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What is the first thing that comes on your mind when you hear about Goa, specially North Goa ?? You can certainly comment below the post. However, what we always hear are few terms like beaches, shacks, parties & cheap booze. But is it the only thing worth remembering after a trip to one of the oldest & culturally richest place in India ?? Of-course not !!

Located in the south western part of India, Goa is a very small state and has several beaches and a 300-year old Portuguese architectural heritage. Goa is surrounded by the states of Maharashtra in the north and Karnataka on the east and south and by the Arabian Sea on the west.

Although it is one of India’s smallest state, but there are so many things to do & see around in Goa, that you would require at least 5 trips to cover the entire state. We spent around 3 nights in Goa this time around, mainly in the northern part. The itinerary is explained below.

North Goa – Day 1

Bangalore

So we started of for Goa & our connecting flight was via Bangalore. There was a taxi union strike which was prevailing at that time, but that did not affect us, as we just took our luggage and went out of the airport to catch their public bus which straight away took us to Calangute Beach & they charged only Rs 200.

Pro Tips: We saved quite a hefty sum of money because the cab charges from Goa airport to any beach in North Goa are huge. The good part is that the state buses that runs daily do not take random passengers onboard once they see the bus is full as they have limited sitting capacity.

Once we reached , we checked in to our hotel in Calangute, called Renzo’s Inn. We found that the staffs were extremely polite and the hotel was more than a decent one with all modern amenities just as the reviews say in different websites.

After checking in , we went out to have our dinner. We straight away headed towards the Calangute beach where we wanted to sit & chill have couple of drinks followed by a proper dinner. We were very tired so after having our dinner we came back to our hotel & just dozed off.

North Goa – Day 2

On our next day we started our journey by hiring a car and we were joined by another couple of friends there. We planned to start our trip from the northern part of the state and our first destination was Basilica of Bom Jesus. The Basilica of Bom Jesus is a place which has several sacred relics of Saints other than the very renowned St. Francis Xavier. The construction of the church was completed in 1605. 

Just opposite to it was Catholic Church of St. Francis of Assisi. The Convent was built in the year 1527. Inside it there is a beautiful museum which contains valuable architectures and icons of pre-Portuguese era.

After visiting the churches , we headed towards the famous Goa spice plantation (Tropical Spice Plantation, Ponda). Goa is famous for its spices. At the entrance, you will be greeted with Goan traditional welcome drink which was quite refreshing. But slowly as you get inside you will slowly starte to smell the different fragrances of fresh spices such as nutmeg, cardamom, cinnamon, black and white pepper, etc. This place was quite interesting and the charge they take covers the entire plantation tour with a buffet lunch and refreshments. This is a a must visit place.

From there we headed towards Dona Paula, where the famous Bollywood movie Singham was shot. It is located around 7kms from Panaji city. and it divides the Zuari and Mandovi waters. The history says that the Viceroy’s daughter Dona Paula de Menezes jumped off a cliff after facing objections from her family in her love affair.

The waterfront of Dona Paula in Goa is a popular tourist place specially for the couples.

After spending around an hour there we called it a day off. We went for dinner to one of the famous joints in Calangute known as Souza Lobo.

Tip : Avoid the beach shacks near Souza Lobo, they charge exorbitant price for food. For example a plate of chili chicken will cost around Rs 500.

North Goa – Day 3

Thalassa, Chapora Fort, Anjuna Beach, Miramar Beach & Coco Beach

On our next day we headed towards a very famous restaurant situated in a cliff near little Vagator beach called Thalassa, to have our breakfast. The place is owned by Mariketty one of the famous faces in hotel and restaurant chain business.

Starting from food to the ambience everything is beautiful in this place. So whenever you land in Goa, this has to be in your bucket list. Worth mentioning the cost of food is on the higher side, but you cant miss it at any worth.

Next we headed towards Coco beach for watching dolphins. Coco beach is located at a distance of around 10 km from Panjim. It stands right on the edge of the Nerul River. The beach is popular for water sports and boating.  There is a shopping market adjacent to the beach. The beach is now a great place to catch a boat for a short ride into the Arabian Sea to watch few dolphins. The cost of boating was around Rs 250 per person. Definitely add this to your list.

After that we headed towards the famous Chapora Fort, where the famous movie Dil Chahta Hai movie was shot. If you are a sunset lover you should definitely visit the place during sunset. This Fort was built by Portuguese colonists to defeat against Maratha rulers, now its a major tourist attraction. You need to hike to the top. Upon reaching the hilltop, you will witness the wider expanse of the fort overlooking the Arabian Sea.

From there we headed towards Anjuna Beach. Its close to 18km from Panjim and famous for its beach parties. If you are a foody and party lover do definitely try out Curlies and Shiva Valley pubs in Anjuna. We spent the rest of the evening at leisure.

North Goa – Day 4

Madgaon

The next day we planned to return to Mumbai. We took an overnight train from Madgaon station to Mumbai.

What to Pack

a) Light cotton clothes and sunscreen

b) Caps and sunglasses which will come handy on the beaches and while sightseeing

c) Swimming and beach gear

d) Shoes if you plan to trek up the forts in Goa

Things to keep in Mind

1. Our total cost was around Rs 18,000-20,000. There are plenty of car and scooty rentals to bring down your cost. When you hire one ask for a helmet and make a video of the vehicle and share with the owner before starting off.
2. Goa is pretty safe, but however not recommended to roam around at midnight. If you are in a group then its fine.
3. Goans are one of the best and helpful people. Do not misbehave with them
4. The southern part of Goa is less crowded and more beautiful. Do definitely try this part of the state
5. Do not throw away plastics or waste materials on the beach or beer cans etc. You can get heavily pinalised by the local authority.
6. Do try out their sea food, its brilliant
7. There is a certain limit of alcohol you can carry back home. Check the Govt website and dont forget to ask for the invoice while purchasing.

Conclusion

Goa will always be remembered for its beauty and for its cultural heritage. The welcoming nature of people, the customer service will surely attract you. Whether you consider yourself a beach bum, a history buff or a foodie, Goa has much to offer all manner of holidaymakers. From the beautiful shores of its beaches and striking green of its countryside to its mesmerizing colonial history and its mouth-watering food; Goa is certainly a destination for all people.

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