Welcome to Goa, the place with bright lights, sandy beaches, and a carefree spirit. Here is my OFFBEAT Goa travel story.
Known as the party capital of India, this location astounds tourists with a captivating fusion of natural beauty, rich cultural diversity, and Portuguese ancestry. Come along with me as we explore the breathtaking beaches, savor delicious cuisine, groove to the sounds of Goa trance, and learn about the rich history of this alluring paradise.
Day 1: Rainy Welcome and Unexpected Delights of Goa
From Mumbai Thane, we traveled at 12.45 a.m. to Karmali, North Goa, and arrived at noon when the rains greeted us. Don’t pick an option of Ola and Uber because availability is not there. For cabs to stand in a small queue from Karmali to our hotel in Candolim it was around a whopping 1200.
We stayed at Candolim Sands for 1200 per day in a room with a balcony. We ordered some food in the hotel room.
It rained heavily, cats and dogs were there the entire time but after a brief pause, we rented a Rs.300/- per day scooter. With raincoats, we headed to Candolim Beach, a 12-minute ride. It was crowded, and when it rained again, my flat sandals slipped away twice in the high tide. Learn from my mistakes and wear shoes with a better grip. Plenty of shops are around for your needs.
As soon as it began to rain again, we set out to find somewhere to stay dry and somewhere to eat. On the way back to our hotel, we stopped at a restaurant called Vadoo 15 at random without doing any research beforehand. The atmosphere was fantastic, with live music, and had rice and a curry that was similar to Thai curry, which we enjoyed. Then, we had a craving for dessert and set out to get it. After a short while, we discovered Village Bakers, a tiny bakery with an outside seating area and a wide selection of desserts, including macarons, croissants, donuts, and cheesecakes. After enjoying a cheesecake and a tiramisu, we left for home.
Day 2 : Exploring Panaji a Day of Culinary Delights, and Heritage Walks
At around 11 am, we ventured to our initial destination, Lady Immaculate Church in Panaji. Despite its stunning exterior, we were disappointed to find it closed, with no access allowed. I recommend researching its accessibility before planning a visit.
Now, we have the option to have lunch and choose a random restaurant that is opposite the church named “George Restaurant”. Tried amazing food like Pomfret Goan curry, prawn Goan curry, rice, etc., and got free poppy and prawn fry because we were the first patrons of the day.
After lunch, we visited the beautiful Heritage Walk Fontainhas with colorful French architecture. There’s a small bar called Joseph’s Bar, which we didn’t go to, but you can. It’s a great place for photography, although some houses don’t want their image on the internet. Also, there were actually signs all over mentioning photography was prohibited. So, find a spot without signs and take your Instagram-worthy pictures there. Then, we went to a Planetarium. It was less appealing to me because I had seen a much wider and more attractive Planetarium from Kolkata. But it’s a unique experience for science enthusiasts and families with kids.
Day 3: Bidding Farewell to Beach Bliss and Cinematic Roads
On our last day, we visited Calangute Beach in the morning. The sky was clearer, but suddenly it started raining. We found shelter and had brunch at a big restaurant on the beach. The food was amazing, and we tried lemon tea, coffee, and a large pizza. They also offered adventure sports for Rs.1300, but we didn’t have time as we wanted to visit Para Coconut Road. This road is famous for being featured in the movie Dear Zindagi and is a great place to walk or take a ride.
So yeah, we had our bus at 8 pm from there and reached the next day around 12 pm in Mumbai. Honestly, this was kind of an offbeat Goa story, since it is known for drinks, partying, and casinos but coming from someone who doesn’t do either this is a nice way to explore the scenic beauty and enjoy it with your friends and family.
Accommodation in Goa
- Candolim Sands, where we stayed- The accommodation was below average and had no electricity when we arrived, however, it did have a balcony, and our daily fee was 1200. Eventually, though, we placed an order for meals because they did not have lunch service there.
Best Food Cafes and Restaurants
- We went to a restaurant named Vadoo 15 with a fantastic ambiance, live music, and an amazing singer. The overall vibe was 10/10. We enjoyed rice and caxauti curry, similar to Thai curry and quite delicious.
- Craving desserts, we discovered a cozy bakery called Village Bakers. Offering macarons, croissants, donuts, and cheesecakes, we enjoyed a delicious cheesecake and tiramisu before heading home.
- George Restaurant: Indulged in fantastic dishes like Pomfret Goan curry, prawn Goan curry, rice, and caramel at a restaurant with impeccable service. Treated like royalty, we even received complimentary Pomfret and prawn fry as the first patrons of the day. I gave the food an 8 out of 10, and the atmosphere and service a 10 out of 10.
- Joseph’s bar
Goa is Famous For :
Goa is well-known for its cashews, which sell for about Rs. 1000 for 500 grams.
Travel tips for Goa :
- Wearing shoes which you will have a good grip on, never wear heels, sandals or bellies. There are shops everywhere for you to check and buy.
- Carry sunscreen in all seasons.
So, pack your bags, put on some sunscreen, and get ready for a Goa trip filled with sun, sand, and soul that will leave you yearning for more. Best Month to visit is November to February !!!
Wander through a collection of travel fables at https://sowl.in/stories for your wanderlust fix.
