A small state filled with beaches, resorts, Portuguese colonial architecture, and scenic views, that can be comfortably covered within three days—Goa seemed to be the perfect little getaway in the middle of March. 

 

Day1

After landing at the busy little airport in South Goa, we got in the cab that was waiting for us outside. We had opted for ‘MakeMyTrip’ to book the plane tickets, hotel rooms, stay, and travel itinerary. A cab was arranged for us for each day, which took us to different places on our itinerary, starting right from our hotel. 

Our hotel, ‘Resort Terra Paraiso’, in North Goa, was a small yet lovely resort. It gave a fifteenth-century, mini-Portuguese village feeling. The rooms were spread out over two floors of about ten buildings that resembled mini European cottages. They were arranged in a semicircle, with a pool in the middle. The dining area was next to the pool, and it felt pleasant to feel the cool breeze on our skin, while not getting burnt by the sun at the same time. The rooms were big and spacious.

       

It was late afternoon by the time we reached our hotel. After having something to eat, we freshened up and went to the beach. It was just a five-minute walk from the resort, and as it was a private beach, it wasn’t crowded and was quite peaceful. We stood in the sand and stared out into the horizon, as the waves gently lapped against our feet. We clicked a few pics and spent almost the entire evening there. A few shops at the edge of the beach sold clothes, accessories, bags, toys, and several miscellaneous items.

           

Day2

After having breakfast, we went on a catamaran ride. As it was around 10:30 in the morning, it was pretty sunny, but other than that, the weather was pleasant. We got a nice view of Fort Aguada, Goa Central Jail, and the Millionaire Palace, where a few Bollywood movies had been shot. We went a little deep in the sea and were lucky to spot a few dolphins. 

 

We then went to Fort Aguada, a seventeenth-century fort constructed by the Portuguese. There was a moat that surrounded the fort. One side of the fort faced the sea, and there were several spots to click good pics. 

We then went to the Candolim Beach. There were a few water activities available, but we spent some time relaxing on the beach instead. Calangute Beach and Baga Beach were also on our itinerary, but we felt too tired and it was too sunny.

We returned to our resort, rested for a while, and then embarked on a cruise along the Mandovi River. It was an hour’s drive from our resort. The ship had two floors, with an open area on the top and a stage on the ground floor, where there was a traditional dance performance, and later an open floor, where people could choose their songs to dance to. The entire cruise was for about two hours, and as it was in the late evening, we were able to see the sunset and enjoy the scenic view.

Day3

The next day, we went to South Goa. The attractions were a two-hour drive from our resort. We first went to two churches next to each other- The Basilica of Bom Jesus and the church of St. Francis. Both these churches were constructed in the European style.

We then went to the Mangueshi temple, a Shiva temple. When the Portuguese invaded Goa, the linga was transferred from the original temple to the current location of Priol, so that the linga would be safe. Several little shops outside the temple sold a variety of items, including dresses, hats, bags, and accessories like earrings and chains.

We went to a nearby spice plantation, where we first had lunch and were then taken on a short tour around the plantation. We got to see several varieties of plants cultivated on the plantation, including species that were exclusively found only in Goa. We saw cinnamon, almond, vanilla, cardamom, and pepper plants. We also saw an allspice plant, which had the flavors of twelve different spices! At the end of the tour, the guide poured a mixture of lavender and chamomile oil down our backs, which is believed to cool down the body.

The Dona Paula Beach, a rocky beach, looked beautiful in the late afternoon sunlight. This beach was where a few scenes from ‘Singam’ (Hindi version) were shot. There was a statue of Dona Paula and a huge tree with pretty magenta flowers. It was a small beach, but it had several picturesque views. There were shops nearby that sold free-size dresses, both three-fourths as well as full-length, at very nominal rates. Some were plain dresses in a single color, while others had indo-ethnic patterns. The tasty falooda we had there was a respite from the heat.

It was almost sunset by the time we reached Miramar Beach, our last stop for the day. It was quite different from the other beaches. The sand had a different texture and was darker. It was almost black near the seashore. There were also stretches of pine trees on the beach. Several vendors sold fruit slices, bubbles, and little toys. The beach wasn’t very crowded, and it had a tranquil atmosphere.  This beach is a must-see for anyone who visits Goa.

Day4

We didn’t do any sightseeing on the last day. We ate our breakfast, checked out of the hotel, and went to the Manohar International Airport. 

It had been a short vacation, but we enjoyed the several beaches and the unique Indo-European architecture of the various buildings and monuments. 

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Travel Tips

• We booked the entire trip through ‘MakeMyTrip’. This proved to be very useful as this booking agency took care of everything, right from our flight tickets and hotel to preparing our itinerary for every day, and arranging for cabs to transport us between places. 
• The resort we stayed in, ‘Resort Terra Paraiso’, had a private beach right behind it. There are many good resorts in Goa, but not many that have a beach just a five-minute walk away.
• Make sure you book the cruise on the Mandovi River well in advance, as it gets booked quickly.
• If you want to take home something special from Goa, there are a variety of accessories, including shell earrings and anklets, available in the shops outside the Mangueshi Temple. The shops outside the Dona Paula Beach have several cute dresses that can be bought at a low price.
• South Goa, which has the Mangueshi Temple, the churches, and the spice plantation, is a two-hour drive from North Goa. Make sure you plan your schedule accordingly.
• Carry adequate sunscreen, and apply it from time to time, as it’s very sunny.