GoA GoA GoA

Goa is India's smallest state by area and the 4th smallest by population. Located on the west coast of India in the region known as the konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharastra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its western coast.

It was summer time and this time it was in GOA....All set and planned for GoA for 3 days .
We left Blore on 12th night @ around 8 PM and as usual I knew we would reach Panaji the capital of Goa at 1 PM next day during lunch time...and ya I was rite this time....We headed straight to Issac villa on Baga beach where we had booked our stay for next couple of days in Goa. We had got a good deal to stay. Normally at this time u would need to bargain @ each and every place in Goa as rates are seasonal here. Had a good lunch @ mayyona's - a river side restaurant in Baga, and then headed straight away for some water sports.
Baga is a fishing beach with brown sand that sees a lot of international tourists sun-bathing in its golden sun, as a grove of palms gently sways in the wind. The Baga River flows along one side of Baga beach.

The main road running through the Baga village is lined with several bars, tandoori terraces and handicraft shops. The relatively newer Saturday flea market of Baga Goa, is a huge success and an occasion of much that lasts well into the night, brightly lit up with lights and paraffin lamps. All kinds of odds and ends, handicrafts, jewelery and snacks stalls can be found at Baga and a temporary stage is constructed for the visiting local musician. Baga Goa's nightlife is the liveliest in Goa and is the perfect expression of the Goan and Western mix of culture.

Baga beach offers plenty of water sports. You can go for parasailing, water skiing, windsurfing and other water sports, but, only if you have enough expertise in it. We tried our hands at parasailing, banana ride, bumpy water ride and water skiing. One need to bargain well with these water sport operators. One advice would be all these people who run are from Northern karnataka so if u know kannada then its a bit handy to bargain and we had Reconz supported by Soumya to bargain a good deal for all these water sports for us :)
We walked all the way to calangute beach which is almost a 1 KM stretch good walk on the beach.

Nightlife in Baga is considered the liveliest in the region. It is home to some of the biggest hot-spots by night in Goa, including Titto's and Cafe Mambo. Visit the Titto's which is highly popular among the tourists because it has the only dance floor and fantastic sound system outside the big hotels of Baga. Enjoy a candle lit dinner on the beach, go for a traditional Goan meal in any beach side shacks or simply take a cup of real espresso coffee. And ya don't miss the chats on street side..the Goan chats. We had chats at calangute, then had dinner and finally reached base. It was a good day with all water sports done :)
Day 2: 14th March Sunday:

As planned we had breakfast in some hotel..its hard to find vegetarian things for breakfast in the morning. Then as planned hired bikes; you get bikes for rent in Goa on daily basis they charge around Rs.200 per day. Then we were all set to explore north Goa on our bikes. We had 3 bike now :)
First we headed towards Vagator beach. The soft white sands, the black lava rocks, the coconut palms, the lush green landscape, nature playing its own music, and the sea turning from aquamarine to emerald green. Vagator and Chapora, overlooked by the 500-year-old Portuguese fort, leaves each visitor awestruck. Yet to be disturbed by the hustle and bustle of tourists, life goes on peacefully, in the background, in Vagator and Chapora.
Hiking up, the lava-bedecked black rock stepping-stones lead to the 500-year-old Portuguese fort, popularly known as the Chapora Fort. It utters the reminiscence of the old Portuguese times giving a splendid view of the sea and hills covered with coconut trees and rice fields. The remaining battlements and fortifications take one down the memory lane, into the times when Royalty ruled the Vagator hue. Dil Chahata Hai was shot here :)

Our second stop for the day was The fort was constructed in 1612 to guard against the Dutch and the Marathas. It was a reference point for the vessels coming from Europe at that time. This old Portuguese fort stands on the beach south of Candolim, at the shore of the Mandovi river. On the way to this port you can see Kingfisher villa :) VM's Goa residence.
Then we headed to Panjim where we had lunch ; then went to Miramar beach. It is the nearest beach to the Goan capital and unarguably the most visited beach of Goa. Hoardes of people, mostly tourists, are found every day flocking to this beach. situated on the Mandovi river, it is a small beach that hosts some events occasionally. Driving down from this beach to Dona Paula is one of the best driving zones in county the road is just beach side and well maintained by tress on either side..no traffic lights gonna stop you. Panjim is a small and charming city.

The beauty of Goa Dona Paula beach has been enhanced by a spooky past which has the tourists thronging to this place. History goes that the beach is named after Dona Paula de Menzes, daughter of a viceroy (in colonial India), who threw herself off the cliff, when refused permission to marry a local fisherman, Gaspar Dias. The myth says that Dona Paula is entombed in the Cabo Chapel of the Raj Bhawan and is supposed to be seen emerging from the moonlit waves wearing only a pearl necklace. This story attracts many tourists and they come here just to feel the sweet pain of love. This beach has also been the location for many Indian movies. Given this dual attraction, Dona Paula Beach has become a popular tourist spots.
On the way back we had hell lot of confusions as Reconz and Raghu lost there way but some how we all managed to head back to one of Baga's best shacks – Britto's. Had a very good fish platter and back to base for a good sleep :)

Do try out your dinner in beach shacks its a wonderful experience.

Day 3: 15th March Monday:

Today for an early morning beach experience, myself, soumya and kutty went to Baga beach @ 6 AM and wow! what a pleasant time to be in the beach. We were there till 8 then took our bike and headed to the world-famous Anjuna Beach which lies to the south of Vagator. The beauty of the white waves rushing to embrace the pale golden sand on the beach can be witnessed in full form at the Goa Anjuna beach. Goa Anjuna beach is a perfect haven for the hippies and you will come across some of them who have been staying on this beach for a couple of months. It is in the late 1950s to mid-1960s that Anjuna beach was "discovered" by the hippies. From then on began the trend of moonlit parties which is one occasion the hippies and now the tourists look forward to.
We had breakfast at one of the local dhabas - the taste was awesome ....u get bread and channa masala and ommlet tea :) it all comes in a very handy package :) and the crowd to accompany you will be the local taxi drivers and fishermen, but from my childhood everytime I go to Goa I always have some snacks from such places so this time also didn't wanted to miss it. But only me and kutty went and had breakfast there. The rest of the crowd was not interested.
We headed back to B'lore from Madgoan at around 9 PM. Goa is not that well connected my B'lore there are only biweekly trains and daily buses will take around 15 Hrs to reach Goa apart for that there are some 3 daily flights that connect B'lore and Goa.

This trip has covered only north Goa will be going to South Goa soon :)
All the price mentioned are subject to change as Goa is seasonal tourist destination.

This trip was more of Fun Fun & Fun so not much photography was tried by me :)
The total cost of our trip for 3 days including stay, food and beverages was 4000 INR.

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