Goa is all about the beach, though it is very greenery, the first image that comes to our mind is the Beach. So this blog is all about beaches. 

Goa is one of the most popular destinations among tourists in India and the reason is that Goa offers one of the most beautiful beaches in India. Based on the type of beaches and the surrounding, Goa can be split into two sections North Goa and South Goa.

Recently we have visited Goa in and out. We stayed in Goa for like 15-20 days. We covered almost everything in Goa. North Goa, South Goa, and the Old City of Goa. Today we are going to cover the top 5 beaches of North Goa so that it will be easy for you to decide which ones to choose.

North Goa is famous for its lively beaches and parties that's why it is known as the party capital of India. Numerous domestic and foreign tourists visit every year to experience the vibrant and atmospheric beauty of Goa.

Also if you love doing water activities like jet skiing, Parasailing, etc, North Goa beaches are best to enjoy these activities as there are plenty of options and we don't need to do any pre-booking for it.

Given there are many beaches in North Goa, it's really very difficult to cover all of them in 3-4 days so we are listing out our top 5 beaches that you can include in your itinerary.

1. Sinquerim Beach

Sinquerim Beach is one of the best beaches in North Goa sharing the same shoreline of Baga, Calangute, and Candolim. Sinquerim has an amazing quality of sand with clean water. You can try swimming or go inside the water if you want to. Sinquerim beach has a remarkable shoreline and is recognized among visitors worldwide. Another reason for the demand for Sinquerim beach is because the Sunburn festival used to happen on Candolim beach which is next to Sinquerim beach every year in December month till 2012 and then later it got shifted to Vagator Beach. 

The Next main cause of the fame of Sinquerim Beach is the Aguada Fort, which is just next to Sinquerim.

This beach is easily accessible from Taj Fort Aguada, So if you want to enjoy the perfect sea view from your hotel you can have your stay in this beautiful Taj property.

Sinquerim is full of good restaurants and shacks. Clubs like Sinq Night club, Love Passion Karma (LPK), Tuscany Gardens are the nearest attractions. Though you need to change your beach dress to a club dress especially for girls.

Sinq Night Club - If you get a chance, you can visit this chilled vibe nightclub and have an enjoyable party experience. The floors are colorful, the music will be loud and you will get a perfect place to show your moves on the dance floor. 

Love Passion Karma - This is the most famous disc pub, also known by the name LPK, is another stunning waterfront club open at the backdoor of a Portuguese church, rendering a perfect station for the party animals in Goa. I personally recommend you to visit this club if you are in Goa. 

You can have amazing and crazy LPK shooters, dance with your friends or romance with your partner in the riverside, or just take a long walk across the beautifully decorated and lightened LPK above the glimmering water.

Sinquerim Beach, North Goa

2. Vagator Beach

Vagator Beach is also one of the best beaches not only among Indians but also among international visitors. You will get an enthusiastic vibe and definitely an experience for a lifetime here. Vagator beach has a wholesome offering of water sports, sightseeing, and shopping.

There is a separate place for parking, in line with the stalls of the local hippie culture market and food.

Below are some popular water sports activities available in Vagator Beach.

Parasailing - Parasailing is the most famous water sport here. The fee is starting from 1000 INR.

Jet Ski - After taking a small training session, you can enjoy the ocean waves over a Jetski. The price starts with 500 INR.

Dolphin sighting - Watching this majestic mammal would be a lifetime experience over the Arabian sea. So here one can take a motorboat ride, which is easily available at the beach.

Bumper ride - This is a fun activity. The passengers sit in a small boat called the Bumper, which is driven by a speed boat. When the bumper runs over the waves of the Arabian sea, you will get this wondrous feeling of flying with waves. The charge is around 400 INR.

Shacks and Cafes nearby

Curlies Bar and Restaurant - You can check out this amazing cafe which serves great Goa-style food, nightclub ambiance, cocktails, and everything along the sandy shore of Beach.

Cafe Lilliput - Cafe Lilliput is one of the famous and old shacks in Goa. They offer an amazing fusion of Goan and European food and have a good DJ arrangement.

Boom Shack - This is another popular shack, with an amazing beach view, good food, and drinks. You can also sit here and enjoy your day on Vagator beach.

Vagator Beach, North Goa

3. Baga Beach

Baga Beach in North Goa is a world-famous beach. It has clear water and its sand is white with the fascinating breeze that flows across the tall palm trees gives an outstanding and stunning view. The coastal lines of  Baga, Sinquerim, and Candolim beach are the same. This heaven beach is a very lively beach that remains awake the entire night. You will see impressive loud music from almost all of the shacks where you can party all night.

The beach has a fine organized vehicle parking area, which is well managed by the government authorities. You will enjoy your time at Baga beach. The beach gets really crowded after evening as many tourists come to party here. To reach Baga beach you have to cross a lane, which is famous by the name Titos lane. You will find lots of shops, clubs, bars, cafes in this lane. The lane gets more crowded at night. Below are a few spots you can cover nearby:

Cafe Mambos: This is a famous club among party lovers on Tito's lane. The loud electrifying music and the dance floor is its specialty. You can come to this nightclub if you are in the mood of dancing. It is a proper disco club with drinks and dance. 

Arpora Saturday Night Flea Market: This Saturday night market is really famous for the handloom items, hippie style dresses, pieces of jewelry, ornaments, spices and there is a lot in this market. Sometimes there are live shows going on in this market. If you have some time after Baga, try to come to this market but it is only open on Saturday.

Baga Beach, North Goa

4. Anjuna Beach    

Anjuna beach is located on the west coast of Goa. Anjuna beach is one of the most pleasing beaches in North Goa. The hippie culture was started first in Anjuna beach in the year 1950 and since that time, Anjuna beach has gained the popularity of local as well as international tourists. The beach is stretched over the Arabian sea where the Northen end offers exciting water sports and the Southen end is full of rocky projections.

The sunrise and sunset in Anjuna beach offer an amazing and spectacular picturesque view. The white sand of the beach mixing with the blue sky forms an unbeatable combination. If you are visiting North Goa, you should definitely spend one of the evenings here to witness the amazing beauty of nature on Anjuna beach.

Got to experience the live music by some couple of music artists

Another famous and important section is the shopping/ Flea Market near Anjuna beach. There are a lot of stalls and the flea market from where you can buy antiques and hippie-style clothes and ornaments. You can bargain and buy lots of stuff here.

You can try below water activities:

Parasailing: You can try parasailing in Anjuna beach. You will witness a beautiful view from the sky.

Bumpy banana ride: Bumpy banana ride is another fun adventure here in Anjuna beach. After reading the proper guidelines and safety measures, you can try this amazing ride on Anjuna beach.

Other than water activities, you will find amazing cafes and shacks in Anjuna beach to spend quality time with your friends and family.

Curlies: Curlies is one of the oldest and most popular beach shacks in Goa. The superior design of interior and a satisfactory selection of food and drinks. Curlies beach shack has a great ambiance, with a uniquely stylish way of seating arrangements facing towards the mesmerizing scenery of the beach. This is a must-visit place if you wish to have a groovy and dancing party.

If you wish you can come to this exotic place at night and make your night even more memorable.

Club Cabana: Club Cabana is located at the top of Arpora hill. This place is popular among many visitors and couples. Club Cabana offers amazing ambiance, good and affordable food. You can come and visit this nightclub if you are near Anjuna beach.

Shiva Valley: If you are looking for a party spot, with some loud trance and numerous cuisines under one roof, near Anjuna, this is your place. You can visit here for drinks, a party, and a dance.

Anjuna Beach, North Goa

5. Arambol Beach

Arambol Beach is one of the most secluded beaches than others in Goa. This beach is less crowded and a peaceful beach. If you want to spend some solitary time with yourself and your people, you can come to Arambol beach. You can spend your day in silence, with lesser public near you and a much cleaner seashore, the evenings and nights are vibrant though.

Open shacks and open-air events are the specialties of this beach. The beach is famous as the venue for live music events and evening parties. The beach sponsors cultural events as well.

Other than this, you can also enjoy water sports activities like Parasailing, Jetski, Surfing, Bumper ride, Banana ride. Since the beach is newer with comparatively less crowded, you may get the water activities at cheaper rates than other beaches. But you have to bargain for that.

You will find many shacks here to spend your time on this beach.

Arambol Beach, North Goa

Important Tips:

1. Try to avoid visiting any beach during the rainy season since Goa experiences heavy rainfall.

2. There are parking facilities available on every beach, park your vehicle accordingly to avoid any trouble.

3. Do not go far while swimming on the beach as the Arabian sea holds wild waves.

4. Wear a comfortable dress to enjoy your moments on the beach.

5. Do not throw plastics or waste garbage in the sea. If we keep our beach clean, we will enjoy the seashore clean.

I hope this blog has given you the complete overview of the top five beaches in North Goa. In case you are planning to travel to Goa, we have covered day wise itinerary plan in another blog Trip to Goa - A Complete Travel Guide

Thanks for Reading!

Love

Happiness is a day at the beach.

The sky above, sand below, peace within.

An Ocean breeze puts a mind at ease.

Welcome back, guys! Wondering about the quotes on the beach. It's because this story is all about Beach. Beach with the flavor of both calm spirit and roar party mood, is only possible at one place in India and that is Goa. 

This holiday trip to Goa is going to be the most relaxing and delightful trip. If you are ready to enjoy a relaxing vacation surrounded by serene beauty and greenery, palm trees, and sandy adventure, we are here to share our experiences with you, along with the guidance tips to make your trip smooth.

Let us take you through all the beautiful destinations in Goa that you can include in your trip plan.

Shacks in Goa Beach

About Goa

Goa is the smallest state of India, located on the western coastline along the Arabian sea. This coastal part is known as Konkan. It is believed that Vasco-Da Gama discovered and recognized Goa in the year 1543. Goa was ruled by Portugals for around 450 years and was declared as an independent state of India in 1987.

Goa's capital is Panaji and the local public speaks the Konkani language here.

Goa is world-famous for being the most visited tourists spot. It can be considered as the hub of varieties of alcohols and that too at lower prices. Feni is well-known liquor, made from cashews, is only produced in Goa and you will find this alcohol only in Goa.

Goa is full of original and natural beauty. The unique culture and interesting deep history of Goa make it even more attractive. The Goan lifestyle, astounding beaches, and adventure sports are the few reasons why Goa is so famous.

Fun Fact #1:

You must be surprised to know that Goa is World known for beaches but it is one-third(1/3rd) covered with forest.

Vagator Beach, North Goa

When To Visit Goa?

Goa sees a tropical climate that is summers are really hot, the Winters are mild and the Monsoon is heavy. The peak tourist season begins from November to February. This is the season when people from all over the world land at this amazing spot to enjoy their vacations and to work on their tan lines. The mild winter in Goa gives the perfect atmosphere to stay around the beaches, enjoy the windy breeze, that too without getting cold or roasted by the burning sun.

The best season to experience the beauty of Goa is in the winters. This is the season when Goa is full of cultural events, parties, and has festive vibes. You will have a great beach experience with a cool breeze even during the day. 

Goa in summers from March to June is really hot. The high temperature along with high humidity is really not a good combination and will not give a good Goa experience. You will find most of the tourist attractions closed. Also, you may not find any shacks on the beaches. Although the hotels will be cheaper in this season due to less number of visitors.

The Rainy season starts from July to October and it is also a very good time to plan your trip to Goa but you might miss the water sports activities and few beaches due to rain.

You will find amazing picturesque scenic greenery all around Goa. The plantations and trees along the sides of the road, make a delightful route to ride your bike this time. But be careful of the slippery roads.

You can still find pocket-friendly hotels and also less crowded Goa than the festive season. I personally recommend this time of the year for Goa. In fact, we visited in the month of October and we pretty enjoyed Goa. But you can't miss the festive vibe of Goa.

Fun Fact #2: Goa is the smallest state of India, and has the highest per capita income in India.

Beautiful Sinquerim Beach Goa

How to Reach Goa?

This holiday paradise destination, Goa is very well connected via Airway, Roadway, Railway, and even Seaway with not only Indian cities but also across the world.

Airway: The most easier and time-saving way is definitely by taking a direct flight to Goa. Dabolim Airport in Goa handles both domestic and international flights.

All the flights arriving from major cities like Mumbai, Bangalore, Pune, Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata land in terminal 1 of the airport. The airport is around 26 kilometers from the Panaji capital. You can directly book a taxi to your hotel/motel. 

Railway: The other convenient and also comfortable mode to reach Goa is by catching a Train directly to Goa. Goa has two main railway stations: Madgoan station and Vasco-da-Gama station. Goa railway has remarkably good connectivity with different cities. You will enjoy this journey because of the gorgeous landscapes of Western Ghat. But this may take time, a day or half to reach Goa.

Roadway: If you choose to reach Goa by road, you will find two major highways connecting to Goa. The highways are well maintained. You can drive your own car or book a bus to Goa. You can book a Volvo bus from Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, and other major cities to reach your destination.

Seaway: If you are ready for the thrill and unusual way to reach Goa, you have an option to reach here by sea. This is not a very known route but yes there is an option to take a cruise from Mumbai to Goa which will route you through the sides of Goa and Maharashtra coasts. Reach Mumbai directly via flight and catch a cruise. We will definitely opt for this option next time because it seems like some serious fun and adventure.

Since Goa is a tourist destination, the taxi or cab you take from the airport or railway station, or bus stand may charge you more than normal per Kilometer charge.

Note: You cannot book any cab from Ola or Uber in Goa. The best option is to rent a bike or car which is more convenient and budget-friendly. One can easily find the bike/car rental shops around your stay.

Where To Stay in Goa?

This could be a tricky decision, Goa might look small but there is a lot to cover here. Every direction has lots of good places, be it North Goa or South Goa or Old Goa (city). For a 3-4 day trip, I would recommend booking a hotel/ lodge in North Goa. Calangute and Candolim area would be good for picking your accommodation so that you can easily reach out to the beaches.

If you are planning to stay longer in Goa, it's better to plan your stay in South Goa and North Goa respectively, and explore both places independently. I will share the details of our trip plan to South Goa in our next blog post.

There are many options to stay in Goa. You have some good luxury hotels and private resorts like Taj Vivanta, Trident, The Leela, etc. Apart from luxury hotels, there is plenty of budget and pocket-friendly hotels where you can plan for your stay. 

You can also opt for the options from Airbnb. We booked our stay in an Airbnb.

Tip: Read the reviews before booking any stay. If planning Goa Trip on peak days, make sure you book your hotel in advance.

What to do first after reaching Goa?

After landing in Goa and reaching your hotel, you can take a rest for some time if you are tired, and then you can go out to check the options of a rented bike or car. This is the first thing you need to do because taking a taxi every time would be costlier and it's not a good option. 

You will easily get a rented vehicle nearby your stay, you can check with your hotel staff usually they will help you out in getting the rented bike/car, if not then locals are the best to guide you. You can arrange a bike or car for yourself, based on per day charge, till the time of your stay.

The cost for renting Scooty is around 400/-INR and for bullet lovers, it's 700/- INR You can always bargain to get the best deal.

Once you have your vehicle, you are ready for your 4 days mesmerizing trip in North Goa.

What are the Best Places to Visit in North Goa?

I have compiled the day-wise itinerary for you so that you can cover most of North Goa and don't miss out on anything

Day 1: Aguada Fort -> Sinquerim Beach -> Lunch in Shacks -> Night in Baga Beach & Party

Day 2: Breakfast at Artjuna cafe -> Water sports in Anjuna Beach -> Lunch at Curlies cafe -> Chapora Fort for sunset view -> Thalassa Restaurant for dinner.

Day 3: Fontainhas -> Lunch at Cremeux cafe -> San Sabastian Church in Fontainhas -> Basilica Bom Jesus, Se Cathedral (if interested) -> Night in Casino.

Day 4: Check-out from your hotel -> Back to your home

Note: In case you wondering to select out of many beaches in North Goa, Have covered it in detail in another blog Top 5 Beaches in North Goa.

Aguada Fort

Aguada Fort is a massive and majestic fort in Goa, with a marvelous and breath-taking view. This historical fort was built by the Portuguese in order to defend and guard themselves against Marathas and Dutch. The fort and its lighthouse are one of the most visited places in Goa. 

Aguada fort is situated at the verge of the Arabian sea, facing Sinquerium beach, offering a mesmerizing view.

A part of this fort was converted into a jail. However, this jail is closed for the visitors to see. Inside the Aguada jail, there is a statue that represents the freedom fighters of Goa. On 18th June every year, a small ceremony is conducted in the respect of freedom fighters and to salute them.

Aguada fort has a four-storied Asia's oldest lighthouse, built-in 1864. The lighthouse furnishes a marvelous landscape to the Fort. There is a curve staircase, which will lead you to the top of Fort and this is where you should see the view. This is actually a sunset view place if time permits you can come during the evening to this place.

Time to visit: 9.30 AM to 6 PM

Entry Fee: Free entry

Location: Located beside Sinquerim Beach

Places to view:  Lighthouse

                          Aguada Jail

                          St. Lawrence church

Aguada Fort, Goa

Sinquerim Beach 

Sinquerim beach is one of the finest and secluded beach in North Goa and is located very close to Aguada Fort. The vibe of this beach is really pleasant as it is one of the cleanest beach among other North Goa beaches. Sinquerim has an excellent quality of sand and has clear water.

You can try swimming or go inside the water if you want to. Sinquerim beach has a marvelous shoreline and is famous among tourists worldwide.The beach is just beside Aguada Fort. Once you reach here and enjoy the seashore, you can go to one of the shacks and enjoy drinks and food. 

Lunch in Shacks 

After so much travel you might feel hungry so there are few good shacks available here like Tony's shack, Big Blue shack Bar which serve decent sea food and Indian cusine where you can have your lunch and relax for some time. 

Note: This beach is easily accessible from Taj Fort Aguada, So if you want to enjoy the perfect sea view from your hotel you can have your stay in this beautiful Taj property.

Sinquerim Beach, North Goa

Baga Beach

Baga Beach is one of the most popular beach in North Goa among many visitors due to large number of clubs and pubs are available here. 

The beach has clear and white sand with the mesmerizing breeze that keeps playing and rolling across the tall palm trees gives an amazing spectacle to view.

The beach shares its coastal lines from Sinquerim and Candolim beach. This paradise beach is the most lively beach that stays awake the whole night. You can indulge in water sports activities here if you love to do so.

At night the view of the beach is completely different as loud music from almost all of the shacks make you feel dancing, so you can grab your seat in any shack and enjoy the cool breaze with a chilled beer.

Baga Beach, North Goa

Tito's Lane 

Tito's Lane is the most iconic lane of North Goa, You will find a number of clubs, pubs, restaurants, and many streetside vendors and souvenir shops here. 

This lane is full of crowd so be prepared and park your vehicle before entering this lane so you don't spend much time in traffic. This lane is best enjoyed by taking a walk and enjoying the goa nightlife vibe.

Mambo's Cafe & Club

This is a club for party lovers. You can come to this nightclub if you are in the mood of dancing. It is a proper disco club with drinks and dance. The club will be really crowded. You will find the huge crowd in and around this club. You can definitely add this club to your list to spend one of the nights while your stay in Goa. But remember the club would be really packed.

Artjuna Cafe

This is a unique and trendy place to go for breakfast. This cafe is set in an old Portuguese house enclosed by a beautiful garden. 

This is an outdoor restaurant with a gorgeous art gallery, shopping area, play station, workshop space, and lots more activities. It's a worth visiting garden restaurant with a lively and positive environment.

You can enjoy healthy and delicious food in Artjuna. Enjoy with your friends and family. This is open all day. You will be impressed by seeing its menu itself, they have Contemporary, European and many options. 

Do try out one of the dish here, Humshuka=Classic Hummus + Fresh Shakshuka its too good :)

Artjuna Cafe on the way to Anjuna Beach

Anjuna Beach

Anjuna beach is one of the best beaches of North Goa in terms of cleanliness, It is situated on the west coastline of the Arabian sea. The white sand, mixing with the blue sea brings an invincible view. Anjuna is the perfect beach to spend with friends and family. Other than relaxing at the seaside, water sport is the next adventure you should try.

Parasailing: You should try parasailing in Anjuna beach. You can't miss watching Aguada fort from the sky.

Bumpy banana ride: This is another fun adventure. After taking proper guidance and safety, you can try this amazing ride on Anjuna beach.

Anjuna Beach, North Goa

Curlies Beach Shack

Curlies is one of the oldest and most popular beach shacks in Goa. The superior design of interior and a satisfactory selection of food and drinks. Curlies beach shack has a great ambiance, with a uniquely stylish way of seating arrangements facing towards the mesmerizing scenery of the beach. This is a must-visit place if you wish to have a groovy and dancing party.

If you wish you can come to this exotic place at night and make your night even more memorable.

Chapora Fort

Chapora Fort is an amazing place to visit. The fort lies at the edge of river Chapora and is just 700 meters away from Vagator beach. The fort is encircled by its abrupt walls, Vagator beach, Chapora river, and the blue Ocean gives an unforgettable view.  

This fort was built for military purposes by the Portuguese, during the war between Marathas and Portuguese. Earlier the trail to reach the fort is not in good condition but now proper roads and trails are made for the visitors. To reach to the top of Chapora fort one has to do a small trek. 

You can come here during the sunset time and live your moment here, its just incredible. This fort became very popular after it got featured in one of the very famous bollywood movie "Dil Chahta Hai". Many visitors come here to recreate the scene shown in the movie. If you are a photography lover this place is heaven for you.

Thalassa 

This extremely popular, open-air restaurant is located at the edge of Vagator. A perfect place for dinner with friends, family, or partners. The Mediterranean and Greek cuisine just next to the exquisite Arabian sea is the very reason why this place is so popular.

The music will be good, the food is authentic. The cheesecake is a must-try here. I personally felt this place was a bit costlier.

Searching for empty tables as it is difficult to find sitting due to huge crowd

Fontainhas

Fontainhas, Goa's Latin Quarter, is a must-visit place in Goa, located in Panjim. After covering the coastline's beaches and waves in Goa, this would be a completely different experience. 

The colorful old Portuguese houses, which are now converted into restaurants and cafes. The small lanes across the streets. This is a must-visit place. Take a walking experience of this place, try out some bakery dishes. We will share more detail about the streets of Fontainhas in a different blog. 

Time: 3-4 hours

Fee: It's free of cost

Spot: Street of Fontainhas, St. Sabastian Church (Christ's figure has a wide-open eye, which is unique), The Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Church

The Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Church, Old Goa

Lunch at Cremeux in Fontainhas

After spending your time in Fontainhas, you can try lunch at this amazing place where we did, Cremeux. We were so tired and hungry after walking into the streets of Fontainhas. You will find many options of cafes and good restaurants in Fontainhas but we had a really good experience at Cremeux, we really enjoyed the food here.

Bom Basilica Church and Se Cathedral Church

After your lunch, if you have time and want to explore more in Old Goa, You can go to C'Cathoderal Church and Bom Basilica Church. Both churches are at the same location. These churches are really famous in Goa.

Make sure to reach there before 4.30 - 5 PM. Because the entry is closed after 5 PM. But the way to reach these churches is spectacular. You would see a glimpse of the greenery of Goa here.

Bom Basilica Church - This Roman Catholic Church, is one of the oldest churches in Goa and is recognized as World Heritage by UNESCO. It is around 10 KM from Panjim and is famous worldwide. The architecture, art gallery, and the construction of the church show the craftwork of the Portuguese. 

After your visit to the old Goa. You should spend your night in one of the Casinos. This is a must experience in Goa. The different options of Casino in Mandovi river will attract you anyway.

Bom Basilica Church, Old Goa

Casino

Your Goa trip won't be complete if you don't include casino in your itinerary. Spend one night in one of the Casinos and have an experience, you might win some cash, you never know. We went to Deltin Royal Casino. We made our booking online, If you to plan to do so you can also book from their offical website.

There was unlimited food, drinks, live performances, and Game options.You can reach here by 8 PM and have a great evening and night. We tried our luck and won around 5 thousand in the casino and really had a fun evening.

Time: 3-4 hours 

Cost: 3000/- INR Entry Fee(Includes Food & Drinks) + 1500/- INR (Chips if Interested in Playing)

FunFact #3: You could see the floating casinos in Goa, it is because the casino in Indian Land was prohibited. Later only three states were allowed for casinos, Goa, Daman, and Sikkim. 

Deltin Royale Casino, Old Goa

It's going to be your last day in North Goa. If you have more days left, I would suggest you see the other side of Goa, that is South Goa. If you have at least 2-3 more days in Goa, search for a hotel or Airbnb in South Goa and give your time there.

North Goa is more of parties, clubs, music, dancing, and the crowd. South Goa is something completely different experience. You will feel peace, calm, positive vibes on the silent shore of the sea. I am going to cover South Goa in the coming blogs.

You can relax on your last day and check out from your hotel.

Latest Covid-19 Travel Guidelines in Goa?

Due to a new variant of coronavirus 'Omicron' which cause a scare, the state government has revised its travel guidelines for both domestic and international visitors:

For Domestic Travellers: All travelers need to carry a negative RT-PCR test done within not more than 72 hours or If you are fully vaccinated then do carry a vaccination certificate. In case if you are traveling from Kerala then you are subject to an additional 5 days of quarantine and you will have to undergo another RT-PCR test at the end of 5 days.

For International Travellers: Travelers who are coming from high-risk countries such as South Africa, China, Hong Kong, Brazil, United Kingdom, Mauritius, Zimbabwe, New Zealand, and Singapore have to follow the below protocol: 

1. On arrival at the airport, Traveler has to go for the Covid test and has to wait for the test result at the airport only. 

2. If the test is negative you will be advised to go for a 7 day home quarantine. 

3. If the test report is positive then the traveler is sent to an isolation facility and treated as per the standard protocols.

Note: For the latest and updated travel guidelines do check out the official government site.

If you are traveling via road need to show a vaccination certificate at Goa border check-post

Tips and Important Points to keep in Mind in Goa

1. Do not drink and drive in Goa. The police are really active especially during the night hours and peak days in Goa.

2. Keep a photo identity with you, in case of any emergency.

3. You may need to submit any identity to the vehicle lender, remember to take it back after returning the vehicle.

4. Wear a comfortable beach dress while going to the beach.

5. Take extra sunscreen, sunglasses, and a scarf (especially girls).

6. You can do shopping in the market, available outside almost every beach, you can do bargaining.

7. Do not swim till very far on the beach. The waves of the Arabian sea are tricky and sometimes really high.

8. Try to maintain cleanliness around you. Do not throw plastics or garbage into the sea. If we keep them clean, they look clean and beautiful to us.

I hope you enjoyed this blog and will plan your trip to Goa soon. We will be posting a few more blogs on Goa to cover each and every part of Goa. If you have any queries, please post in the comment section.

Thanks for Reading!

Love,

We are here with a fantastic destination for your next trip to Pondicherry or Pondy, Pondicherry name is derived from the Tamil word Putucceri "In Tamil words, Putu means New and Ceri means Village" which French changed to Pondicherry and later is officially changed to Puducherry in 2006. 

Pondicherry is full of amazing beaches, rich heritage, and fascinating history. We are going to share our experiences and help you plan your next trip to this beautiful French colonial city. 

Let's begin to know more about Pondicherry.

Cafe des Arts Pondicherry

About Pondicherry

Pondicherry is one of the nine Union Territories of India, that shares its boundary with the state of Tamil Nadu and is situated on the Southern coast of India. Pondicherry is located on the Coromandel Coast in the Bay of Bengal. The city is hampered with amazing beaches, legacy buildings, lush greenery, and unmatchable food, certainly making it an ideal destination for millions of travelers across the globe, photographers, and nature lovers. 

Beautiful evening near Rock Beach in Pondicherry

We found this place far from the chaos of life where we enjoyed our day on a beach, visited the museum to know much of the history, sat in a cafe with some cool music and made a delightful evening for ourselves, and lastly, we got an awesome experience to do the meditation.

We visited Pondicherry in the month of September 2021. We needed a break from our monotonous weeks and weeks of work, so took this vacation and started planning for our trip to Pondicherry.

We did find out the history of Pondicherry while planning our trip, which really came as a surprise to us. Let me share the history of Pondicherry in brief, which you should know before reaching here so that you can relate the architecture and the design of the city.

Pondicherry was ruled by European colonies like the French, Portuguese, Dutch, and British over the years. From the beginning of the 16th century, foreign countries started invading the east coast of India after realizing its importance. 

The Portuguese set up the first trading center in Pondicherry, followed by the Danes and Dutch. Later Portuguese invited the French to trade and set up their colonies. The latter started modernizing the place with the construction of forts, churches, embracing French architecture.

French architecture is clearly visible in White Town

The Britishers came and captured the city from the French, but they had to return it under the Treaty of Paris. During the British period in India, the French had control of Pondicherry, Yanam, Mahe, Karaikal, and Chandernagar. Around for 138 years, there was a reign of the French in these regions, even after the independence till 1954. 

Finally, in 1954, Pondicherry became the Union Territory of India.

Fun Fact#1: Do you know that there is a monument in Pondicherry that is considered as the property of France, even today? Comment your answer now if you know and cross-check later once I reveal the name.

Now the important question is When To Visit Pondicherry?

What is the Best time to visit Pondicherry?

You should definitely consider the weather and climatic condition while visiting Pondicherry if you want your trip worthy and astonishing. 

The Best time to visit Pondicherry is from October to March.

The southern part of the country experiences the hot and humid in the whole year except at the beginning of winters till it ends. So try to plan during these months. Trust me the weather plays a major role in exploring this beautiful city.

Why I am saying to consider weather is because when we went to Pondicherry, the climate was very hot, we actually desired to stay put in our AC room instead of going out under the burning sun to see places.

Scenic view in Rock Beach, Pondicherry

Once you have answered the 'When', the next would be how to reach Pondicherry?

How to Reach Pondicherry?

Pondicherry is well connected via airway, roadway, or railway. We went to Pondicherry by Bus from Bangalore, which we booked from the red bus. Our bus was at 10.30 PM and reached there by 6-6.30 AM. The bus journey was decent. We booked a sleeper bus so that we could sleep properly at night. 

There are several frequent buses from Chennai, Bangalore, Madurai, etc. Both state government and private buses are available.

But if you are coming from far and want to save some time on traveling, you can choose an airway to reach Pondicherry. The airport in Pondicherry is small and can have the landing of a few flights, you may get the flights from Bangalore and Hyderabad. The next nearest airport is Chennai domestic as well as international airport, which is well connected to many major cities. It is around 135km from Pondicherry. After reaching the airport, you can book any private taxi or cab to Pondicherry.

The cheapest way to reach Pondicherry is the Indian Railway. The nearest railway station is Villupuram, about 35 KM from the town. The rail is well connected to the cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, etc. You can directly take a taxi or auto-rickshaw after reaching the station.

The most exciting route is a road drive from nearby cities like Chennai and Bangalore. The view from Chennai to Pondicherry is scenic and gives a phenomenal view of the Bay of Bengal. You will love this if you are traveling with friends or family. You can book a cab or take your own car and enjoy this marvelous ride to Pondicherry.

Where to stay in Pondicherry?

After When and How, Where to stay in Pondicherry is the next important aspect to choose. You will find many options of good Hotels and villas in Pondicherry. The stay is something where we become extra conscious because a good vibe in your hotel means a soothing holiday. So we did a lot of research and found this classy hotel with moderate rates Hotel Annamalai International, which is just at the center of the city.

If you want to live in Portuguese-style architecture, there are many options of hotels, villas, and apartments in the White Town area. You can check on that.

Tip: Read the review on the internet before booking. Book your hotel prior to save yourself from unnecessary tension.

After reaching, what is the best mode of transport in Pondicherry is probably the last thing you have to worry about.

What is the best mode of transport in Pondicherry?

As we reached Pondicherry in the morning, we took an auto-rickshaw. The auto driver was very helpful to us, he asked if we need a rental bike and took us directly to the rental bike shop. We booked a bike for 2 days, till our stay. He took an ID card and gave us a bike for rent. There were many options for Scooty in different ranges. We took a suitable bike and headed to our pre-booked hotel.

Public transport in Pondicherry is kind of a hassle. Also, auto-rickshaw and private cabs charge a hefty amount to go anyplace. So the best option for travelers is to rent a bike or scooter which is easily available in the majority of the locations.

The rented bikes or scooters are cheaply available at around 300 to 500 per day, which one can take to any place and hidden beaches or cafes.

Also, If you are planning to visit Auroville, the route to Aurovialla is best to cover in scooter, the drive is really soothing and fun as one can see lush green trees around the roads and many chilled-out cafes.

If you are traveling with the family it is best to rent a car.

Note: If you want a local guy's number for renting a scooter at a really cheaper rate, please mention it in the comment section.

Places to visit in Pondicherry in 2 days?

Day 1: White Town --> Promenade Beach  --> Mahatma Gandhi Statue --> French War Memorial.

Day 2: Auroville --> Matrimandir -->  Paradise Beach.

Day 1 Itinerary

• White Town

White Town is the French residential quarter, with still few French families residing. White Town is also known as the French colony. There are numerous appealing French cafes with amazing views and marvelous French architecture. 

White Town is the most beautiful and most visited place in India. This is a must-visit street, persuading a view of well organized, and planned Rome city. 

Many old houses are now converted into restaurants, art galleries, and heritage hotels. You will find the glance of French art and architecture in almost every building in this area. 

You will find a mix of Indian- Desi and local Tamil culture here. 

The street has a very lively vibe and music, you can easily spend hours roaming here especially in the evening. We visited the street around two times during our stay here.

Chill cafes around the street of white town

• Lunch in Hope Cafe

After exploring the lanes of White Town, we started feeling hungry. There are many cafes in lanes of White Town, you will anyway get attracted to enter anyone and try few continental dishes whether you are hungry or not. 

We went in Hope cafe, which is a very famous cafe and tried some delicious itallian dishes. The dish and hospitality of the cafe was wonderful. The interior was superb, although they didnt allowed us to take photographs but we still somehow manage to click stunning graffiti on the wall.

Beautiful graffiti painted on the wall of Hope Cafe

• Promenade Beach

Post our Lunch we went the promenade beach which is very close to White Town. This is the most popular stretch along the side of Pondicherry Beach, also known as Rocky Beach. It is around a 1.2KM stretch along the Bay of Bengal. This is the liveliest alley along the seafront with the big rocks beside the beach. This reminded me of the Marine Drive of Mumbai if in case you have visited.

Vehicles are not allowed in the walking area. You have to park your bike or scooter in the parking area. 

Don't miss out "Le Cafe" which is one of the most popular cafes in the middle of Promenade beach. Usually it gets crowded in the evening, but if you want to experience the beach view with a cup of coffee and enjoy breeze, listening to the seashore, I would recommend to visit this cafe in the morning. 

Beautiful Le Cafe in the Promenade Beach

• Mahatma Gandhi Statue

In the Promenade beach itself there is a very large statue of Mahatma Gandhi. This is the 3rd largest Mahatma Gandhi statue, which is 13 feet in height. There is an impressive lighting decoration beside the statue, looks absolutely amazing in the evening.

There is a big ground called Gandhi - Thidal, just opposite the statue. Many cultural events, programs, and functions take place on this ground every year.

Mahatma Gandhi Statue beside Promenade Beach

• French War Memorial

French War Memorial also located on the Promenade beach which is really famous for its architecture. The French War Memorial was built in 1937 in the memories of French Indian residents who died for France during the 1st World war.

You will be amazed to know that, the French government visits this place yearly on the occasion of Bastille Day on July 14, to pay respect to those who died and lay flowers at the foot. This monument is still considered as the France property. I hope you got the answer now.

French War Memorial in Promenade Beach

Day 2 Itinerary 

• Auroville

We started our day early around 9AM in the morning to visit Auroville which is around 15KM from our hotel. Auroville is known as The City of Dawn. It was founded by Mirra Alfassa in 1968. She was a disciple of Shri Aurobindo and commonly known as "The Mother of Shri Aurobindo Society".

The place is the model of peace and equality. The people from the different society, different traditions and cultures across the world come and live here in peace. This place is an experimental society where men and women from different countries stay together and practice the search for peace.

It is considered a place to find yourself and peace within yourself.

The big banyan tree in Auroville

• Matrimandir

Matrimandir is the most important premise in Auroville. Matrimandir is a Sanskrit word meaning, "Temple of the Mother". It is located just in the middle of Auroville in a very large open area, known for Peace. Matrimandir is very famous across the world with the name Golden Globe. You can view the place from the outside. But to enter inside the temple, you should have an understanding and idea behind this. There is a great revolutionary concept symbolizing the intelligent principle of Life.

The aim of The Mother concept is to help humankind to move ahead and understand the evolution of life. This is the place where you can sit in peace, meditate as long as you want with no discrimination between religions, color, caste, status, or anything.

Structure and Architecture of Matrimandir: The structure of Matrimandir is dome-shaped with gold-plated architecture, designed in such a way, a reflection of sunlight reaches the center of the structure. Just like lotus petals, the structure is surrounded by petal-like designs. There are 12 gardens around the structure signifying the 12 characteristics of The Mother- Perfection, Harmony, Youth, Progress, Utility, Wealth, Power, Life, Light, Bliss, Consciousness, Existence.

The center of the dome-shaped inner chamber has a pure glass crystal, which radiates the light in the inner chamber of the structure. The viewpoint of Matrimandir is at the south of the Park and has a huge garden area, showing the scenic view of Matrimandir and the greenery around it. You can get free passes for the view of Matrimandir from the Information Center. 

Timings to visit:

Monday to Saturday: 9 AM to 4 PM

Sunday: 9 AM to 1 PM.

To go inside Matrimandir for meditation, you can pre-book your slots. You can make the booking every weekday except Tuesdays. 

Booking Timings:  

10AM-11AM and 2PM-3PM

Petal Meditation Room(9.30 AM to 10.45 AM). 

Matrimandir in Auroville

• Paradise Beach

After spending enough time in Auroville, we wanted to spend our evening at Paradise Beach. We had a delicious lunch in a french cafe, on our way to Paradise beach. Paradise beach is known for its peaceful environment for visitors in Chunnambar. This is an isolated beach with golden sand and is a wondrous place to spend your time. 

There are two ways you can reach the Paradise beach, the easier way is to take a boat ride and reach here. The other way, which we followed is the roadway. We drove all the way from Pondicherry to Paradise beach via our scooter. The reason was we were not aware that there is a boat option. So instead of wasting your time on the road, use the boat option and be relaxed. You will get an astonishing view, covering the backwaters in the mid of the thick forest.

There are shakes around. You can enjoy juice or coconut water if you want. You can do a lot of stuff here like, Enjoy water adventures if you are fond of that. You can walk on the beach and show your photography skills by clicking photographs of your loved ones, and family.

Timing: 9 AM to 5 PM

Entry Fees: Rs 150/-

Our overall experience in Paradise beach was astonishing. I would say this is a must-visit beach if you are touring Pondicherry.

Water sports activities in Paradise Beach

What are Important Points to know if visiting Matrimandir?

1. Prior booking for meditation is required. You should do at least one day in advance.

2. If you are a first-time visitor, in-person bookings are accepted. Later you can do bookings via mail or telephones.

3. Children below 10 years are not allowed in the inner chambers.

4. Free shutters are available inside of the Information center to the viewpoint, as the distance is around 1 KM.

5. No cameras or bags are allowed inside the chamber.

There are many other places to visit in Pondicherry. But if you are going for 3-4 days or on a weekend getaway, I would suggest covering at least these places.