Goa topping the bucket list of any traveler planning a Christmas or a New year vacation doesn’t come as any surprise. Goa has been synonymous with stunning beaches, pleasant climate, breathtaking greenery, and an ever welcoming residents of this beautiful South Indian state. While most other tourist Destinations are freezing to death. Kerala & Goa become the most sought Destinations for Tourists flocking in to celebrate New year!
And it’s both these festive occasions which make Goa more relevant due to all Party places & the Carnivals!
We’ll try & compile a few good reasons for you to hit Goa right now with of course keeping all safety measures and Covid19 precautions into consideration!
Sunburn Festival:
Post Christmas and pre New year Goa hosts one of the biggest music festivals in India, the Sunburn music festival. The time between Christmas & New year calls for incessant Partying, and no place does it as Goa does. This music festival hosts the best of musicians and if you are the one who grooves to the sound of music then this is the place for you!
This year Sunburn Festival is being organized at Vagator Beach from the 27th to 30th December and promises to be a party to remember.
Party Hopping:
The close of the year & welcoming the new year gives way to the biggest of party’s and Goa undoubtedly hosts the best of them. Goa is famed for its new year Parties and Tourists from all over the world flock to the party in Goa. Covid19 has changed the circumstances this year around but that won’t stop the Domestic crowd for sure, though the Goa government has been taking all the necessary precautions & safety measures.
Other than the night clubs, there are many beach parties that happen across the best beaches in Goa such as Vagator, Baga, and Anjuna beach. It’s one of the best reasons to enjoy yourself at the many beach shacks too throughout the night. For a unique experience, try the Silent Noise Parties held on the Palolem beach.
Cruise experience on Mandovi river:
Other than just partying Goa also provides a lot of options for Tourists. River Cruise on the Mandovi River is one among them. The cruise options vary from houseboats, sailboats, and yachts and can be specifically chosen to watch the Sunset, for a Party/ Dinner, or a Nature Cruise. The route for Mandovi Cruises will give you a chance to explore the Portuguese colonies and Vanxim and Divar and Chorao Islands. The cruises are a perfect combination of the Goan lifestyle and hospitality to make it a memorable experience for the tourists.
Hot air Balloon ride:
Goa is undisputedly the best party Destination in India. But it also hosts a lot of Recreational activities for the Tourists, One of the most exciting soft adventure activities that you can experience here is Hot Air Ballooning. This amazing balloon ride will provide you 360-degree views of the gorgeous landscape of Goa. Witnessing all the fun and frolic and vast and unending boundaries of the sea from high above is an exceptional experience. The best one though is getting to witness an unusual view of sunrise or sunset from distant horizons of the sea which surely will be a memorable experience.
Celebrate Christmas at Goa:
Being a Christian dominated place with historical churches and rich Christian tradition, to be in Goa during Christmas time is inexplicable. The place is transformed into a captivating state of festive ardour that engulfs everyone. Old Goa is wonderful in December as you get mesmerized by the giant and beautifully decorated Churches, the vast number of stalls selling homemade chocolates and cakes, and the irresistible atmosphere of general happiness and merry-making. Some famous churches to visit during Christmas time in Goa include Basilica of Bom Jesus, Se Cathedral, Church of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception, and Church of St. Francis of Assisi. Celebrating Christmas is one of the highlights of holidaying in Goa in December.
Go Parasailing:
Another recreational activity you can indulge in is Parasailing Who doesn’t want to enjoy the breathtaking view of the blue Arabian Sea while flying high up in the sky, defying the limits as it were? Parasailing is one of the most popular adventure sports on offer in Goa. Tourists usually prefer winch boat parasailing where the taking off and landing of the parachute happens on the winch boat itself attached at the other end of the parachute. This one is a hot favorite amongst families, kids, and couples as it offers the perfect combination of thrill and enjoyment while being comparatively easier than the other water sports.
The Saturday night Bazaar:
The night bazaar at Arpora, also known as Ingo’s Night Bazaar is a wonderful night market. This market is quite appealing as you can find some unique artificial jewelry here.
The market is divided into three sections, each selling a certain category of items. You can find here vendors selling fruits, vegetables, jewelry, home decor items, spices, wines, as well as locally designed clothes and bags. It is a haven for foodies as there are eateries with a variety of cuisines to choose from especially the local Goan Cuisine.
Go Trekking to Dudh Sagar:
If you are the one with nature, then you can take Nature’s way as well. One of the most thrilling trek trails starts from the village of Kuveshi. Unlike the other trek routes, this one takes you through the jungle and rippling slopes. The difficulty level is moderate and the panorama compensates for the longer trail. However, it is not recommended to undertake this trek in the months of monsoon as the Mandovi river, over which the trail crosses, can get quite rough and uncontrollable during the monsoon months. Another trekking route starts at the Kulhem/Collem railway station and stretches for about 11km. The difficulty level on this one is easy. However, one that is most preferred by tourists is the trekking trail that starts at Castle Rock station in Karnataka.
The Goan Casinos:
If you are a party animal and the casino life lures you, this is the place for you. Often synonymous with brilliant beaches, Goa is a hotspot for non-stop nightlife and best of all, casinos. You can visit these casinos in Goa any time of the day or night and there are numerous casinos to choose from each offering different attractions such as food, drinks, and beautiful views of the sea. Poker, Roulette, Black Jack, you name it, there is a casino in Goa promising a thrilling time.
Goa new year Carnival:
The Goa Carnival is held every year in Goa before the beginning of the Christian sacred observance of Lent. Lent marks a 40 day period of strict fasting and abstinence from non-vegetarian food and alcohol and hence Goans try and make the most of the days immediately preceding lent. The Goa Carnival is spread over a period of three to four days.
During the Goa Carnival, you’ll witness beautiful parades, dancing and music, and delicious food- lots of it in fact. Since the dates of Lent are decided by the Liturgical Calendar, the season varies each year, causing a variance in the dates of the Goa Carnival as well.
Most of the celebrations of the Goa Carnival take place around Panjim, Margao, and Vasco da Gama. The carnival features, clowns, fire eaters, and dancers among other attractions and many other forms of entertainment as well. Hundreds of tourists come to visit the Goa Carnival each year and if you wish to be part of the carnival you can take part in the finale dance, popularly known as the Red and Black Dance.
We are sure you have enough reasons to hit Goa right now with all necessary Precautions and Safety measures of course! Well, it is never a bad idea to plan for a trip to goa.