Goa, India: What You Need to Know

Goa is India’s smallest state, saturated with historical sights and some of the most jaw-dropping beaches in the entire world. Many visit Goa to escape the hustle and bustle of many other parts of India to gratify their craving for pure relaxation, while satisfying their food pallete with Goa’s unique and culturally diverse food scene.

Beaches

Photo via Flickr user Vladislav Tep

India is known to have breath-taking beaches, and many of those stunning beach locations are in Goa. Like many places, there is always a debate on whether the North or the South is better to visit. Simply put, if you are seeking more relaxed and quiet beaches, with the utmost level of tranquility, you’ll want to visit the southern half of Goa. If you are imploring for more of a party scene with plenty of opportunities to indulge in booze and awaken your inner night owl, then check out the northern beaches. The top five beaches in Goa are listed as the following:

Palolem Beach (South Goa). Crescent shaped beach offers a little bit of everything including boat rides, beach huts offering food and beverages, as well as a silent disco.
Asahwem Beach (North Goa). One of the cleanest, well-maintained beaches in Goa, with the smallest crowd. Due to the lack of people, the beach and water stay very clean.
Candolim Beach (North Goa). The shores of this beach are lined with opportunities thrill-seekers offering different activities such as jet skis, banana boats, and parasailing. Although, this beach can get pretty crowded.
Morjim Beach (North Goa) If you love turtles, this beach is a must for you! It is the nesting grounds for endangered Olive Ridley Turtles.
Benaulim Beach (South Goa). This is the quietest beach in South Goa, perfect for romantic walks along the beach with your significant other.

Photo via Flickr user Dan Searle

Food Scene in Goa

Photo via Flickr user Y'amal

The secret behind Goa’s scrumptious food is that it is truly a unique blend of different culture’s cousines. The Brazilian, Malabar, French, Chinese, African, Kokan, Portugese, Arab and Malaysian fusion will leave your tastebuds craving more. Fish and curry is what you will most commonly find, but don’t skip out on some of Goa’s more extravagant dishes such as: pork vinadaloo, crab xec xec, prawn balchao, sanna, Goan red rice, kingfish, poee, chouris poa, feni, bebinca.

Lastly, be sure not to forget to try kokum solkadhi (also known as kokum sokadhi,) a refreshing ruby-red beverage served at the end of the meal to aid with digestion. This spicy-tangy-sweet drink is made with coconut milk, spices and liquid that is extracted from kokum peel.

If you want to take your foodie adventures to the next level, visiting a spice plantation might be just the activity for you. While appreciating the wild flora of Goa, you can walk through the plantation learning about native spices and enjoying all of the pleasant aromas. The two most popular spice plantations are Sahakar Spice Farm and Savoi plantations.

Shop The Markets

Photo via Flickr user Sara Marlowe

In Goa’s vibrant markets you will find vendors from all over the state selling various items from food products to textiles, as well as antiques, wooden items and clothing. Haggling the price down is all apart of the experience, so you better be on your A game if you want to score the best deals. The most famous flea markets in Goa are: Mapusa Market, Anjunja Flea Market, and Calangute Market Square.

Caves

Photo via Flickr user Ramnath Bhat

Rivona Caves- Also known as the Pandava Caves are located in a small village in South Goa. Legend has it that Buddhusts monks created these caves around the 6th century.
Arvalem Caves- These caves were carved out of rock and is one of the oldest structures in Goa, situating in the northern part of the state in a town called in Bicholim. Locals believe that these caves were once used to house the Pandavas of Mahabharata during their exile. Many tourists like to visit these caves because of the proximity to Rudreshawar temple and waterfall.
Lamgau Caves- Lamgau caves stand out because they were carved out of a delicate stone, laterite. These palm tree covered caves are located in Bicholim, 25 km from Panaji.

Whether you prefer to spend your days relaxing on one of India’s picturesque beaches, or you are seeking something with a little more history, Goa is not a destination to be skipped. The vibrant colors of Goa is actually what inspired the design of the Rice Love Recycled Travel Backpack #Goa. You will notice many bright and beachy colors on the backpack, similar to the bright and beachy vibes you experience in Goa. Also, the burlap bags used to create the Goa Backpack, are recycled rice bags to ensure that they don’t end up in landfills in India.