North Goa Tourist Guide

North Goa hosts beautiful calm and peacful beaches, where you can relax and enjoy the sun with your family and have a wonderful time enjoying your honeymoon.

Candolim Beach in North Goa lies 15kms from Panjim. Beginning at Fort Aguada and merging with Calangute beach towards the end, it is one of the longest beaches in the state and is located in the Bardez taluka. The beach in itself is very calm and peaceful.

What adds to the scenic beauty of the sand and sea are the scrub covered dunes at the back of the beach quite popular with tourists.

The main road that is the Candolim Calangute road is packed with shops and restaurants, but the beach front is rather free of any commercial activity apart from some water activities. The area around the beach can be termed as resort free as there aren't any resorts there. However, the beach has quite a number of inns at reasonable prices with good facilities.

Another interesting feature about the Candolim beach is the ship River Princess, which has been stuck at the shores of the beach since 2000.

Casinos in Goa

Goa is the only state in India, where gambling can be enjoyed. Since there is a ban on opening Casinos on land, these Goan casinos operate only on sea. Please note that all the casino follow their own dress code, so it is important for the tourist to follow them or else entry to the casino can be denied.

On Shore Casinos in Goa includes all those casinos that are located inside a hotel. The most popular  are Las Vegas Casino in the Leela Resort (open 24 hours, dress code - Smart Casual), Chances Casino in Vainguinim Valley Resort (open 24 hours, known to be among the 5 best casions in Goal), Treasure Casino in Majorda Beach Resort (Dress: Smart Casuals. No Slippers, Shorts and Sleeveless T-Shirts allowed) and Mint Club Casino in Rivera De Goa Resort (open 24 hours and dress code is smart casuals).

Offshore Casinos

Caravela is the most known casino in Goa that operates 215 ft. long cruise ship and can accommodate 300 people. The games that can be enjoyed here are American Roulette, Black Jack, Rummy, Stud Poker, Baccarat, Pontoon and Flash.

Casino Royale Goa is another popular casino offering games like American Roulette, Black Jack, 5 Card Draw Poker, 3 Card Poker, Baccarat and Pontoon. Renowned as being India’s largest off shore entertainment vessel, the casino is open from 6 in the evening till 8 in the morning.

King’s Casino,  is also  a revered name in the gambling world of Goa.You can enjoy gaming activities like American Roulette, Black Jack, 5 Card Draw Poker, 3 Card Poker, Baccarat, Pontoon, Slot Machines including video poker. The casino is open from 8pm to 8am. The ship floats on the Mondovi river and has a guest capacity of 150 members.

Smart casuals or formals are the most common dress code of the casinos.

Night Life in Goa

Night life

Goa is the land of sun, sand and surf, is a tourist paradise which caters a tremendous amount of opportunities to fun and enjoy.As the sun sets, the real Goa wakes up! Here you can sit and enjoy the live performances or even you can dance all night on the amazing rhythms at any one of Goa’s club.

There are lots of things to do in Goa, as here you can try your luck at any of the fascinating casinos of Goa or can spend a mesmerizing night at Goa’s Nightclubs which can take you to the dream world of cocktails and tequilas.

Night Clubs / Discos in Goa

Goa is famous for its night clubs and discotheques all over the world. The pubs and discotheque in North Goa are -

Tito’s  A thundering dance floor, electrifying lights and pulsating music sets Club Tito's on fire every Saturday night. One of the first and most popular discothèques in Goa, Tito's is invariably known to music and party lovers all over the world and needs no introduction. Local and foreign tourists holidaying regularly in Goa, may not know the name of the city they are in but can definitely tell when they are nearing the famous ‘Tito's lane'!

Tito's is located off the main road towards Baga beach in Goa.

Popular DJs from all over India and abroad set foot here to spin on some reverberating music tracks that set the dance floor ablaze! Various genres of music ranging from house to hip hop are played here. Alcoholic drinks are served at the bar counters with smartly clad bar men doing an interesting bit of flair bartending. Comfy sofas are provided, ideally for those who choose to take a breather from the dance floor throbbing with music till the wee hours of the morning. Open air parties are also held here during the months of November and December

Kamaki is a Retro Bar outside and club indoors and is located on one of the busiest and the most vibrant streets Tito's Lane. Two bars.The outdoor section has live musicians or DJ's who play retro and old skool tracks everyday from 6 pm till midnight and also two huge projector screens showing International football and cricket matches and Formula One. Kamaki is open all day for drinks

Paradisio is at Anjuna Beach. It  is a popular night club that is filled with old time ravers and musicians. It is the most spectacular clubs in Goa and is perfect for those who love to booze and dance all night.

Cafe Mambo’s is known for its unique theme nights and late hour parties. This is one of the most crowd pulling nightclub on Baga and is open for 6 pm till 3 am. Mondays is Jungle Night with prizes for the best jungle attire. Retro nights on Tuesday are for 1970s and 1980s beats. Wednesday is free for women at Mambo's. Thursday is Karaoke Night and Friday is Hip-Hop. Saturday is the biggest night of the week, with Party Nite at Tito's. Sunday is Pirate Nite, with prizes for the best dressed pirate.

Club Cabana in North Goa is on the Arpora Hill and is famous for its elite crowds. Open on all night, this night club has a different DJ every night. The charges of the club is Rs 500 for men and Rs 900 for a couple (drinks included). The club also has a swimming pool, where guests can enjoy free massages.

Places you can visit

Fort Aguada - Fort Aguada is located on Sinquerim Beach. It was built in the 17th century by the Portuguese to defend themselves against the Dutch and the Marathas. This historic fort offers panoramic views of the beaches around and even has a lighthouse on the property.

Mapusa - Mapusa is the capital of the district of Bardez. It is famous for its weekly Friday bazaars where one can buy anything from fruits and vegetables to a wide variety of handicraft and souvenirs.

Basilica of Bom Jesus - One of the most popular churches in Goa, the Basilica of Bom Jesus is located in Old Goa which was the capital city during the rule of the Portugese. The Basilica of Bom Jesus is famous for the preserved mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier.

Mary Immaculate Conception Church - One of the earliest Churches to be constructed in Goa, this is one of the most famous landmarks here. Tourists come to the Mary Immaculate Conception Church to feel blessed and to marvel at the magnitude of its architecture.

Dudhsagar Waterfalls - The Dudhsagar waterfalls are located in the Sanguem district of Goa near the Goa-Karnataka border, at a distance of around 60 kilometers from Margao.

Sahakari Spice Farm - Located at a distance of just 2 kilometers from Ponda, the Sahakari spice plantation is famous for its farms and fruits. One of the most unique spices grown here is vanilla. The farm is spread over 130 acres and also has two small streams flowing right through it.

Abyss Spice Farm - This spice plantation near Ponda is located on high mountains amidst stunning surroundings. Many tourists visit the Abyss spice plantation as it is famous for the medicinal herbs that are grown here on a large scale.

Savoi Spice Plantation - This spice plantation is located at a distance of around 10 kilometers from Ponda. The main spices grown here are cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, turmeric, ginger, basil, nutmeg and pepper. The cashew distillation unit is an added attraction here.

Getting around in Goa

The city bus service is quite good  and it can almost take you anywhere in Goa, you want to go.

Mostly people prefer to rent their own transport and cars, MUVs and mini buses are all available.

You can enjoy the motorbike taxi,which is the only of its kind in India.These taxis are motorbikes, which carry a pillion rider for very acceptable traveling cost.

Traveling can be  more easier & enjoyable, if you can rent a two-wheeler! The most popular choice is the Enfield. You can get them on rent  on daily or monthly basis depending on your needs.

Apart from the authorized rentals, two-wheelers can be found easily by shop and stall owners who rent them out at very reasonable rates,they just need to know your place of stay.

Note: It is advised to carry a valid driving license with you & it is warned that the rented bikes from the authorized rentals will have no documents & insurance.

You can enjoy the festivities of the Winter Carnival – Goa’s most popular event that features lots of music, dance and merriment. Satiate your hunger at local shacks on the beach side or some fine dining restaurants that offer authentic and scrumptious varieties of sea-foods.

Best Time to visit & Climate

The best time to visit Goa is between late October and early April. The peak tourist season is from mid-December to mid-January, when the weather is near perfect, with daytime temperatures rarely goes beyond 32° C. People from all over the world visit Goa at this time of the year, so be sure to have made your hotel bookings well in advance as accommodation prices are very high. Christmas and New Years is celebrated through out Goa with a lot of gusto and everyone literally lets down their hair to be part of these celebrations.

The Goa Carnival festival is held in late February or early March and this again is a great time to be in Goa. The festivities are filled with music and dancing, pageants and parades!

June & July are the monsoon months in Goa. Although really wet, Goa looks beautiful and lush and while swimming in the sea is not recommended, the flip side is that there are not too many tourists around so hotel prices are bottomed out. Take advantage of the low prices and visit Goa in the monsoons for a very different experience!

Climate

Goa is warm and humid throughout the year, with little variation in the temperatures, which stay around 28°-33° C (average maximum temps). You can expect it to rain heavily during the months of June through August, with July receiving as much as 133 cm. The rains taper off by early October and the months between November and February are usually dry.

How to reach Goa

By  Air

Goa is easily assessable by air. There is an international airport at Dabolim, 30 km from the capital, Panaji. Several overseas charter companies as well as most domestic airlines have flights to Dabolim. The regular domestic connections are from Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Kochi and Chennai.

From the airport to your hotel or to any of the townsyou can catch a cab or a metered taxi.

By Rail

The two main railway stations are Margao (Madgaon) and Vasco da Gama. There are trains coming from all the major cities of India. From other places in the north, east and southeast you can travel to Londa Junction and then transfer to a connecting train to Margao/Vasco da Gama.

 By Road

Renting a car and being independent is really the best thing, but the buses are pretty good too. Bus connections are available to Mumbai, Bangalore, Mangalore, Mysore, Pune, and other important tourist destinations in the region, operated by the Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra Road Transport Corporations and some private operators. Air-conditioned bus services are also available on some of the routes.

          
About Goa

Goa -The smallest state in India with an area of 3,702 square kilometers is located on the West coast between Maharashtra and Karnataka, and is one of the prime destinations on the domestic and foreign tourist circuits. This has something to do with the joie de vivre of the place, but there are more specific reasons.

Goa has all kinds of beaches, from the popular, lively and noisy to the pristine and secluded. It has excellent seafood and the much-loved Kaju Feni (traditional local liquor made from the cashew fruit). It has some of the most beautiful churches in the country. The Basilica of Bom Jesus, a UNESCO World Heritage site due to its exquisite baroque architecture and history, is one example. Goa also has numerous temples dedicated to deities ranging from Shree Bhagawati to Brahma to Kalikadevi, worshipped with equal gusto.

Goa Quick Facts at a Glance Goa at a Glance
Top 25  Quick facts About Goa           
Goa Coordinates:         15.4989°N,73.8278°E      
Country        India     
State      Goa     
District     Goa     
Goa is world famous for      beaches+watersports+wildlife +museums +Churches, Temples
Goa main Culture/Religion     Hindu and Christian          
Goa Elevation     1022 mt    3.61 sq Feet     
Goa PIN      403001         
Goa Telephone code     0832-         STD code
Goa Vehicleregistration     Ga 02     
Goa Nearest Airport     Dabolim Airport, Goa, India     44 kms
Goa2ndNearest Airport     Hubli Airport         134.27 Kms
Goa NearestTrain Stati.     Madgaon Railway Station     28 Kms
Goa Nearest Main City     Belgaum     82 kms
Goa Distancefrom Delhi     1883 Kms     
Goa Lowest Tempratur     3° C to 11° C     Winters     
GoaHighest temperatur     25° C to 45° C    March/June     
Goa Tourist Months     Sep/March         
Goa Main River     Zuari         
            
            
                        
            
Top 5 Attractions in Goa     Name     Distance
Goa Main Attraction1     Agonda Beach, Agonda     
Goa Main Attraction2     Mandrem Beach, Mandrem     
Goa Main Attraction3     Cavelossim Beach, Cavelossim     
Goa Main Attraction4     Cola Beach, Canacona     
      Utorda Beach, Utorda     
 

Top 5 Accomodation  in Goa     Types     TA Rating
Taj Exotica Goa      Hotel     92%
The Leela Goa     Hotel     90%
Vivanta by Taj     Hotel     92%
Alila Diwa Goa     Hotel     87%
Park Hyatt Goa Resort and Spa, Cansaulim     Hotel     87%
            
Top 5 Restaurants in Goa           
Chef Soumyen's Kitchen     Restaurant          
Cavatina, Salcette District     Restaurant          
Blue Planet Cafe, Agonda     Restaurant          
Crunch, Palolem         Restaurant          
Jamies Place, Baga     Restaurant          
Top 5 Personalities of Goa           
            
            
                       

Top 5 Events in Goa           
Goa Carnival      Feb          

Sunburn Festival     December     
Feast of St.Francis Xavier     December     
Christmas     December     
Shigmo       March