Goa Tourism (INDIA)
India, a place of infinite variety, is fascinating with its ancient and complex culture, dazzling contrasts and breathtaking physical beauty. With the great potential available and the development initiatives taken by the government, Indian inbound Tourism has shown a substantial growth in the last decade, especially 2003-04 has been the best in the history of Indian tourism. In fact, Tourism has become the second largest foreign exchange earner for the country. In terms of visitor numbers, now India is 11th among Asia Pacific countries.
Anjuna Beach
Place : Anjuna, 18km from Panaji, Goa
Highlight : Wednesday Flea market, Full moon parties
Best time to visit : October to February
The Village of Anjuna in north Goa is a five square mile enclosure nestling between the Arabian Sea and the hill overlooking the beach. Anjuna beach is one the most popular beaches of Goa situated 8 km west of Mapusa and 18km from the capital Panaji. The beach is known for its palm trees, soft sands and natural beauty. It has an astonishing lays of rocks, spread across the white sand near the sea. This area was known as the Jewel of Anjuna and called 'Ozran'. Anjuna attracts a variety of tourists touring Goa, especially during the Christmas and New year season
Anjuna is also known for the full-moon parties that are held here for young tourists particularly during Christmas and New year. Campfires burn bright all through the night and the music and merriment carries on till the morning. There is always some activity going on after the flea market and the music and the powerful sound systems keep the people stay on in the beach for long. There are a number of drinking spots on the beach. The exhilaration of Bungee Jumping from an 80-ft tower and water-sports facilities like paragliding and windsurfing enhance the fun at Anjuna.
Anjuna beach is a favourite haunt of the hippies who used to conduct the famous rave beach parties. It was in the late 1950s to mid-1960s that hippies started visiting Anjuna beach to drown in their trance music with just loneliness for company. It is the hippies who started these rave beach parties wherein they would sing and dance through out the night under the vast blue sky lit only by the moonlight.
Best time to visit
The tourist season in Anjuna starts in early November, when most of the long staying regulars show up. During the Christmas and New Year rush, the village and beach site is busy with a mixed crowd of round the world backpackers and tourists from all over India, attracted by the promise of the big beach parties.
Places to Stay
There are plenty of guesthouses around the Anjuna village, and even a couple of hotels. These hotels also arrange tours for Goa sight-seeing. There are also houses which a person can take on rent if he is planning to stay on the Goa Anjuna beach for a couple of months. But finding a place to stay during the high season is a problem. So book early if planning to visit during the high season. Poonam guest house Ph:91-832-2273247,5612654, Starco Bar and Restaurant, Coutino's Nest (Phone 91-832-2274386 ), Don Joao Resorts, Sorranto Anjuna Goa,Ph: 0832-2222147, Palacete Rodrigues, Click here for more hotels in Goa
Places To Eat
There are a lot of places at Anjuna with good places to eat and drink. Most are simple semi open aired, palm leafed huts, which specializes in sea food. All serve cold beer. The German bakery, White Negro, Sea breeze cafe, Martha's breakfast home, Friends corner are some of them.
Money Exchange:
Money can be changed at the Oxford and Orchard stores as well as all your retail needs can be met. There is the facility of encashment against Visa Cards at the Bank Of Baroda on the Mapusa Road but the bank doesn't do foreign exchange.
How to reach there
Air : The nearest Airport is Dabolin, 29km away from Panaji and 47 km from Anjuna.
Rail : The nearest Railhead is at Karmali, 11km from Panaji and 29 km from Anjuna.
Road : There are buses every hour to Anjuna from Mapusa. For tourists arriving from Mumbai, Mapusa is the get off point for the northern beaches. You can also hire bikes that ranges from Rs 250 to Rs 400 per day.
Arambol Beach
Place : Arambol, Goa
Highlight : Peace and tranquility, swimming, Paragliding
Best time to visit : November to February
Situated around 50 km north of Panaji, Arambol a small remote fishing village has one of the most charming beaches of Goa. The place has two beaches, more popular is the main beach (Harmal beach), the northernmost beach in Goa. Every tourists dream, the beautiful beach is secluded and has a primitive, untouched feel to it. The second, more picturesque beach lies beyond the rocky headband and can only be reached on foot and is bordered by steep cliffs on both sides.
The main beach, on a long stretch of curving sand is good for swimming. It is a place ideal for people looking for peace and tranquility. A hot spring near the main beach which feeds into a freshwater lake, producing silt on the lakeshore said to be good for the skin, that some are fond of smearing on their bodies. On its immediate north there are several attractive, relatively quite bays and fresh water pools also good for swimming separated by rocky headlands. The headlands are made of basalt and are clearly visible for miles along the coast. A well made track runs round the headland to the second beach which is even more secluded and little used. The coastal path again continues round the next headland to the Terekhol beach, the northernmost tip of Goa on the Maharashtra border.
Arambol village is quiet and friendly, with just a few hundred locals mostly fishing people. The place is ideally peaceful allowing you to have a close experience of local life and culture. The relaxed environment coupled with peace and tranquility attracts many vacationers from other beaches of Goa. The Harmal beach is 2.5 km from the village bus stop, down a road passing village houses sheltered under coconut trees.
The rocky headland or the cliffs near the beaches are popular for paragliding. Dolphin watching boat trips and paragliding are amongst the fun activities on this beach. Boat trip to Anjuna beach are also available. A few shops sell clothes, junk jewelry and handicrafts from across Goa and India. Some good cafes along the main beach and on the headland to the north serve up tasty dishes from the cuisine of Italy, Goa and India.
Accommodation
Most of the accommodation is basic, in simple houses in the woods behind the beach. Majority are bare huts but some have fully equipped kitchens and showers. Long stay visitors should either bring their own bedding and cooking stuff or kit themselves out at Mapusa Market. There are restaurants, travel agencies (handling foreign exchange), Internet and other services along the road leading to the northern end of the beach and a few stores in the village.
How to get there
Air : Goa's international airport, Dabolim, is 29 km from the capital Panaji. Indian Airlines has direct flights from Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai daily.
Rail : Goa's two main stations are at Margao and Vasco da Gama. Vasco-da-Gama and Margoa are connected by train with Bangalore, Belgaum, Hospet and Hyderabad and via Miraj to Bombay, Delhi and Agra.
Road: Goa is well connected by NH17A with Maharashtra and Karnataka state. There are regular bus services to Mumbai, Bangalore, Hampi and other destinations from the Kadamba bus stand at Panaji. There are buses available to and fro between Panjim and Arambol every thirty minutes until noon, and every ninety minutes thereafter and between Mapusa and Arambol which takes three hours. The bus stand here is on the main road. There is a faster private minibus service from Panjim daily with a stop opposite to the tea stalls at the beach end of the village. From the main road, there is a bumpy side road which leads 1km to the village, past a large school and a church. The main beach is 200m further to the north of the village.
Contacts :
Goa Tourism Development Corporation Ltd,
Trionora Apartments,
Dr Alvares Costa Road,
Panaji
Goa- 403001
Tel: +91-832-2420779, 2427972, 2436666.
Fax: +91-832-2423926
Contact Now : E- mail
Juhu Beach
Place :Mumbai, Maharashtra
Highlights: Largest and frequently visited beach on the shores of the Arabian Sea
Best time to visit: Throughout the year expect the monsoon season June-Sep
Juhu beach, one of the largest and frequently visited beaches in India, is an indispensable part of the city of Mumbai, the capital city of Maharashtra. The city represents the ever-changing face of today's India. Located on the shores of the Arabian sea, 20-25km north of the city centre the crowded beach with its numerous vendors, food stalls, entertainment outlets represents the pulse of the city. Though not exactly an ideal place for a quiet swim and a sunbath, the beach has a charm of its own. A pleasant place to be, this suburban beach is a great favourite with Mumbaites, and has plenty to offer everyone.
The beach is almost deserted during weekdays, but tends to get very crowded on weekend afternoons and evenings. The carnival atmosphere that ensues is attractive- by night, Juhu comes alive with dazzling lights, huge crowds of people arrive to enjoy the fresh air, paddle in the sea, stroll along the shore, play beach cricket, the air fills with enticing smells of mouth watering snacks and the noise of children enjoying their rides on Ferris-wheels, merry-go-rounds, horses, donkey's and camels which are both fun and popular. It is a wonderful place to bring kids, as it doubles up as an amusement park, play ground, and open-air restaurant. One an also see dancing monkeys, acrobats, fortune tellers and mobile vendors calling attention to their wares including snacks, toys, souvenirs like T-shirts and cute little Indian dolls made from seashells etc. Food counters line the central part of the beach selling all time favorite chaats - Bhelpuri, Paanipuri and Pavbhajis and Kulfi's, ice candies etc. The southern end of the beach has a number of luxury hotels, apartments and Bungalows of famous Hindi film personalities. The beach is frequently used as shooting locale by film makers, Mumbai being the seat of the Hindi film industry famed for producing the largest number of films in the world.
Besides the weekend crowd and attractions, on weekdays the long stretch of sandy beach provides an ideal place for peaceful strolls along the coast, checking out coffee shops and lounging poolside at the beach front hotels with a slendid view of the coast, visiting Versova Beach located towards the northern end of Juhu, which is home to Mumbai's largest Koli fishing community or the Hare Krishna ISKDCON complex nearby.
Way back in 1930's Juhu's airstrip used to be Bombay's international airport and it was here that JRD Tata landed on his inaugural flight from Karachi, the beach and its surrounding luxury hotels were a favourite haunt of the glamorous film world, it was the place to be. Though the glamorous appeal is a little worn-out, Juhu is still an unique part of Mumbai.
Accommodation
Juhu hotel Pvt Ltd | Centaur hotel, |
Sun-n-Sand, |
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Click here for more hotels in Mumbai
How to get there
Juhu is 20-25km north of the city centre, not far from Mumbai's airports.
Air: Being one of the main metropolises in India Mumbai has an airport of its own. Just a few minutes away from the domestic and international airports. 8 Kms From Intl.Airport just 4 kms from the domestic airport and 6 kms from the international airport.
Rail: Mumbai is well connected by rail (Mumbai Central and Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (or VT) connect it to the rest of the country) with other places in the country as well as inside the city. To reach Juhu, catch a suburban train from Church gate or from VT using the Harbour Line to either Santa Cruz train station or Vile Parle station. The beach is 3 Kms From Vile Parle Railway Station.
Road: 15 Kms From Dadar Bus Stand. Tourists can access this beach from any point of the city. State as well as private operators run buses from almost all the important points in the city. Taxis and autos rickshawas are also available for commutation.
Contact Address:
Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation |
Kovalam Beach
Place : Kovalam, 16km from Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala
Highlight : A picturesque tropical beach with Ayurvedic massage and treatment facilities
Best time to visit : December to March
Kovalam, a small town located 16km from Thiruvanathapuram is famous for its beautiful beaches. Its sandy beaches are lined with palm-fringed lagoons and rocky coves. Kovalam with its unique and wonderful beaches is a sheltered bay and is endowed with unusual natural beauty. The Arabian sea coast at many places is lined with beautiful patches of coral reefs. An hours drive from the capital, it is the most famous south Indian beach, popular for sunbathing.
It was during the 1930's, that the potentiality of Kovalam beach as a tourist destination was discovered by the European guests of the then 'Travancore' kingdom. But the real fame as an ideal beach resort was won later for the Kovalam beach in the early seventies with the arrival of masses of 'Hippys'. In the seventies Kovalam became a hippy idyll, a fishing village providing fresh fish, fruit and toddy (coconut bear) nestling a picture perfect tropical beach. Later it developed into a laid back tourist hangout with a few basic but comfortable lodges and makeshift restaurants. But today this tiny beach is ferrying thousands of tourists from all around the world and has a wide range of accommodation for the budget as well as luxury tourists.
Kovalam consists of three adjacent coconut palm fringed crescent beaches separated by rocky promontories. The southern most beach, marked by a prominent red and white striped Light House, known as the Light house beach, is the most popular of the three. It is lined with cafes/restaurants serving delicious seafood especially prawns and lobsters, bars and vendors selling clothes, crafts, carpets, fruits etc. Further south beyond the light house, is the small village of Vizhinjam. Vizhinjam, scarcely visited by tourists is a major centre for fishing. It has a beach of its own.
The northernmost beach is the Samudra, dotted with traditional fishing boats and is least affected by the changing times. In between lies the Hawah or the Eve's beach. North of the Eve's beach on a rocky promontory lies the award winning resort, the Ashoka beach resort which divide the beaches into north and south sections. The resort has its own small section of private beach and provides windsurfing and sailing boat facilities. Its a 15min. walk between the Ashoka and the Light house.
The beaches are generally safe and clean. The best season is from December to March. There are life guard patrols on the beach, but you still need to be careful when swimming. It is safest to swim between the flags in the area patrolled by the life guards. Besides swimming and sunbathing, the natural bay is ideal for kayaking, surfing and skiing. Surfboards and boogie boards can be hired on the Kovalam beach. Marine Angling for deep-sea fishing is also available at the beach. The sunrise and sun set cruises in country rafts or on logs of lashed woods on catamarans, provided by local fishermen are quite popular.
Beyond the season from between April and October the powerful Arabian Sea can roughen with swells of up to 6m. From May the sea level rises removing the beach completely in places and swimming can become very dangerous.
Kovalam is also a centre for the traditional Ayurvedic treatment. Many hotels offer complete health and revitalization packages. Apart from Oil massages, intensive treatments that last up to 21 days including special diet's and daily massages are offered. Yoga schools offering meditation and yoga classes, are also plenty in and around Kovalam beach. Cultural programmes at the beach include performances of the traditional Kerala art form, Kathakali and ethnic martial art, Kalarippayattu.
Tourist Information
There is a helpful tourist office just inside the entrance the the Ashok Beach Resort. The Central Bank of India has a counter at the Ashok Resort which changes travelers cheques. It is only open Monday to Friday from 10.30 to 2 pm and on Saturday from 10.30 am to noon. Up the road towards Kovalam village, Pournami Handicrafts is an authorized money changer, and is open from 9 am to 6.30 pm daily. Wilson Tourist Home also has an official money changing counter.
How to reach there
Air : Nearest Airport is Thiruvananthapuram (16 km from Kovalam)
Rail: Nearest Rail head is at Thiruvananthapuram (16km from Kovalam)
Road: Kovalam can be reached by direct and regular bus services from Thiruvananthapuram. Buses also link the place from Ernakulam, Kanyakumari and Periyar wildlife sanctuary. At Kovalam, the main bus stand is at the entrance of the Ashoka hotel.
Places to Stay
Kovalam has an abundance of places to stay, ranging from cheap comfortable lodges to five star resorts, and there is an equally wide range of restaurants. ITDC-run Ashoka (Phone: 0471-2480101,Fax: 0471-2481522) and the Kerala tourism department's 'Samudra' at the Kovalam beach provide five-star accommodation. The area behind the light house has a good range of hotels, cottages and lodges. Achutha, Dwaraka Lodge (Phone : 2480411), Paradise Rock (Phone:2480658), Shangrila House, Wilson Tourist home (Phone:2480051) etc are some of them. It is also possible to rent rooms in private houses, near the Samudra beach and G.V Raja rd.
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