Goa, India information
Goa overview: This small state, half way down India’s west coast, was a
Portuguese colony until 1961. This goes some way to explaining the
alternative atmosphere here. Cut off from British India by a wall
of mountains and vast alluvial plains Goa relied on trade with a
declining Portuguese Empire, but what was lost in British
trade it made up for in Portuguese attitude and it retains a
distinctly laid-back feel today.
Goa was discovered by travellers in the late 60s who were
relieved to have found somewhere away from the mainstream, where
holidaying meant simply hanging out, smoking weed and partying on
the beach, particularly at full moon. The state quickly grew a
reputation for its hedonism and liberal attitude under a hot
sun that sets in splendour every evening over the Arabian
Sea. In recent years the authorities have tried to discourage the
hippies and budget backpackers, angling rather for clientele with
fatter wallets, and Goa is trying to shake off its image as a hippy
hangout.
Now with a quick rail link to Mumbai and charter flights
from the UK, thousands of tourists flock here each winter to relax
and enjoy the Goan cuisine - a blend of exotic Indian spices with
the Latin love of meat and fish. Many hotels and resorts have
popped up over the last few years to cater for this ever-popular
destination, but with more than 25 miles of beautiful sandy beaches
there is still plenty of tranquillity to be found.
Getting to Goa: All flights to Goa land at Dabolim Airport, near Vasco da Gama,
but this is not an international airport and there are no direct
scheduled flights to Goa. International flights fly into Delhi,
Mumbai (Bombay) or Madras (Chennai) airports and passengers are
connected to Goa by domestic airlines. The most direct way to
travel to Goa from the UK is on a charter flight. Charter airlines
operate over the peak winter season, from October to April, and
usually offer cheapest flights. Over this winter season Thomson
have regular flights to Goa from Birmingham and Gatwick and First
Choice from Birmingham, Manchester and Gatwick. Goa Way, Airtours,
Olympic and Travel and Crown all offer cheap flights to Goa from
Manchester and London Gatwick.
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