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ViewsGoaFrom eTripTips Wiki Goa [1] is a former Portuguese colony, currently a state in India's West region. It is 3700 square kilometres in size and has a human population of approximately 1.4 million. Its east-west mix, beaches and syncretic culture is what attracts an officially-estimated two million visitors each year. Bulk of the visitors are from the rest of India, but the quarter-million from abroad have an influential role to play because of their spending capacity. Among the foreign visitors, and increasingly among a section of young visitors from India, Goa is currently renowned for its electronic music parties and its beaches. From 1510 until 1961 Goa was a Portuguese colony and many aspects of Portuguese culture and architecture can still be found.
[edit] DistrictsGoa is a very small state with only two districts, which are further divided into 11 talukas.
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[edit] UnderstandThe Goan population is a mixture of Hindus and Roman Catholics, the distribution being approximately 60% Hindu and 40% Christian. Despite this, there have been no communal clashes in the past and Goa is regarded as one of the most peaceful states in India. The best time of the year to visit Goa is mid-November to mid-February. [edit] TalkGoa's state language is Konkani. Most Goans speak Konkani, English, Hindi and Marathi. Portuguese is also spoken by some, especially the elite class. Portuguese was the language of the educated-elite in the pre-1961, Portuguese-ruled Goa. However, different languages tend to be used for different purposes in Goa ... so don't get confused. Konkani is the most widely spoken. English and Marathi tend to be most widely read. (Most newspapers are read in these two languages too.) For primary schooling, education has to be imparted in "local regional languages" (i.e. Konkani or Marathi) to be entitled to receive government grants, on the argument that elementary education is best imparted in the "language of the child". At middle and high-school, and college too, education is almost wholly imparted in English. Catholics use largerly Konkani for their prayer services, while the language for region is largely Marathi for Hindus. The administration is largely conducted in English, which is also the langauge of publication of the official gazette, and the mainly used tongue in the courts. It can be rather difficult currently to be able to learn Konkani, with options for learning rather restricted. The language is written in four to five scripts, in and beyond Goa -- Devanagari (the official script), Roman or Romi (widely used in Goa), Kannada-script, Malayalam-script and Perso-Arabic reportedly used by some Muslim communities further south along the Indian west coast. [edit] Get in[edit] By busThere are several bus routes from various cities, but most traffic is from mainly Bombay and Pune, but with increasing demand from the south, there has been an increase in buses and trains from Bangalore and New Delhi. [edit] By trainIndian Railways connect Goa from Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Mangalore, Ernakulam and Thiruvanantapuram (via Bangalore) and all other places in India.The destination station is usually Madgaon in Goa.There is a daily express train service from Delhi.Beware of Pickpockets, people who offer you snacks or Tea and other such people who make trains to Goa a regular hunting ground.
[edit] By airSome airlines fly directly to Dabolim Airport at Goa, but most international flights arrive via Mumbai. As the airport is also used by the military, it only accepts flights during the daytime (until 4 PM or so), which makes eg. sensible weekend escapes from elsewhere in the country effectively impossible. (Note: It seems the problem is partially resolved, because some domestic operators now also have evening flights to Goa, especially during high season) Goa has daily flights to and from Bangalore, Delhi, Mumbai and Pune (no flights return to Pune) and has flights twice a week to Chennai and Cochin. There are international flights to Kuwait and UAE twice a week on Air India and charter flights to the United Kingdom, Germany, Russia and Switzerland. [edit] By sea[edit] Get around[edit] BikesA lot of tourists rent scooters which are usually Honda Activas, an ungeared scooter which is quite easy to ride. One can also rent a geared motorcycle including the popular Royal Enfield which is very similar to older British motorcycles and is even bought by tourists from the rental company if they plan to stay longer. However make sure you are careful while riding especially if you plan to ride on the highways. The rental company doesn't provide helmets and it is up to you to look for one if you want one. One can get these scooters or motorcycles from garages or from people standing on the road next to these scooters and one can expect to spend between Rs.150 - Rs. 250 a day on a scooter and a little more if one is looking for a geared motorcycle. [edit] JeepsIf you aren't comfortable riding in Goa or have a bigger group you can also rent a jeep. These are usually either Mahindras which are similar to Jeep Willys or Maruti Gypys which are the long wheel base version of the Suzuki Samurai. A lot of these jeeps are open without a roof and can really help to enjoy the Goa experience and is a better way to travel around as opposed to a regular sedan. One can expect to pay around Rs. 700 - Rs. 800 a day for these jeeps. [edit] BusYou can also use the local buses to travel to different beaches in Goa. Note that these buses are not owned by Goa municipal authorities and as such the fare can vary. A typical bus ride will cost anywhere from 4-6 rupees. Fares are not collected at the bus doors but rather after you after you entered and the bus has begun to move. It is prudent to ask your fellow passengers about the fare and the destination if you are not familiar with the distance or the place. [edit] SeeGoa is world famous for its beaches, its ancient temples and churches, and its Goan carnival If naval aviation interests you, you might want to stop by the Naval Air Museum. This is behind the Dabolim Airport, and you will need to loop around the airport perimeter across the Dabolim Railway station to get there. There are seven outdoor exhibits and other memorabilia and models in a two story building. [edit] Beaches
[edit] DoSince Goa has a large Catholic minority, it has many Catholic holidays besides the Indian national holidays. One of them, the Carnival though often mistaken for a 'Catholic holiday' is largely a Government sponsered affair of Floats and festivities. There is a lot to do - for those who like their fun a little laid back
From wines to cashew-nuts, enchanting local music to alternative books and handicrafts, Goa has a lot of it. Goa's handicrafts are clearly under-rated and under-appreciated, even while being reasonably priced. Their range includes carved furniture, brassware, crochet and more (see section on the government-run Aparant emporia). Global items come in amazing diversity specially at the night markets of North Goa. In Panjim, the 18th June Road is faster emerging as a lure for shoppers and tourists. Mapusa, while hosting a traditional market each Wednesday, attracts a number of tourists, specially foreigners. Goa's talented goldsmiths are neatly located in a line at Mapusa's market, and in parts of Margao and Panjim. Check out traditional Goan lacquerware toys (available at the Aparant emporia). Every major hotel has its own bookshop, of varying quality. Hotel Mandovi in Panjim packs in a surprising amount of interesting reading material, specially books related to Goa, in its limited space. For the best collection of books related to 'alternative India' and the environment, visit the almost hidden Other India Bookstore. It sits atop the old Mapusa Clinic, at Mapusa's Feira Alta locality. Entrance from the behind. Phone 2263306. Other prominent bookshops are the old world charm Singbal Bookstall (2425747) near the Panjim Church; Book World at Panjim (2421857), Confidant's Golden Heart Emproium in Margao (2732450), the religious Jeevit Bookshop at Panjim (2438638); Mandovi Square near Cine Nacional (2234241); and Varsha Book Stall (2425832) near the Bank of India and Azad Maidan. The last two focus on newspapers and magazines coming in from the rest of the country and abroad. One Goan unique product is that of hand-painted ceramics. Check out the Velha Goa Galeria (2426628) and De Goa Ceramics (2420812), both based in Panjim. Furniture too: Furniture is another area of interest, in terms of shopping options, despite its bulky nature. The Attic in Mapusa (phone 2257743) is of special interest, with some innovative work. It's located at Mapusa, Near Mount Carmel in that north Goa commercial centre's Camarcazana locality. Others offering options in terms of antique furniture include Woodywood Interiors (2228293) and Heirlooms (2224788) in Panjim; Leela Art Palace (2282874) at Calangute; and Goan Arts (3226237) in Margao. There are also options for cane and designed furniture. Shopping for medical services: Foreign tourists increasingly go "shopping" for medical services. There are a number of outlets that offer a form of 'health tourism'. These include centres like Dr Pimenta's International Dental Center (www.goadentist.com) at Romano Chambers (near the Old Petrol Pump in Calangute) and Lake Plaza near Nehru Stadium in Margao. Antiques are also a growing business here. Outlets for antiques and curios incude Prasad Art Centre (2231814) at Panjim; Ages Antiquarts (2410038) and Antiques N Ethinix (9326108677 or 9414129969) at Porvorim; Antiques Gallery (2257743) at Mapusa; Leela Art Palace (2282874) and The Twilight Zone (2279699) at Calangute; Kashmir House (2479072) at Sinquerim; Goa Art Palace (2217844) at Agassaim; Urvi (9370565599_ at Margao; Sanskriti (3236821) at Cavelossim. For a small place like Goa, being in touch with the 'outside world' plays a crucial role. You never know the riches that travel when products, plants and ideas meet. American and African plants spread in India via Portuguese sea routes. Grafting techniques came to Goa first in the 16th century, and so did what are today among India's most useful plants. "The Portuguese imported about 300 species of useful plants to India, and Goa was their chief emporium," says microbiologist and environmentalist Dr Nandkumar Kamat. "Before Vasco da Gama, India did not cultivate sweet potatoes, tapioca, tomatoes or pumpkins. Think of it, the potato comes from the Andes mountains of South America. But India produces the largest potato crop in the world today, surpassing Europe." Cashew, chikoo, papaya, tobacco, guavas and pineapples entered India through Goa. Chillies - hard to think of Indian food without them - arrived on Portuguese galleons. So check out thoroughly what unusual items the local place has in store for you. Handicrafts: take your pick: Want to shop Goan? One good value-for-money place is the Aparant network of outlets managed by the State-run Goa Handicrafts network. In their ten outlets across Goa you could expect to find an interesting range of handicrafts from Goa. And reasonably priced too. Items range from shell-work to clay, bamboo, paper maiche, coconut-items and fibre. "If visitors have a problem with carrying back some the (more fragile) handicrafts home, then fibre is a good option. We have a big range. There are more than a thousand items in all," the attendant informs. Goa Handicrafts is offering training in fields like jute, sheel-work and candlemaking. "We sell items priced from Rs 5 upwards," says an attendant at the Panjim Residency (formerly the Tourist Hostel) outlet of 'Aparant'. Some items in brass, like traditional lamps, cost upto Rs 7000 to 8000, according to Mr Karapurkar at the Goa Handicrafts head office. These outlets are, besides four in Panjim, located at Vasco da Gama (on Swatantra Path, at the Vasco Residency) and at the local GTDC-run "residency" hotels in Margao, Mapusa, Calangute, the Bicholim Pottery Production Centre at the Industrial Estate, and at Loutolim's Big Foot. In Panjim, the other outlets of Aparant are located at the Udyog Bhavan (opposite the Goa Police Headquarter, near the Ferry Jetty); at the main Kadamba bus-terminus; and at the Crafts Complex office of the Goa Handicrafts in Neugi Nagar (Rua de Ourem). The largest number of items are available at the last location, about 2.5 kms off the centre of town. Most of the Aparant outlets are open between 9.30 or 10 am to 6 or 7 pm, depending on their location. Products of dry coconuts and coconut-shells are carved and often designed to fit on a wooden base. Items produced here include table lamps, flower pots, table clocks, different religious statues and decorative items. Cotton thread is transformed in an artistic way with the crochet steel hook, rendering it in beautiful designs and shapes. Likewise, sea-shells that were once discarded by the beach get transformed by artisans. Traditional clay art -- in the form of pots, ash-trays, flower pots, images of gods -- is a skill that has been built up across generations in Goa. Ditto for the case of bamboo products. A few of these items are produced in-house at the Goa Handicrafts' centre in Bicholim. Others come from artisans across the state. This network has done a fair job in highlighting the skills of geographically-scattered local artisans, and also finding them the market they so-badly need to sustain their rich talent. Check this site: http://ruralbazargoa.nic.in/welcome.htm [edit] Museums, art centresGuess how many museums Goa has? There's the Goa State Museum and then there's Architect Gerard da Cunha's relatively-new architectural museum called Houses of Goa. The Xavier Centre of Historical Research, at Porvorim, has its Gallery on Christian Art, named the Xavier Xandev Museum. Then, there's the archaeological museum and portrait gallery at Old Goa, the Christian Art Museum at the same location, and the Pilar Seminary Museum. ("Its history was brought to light by the discovery of ancient artefacts while digging the foundations for the educational institutions and while desilting an old tank within the compound of the present Society of Pilar. All these items collected and mounted in the Pilar Seminary Museum are displayed in relation to the dynasties and the periods passed through the centuries.") Big Foot at Loutolim (aka Ancestral Goa) is an attempt to illustrate and recreate Goa's traditional past. You might find it hard to believe, but there's even a vintage-cars collection of sorts -- Ashvek Vintage World "dedicated to restore and preserve motoring and motorcycling gems of historical interest in Goa". You can find cars ranging from ye old Mercedes Benz, to the Peugeot, Morris, Chevrolet and the Volkswagen. Check it out at Nuvem, on permanent display. Entry Rs 50. Then, there's the religious Museum of Blessed Joseph Vaz and the Naval Aviation Museum. In the latter, you can see and touch vintage aircrafts like the Sealands, Doves, Alizes, Seahawks, Vampires and Huges Helicopters. Other venues listed Art Chamber at Calangute, the Kerkar Art Complex and more. Dr Subodh Kerkar has two galleries, one for his permanent collection, and the other housing the works of Indian and foreign artists. The open air auditorium puts up performances in Indian classical music and dance. Then, there's the Goa-government run Kala Academy and the Portuguese-run Fundacao Oriente in India, the Central Library (even tourists can become temporary members). Art galleries in Goa include Gallery Gitanjali (run by Ajit Sukhija in a building that once was the People's High School at Panjim's latin quarter of Fontainhas), Galeria Cidade at the Cidade de Goa luxury resort, Peace Cottage Fine Art Gallery perched between two luxury hotels at Betalbatim, Gallery Boa Arte opposite the Municipal Garden in Panjim, Picturesque opposite the Goa Urban Cooperative Bank also in Panjim, and Gallery Yemania in Verem. Don't forget the Sound and Light Gallery Museum at Old Goa, where one can get a Christian religious tour, artistically done. Finally, the Goa Science Centre, at a scenic location along Miramar Beach, is a great fun-place for kids specially, but not only. Entrance is Rs 10 (and less for students). There's also a movie theatre showing 3D science-related films. [edit] Eat[edit] FoodThe Goan staple diet consists of rice and fish curry along with pickles and fried fish. This can be found on many of the beach shacks. The Goan cuisine is a blend of Portuguese and local flavours. Many dishes such as prawn balchao and Kingfish in Garlic have distinct Portuguese flavour. Dishes such as Vindaloo and Xacuti (pronounced Cha'cuti) will be familiar from Indian restaurant menus, and are originally Goan dishes. [edit] Places to eat
Most beaches have shacks that serve surprisingly delicious meals, specially sea-food and they'll usually consult you to see how you like your food. Don't miss the shack eating experience. You'll want to go back and do it again. Most fancy hotels and restaurants serve terrible foods, it is best to eat at local places, ask a taxi driver where these would be and don't let him take you to any fancy restaurants as they receive commission. For a taste of the local flavour with clean facilities but low prices go to Caji's Place, Colva. [edit] Value for money eateriesSOMEHOW only the big and luxury names seem to ever get written about in Goa. Probably it has something to do with their long reach, persistence and the fact that they simply have a bigger budget for doing PR. But if you're looking for taste, and not ambience, here's where you could seek. Caution -- some of these places are really rough, though tasty:
After circulating this short-list to a Internet-based mailing-list for journalists in Goa (called Goajourno), a whole lot of other suggestions came in. It would perhaps be unfair to overlook the favourite watering holes and eating places of a number of well-travelled scribes from the state. Reporter Mayabhushan Nagvenkar votes in favour of the oyster-masala at Devata Cafe in Ribandar. Nadia V Menezes, an ex-Herald staffer now in Mumbai, has her own entry for Number 11: "A home-cum-restaurant just behind Kamat Restaurant (towards the old railway station) in Margao that serves simply delicious, very coconutty-n-spicy fish curry rice." She's adds that some time back a 'fish thali' used to go for Rs 15. Vidya Heble, ex-Gomantak Times and now in Singapore, recommends Anandasharam, located in the easy-to-get-lost-in lanes to the west of the General Post Office. It's opposite Venite. She calls it a "no-frills, no-pretences eatery ... (run by an elderly gent whom we called Kaka, or Uncle, and who's) smile is still as welcoming and the fish still as delicious". Naturally, you get better food in the afternoons, rather than nights when business is slack in this government servant-dominated town. Vidya mentions another great family-run place for fried prawns at the Nerul Tinto, in Bardez. Rash Deep, opposite the Land Survey Department, is a place for inexpensive fish-curry-rice was also a journalists' favourite in the past. Indian Express's former man-in-Goa Shiv Kumar had this to say: "Ask me guys! I was scrounging around for some good value-for-money places in Panjim for two years! My short list is tilted heavily in favor of seafood!" "Ajanta is great. Could never have enough of the crabs and shellfish though one had to go early in the afternoon. There is a tiny place next to Sher-e-Panjab, Panjim (I think its called Excelsior or some fancy name) lots and lots of fish freshly fried. One nameless shack a little down the Times of India on the slope to Altinho almost near the market -- great fresh coconut prawns curry and lots of fresh fish. For some reason, it's the best place where the fresh fish goes best with the beer!" Of course, there's a caveat: keep an eye closed with regard to the hygiene. That holds for many of these places. Shiv also says he chanced upon a home-cum-restaurant in Cuncolim "where on some mornings they make you wait while the owner rushes to the market to get some fish!" Another is a hole in the wall joint in St Inez that served lovely home made food. But take care, for as Shiv says, not long back another journo in Goa "called up from Goa to tell me the 'kokum' in the 'sol kadi' turned out to be a big fat cockroach!" Margao's Kamat Hotel has some good 'puri bhaji'. Shiv's other favourites include the Khansamah at the Mollem forest guest house, which prepares "some lovely fish, chicken and mutton for guests". Another place opposite the Panjim mosque is Ghazali. "Lots of seating and the food is home cooked. Again I know only about the seafood there. One time I opened my wallet a bit, i found huge pomfret still cold from the freezer at the core. But then in Goan restaurants one should buy only the moderately priced stuff that go quickly off the shelf," says Shiv. Via the Internet came a hint from Lawrence, who mentions Cafe Firdaus at the Juma Masjid Road near Margao's old railway station. "It's a hole in the wall joint, scruffy characters et al. The egg masala fry, kheema fry, and parathas are superb. Rates almost half that of Aflatoon," claims Lawrence. Can it be? Says Mayabhushan: "It is a cardinal sin for a journalist (tee-totalers included) to miss out Abel's Best In The World opposite the Gomantak office at St Inez. Some of the finest grub. A limited menu and food which says eat me. Guy called Ryan (Peter's son) runs it. Food... food... at night. Peter's it has to be." Other journalists too remember Peter's. Says Vidya: "I don't think any of the old-timers (among journos) need to be told about Peter's! I don't think I would go there now that the late Peter isn't around to say 'Saba!' at the door and assure us that the chicken is 'best in the world today!' -- those were indeed the days and they really will not return. Sad feeling." Inacio Oliveira, earlier with Gomantak Times, tells of Bappa's Sukhi Bhaji Pao at Merces that is "so special that even people from neighbouring villages especilally visit the place". Swapna Sardessai, one of the members of the founding team of Gomantak Times' Weekender, says: "There's this 'gaddo' outside GMC that comes alive after 8 pm. The food is Chinese and simply too good. Stays open way past midnight." Alisha, mentioned above and opposite the new Secretariat Complex, serves great garlic naans, rawa fried 'chonak' fish and the 'tisreo' seafood and is open till late. "On afternoons, the fish-curry rice is a treat. The view is refreshing here. One gets to see a side of Panjim not visible from anyplace else," says ex-journalist Swapna. Coco Chin at St. Cruz 'bundh' overlooks green fields on all sides and serves a great starter called chilli garlic potato. The rest of the Chinese grub served here is good too. One day, sitting at the Cafe Prakash -- our journalists' unofficial press club -- we discussed various options. Like Marietta, for homely Catholic non-veg food (the proprietor would translate your bill into paise, giving the uninitiated a mild heart attack -- 3300 instead of Rs 33!). Or Uday Upahargraha (below PTI, next to Navhind Times in the Panjim market area) for its delicious prawn biryani. Bharat Lunch Home next to Ajanta is known for its ginger soda. Want something ultra cheap? Try Public Cafe, near Don Bosco's in Panjim. Bhaji and parathas for Rs 7, and tea for Rs 2! Anything to beat that? The KTC Bus Stand in Panjim has a Keralite called Babu selling white 'bhajjas', tomato omlette and onion pakodas. Allegro in Panjim and Anand in the building somewhat grandiloquently renamed as 'Pudhari Bhavan' (it's home to that newspaper's office) is also known for its Goan food and paraboiled rice. Check out the 'kalva bhaji' at the restaurant near the Four Pillars. At Bainguinim, on the way to Old Goa, Pritam is supposed to be even better than STAR, both know for their Hindu styled tasty Goan fish. For parathas try Everest at the old Cine El Dorado building. Daniel Fraguso near the Taleigao's Church has had a reputation for home and party cooking. Kumer, next to Alisha's, run by the kin of ex-MLA Babuso Gaonkar, is also appreciated for its food. Taj next to Kalpatru offers special limbu soda, big 'battatawadas' and mutton 'samosas'. Karishma is an interesting Muslim-run outlet near Margao's old railway gate. Don't miss Fernando's at Raia and Siddhi's Sukhi Bhaji-Usal. Journalist Rahul Goswami says: "Anandashram in Fontainhas is spot on. Unique and, more important, consistent over the years. The bangda and 'humman' curry remains a favourite, and washed down with the katori of kokum makes an excellent meal. And yes 'kaka' has a good memory and a ready smile. The place Vidya mentioned in Nerul is called Laxmi, and is just off what I suppose you could call the Nerul tinto, along the lane that leads to what I believe is now called Coco Beach. That little restaurant is absolutely the 'sungte' capital of Bardez - no question about it. And the standard 'jevonn' is pretty good too, with excellent portions" For good-sized prawns (optimistically called tiger prawns, but reasonably large nevertheless) and mussels, Rahul Goswami commented that he found Sea View worth a visit. It used to live in the back of a house, right out on the waterline before the beginning of the Dona Paula slope as you come in from Caranzalem. I wonder though whether it is still there. Much further south, along the road to Mobor but before hitting the line of resorts, there used to be a household that prepared great buckets of staple jevonn for taxi drivers. Like Anandashram, this was Hindu Goan cooking, and like Laxmi, the portions would keep you fuelled through the rest of the day if you got there early enough to occupy one of the half-dozen chairs. It was a house with no name and in those days - now this is circa 1995 - they threw in a glass of nimbu-paani. In Margao, Longuinhos used to be very good for savouries and snacks - just right if one was feeling peckish but wanted to avoid a multiple-curry meal that would knock one out for the rest of the afternoon. Service was pretty good and they seemed to be partial to old Lorna cassettes. Also in Salcete was Martins of Betalbatim - first-rate kingfish and when the season came round, 'jumping chicken', and those who know will know. I think towards the late 90s Martins tended to get needlessly upmarket with its prices, but the food was still good. As Rahul Goswami points out: The biggest loss is Olympic, right in the middle of Panjim, opposite the Captain of Ports jetty and next to the Customs House. This was the home of the original sausage pulao, and the beef croquettes and potato chops were second to none. Sadly, the premises has long since been given over to someone who sells bathroom tiles.
This listing has obviously missed out on a number of other worthy places which do deserve a listing. Other candidates include the elderly man at the Parra market, selling Goan fast food (boiled eggs, boiled peanuts, etc)... The bias favouring Bardez and places around Panjim does show due to geographical reasons. Your suggestions and tips for enhancing this listing are more than welcome.[Note some of the prices in this section need updating, as this article was written 3-4 years ago.] [edit] DrinkAlcoholic Beverages The popular alcoholic beverages in Goa are Beer and Wine. There is also the local liquor, Fenny, which is quite potent and strong. It comes in 2 flavours, Cashewnut and Coconut.
Club Cubana(Arpora) - A night at the Playboy Mansion! This decadent mansion perched on the top of a hill looks over Anjuna and the sea and sports a huge pool, 4 bars, indoor dance floor, a pizza bar and four poster beds scattered around the place. Pay anywhere from 500 - 1000 Rupee for a couple entry (stag entry is not allowed) and pay no more for the rest of the night. Club Cubana has an open bar happening all night, unlimited beer, wine, sparkling and basic spirits are available to you all night! Enjoy the party! [edit] Goa/Psy Trance
[edit] SleepA lot of great places to stay at, but more often than not, you will find that all your searches result in websites that do your travel/accommodation bookings. While this is good, it can leave a holiday maker frustrated. In this section, we will add direct contacts of hotels, resorts etc., so that one can choose to use travel agents and/or call/email directly. Apart from alcohol, which is very cheap, Goa is one of the more expensive states in India to stay. Though for a foreign tourist it is still very cheap. Peak season, which is from November to late March the prices are very high. Especially in December, 5 star hotel rates rates range from around Rs.20,000 - Rs.35,000 per night some rates go even higher. All touristic places charge more in the season. [edit] Budget
[edit] Mid-rangeMany ancestral homes are being renovated to include full-facility guest accommodation, with/without authentic Goan meals, located in scenic, quiet and relaxed villages, all within easy reach of Cities and Beaches: North Goa
South Goa
[edit] SplurgeThere are plenty of star hotels in Goa. So, depending on the location, take your pick . North Goa
Central Goa
South Goa
[edit] Contact[edit] Landlines[edit] Mobile PhonesIt is very easy to get a Prepaid mobile, which is very cheap to get and for calls too. A Photo ID proof and photograph for prepaid as well as postpaid connection is required.
[edit] InternetInternet Cafes can be found at tourist spots and hotels. It is not difficult to find a Internet center.
Iway.com- GOA Locator Franchisee Name Franchisee Address Pincode Contact Number
[Please check before visiting any of the places on the list above; such information tends to change frequently.] [edit] Stay safeGoa is a generally safe state, but as with any tourism dependent economy, it has its fair share of petty crime and touts. Please remember these important points when you are visiting Goa:
[edit] Useful maps[edit] Get outWikiPedia:Goa (state)Dmoz:Asia/India/Goa World66:asia/southasia/india/goa
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