and beach areas is wearing denims, jeans and T-shirts. Dressing conservatively and appropriately will prevent you from unwarranted attention and unnecessary harassments. 

Palolem beach Goa

All the above mentioned four tips are a result of a personal Goa travel experience. Do consider them in your online research for Goa vacations.

Tribal Life in Goa: An Intrinsic Part of Goan Lifestyle

A popular holiday destination known for its sandy beaches, azure Arabian Sea, salubrious climate and laid back ambience, Goa is a destination of a life time. The people living in Goa are extremely friendly, hospitable and welcoming. The population of Goa also includes the descendants of several ancient tribes. Notwithstanding the fact that the ethnic tribes in Goa form an intrinsic part of Goa, their importance is undermined in comparison to the popular tourism aspects.

 

When it comes to the tribal lifestyle, they firmly follow their ancient practices, customs and routines. It’s not that they are not aware of the modern development in their surroundings, they still preferred to stay connected to their roots. The four chief tribes of Goa include Gowdas, Kunbis, Velips and Dhangars. All these tribes live in segregated villages.

Gowda Tribe 

One of the major tribes in Goa, Gowda tribe inhabits the villages located in the deep interiors of Goa. However, there is no documented fact regarding the migration of Gowda tribal people in Goa. These tribes practice Hindu religion and worship lord Mallikarjun, a form of Lord Shiva. Though they follow Hindu religion firmly, they do not bury dead bodies as per Hindu religion. They are pretty strict in guarding their blood lines and customs. In Gowda tribes, cross-cousin marriages are allowed between paternal and maternal cousins. 

Women Gowda Tribe

In Gowda’s, many rights and powers have been attributed to the women such as working in the agricultural field and inheriting their husband’s property. 

Kunbis Tribe 

Women Kunbis Tribe

Touted as one of the original tribes in Goa, Kunbis Tribe reside in Salcete Taluka. Well known for their pleasant nature, the people of this tribe work hard to earn their livelihood. Initially these people used to follow Hindu religion but were later converted into by the Portuguese. Their folk dance and music is quite popular in Goa. 

Velpis Tribe 

Women Velpis Tribe

In terms of population, the number of Velpis tribes is quite low making it to a few thousands. They are also considered as the original inhabitants of Goa. The members of this tribe mostly reside in the interiors of the forest. Forest-fringed areas such as Canacona, Sanguem and Quepem are the regions where the dwellings of this tribe are found.

Dhangars 

Dhangar Couple Mopa Goa

Migrated from Gujarat, the members of Dhangar tribe are purely propelled and have settled in the northwestern parts of Goa. Members of this tribe are quite pious and religiously worship their god named ‘Bira Deva’. Their festivals are quite vibrant and colorful. Their folk dance is the highlight of these festivals which involves simple footwork on the slow beats of Cymbals and Dhol. The dress worn by these tribal people during the dance performance include turban and Kathiawari style white dress. 

Last to last year in September, these four tribes were included in the scheduled tribe list by the union ministry of tribal welfare. Currently, Goa is holding a five-day tribal art show to throw light on the various aspects of ancient Indian heritage. If you are looking forward to explore Goa's Tribal Life, the best thing is to go online and type 'Goa Trip or Goa Tour'. You'll find a list of tour packages that feature Goa's tribal life as a theme.

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7 Trends that Are Hot for 2013 Travel!

Yes, every new year entails new trends. So is the case with travel – new and more exotic destinations are being discovered, tourists are turning a lot more adventurous and tourism for offbeat, remote locations are gaining momentum. It sure seems like 2013 travel will present a whole list of new travel trends, some of which we have tried to predict and enlist here:

    1-      Luxury Travel will find a lot more takers this year. With the ever growing Forbes’ lists and the rich becoming a lot more aggressive with their spending patterns, expect a lot more people to sign up for luxury tours. Think about a week in the Alps, or a cruise to Macau, a luxury train tour in India or even a luxurious “safari” in Namibia – the possibilities are endless.

2    2-      Family Tours or Large Group Tours will increase in number. The 2013 adage has changed to “The family that holidays together, stays together”. Already, tour operators across a globe are receiving a flurry of family tour enquiries. The plus side is, you get more than decent discounts on group bookings. And no, there are no negatives at all.

3   3 -      Honeymooners are the newest adventure freaks. Yes, a honeymoon is no longer about rose petals, romantic gondolas and intimate horse rides. Honeymooners today prefer deep sea diving, bungee jumping and fishing for corals. Tour operators can expect a lot of crazy requests from “madly in love” honeymooners.

Travel has evolved continuously over time. And 2013, too, promises to usher in new surprises. Stay glued to this space.

 

Good Times At The Goa Carnival - 2015

Me and my wife love visiting Goa, simply because of the fact that this beach city has a unique feel to it, always vibrant and ever-ready for a party. There is one or the other celebration happening in any nook or corner. This year we decided to attend the Goa Carnival, an amazing, colorful and vibrant festival. The dates were 14^th February to 17^th February. We had heard a lot about this much-awaited festival and so were really excited. Since the hotels are jam-packed during these days, we booked our tickets and rooms well in advance. 

After settling in the hotel, we went out to enjoy the fun. One of the locals informed us a little about the Carnival. The celebration of this carnival had started in Rome and Greece around 500 years old and later in Spain and Portugal. It got introduced in Goa by the Portuguese rulers and since then it is celebrated with much fervor and enthusiasm. It was actually a Christian festival but now it is celebrated by all on a large scale. 

This carnival is celebrated before the traditional festival, Lent,  a 40- day festival. During these days, there are no parties and the locals desist themselves from eating meat and even dairy products. “Now, why is that?’ I asked. She furthered that there is an explanation in the Bible that during these days,  Lord Jesus had spent his time in the wilderness.  Because of this, the whole community follows the same. 

During the Goa Carnival, the streets of the city came alive with everyone indulging and rejoicing while singing, dancing and eating. Huge parades were also organized. There is a belief that this is the time when the legendary king of Chaos, Momo takes over the whole place. Although celebrations happen everywhere – Margoa, Vasco, Mapusa- but the carnival celebration in Panjim is the most-awaited one. The festival came to an end with  red-and-black dance which was held by the Club National in Panajim on the last day of the carnival. 

The preparation of the festival starts from December itself, where along with music, dance and food, there are small skits also that showcase the culture of Goa. There were performances by both local and national artists. If I am asked to sum it up then I would  say that we celebrated good times at the Goa festival.  It was great time fun and an unforgettable experience.

Explore hotels in Goa or browse through Goa tour packages to plan your trip and attend Goa Carnival 2015.