Goa can’t be defined in words, you have to be there to experience its real charm. A place which has a lot on its platter for everyone, a trip to Goa promises memories for lifetime. Even though it is termed as the “Party Capital of India”, Goa has its share of quietude and solitude and that is the uniqueness of this place.
Your bucket list of Goa should include places such as Baga Beach, Calangute Beach, Basilica of Bom Jesus, Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary, Chapora Fort, Anjuna Beach and Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary among others. You can cover more places if you have ample time as Goa as it is divided into two major parts- the happening North Goa and the peaceful South Goa. Being a coastal destination, the biggest charm of this place is its beaches. You can go for long walks, indulge in interesting water sports, be a part of the happening beach parties, shop for antique jewellery or simply enjoy food and beer at the beach shacks, whatever you do, there is never a dull moment at the beaches.
Goa is a foodie’s loveland and a shopper’s haven without a doubt. Shopping here can be categorized in two streams- the upmarket boutiques and the local shops at beaches. Some of the not to miss options for street shopping are Anjuna Wednesday Flea Market, Arpora Saturday Night Market, Mapusa Friday Market and Calangute Bazaar. Anjuna is a hot favourite among the tourists and locals alike. You can shop for beautiful tibetan paintings, artefacts, jewellery, t-shirts and handicrafts from Anjuna Flea Market. The other local markets offer an array of items including local spices, Kashmiri goods, leather accessories, home decor items, shoes, bags and what not!
Goa has a heady mix of dining options, ranging from fine dining restaurants to trendy cafes, local eateries to beach shacks. Don’t forget to indulge in some local delicacies as you will hardly find that taste anywhere else.
Over the recent years, Goa has also emerged as one of the favourite monsoon retreats in India. Strange, but true! The monsoon months are offseason time in Goa and for some of us it would be an ideal time to explore the place as it is not crowded during this time of the year. However, you might not enjoy your favourite water sports as most of the local operators are shut during the monsoon time.
Talking about the connectivity, Goa is well-connected from other parts of the country via rail, air and road. If you are planning to opt for Mumbai to Goa trains, there are plenty of options to choose from. Some of the notable options are Trivandrum Rajdhani, Goa SamparkKranti Express, MaruSagar Express, Mao Double Decker, Mandovi Express, MnglaLksdp Express and Netravati Express among others. Some of these trains run on a daily basis and some operate on a weekly basis. Mumbai to Goa trains fare vary as per the trains you choose. To know about Mumbai to Goa trains timing and other relevant details, you can use the ixigo train app and know where is my train with offline feature. Which provides all the necessary information at one go.
