Best beaches in North Goa:
1 Candolim :-
Candolim beach is another relatively busy soft sandy beach that due to erosion can be narrow in some places. Hawkers selling mostly cheap clothes and along with masseurs offering massages makes the beach a lively spot. A polite but firm no always works ~ though these people can be very interesting to talk to. There are a variety of beach shacks providing plenty of food and cold drink choices along with rickety sun beds and the odd rustic "loo". Towards the Sinquerim end of the beach you can get most forms of water sport activities including para sailing and "See the dolphin boat trips". This is a tour operator tourism place, though it gets very busy with locals at weekends and holidays.
The bulk ore carrier River Princess ended up being grounded some 100 meters from the beach during the 2001 monsoon. Despite numerous pledges by both local and central government, she still lays rusting. Various attempts have been made to salvage or re-float the ship. As of March 2009 the boat is still there. Over the years it has managed to accelerate coastal erosion which has resulted in the changed shape of the shoreline and makes swimming nearby very dangerous due to the strong undercurrents that are caused by the presence of the ship. Promising efforts to remove her started in 2005/2006 but due to the severe rusting the work stopped as the 2007 monsoon arrived. Recently a number of protests by locals and tourists has led to a High Court action calling for the River Princess to be declared a State Disaster. In the last 6 months work has begun on the break up of the River Princess. This is to be completed in early 2012.
02 Baga :-
Baga is in the state of Goa, on the west coast of India. To many people Baga is an extension of the adjoining town of Calangute and nobody seems to be sure where one ends and the other begins. Calangute (and the area around it, Sinquerim, Baga, Candolim) in the northern section of central Goa is where tourism all started for Goa. From the late Sixties, this was the spot where the flower-children descended.
As well as the usual range of tourist souvenirs, there are many shops selling made to measure suits and clothing at a fraction of western prices. Many leatherware shops offering made to measure jackets and luggage also available. Glasses also very cheap at the opticians in the centre of the adjoing town of Calangute. Mackies Saturday Night Bazaar is a great place for bargain hunting and music, whilst nearby Anjuna's world famous flea market is ceratinly worth a visit.
Rama's Bookshop at the Calangute junction on the road leading off to Baga offers second-hand books in a dozen European languages. You even get fifty percent back on returning the read book.
03 Anjuna :-
Anjuna beach is to the west of the village with lot of restaurants and bars. Not really the most beautiful beach you can see in Goa, and not a quiet place (beware of the incidental skydiver landing on the beach, watch out for that infuriated cow), it is still possible to have good times there.
Anjuna Flea market happens on Wednesdays and runs from morning till dusk. Go early if you want to hunt for bargains, take a rest at noon and come back when it's not as hot anymore. The market offers pretty much anything of what you can think of. Haggling is expected and failing to do so means missing out on the best part.
Apart from that there is not really much to see in Anjuna.
04 Calangute :-
Calangute is a town on the northern coast of Goa It is among the most popular tourist destinations in Goa. Calangute is located 13 km from Panji and 8 km from Mapusa.
- Relax at the beach. The beach reaches from Candolim to Baga. Known also as the Queen of Beaches, although is rather crowded nowadays. Unfortunately it has also been reported to be a place where women risk to be harrassed. The sand is quite full of beds for sunbathing. These are free at least if you buy something from the beach shack, but expect a lot of salesmen.
- If you go from the center of the town to the beach, you will find a massive amount of water sports operators; they are cheap and fun but their safety is very doubtful due to the large number of jetskis operating in the breaking waves. At this part of the beach there are no beach shacks.
- Hire a bike or scooty for about Rs.150-200 per day and roam around other nearby beaches like Baga, Candolim, Anjuna. You can also ride straight upto Aguada Fort. Make sure to fill your vehicle's tank before you start off the journey. Fuels are sold by many roadside shops at about Rs.90 per liter.
- Visit a tailor and make some nice clothes. For the best results bring some pictures or existing clothes for inspiration. Remember to allocate a few days to get everything just right. Check out Mac Doulani in Nizmar resort, despite the shabby location he's one of the best
05 Vagator :-
Vagator Beach has dramatic red cliffs looking down on the shore and two fresh water springs within a stone's throw of the sea. Vagator Beach is split into two main beaches by a seaside headland which holds the car park and lots of stalls selling trinkets, clothes, soft drinks and snacks. As you face the sea, on your right is Big Vagator Beach and on your left Ozran Beach, more commonly known as Little Vagator Beach.
06 Morjim :-
Morjim is a village situated in North Goa in the Pernem district on the north bank of the Chapora River estuary. It is home to a variety of birds and to the Olive ridley sea turtle. It has become known as "Little Russia" due to the concentration of Russian expatriates living there.Beautiful beach, inhabited by Russian tourists.
07 Arambol :-
- Sweet Water Lake - On the North end of Arambol beach is a lake with a few surrounding guesthouses and restaurants. Good swimming. Lounge chairs can be rented.
- Banyan Tree - To the left of Sweet Water Lake is an easy-going trail which will take you into the bush along a stream and up to a lovely banyan tree. Though in high season there is the "Tourist Baba" who sits around there and other people who have set up camp in the tree. Not as beautiful with the litter, clothes hanging, and ash piles of burnt out cooking fires.
- Viewpoints - Near Sweet Water Lake are a few little trails leading up the hills to overlook the beach.
- Sweet Water Lake - On the North end of Arambol beach is a lake with a few surrounding guesthouses and restaurants. Good swimming. Lounge chairs can be rented.
- Banyan Tree - To the left of Sweet Water Lake is an easy-going trail which will take you into the bush along a stream and up to a lovely banyan tree. Though in high season there is the "Tourist Baba" who sits around there and other people who have set up camp in the tree. Not as beautiful with the litter, clothes hanging, and ash piles of burnt out cooking fires.
- Viewpoints - Near Sweet Water Lake are a few little trails leading up the hills to overlook the beach.
08 Sinquerim :-
The lovely beach of Sinquerim is one of the oldest preserved beaches in Goa. The famous fort Aguada is located near the beach. Fort Aguada was built by the Portuguese in the early 17th century Portuguese fort that was built by the Portuguese to defend themselves against any foreign attack and to control the entry of the intruders through River Mandovi.
Comments
Post a Comment