India, immersed in ocean waves, attracts tourists from all over the world. Especially attracts vacationers Goa. Tour operators promise a lot of impressions and absolutely different beaches. To get the most out of swimming, you need to know what Goa bathes. Then the waves and sand will make you come back more than once.
What bathes Goa
When wondering what kind of sea awaits on the coast, be prepared to receive different answers. Most commonly referred to as the Arabian Sea. However, its currents are an integral part of the ocean in Goa.
Hindustan, on which India is located, gave the name to the third largest water area of \u200b\u200bthe Earth. That is why inexperienced travelers get lost and cannot decide whether the Arabian Sea or the Indian Ocean is a tourist paradise.
Some features of a sea holiday in Goa
The majestic and many-sided Indian Ocean occupies a huge space and is the biggest attraction of the state. Here it has its own characteristics:
- You can swim all year round. The sea warms up to 28 degrees, deviations of a couple of degrees do not play the role of the weather. Despite this, swimming after sunset at any time of the year is not worth it, stingrays and sea snakes are activated;
- You can enjoy the Indian Ocean for free. The coast is absolutely free and is under the care of the municipality. No hotel has the right to block access to the beach. Buildings are located no closer than 200 m.;
- The Arabian Sea is great for diving, especially in the bays and coves. Although undersea world significantly inferior to the diversity of other recognized water areas. The Indian Ocean washing the resort creates a lot of waves. The water is often cloudy due to the strong current. Red or mediterranean sea much richer in flora and fauna and more transparent;
- The coastline, which is always washed by a warm current, leaves much to be desired in cleanliness. But this is a characteristic of India. Water here is designed not only to wash the shores, but also to wash away garbage from them.
In fact, India attracts tourists with its authentic culture, tropical nature, the opportunity to touch the thousand-year history and original philosophy, especially in Goa. The sea or the ocean washes the coast - it does not matter at all. The main thing is the sun and nature in the heart of an oriental fairy tale.
In India, there is a small but very rich state of Goa. Goa is a popular holiday destination for tourists who appreciate the unusually beautiful nature of this resort.
Recreation for tourists in this great place allows you to enjoy not only a comfortable stay, but also the opportunity to restore your spiritual and physical strength after a long year of work. For many, a vacation abroad is an opportunity to enjoy clean and warm sea which is so lacking in Russia. For many, the main criterion for choosing a particular place for recreation is the presence of the sea. That is why those who have a desire to relax in this fabulous place in India are interested in the question, what is the sea in Goa?
Sea - washing the shores of Goa
The water of the Arabian Sea, which is an open part of a huge indian ocean, washed by the paradise resorts of Goa. Every year, the beaches of North and South Goa receive a huge number of tourists of different ages for recreation.Holiday options in Goa
The sea temperature in Goa is the most favorable for swimming, 26-28 degrees all year round. Yachting is one of the most popular types of recreation. All beaches belong to the state, so there are no restrictions, the beach is completely at the disposal of tourists. It is in Goa that there are still deserted beaches, which, if desired, can be found by anyone. On the territory of the beaches of Goa, the construction of any buildings is prohibited, so it is impossible to rent a hotel room that will overlook the sea, which, of course, gives this place a special charm. The chance to really enjoy beautiful nature and architecture of the city can be directly in the direction of travel to the beach.
The Tver merchant Afanasy Nikitin, who visited faraway India in the 15th century, called his masterpiece literary work “Journey beyond three seas”. In addition to colorful saris, bright oriental bazaars and an endless kaleidoscope of impressions from the local cuisine and customs, the traveler was also conquered by the seas of India, which today are one of the main magnets for tourists from all over the world.
Edge of eternal summer
Wintering in the country of elephants and tea is very popular today. Freelancers and other fans of unpretentious work contracts, whose conditions do not include a daily appearance in the office or at work, answer without hesitation to the question of which sea washes India. Their fiefdom is the province of Goa, where the most warm beaches, and the variety of levels and prices of hotels allows even the most modest travelers not to appear in the gray Moscow slush for many months.
The Hindustan peninsula is washed by the Arabian Sea from the west, which enters the Indian Ocean basin. It is on its coast that the main beaches of North and South Goa are located. The climate on the local shores is tropical, it is characterized by monsoons, and the water temperature ranges from +23 degrees in winter to +29 in summer. Maximum precipitation for Indian shores The Arabian Sea falls during the summer months.
Western direction
But not only Goa is the only Indian tourist alive, and when asked what seas are in India, the most advanced answer is the Bay of Bengal of the Indian Ocean. Here is a very unusual state, which includes the islands of the Andaman and Nicobar archipelagos. What is the special charm of resting on the Indian islands?
- The archipelagos are a closed area, because there are reserves and National parks. The consequence of this is the need for special permits to visit, and therefore a real opportunity to be alone with nature.
- On Andaman Islands ships depart from the ports of Chennai and Kolkata, the journey on which may appeal to fans of seascapes.
- On Havelock Island there is an opportunity to go diving and get acquainted with the inhabitants of the Indian sea. The list of possible candidates includes sea turtles and dolphins. The forests on the shore delight with many bright birds and even elephants that live here quite legally.
- For those who prefer to admire the colorful flora and fauna without diving, the islands' entertainment program includes excursions on a glass-bottomed boat.
India is a unique and original country; like a big magnet, it attracts travelers from all over the world. Tourists are happy to get acquainted with the rich history, culture, architecture and amazing ancient traditions. But besides the sights, the country welcomes guests with wonderful beaches. Many resorts in India by the sea are superior to the popular health resorts in the world. The article talks about the most the best places where to come to relax. You can go to India as a single tourist, with your soulmate, a cheerful company or with children. Everyone here will find entertainment to their liking.
Amazing country
India is the largest country in South Asia. In terms of population, it ranks second in the world after China. It is the birthplace of the ancient Harappan civilization, as well as the cradle of the most ancient religions - Hinduism and Buddhism.
The country is washed by the warm waters of the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean from the southeast, and the Arabian Sea from the southwest. Due to this, the length coastline is more than 7 thousand kilometers. Almost along the entire coast there are resorts of India by the sea, where more and more tourists from Russia and Europe come every year. What attracts tourists here? This is a favorable climate in the high season and a gentle sea that warms up to 25-28 degrees, a unique culture and architecture, many attractions, original Indian cuisine and, of course, friendly locals.
Where to go, where to stay, which Indian resorts by the sea are the most popular? Further in the article short review best indian
goa
This is the smallest state of India, located on the coast of the Arabian Sea. It has a reputation as a world class resort. Everything here is landscaped for the comfort of tourists. But underdeveloped infrastructure and local architectural beauties attract travelers from all over the world. The main attraction of Goa is the 100-kilometer sea beaches with soft and clean sand. Large diving centers, upscale hotels, chic restaurants, clubs, and discos are scattered along the coast. There are many in close proximity interesting places for cultural pastime. Those who stay in Goa, as a rule, do not look for another place to stay.
Kerala
This state is located on the Arabian Sea, lies south of Goa. It is decorated with coconut, mango and This place is called the capital of spices. It is also the center of Ayurveda, a world-famous healing system. Therefore, many come here not only to soak up the white sand by the sea, but also to improve their health. rich cultural heritage Kerala and many entertainments will diversify
Karnataka
The state is located in the south of Hindustan. Its territory is covered with dense forests, coffee and spice plantations, there are many protected areas and cultural and historical monuments. But the main thing that attracts tourists to these places is the stunning beaches. Let's continue to list popular resorts India by the sea.
Maharashtra
This is a large state in the central part of the country. It has an extended form from the coast of the Arabian Sea deep into the mainland, therefore it is known for its diverse natural and climatic conditions and rich opportunities for diverse recreation. Here's a legacy ancient civilization intertwined with modern skyscrapers. The most popular resort town, especially among young people - Bombay.
Tamil Nadu
The southernmost state borders the Indian Ocean. Its beaches are the longest in the country, and Marina Beach is the second longest in the world. A tropical climate prevails here, in the high season the ocean waters are warm, gentle, friendly. In addition to swimming, you can rent a yacht or boat, scuba dive and admire the coral reefs, visit local colorful sights or enjoy nightly entertainment. One of the most famous cities state - Chennai, which the Hindus call the "South Gate of India".
Gujarat
The state in the west of the country is famous for its temple complexes, mosques, forts, and beautiful parks. Mountains of Gujarat popular place among the pilgrims. There are 10 temples on top of Girnar in Gujarat. To get to them, you need to climb a staircase of 5,000 steps. And of course, tourists love to spend time on the coast of the Arabian Sea.
The most popular beach is Mandvi, which is 6 kilometers long. It is distinguished by snow-white fine sand and azure coastal waters. Here you can watch sunrises and sunsets of unprecedented beauty. lovers active rest High speed rentals available motor boats, surfs, scooters, aqua-skis, fishing equipment. Tourists need to be aware that some beaches in Gujarat are unsuitable for swimming due to strong tides and fast deep currents.
What are the best resorts in India by the sea? Traveler reviews clearly indicate that they are in the states of Goa, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra. The following will list the best beaches in these regions.
When is the best time to go on vacation to India?
Tourists are advised to go on vacation to the resorts of India by the sea from October to March. In October, the rainy season ends, and the diving, surfing and, of course, swimming season opens. In November, the tops of the Himalayas are covered with snow caps, and in Goa, Kerala, aquamarine waters invitingly attract travelers. The peak of tourist activity falls on the winter months - December, January and February. This is the so-called high season. At this time, the optimum temperature of air and water is established, the level of humidity decreases significantly, and the amount of precipitation drops sharply.
The Arabian coast of Hindustan is hundreds of kilometers of wonderful sandy beaches, among which there are pristine, almost untouched by human hand, and ultra-modern with first-class comfortable hotels and developed infrastructure. The resorts of India by the sea, the photos of which are presented in the article, promise their guests a wonderful vacation surrounded by exotic nature.
Except beach season, the period from November to March is considered the best for excursions and sightseeing in India. In April, the tropical rainy season begins, which lasts until early October. The thermometer rarely drops below the 40-degree mark, the humidity indicator reaches the level of 90-100%. Together, this creates very uncomfortable weather conditions for a European, so there are few tourists coming to India at this time (low season).
Resorts of India by the sea: Kerala
This state is called a tropical paradise for tourists. It stretches for almost 600 kilometers along the Arabian Sea. The beaches here are small, but municipal. They are recognized as the cleanest and most comfortable in the country. The best of them are located in the vicinity of cities such as Alleppi (another name is Alappuzha), Varkala, Kovalam, Kannur, and not far from the village of Muzhappilangad.
What tourists say:
- Allepy - very beautiful place with palm groves among streams, lakes and lagoons. There is an excellent Vijaya Beach park with picnic areas and playgrounds.
- Varkala is famous for its healing springs. For a small fee, local healers will give you a special body massage.
- Kovelam is located in a bay with coral reefs. It's like it's made for fans. active pastime- divers, surfers, kayakers and water skiers.
- Kannur is perfect for family vacation.
- Muzhappilangad is unique in that its beaches can be driven by car.
The listed resorts of India by the sea are equipped with budget guest houses, as well as 4 and 5-star hotels with excellent service. It will not be possible to get directly to Kerala from Russia. First you need to get to Delhi or Bombay, from where it will not be difficult to get / fly to your destination.
Beaches in Goa
According to many, the best resorts in India by the sea are in Goa. The state is divided into North and North Goa designed for budget tourists, there are many budget hotels and inexpensive cafes, young people are happy to have fun at discos. The beaches here are covered with darker sand and have high shores. In the most remote part of North Goa is wild beach Tiracol. It's just as deserted on Anjuna. But Baga, Calangute and Vagator are well-groomed places where tourists have an organized and inexpensive rest. The most respectable beach is Candolim.
south goa chosen by wealthy Europeans and wealthy Indians. This is a comfortable area, quiet and peaceful. The most picturesque place here is called Om. Bogmalo is a very small corner with excellent sandy coast surrounded by tall palm trees. Basically, everything local beaches- Aguada, Majorda, Colva, Benaulim, Cavelossim - clean and well maintained, with good hotels, excellent restaurants, developed infrastructure.
If you are planning a trip to the resorts of India by the sea, Goa - great option. Here the sea is safe, the bottom is good, there are no steep rocks and pitfalls, the waves are weak during the season. Getting here is very easy, there are many direct flights and trains.
Wonderful beaches in Tamil Nadu
In the state of Tamil Nadu are the wonderful resorts of India by the sea. Covelong is a beautiful beach, the best in the state, located 40 kilometers from the bustling metropolis of Chennai. It is very picturesque and peaceful here. Tourists can do anything water view sports. One of the interesting sights is the canal system between Covelong and Alleppey.
Marina Beach is 12 kilometers of golden sand and clear azure sea. Even locals come here specifically to enjoy the magnificent sunrises and sunsets. But you need to swim here with caution due to the strong current. An exotic corner of Rameshwaram Beach on a small island connected to the mainland engineering marvel- Indira Gandhi Bridge.
Beach holidays in Maharashta
Ganapatipule is one of the best beaches in state. It is very clean, with white sand, surrounded by picturesque natural beauties. A corner called Dahanu-Bordi is known for its fruit and flower gardens. The luxurious Junu beach is well-maintained and crowded. Walking along the coast, it is easy to meet a Bollywood celebrity. The beach with the complex name Srivardhan Harihareshwar is known for its peaceful and calm atmosphere. It is great for families with children and for those who love silence and meditation. Beautiful places on the shore - Mandva and Kihim - are just as cozy.
In general, there are a lot of beaches in Maharashta. All of them are clean and well-maintained, excellent infrastructure and many attractions nearby, which makes this seaside resort attractive to millions of tourists. You can get to Maharashta from anywhere in the country. Almost all hotels here are of high class and with excellent service. Far from all the popular resorts of India by the sea are listed (see photo above). There are still a lot of them - wonderful places for swimming and relaxing.
India is a unique country, full of contrasts, with its ancient traditions. Before you go here, you need to familiarize yourself with a few rules:
- It is best to come to rest in the resorts of India by the sea, the photos of which are simply mesmerizing, best of all in November-March.
- Tourists need a visa to visit the country. All the details need to be clarified with the tour operator.
- You can not go into the water in the wrong places. It is dangerous to health and life.
- You can move around the country by plane (this is the most convenient), train (there are special quotas for tourists), bus or car.
- Girls on the streets of India should not walk in too revealing outfits, in short skirts and shorts, with bare shoulders.
- Communicating with Indians should be calm and friendly. Do not point at objects with your index finger.
- Be sure to take off your shoes when entering a temple or mosque.
- In many states, the issue of hygiene is acute, so you should always carry wet wipes with you, do not drink raw water, wash fruits with soap, and do not eat raw vegetable salads.
Attractions in India - a huge amount. It's just impossible to visit them all. But you should definitely visit the main treasure of the country, its symbol is snow-white marble palace Taj Mahal. It is located in the city of Agra, 200 km from Delhi. Tourists will be hospitably greeted by the beautiful resorts of India by the sea. In February in Russia - winter, snow, cold, and here - warm sun, great weather, azure sea.
What is the sea in Goa
In the last article, we started the topic of Indian holidays. Several questions were asked, let's start with simple ones. What is the sea in Goa?
Well, actually a few general impressions from Goan roads, transport and traffic rules. The roads there are so narrow, sometimes it seems just right for only two motorcyclists to pass on them, but they managed to pass even on buses. rule traffic in my opinion, there is only one thing - a horn, but at the same time for all two weeks, and we drove through Goa and far and wide, I did not see a single accident. I happened to observe one conflict, the method of its resolution was especially curious. Our tour bus in some ways he didn’t share the road with the motorcycle, probably no one wanted to give in, although our bus’s horn was clearly louder. Then they went out to talk, and there, word for word, the motorcyclist climbed up to fight. The bus driver immediately had a huge stick in his hands, which he turns out to be constantly carrying with him and with which he began to drive the offender. After that, he put the stick in place, got on the bus and, as if nothing had happened, drove on. So, as I understand it, a horn is a horn, and a stick under the seat is a necessary attribute of a car's configuration.
Hotel and surroundings
The hotel turned out to be very mediocre, if not worse, even compared to ours, I didn’t understand then that Russian standards for India, and even for Goa, were unattainable, as for us, for example, American ones. But the main thing is that they are not going to reach them either, they go their own way, but more on that later. True, our hotel did not claim to be multi-star, in principle, Goa also has good hotels and if this aspect is a priority, but you should immediately take without a doubt only a five-star hotel. Our "Old Enker" was an old hotel with a reception in the form of a long-anchored ship and two-story cottages scattered around a rather pretty green area abundantly lined with palm trees. Our attempt to move from the first floor to the second succeeded only after several attempts. We indulged in this occupation “with enthusiasm” on the second day, starting from lunch and until late in the evening with some breaks. On the very first evening, Tomorrow promised to move us to the second floor. But the next day we heard the same thing, “come tomorrow”, but by this time we had even more solid reasons to change the number, the fact is that behind the thin partition of the cottage, in which there was also a window, all night, really the diesel generator worked intermittently, supplying the hotel with electricity during network failures, and in the morning, about five o’clock, “Indians” from the attendants gathered under the same window, as I understood those who came to work, and made such a hubbub that I was just amazed, all the little ones themselves are frail, and they make so much noise that the operation of a diesel engine against this background seemed to us the gentle whisper of a mother putting her child to bed. True, we must pay tribute to the hotel managers, they fought to the last, assuring us that there were no other rooms, but we finished them off, and the room was found on the second floor. We moved, but after a while we found that the hot water in it did not want to go. At the "reception" we were reassured that this was a small problem that would be fixed in half an hour, but when we returned to the room in the evening, we found the same situation with water. At the "reception" we were kindly offered to bring a "package of hot water" to the room, and our refusal clearly perplexed them, some of these Russians are strange, too dirty, a package of water is not enough for them to wash. However, out of delicacy, they did not show the view, but showed another room in which there was hot water, although they immediately warned that only at certain hours, which for some reason did not suit us either. Then they showed us another room, in which everything seemed to be in order with water, but fortunately, we decided to look into the closet and found all the shelves in it broken and stacked on the floor. But it turned out that this was not the last room, there was still a free one, and with hot water, and with a whole closet, and on the second floor. We did not understand until the end of our stay there, what exactly was the catch. True, a lizard lived there, but we quickly got used to it and it came to us, so we also had a cute, though a little shy, small pet in India.
The surroundings turned out to be very nice, on the one hand the village is fully consistent with its resort image, that is, with many souvenir shops, small private hotels, restaurants and cafes. And with a couple of large hotels, perhaps more abruptly than ours. To the west of the hotel (well, where else) was the sea, but on the contrary, a rather wide river adjoined the hotel directly. And although in this place between the river and the hotel it was at most 200 meters, it flowed into it two kilometers below. Later we went of course to the mouth of the river. It was just that both banks of the river, in contrast to the ocean shore, were literally a palm sea, which went into the distance and hid along with the river behind its bend. Our hotel also had such a feature that it was especially popular among wealthy Indians. There were very few foreign tourists, including Russians, but big business regularly held its congresses and conferences there. During our stay, we witnessed gatherings of oil workers, railway workers, and some other large, large nationwide firm. Each time, all this was very reminiscent of our similar events, banners were hung out with greetings to the delegates, packages with gifts were prepared for each, and in the evenings wild parties were held. custom was karaoke. At first it was just curious to watch their version of this entertainment, and then the DJ offered us to participate, it turns out that the Russian-language repertoire is also widely represented in them, although the video accompanying the music was simply indescribable, so I won’t transmit it, that’s all still fail. And we gladly fought throats. But in general, there was practically no entertainment in the hotel, it seemed to be from a different category and is more suitable for a quiet relaxing family vacation.
Nutrition
The issue of nutrition is, of course, the most important on any trip and on any journey, and therefore I will devote Special attention, especially since from previous experience I made the conviction that for me it is quite sufficient to have breakfast at the hotel, it is completely pointless to pay for everything else, since it is practically impossible to use it, or you have to be tied to the hotel, or rather to its restaurant. First, I will make a small digression and say what I myself heard from our guide, a very pleasant and erudite woman who has been working in India for over 30 years - an impressive experience. So she said that an Indian woman does not have to rack her brains every day about what to feed her family, she cooks the same dish all her life day after day, and in general the basis of their diet is peas and rice, with a bunch of spices of course. Hindus or Indians in general are very unpretentious, they profess in Everyday life moderation, vegetarianism in food. Moreover, rice, as well as palm oil, can be bought at reduced prices in special state stores by any, even the most impoverished family. But everything else - meat, fish, and especially vegetables, poor people cannot afford. I saw abundance perhaps except for coconuts and papaya, and even then on palm trees. I saw fruits on the market, oranges, grapes, tangerines, apples, bananas, and a few other unfamiliar species, but far from the same assortment and quantity as in any of our markets. And all this in Goa, which, as it were, is not India, the Portuguese thoroughly spoiled the Goans for 500 years, converted them to Christianity, taught them to eat meat and fish, drink wine and beer, they even produce local moonshine here - fenny from coconuts and cashews. But nevertheless, I didn’t see an abundance of products here, what then is being done in India itself, if Goa is a state with the highest standard of living and education.
Nevertheless, with food, everything was resolved just fine. On the coast, on the first day, we found a number of small cafes - restaurants, which, however, were somewhat alarming with their very unpresentable appearance. Well, what can you think of a “restaurant” with a “thatched” roof made of palm leaves rests on thin poles stuck directly into the sand, and tables and chairs are placed on the same sand. True, “our” cafe, which we chose, even had a floor of large tiles laid on the sand, a sign “Features national cuisine”and a menu in Russian, left over from some of our predecessors. But on checking everything turned out to be not at all scary, much better than one might think looking at these facilities: always cold beer and drinks, always clean dishes, always fresh food and very high quality and tasty dishes from a fairly extensive menu. I’ll make a reservation right away that all this has nothing to do with Indian cuisine, rather it is the legacy of the former colonialists - the Portuguese.
At the same time, if you wish, they can bring you to show raw what you want to order and you can, for example, choose a fish of the right size so that they bake it whole, or select the lobsters you like. Once the wife (a lover of the exotic) asked them about oysters, which for some reason. (Well, this is some kind of nightmare and disgrace) is not on the menu. Our knowledge of English, as a language of interethnic communication, leaves much to be desired, however, they are not very experienced in it, but in the end the explanation is that these are “sea animals that live in shells (at the same time, I actively depicted these same shells with my palms) ”, satisfied them, and they said that now is not the season, that this delicacy will be in abundance in the rainy season (but then we will not be there), but for us, as dear and honored guests, they will be able to fulfill our order tomorrow. Well, tomorrow, so tomorrow, especially since there are no tomorrow day trips we didn't plan to. And I must say that we have already encountered several times that the local service does not differ in special memory, they generally do everything slowly and often “forget”. Nevertheless, the next day, when we went to dinner, the restaurant manager, as soon as he saw us, rushed off to the kitchen and dragged out a huge dish filled with fresh, obviously only recently caught, no, not oysters, of course, but rather large mussels, which in my opinion one hell. She almost missed her wife, she loves the exotic, but she doesn’t know what to do with her. It’s good that he hastened to reassure her that she wouldn’t have to eat “this here” raw, they will now cook everything “what spices do you want?” However, when cooked, the mussels did not look much more appetizing, but, by the way, they were quite edible and even tasty, if it were not for the sometimes creaking sand on the teeth.
Lunch in such a restaurant easily fit into 2-3 dollars, and we were very glad that we had not signed up in Moscow when we booked tickets for dinner at the hotel, which would cost us $ 11 per person daily. Their "buffet" was enough for us for breakfast, where we just had the opportunity to get acquainted with local cuisine- this is some kind of brown-brown or yellow burda, very similar to what housewives in our villages cook for pigs, but our pigs would not eat it, because in addition to boiled peas or beans, all this was thickly flavored with pepper and more the devil knows what, which completely beats off all taste sensations. We were saved by the fact that for breakfast there were always sausages of very dubious quality and preparation, and scrambled eggs, which soon began to get stuck in the throat. There was also tea, coffee and the standard fruit set: pineapple, papaya and watermelon. But the watermelons were tasteless, or they had been cut since the evening, papaya is clearly not my fruit at all, let the monkeys continue to eat it, I don’t pretend, pineapples are still nothing, but those that we bought ourselves were much juicier and sweeter. And more about the features of beach restaurants, some of them once a week (at "our" cafe this day was Wednesday) in the evenings they hold dance parties, the so-called "parties", during which they arrange fireworks and salutes right by the sea, launch burning lanterns - something like a small hot air balloon, which flickers for a long time over the sea in the black sky, rising higher and higher and moving away from the coast driven by the night breeze.
Shanta Durga, Old Goa and Panaji
We started our cultural excursion program in Goa with a classic route that included a visit to a Hindu temple, a Catholic center in Old Goa (this is the name of a small town) and the state capital - Panaji. I will not describe in detail the architectural merits of the temples, I still do not understand anything about this. The Catholic ones didn’t make a special impression, temples, as temples of which are full throughout Europe, I understand Hinduism even less in order to assess the merits or demerits of what I saw. In general, it was interesting, but no more. So, just some nuances, you must definitely enter a Hindu temple without shoes, which, as it were, implies the cleanliness of the floor in it. Right now. My white socks have turned brick red since his visit. And in the Basilica of Bom Jesus in Old Goa, the relics of St. Francis Xavier are kept, which are probably 500 years old - the object of worship of the suffering masses. In general, I treat all these holy relics not so much with prejudice, but without much reverence, well, someone worships their work, but somehow I don’t need it at all, and it’s unpleasant to watch. But the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Panaji immediately made an impression with its snow-whiteness against the gray background of the surrounding buildings, with its kind of hovering over the squat streets diverging like a fan from the hill on which it stands, and with a huge staircase balustrade descending directly onto the roadway and, as it were, being a continuation of a rather wide, according to local concepts, of course, boulevard.
And from the very top, not only a wonderful, but a very peculiar view opens up, like from any high place. True, I kept trying to look out for the sea from there, they say once this church served as a lighthouse for Portuguese sailors, but alas, the sea was hidden behind the blocks of houses. And the most interesting thing is that it was this church that was not included in the tour program, we discovered it ourselves when the guide took our group to the boulevard and led the people in the opposite direction from the church to show the shops. But we made a 180-degree turn and moved along the boulevard to the stairs leading up. It was cool in the church itself, but what is plus for 30 in the bright sun in a stuffy town, I think I don’t need to explain, and we just sat with pleasure. Still, in Catholic churches there is one great advantage, benches for parishioners. And yet there were no relics in this. We still managed to walk around the city a little before the bus departed and even bought tea in a tea shop that was discovered. In the same shop, we found about half of our group, which, naturally, would be completely nonsense, not to bring Indian tea from India. As we found out already at home, the tea really turned out to be real, but it does not grow in Goa itself, it is brought from other states of India. In general, all our purchases in Goa were very peculiar, we brought tea, spices, an Indian drum, a bell, shells with us to Moscow, among them one “singing” one, you can blow out a low, drawn-out, rather loud sound from it. Yes, and we also bought a sari, in Russia, as I understand it, the most necessary and irreplaceable thing. What sarees are in fashion right now?
classical dances
We devoted one of the evenings to familiarizing ourselves with such a specific and, as it seemed to me, very interesting side of "their" life, like Indian classical dances. It was a performance in one of the neighboring hotels combined with dinner. I see that this is already a widespread phenomenon, it is believed that without plentiful food and drink, art is not perceived, such as “an empty belly is deaf to art.” All this took place in a large open meadow, again surrounded by palm trees. At first, I generally had fears for the success of this event, since as soon as we appeared there and took a place at the most convenient table, we were immediately attacked by squadrons of local, some small, but rather annoying mosquitoes. But the problem was solved so easily and elegantly that I was simply amazed, pots were placed around the entire meadow, from which smoke was smoking and the entire “auditorium” together with the stage was covered with the aroma of some kind of incense. Mosquitoes, unable to withstand such violence against their sense of smell, instantly disappeared. People endured. Now about the dance itself, if you think, as I thought before, that this is something like what is shown in Indian films, then I'm afraid I will disappoint you, as I was disappointed myself, but only slightly. Everything that happened on the stage was a cross between the ritual dances of African wild tribes and the horse races of the shamans of the North around the fire. The similarity was further aggravated by the fact that masks were widely used, and that there was a lot of fire, I generally got the impression that the Indians were great fire worshipers, the fire was on the stage, around the clearing, it was let out from the mouth, etc. But the most interesting thing is that we were shown REAL Indian dances from various provinces. But what about those dances that we used to consider Indian? Beautiful Indian women in gilded saris with decorations, wherever possible, to the rhythmic music of their bells, captivate the audience with smooth body movements. I saw these dances there too. on TV. And in general, there was an impression that on the screen - this is one India, but on the street outside the walls of the cottage - another. On the screen there is beautiful rhythmic music and smooth movements, but in life there are ritual dances, on the screen they are all, well, if not quite pale-faced, but outwardly still more like Europeans than Asians, and around I see faces that also bear little resemblance to Japanese with Chinese, but in darkness they are no different from the blacks of central Africa. So not only Russia cannot be understood with the mind!
Night market in Arpora
One of the most interesting evening and night activities was a trip to the "Saturday night market" in Arpora - this is such a small village in the north of Goa. There were two reasons why we wanted to go there, the first was to heed the numerous recommendations of those who had already been there, to feel the special atmosphere of a real “Indian” market with fakirs, snake charmers, half-naked dancers, fountains of fire and so on. The second reason is more banal, I wanted to buy "cheap" colonial goods: souvenirs, spices, fabrics, T-shirts and so on, so on, so on. Because of this, we chased beach vendors all week postponing native shopping for Saturday. Of course, we were wrong on all counts and especially naive on the second. Of course there was no market there, but firstly, the initial price on it was set the same as on our beach, but it was just a pity to waste time there, which suddenly turned out to be precious, for endless trading. There really turned out to be a special atmosphere, but everything that happened there had a very distant relation to India. Music played, but not Indian, but exotic-looking musicians (however, the audience was not much different from them), turned out to be a team from all over the world, a guitarist from Germany, a drummer from America, and so on. There was a half-naked dancer with some kind of fiery ropes, but for some reason they called her Tatyana, and this tall, slender blonde was the least like a Hindu. In general, it was the atmosphere of a certain mystery, a farce, a student skit, a Sorochinsky fair, a carnival, a Brazilian carnival, and the smell of marijuana hovered over all this. And, of course, a sea of fire. I must say that out of everything we originally planned back in Moscow, the only thing that we didn’t manage to do was get to the trance party, but here in this market we managed to touch this phenomenon a little bit on the edge of Goa, the music thundered " trance", and most of the visitors and sellers, as I understand it, were regulars at these same trance parties. Actually, trading in the market itself was of little interest to anyone, except for poor fellows like us, who decided that the market is a place where they sell something and, alas, spent the lion’s share of the time on some stupid purchases at first. Most of the vendors here were of the same hippie look as the rest of the public, some were blatantly sleeping in their "jobs" apparently smoking weed. Boiko went only trade in beer and other things attached to it. When we figured out the true essence of this phenomenon called “Night Market in Arpora”, we were already running out of time, we arrived so late, and besides, we planned very little time for the market itself, and our friends with whom we went there together went, asked to go home, they became ill from the smells, from the music and in general from. Since all this action took place quite far from our hotel, and it was already quite late, we decided not to leave them alone and left too. In general, we kind of looked at everything, and kind of felt the atmosphere, but left with the feeling of a child who was taken away from the New Year tree in full swing, they say Santa Claus had already looked, a round dance was ringing around the Christmas tree, they gave you a gift, and more here and nothing to do.
Margao - carnival in Goa
The capital of the state of Goa is the city of Panaji (Panjim), located 30 kilometers from Dabolim Airport, largest city state is Vasco da Gama.
Thanks to its many kilometers of beaches, Goa has become a world famous resort. In our Goa guide, we will talk a little about why it became like this.
Geographically, the state is divided into north goa and South Goa.
South Goa beach
The part of the state called North Goa has a higher population density and fewer hotels, mostly rated 2-3 stars.” Since the beaches in these places consist of gray, far from the snow-white shade of sand, and sea water the coast is opaque, holidays in Goa (as many say) in its northern part are inexpensive, low-income Indians, foreign students, as well as supporters of budget holiday and lovers of the so-called trance parties. It is no secret that it was in the resort of North Goa that the world-famous musical style Goa-trance arose today. So if you are a fan of this style of music, then consider that you are provided with a visa to Goa and you will easily join the local atmosphere. Therefore, what is the northern sea in Goa Goa is famous for its democratic views, the diversity of the vacationing public and incendiary trance parties on the beaches. Vagator beach with Titos and Mambo discos located in the vicinity, as well as Anjuna beach won particular popularity among fans of goa-trance electronic music. known for its eponymous flea market "- a real paradise for lovers of Indian exoticism.
South Goa, where the sand on the beaches takes on from golden to snow-white hues, has more expensive hotels and a slightly different philosophy of relaxation. Hotels located in the resort of South Goa are quite expensive - 4-5 star, immersed in the emerald greenery of gardens. Tropical thickets in the South Goa region begin just beyond the sandy border. The beaches here are often deserted, here you will not find a cow - an inviolable Indian animal, standing knee-deep in water among bathing tourists, as in the north of the state. Rest in South Goa is respectable, relatively expensive, especially by Indian standards. Of the regular guests of local hotels, wealthy Indians are foreign bourgeois who do not at all consider prices in this paradise India sky-high.
However, in fairness, it must be said that what area of such a fabulous place as goa resort Whatever you choose as a place to stay, you are always guaranteed to find a home according to your own needs and the amount of money in your wallet - from a private house for rent for $ 200 a month to a palm leaf hut for 80 rupees a day. And you can choose any time of the trip - such a thing as tourist season does not exist in Goa, tall and low seasons are important for spoiled clients of travel agencies who are unlikely to enjoy a holiday in Goa. So whether it's party North Goa, or measured South Goa, you will enjoy your vacation and will surely have a wonderful time in Goa.
Goa is famous not only for its beaches. The nature of the foothills of this amazing place is striking in its diversity: lakes, waterfalls, islands, palm groves and mangroves with a huge amount of exotic living creatures, and, of course, unique spice plantations. All this is not the last reason why a holiday in Goa is becoming the golden dream of tourists from different countries. And after reading the guide to Goa, rest in this corner of India will become even more interesting for you. By the way, do not forget to change the clock - the time in Goa differs from many regions of Russia, the state time zone is +5:30 to world time.
