It was during the last monsoon when I had numerous leaves left in my kitty and I didn’t want them to go waste. Therefore, I decided to make the most of it. The globetrotters in my circle came up with varied travel ideas. Consequently, a string of options conglomerated. Eventually, just one holiday destination echoed and all of us agreed to it, strongly. Guess what! It was Goa – a vacation spot, you can’t think of averting.
Goa is a wholesome escapade offering everything like sightseeing, water sports, and parties. It’s a land of beaches; a little paradise located on the south western coast of India, stretching along the Arabian Sea.
We packed our bags and booked flight tickets on a whim, just two days before the travel. Our trip was quite frugal and didn’t make our pockets feel light considering we were cruising in the monsoon season.
Note: Travel period from March to September is regarded as a non-peak season.
Monsoon is the most nonchalant time to explore Goa. We experienced showers intermittently post landing. It was a two hours and forty minutes flight from Delhi; instantly, we headed to our hotel in Panaji once we landed. After an evening stroll and a light dinner, we retired to bed.
Here’s what we did next:
Day 1: Our itinerary prioritised exploring North Goa first on Day 1. We stayed at Manoshanti Hotel; quite close to the famous Singhal Library. We hired scooties and rode off to visit the Reis Magos fort and then the Aguada fort.
Reis Magos fort was really amazing and one of its kind. It didn’t take long to reach there, since it’s just 7 km away from Panjim. It has made its way to the list which flaunts major heritage sites in Goa.
So, what makes this fort special?
It is the oldest fort in Goa and holds 400 years of history. Initially, fort was used to house Viceroys and other dignitaries of high stature who arrived from or departed to Portugal. It was then converted into a fortress to thwart the Maratha attack.
It brings quietude in its ambience whereby you can sit, relax, and contemplate. It has been constructed in such a manner that you can relish the cool breeze making its way through the gun loops.
We noticed some locals adorning a small portion of the fort into a wedding banquet with white sheets, balloons and flowers all over. Everything colour coded in super white. Try to picture, pleasant breeze, soothing sound produced by the waves clashing against the rocks and a site nestled afar from city hustle. Dreamy! Isn’t it?
We sipped on nariyal pani and rode off towards Aguada fort. It is an exemplary engineering designed by the Portuguese in the 17th century. One of the pertinent reasons that makes Aguada fort worth visiting is the light house, which offers a panoramic view of its surroundings and the Arabian sea. Besides, it boasts of being a splendid spot to watch sunsets.
The light house is quite a name in its league. You may not be a history buff, but you can always capture picturesque shots and enjoy the scenic beauty all the same. Some popular bollywood movies including Singham was shot here.
After spending some quality time at the Aguada fort, encompassing photography, chatting and switching roles from being behind and in front of the camera, we set off to the Sinquerium fort which was in proximity. What makes Sinquerium fort different is the way it overlooks the Sinquerium beach and bisects the shoreline into two. This fort also acted as a shield against the Marathas and the Dutch. You can spot the glorious Taj holiday resort fortified along the coastline.
It was windy when we reached there, and rain poured down sporadically. We halted at the nearby food corner for tea and Maggie.
And!!!! This is how we spent our day one.
The sun shone bright and the we chose to visit the churches in old Goa. Our first choice was Bascillica of Bom Jesus; located in North Goa, it is principally known for preserving the mortals of St. Francis Xavier. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
A highly interesting element adds to its glamour – the sound and light show, presenting the life journey of St. Francis.
Tips: Please dress up modestly – no shorts, caps or hats. You’ll be nagged by some dress code policewomen if your outfit fails to sway below the knees.
The scorching heat was beyond tolerance. So, we marched towards Panjim to reach our hotel room. Since our hotel was just at a stone’s throw away from the church, “Our Lady of Immaculate Conception”, we stopped by the monument for some candid clicks. This marvellous church houses the ancient bell that was removed from the Augustinian ruins of the church of Our Lady Of Grace. The bell is one of its kinds. As the name suggests, the facade of this church is painted in unsullied bright white. After glaring at the architecture to our heart’s content, we rushed back to our hotel rooms and got fresh.
Later, in the evening, we picked colourful outfits in order to blend along with the eye catching views mounted in Fountain has – it’s a Portuguese heritage colony in Panjim popular for its chain of colourful houses and villas painted in bright yellow, blue, maroon and so on. It’s indeed a treat to the shutterbugs and easily paves its way quite smoothly to their galleries.
We wound up our day two with a heritage walk in this enchanting colony flaunting wide-ranging hues one after another.
So, monuments were the only things we were up for? Well! Not really.
We set off early on our motor bikes and set our GPS to Chapora fort. It’s in North Goa, placed 21.7 km from Panjim and just 700 meters from Vagator beach. The fort sits on a prominent position, commanding views in all directions. It is nestled on a small hill above the Vagator beach.
It is popularly known as the “Dil Chahta Hai” fort as the movie was filmed there. The best time to hike up the hill is early morning and late afternoon; you wouldn’t like to miss watching the amazing sunset, would you? What adds to its glory is the blue water and the huge expansion of greenery.
Subsequently, we rode downhill to take a glimpse of the Vagator beach. It was quite calm when we reached. During the peak seasons, the beach hosts numerous rave parties, whereby the party goers go bonkers. All the same, it goes cold turkey during monsoon.
The much talked about Thalassa is rested here. It’s a Greek restaurant famous for fresh, crispy salads, mezes, starters, and gyras. White table cloths alongside white curtains doll up the restaurant and the spectacular views of Vagator beach are to die for.
Our next attraction in the itinerary was neither a fort nor a beach. It was a pristine narrow road called Parra road. The road is guarded by tall coconut trees, lined up on both the sides. Adding glam and glitz to the location are the lust green fields like carpets, rolled on both sides of the roads. The wed series,” Four more shots” and “Dear Zindagi” were shot here. The best time to visit is around the monsoons, when this rural fraction of Goa bathes in natural shower and looks as fresh as dew drops.
How to locate Parra road?
Simply, google St. Anne’s Church at Parra and you’ll find it. With this we returned to Panjim and wrapped up our North Goa spree.
Goa is not just the land of beaches or city of churches; it’s a feeling that unbridles thrill in the most incredible way.
So, what are you waiting for?
Pack your bags and get going.
So, what makes this fort special?
It is the oldest fort in Goa and holds 400 years of history. Initially, fort was used to house Viceroys and other dignitaries of high stature who arrived from or departed to Portugal. It was then converted into a fortress to thwart the Maratha attack.
It brings quietude in its ambience whereby you can sit, relax, and contemplate. It has been constructed in such a manner that you can relish the cool breeze making its way through the gun loops.
We noticed some locals adorning a small portion of the fort into a wedding banquet with white sheets, balloons and flowers all over. Everything colour coded in super white. Try to picture, pleasant breeze, soothing sound produced by the waves clashing against the rocks and a site nestled afar from city hustle. Dreamy! Isn’t it?
We sipped on nariyal pani and rode off towards Aguada fort. It is an exemplary engineering designed by the Portuguese in the 17th century. One of the pertinent reasons that makes Aguada fort worth visiting is the light house, which offers a panoramic view of its surroundings and the Arabian sea. Besides, it boasts of being a splendid spot to watch sunsets.
The light house is quite a name in its league. You may not be a history buff, but you can always capture picturesque shots and enjoy the scenic beauty all the same. Some popular bollywood movies including Singham was shot here.
After spending some quality time at the Aguada fort, encompassing photography, chatting and switching roles from being behind and in front of the camera, we set off to the Sinquerium fort which was in proximity. What makes Sinquerium fort different is the way it overlooks the Sinquerium beach and bisects the shoreline into two. This fort also acted as a shield against the Marathas and the Dutch. You can spot the glorious Taj holiday resort fortified along the coastline.
It was windy when we reached there, and rain poured down sporadically. We halted at the nearby food corner for tea and Maggie.
And!!!! This is how we spent our day one.