Chilling and Tanning at Top 5 Famous Beaches in Goa

Couple at a Beach in Goa    Photo: Ian D

Beautiful beaches in Goa come under top ten tourist attractions in India. Exploring the top 5 famous beaches in Goa may not have the ideal options for solitude. The erstwhile Portuguese settlement of India has been a major crowd puller for decades! The top beaches have taken most of the pressure of pleasure, so balance your tour with the relatively quieter shores. Check out the most famous Anjuna beach for its weekly flea market and the psychedelic trance rhythming with the heady murmur of breaking waves. Once a hippy hotspot, and always a hippy hotspot, the beach is the place to be for high times.

The Sad Queen

Another famous sea shore of Goa is the Calangute Beach, known as the Queen of Goan Seafronts. However, as it is, people take a lot of undue advantage of the Queen’s natural hospitality, and keep polluting the place with impunity. It does have some good eateries serving traditional Goan cuisine and beverages. It also has swarms of unruly travelers, hubbubs of chaos, and traffic jams just to reach to the beach! Be careful about personal security from thugs offering open drinks (badly drugged) or luring you to an erotic disco. This beach is quite a hub for nightclubs; so, that can be a good reason to hike upto Calangute in the evening.

Some Solitude

It also has options for watersports fun, and is a great place to chill out tanning (if you can neglect the voyeuristic annoyance, that is). Sun tan lounges are actually found at the Baga beach, which blends with Calangute. Book a shackle at Agonda beach if you really want some solitude. The isolated, lengthy beach houses a few souvenir stalls and good restaurants. The beaches shape Goa as a tourism destination, and they are distinct from other Indian seafronts. The Benaulim beach of South Goa is one of the best kept secrets of the place. It is laidback and pristine and most of the art galleries are in this area. It is indeed a beautiful seafront for Dolphin watching and watersports. It is adjacent to Colva, which is more popular among traditional Indian tourists than for foreigners.

Pristine Serenity

Lastly, the Arambol beach can be the perfect place to chill out in quaint Goan coolness. Located at the Northern coastline of Goa, the Arambol is the destination for travelers who book a long-term visit to absorb Goa. The alternative therapy resorts of yoga, tai chi, reiki, and meditation extend their ambience of tranquility in this pure hippy beach, at the most wonderful sense. The dolphins find this seafront peaceful and welcoming, and you can make friends with them in a sea trip. It has a relaxed nightlife with live music sessions. Close by is the deserted Tiracol fort, a place where the sea greets your thoughts with perfect solitude. 

Churches and Temple

Besides the seashore, the place has several other attractions. The Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception (established 1541), the Church of St Catejan (established 1700), the Church of st. Francis of Assissi (1661), the Se Cathedral (1619), and the Born Jesus Basillica (1605) hold vintage majestic silence. The Lord Shiva temple at Mangeshi (Shri Mangesh Shantadurgai Prasanna Temple), the butterfly conservatory, the museums, and the art galleries are also peaceful places to visit.

Beautiful in all Seasons

The tourist town welcomes visitors around the year. However, the December-January season is the hyped on-season. Indeed, many yearly festivals take place around this time and it can be difficult to find a room without advance booking. The best time to visit Goa is in the February – March season as the crowds begin to thin and the weather is cool. Many tourists choose to make the trip during the beautiful Goa monsoon from June to September. Do not forget the raincoat!

5 Reasons to Visit Shimla in Summers

Kalka-Shimla Toy Train

The beautiful capital city of Himachal Pradesh, Shimla is among the most sought after hill towns in India. The top 5 Reasons to Visit Shimla in Summers include amazingly soothing climate, sightseeing, shopping options, great accommodation choices and bundled tour packages. The British rulers preferred the city a lot for its nice climate and they called it the "Queen of Hills". Tourists enjoy exploring the Pine and Deodar forests, deep valleys, rivers and natural springs in the region. Honeymooning couples often prefer it.

Ways to Reach Shimla

Thankfully, Shimla has excellent connectivity with most parts of India owing to its location. The Jubbarhatti Airport is located from 2 kms from the town and it is connected with many airports of India. It has daily flights to Capital city Delhi. The nearby rail station is Kalka which is about 96 km away. The journey from Kalka to the capital of Himachal Pradesh is through toy trains which take about 6 hours. Road connectivity from Shimla to major Northern cities is good. Buses from Agra, Delhi and Amritsar ply to Shimla regularly.

Nuances of Shimla You Should Know

Wide View from The Ridge in Shimla

There are some specific charms of Shimla as a tourist place that tourists absolutely relish once they arrive here. The city is placed atop a mountain ridge and a flight of worn out wooden stairs lead you to the town centre. Walking around the city is hassle free and honking of vehicles and pollution will not bother you. You will find plenty of monkeys in the city and occasionally a few domesticated yaks are also found. The architecture in Shimla is a mix of colonial fashion with modern civilization. There are oodles of ramshackle wooden structures made in the British era and you will also see grand colonial buildings with Victorian architecture.

Top Places to Visit Near Shimla

When exploring the picturesque capital city of Himachal Pradesh, you get plenty of things to see. The Tara Devi Temple is what religious visitors head to. It is placed atop a hill, which is almost 11 km from the Shimla bus stand. In the city, you will come across a few nice museums too. You can check out the State Museum as well as the Photo Art Gallery.

A lot of tourists prefer taking a leisurely stroll at the famous Mall of Shimla. The thoroughfare spread over 7 km has exquisite Victorian Architecture. Those with love for wildlife can visit the Kufri zoo. It is located about 13 km from the capital city. You may see the majestic Himalayan Snow Leopard and some breeds of the Musk Deer. Adventure lovers can opt for trekking in adjacent mountains. If you are in the mood for picnic, opt for The Glen.

Eating and Shopping in Shimla

Lakkar Bazar in Shimla

In Shimla, you can shop a lot and take home enticing souvenir for close ones. Down the Mall road, you will find the Lakkar Bazaar where you can buy a variety of winter garments. The Tibetan carpets and wooden toys are also sold like hot cakes. Food products made by Himachal food-processing industry like fruit juice and jams can also be purchased.

Food loving tourists cannot complete their exploration of Himachal Pradesh as a tourist destination without tasting foods in Shimla. Most eateries in the city are easy on the wallet. There are some top class restaurants like The Devicos and Oberoi Cecil Restaurant. You may try out locally brewed alcohol. The accommodation options in Shimla are aplenty. You get dormitories as well as luxury resorts. The Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation is the best source for booking and getting information on hotels.  

5 Reasons to Visit Manali in Summers

Manali, India  Photo: Sanjay Kumar

Deemed as one of the top hill resorts in India, Manali is a picturesque town located in Himachal Pradesh’s Kullu Valley. The top 5 Reasons to Visit Manali in Summers include soothing climate, ample sightseeing options, plenty of accommodations, regional events and tour operators offering various packages. The hill station, surrounded by vast stretches of snow clad mountains and lush green valleys- offers tired tourists a relief from chaotic urban life. It is also ideal for those with a penchant for adventure sports in vacations. The beautiful apple orchards, lots of cafes and restaurants also enthrall the visitors.

Ways to Reach Manali

Manali has flourished as a tourist destination in last few decades and as a result reaching the hill town has become easier. It is well connected by roads to major cities in Northern India including Delhi, Leh and Shimla. From Delhi, you get Volvo buses to Manali and the journey takes 14 hours. From Chandigarh journey time is 8 hours. Some tour operators offer bus booking along with accommodations in Manali. Hiring taxis from those cities to reach Manali is another option. Train route is not convenient but you may opt for a flight to Bhuntar airport in kullu, which is 50 km from Manali.

Getting Around

To explore and experience the charm of Manali as a tourist place, you need to opt for suitable transport options. A majority of tourists prefer hiring a cab to explore the hill city. You may book for one day or more, based on your budget. However, if you are more adventurous type- hire a bike for exploring the city and around. Mostly Pulsars and Royal Enfields are offered by rental agencies. The bus service in the city is not that good and schedule is not fixed.

Places and Things to See in Manali

In Manali, no tourist can feel bored or faces lack of activities, as it is. There are so many exciting places to visit near Manali.

A lot of tourist in Manali head to the beautiful Rohtang Pass and adjacent Dassaur Lake. The road can be rough more so in winter months. Another tourist spot near Manali is the ancient cave temple named Hadimba Temple. The place is encircled by thick cedar forest. About 6 km downstream from Manali, you will find the Kalath Hot Water Springs. There are public and private bath areas. You may also head to the Vashist Hot Water Springs, in a village where you can also see some stone temples. Another tourist destination near Manali is the Snow Point or Solang Valley. Its 300m ski lift is popular. The paragliding and snorkeling also flock to Solang valley. These spots are also ideal for shutterbugs.

Other Notable Attractions

Photo: Sanjay Kumar

If you want to skip the crowd of tourists and enjoy serenity while vacationing in Manali, that is not too tedious. There are a number of Buddhist monasteries in Manali where you can experience serenity and bliss like you have never done before! Only 3km from main town, there is Old Manali where the crowd is less. The old guesthouses exude a charm of bygone era and Apple orchards are breathtakingly beautiful. The beautiful Zana Water Fall also lures tourists with amazing scenic beauty and it is just 35 km away.

Buying and Eating

Unless you do some shopping in Manali and taste regional delicacies, your exploration of Himachal Pradesh as a tourist destination will remain incomplete. The Manali Market is ideal to buy woolen garments. You may also buy fruits and honey from the government-authorized shops. On the mall road, you get diverse eateries. The regional dishes like Chilra, Sidu and Bedhni rotis are popular with visitors.