Goa: Beaches and much more...

You want to spend your next holidays at the best place in the orient? The choice is extremely simple - you need to visit Goa. Goa is an exotic mixture of the Indian and European culture and is dotted with some of the most beautiful beaches in this part of the world. There are a number of things that would make you fall in love with this place. Everything from the remarkable Goan cuisine to the hospitality of the local people is something which you would want to experience again and again.

The Best Places in Goa

The best places in Goa are of course the beaches. You would be hard pressed to find such beautiful beaches anywhere else. Apart from the beaches, there are a number of places in Goa which you would simply not want to miss. The Panjim airport is one of the most beautiful such facilities of Asia. Goa is also home to World Heritage Sites. The most important of these is Born Jesus Basilica. The Basilic holds the last remains of St. Francis Xavier. If you are lucky enough, you might be in Goa at the once in every 12 years time when the remains are on public display. In 2004, the last public display took place so the next display is expected in 2016.

The forts of Goa must also be on your list of must visit places. The most beautiful of these forts are Cabo de Rama, Aguada and Tiracol. If you want to experience the true local lifestyle, you should visit Fontainhas. This place is now regarded as a cultural quarter which portrays the local lifestyle with con-siderable accuracy. Mangueshi Temple is another place you would like to see. While it looks like any Christian establishment from the outside, it is in fact a Hindu shrine. Same is the case of Shantadurga temple.

What you should not miss in Goa

When you visit Goa, there are a number of things which would not want to miss. The first of these is the Goa carnival. It is one thing which ties the small state in a bond of togetherness that is unique in the entire world. You should also make sure that you do not miss the Goan cuisine. The two primary com-ponents of Goan cuisine are Rice and fish curry. In fact Goan cuisine makes such a wide use of fishes that you can practically find fish in everything you eat (Vegans beware). Pork dishes also form an im-portant component of the Goan cuisine. In the beverages, you should not miss Feni.

For the people who are interested in the local performing arts, Tiatr and Zagor are the best choices. If you are so inclined, make sure you spend a long time in Margao. Shingo Mel, the local festival of music and dance is another thing that you would not want to miss.

If you are visiting India, Goa is the one place that you must absolutely not leave out of your schedule.