India Travel Tourism

How do you feel when suddenly you get a chance to explore the land of sun, sand and sea? For me it was amazing, when I got the news that this time we would explore golden sun, sparkling sand and blue sea and for that the best place was Goa. I, Father, Sushant and Jiya, we all took leave for a week from our respective jobs and packed our bags to hit the Goa, the land of beaches.

It was hard for everyone to wait, so we opted the air route and took a flight from IGI airport, Delhi. It took around 2 hours and 25 minutes to reach Dabolim airport, Goa. Form there, we hired a private taxi to reach our booked resort located at most famous Dona Paula beach. It was a sea-facing resort from where we could enjoy the sea view all the time. For that day we decided to enjoy the recreation facilities at resort itself along with the spell bounding views of the calm and beautiful sea.

Dona Paula beach view doubled our excitement. It was heavily crowded and most of them were newly wedded couples who were there to celebrate their honeymoon in Goa.

The next day, we all left the resort a bit early, just to make most of the day. To start the day, the first attraction was churches of the land. We moved towards old Goa in car hired by us. Our first Goa attraction was Church of St. Francis of Assisi. Amazing architecture and a sacred place were a good start of that day. After offering our prayers, we left the place and moved to explore the culture of the Goa, blend of Indian and western culture.

After exploring some street markets of the city, the time was to enjoy the cuisines of this gorgeous land. Be it Italian, Portuguese, Punjabi, Thai, Gujarati, Chinese, South Indian, Mexican, European or Korean, Goa serves everything. We tried only rice, fish curry and bhaji and they were delicious. The day was over, we came back to resort and took the rest.

In rest of the days, we covered four famous beaches of Goa, including Anjuna Beach, Baga Beach, Bogmolo Beach and Calangute Beach. Every beach has its own charm and that cannot be expressed in words.

Rave parties of Anjuna beach attract a large number of tourists every year and that was the reason it was on our must visit list. We spent a full day on Anjuna beach. While Sushant and Jiya were enjoying underwater diving at the beach, I and father explored Wednesday Flea Market.

Classical dance events and musical concerts organized at Calangute beach kept us occupied for an entire day. Where the days were dedicated to the sandy beaches, our nights were occupied in electrifying Goan parties.

In that week, we tried to explore the maximum but still a week was not enough to cover everything.

This is almost impossible to cover miles of golden beaches and green landscape in a week. So, we left the rest for our next Goa Beach Vacation and came back with golden memories and famous Kaju Feni of Goa.

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Goa is the land of swaying palms, white sands and sparkling sea which calls on large number of tourists from several parts of globe to spend memorable holidays. The enthralling charm of Goa hidden in its interwoven beauty of azure water, sun kissed sandy beaches, pulsating nightlife, diverse flora & fauna and array of water sports activities. Goa Beaches are one of the most popular Beaches in India where tourists come to enjoy splendor of nature at its best.

I have heard and read about Goa several times but never visited it. But last weekend my two friends invited me to join their weekend break at Goa. This invitation was like a blessing to fulfill my long cherished dream of Goa Tour.

Our tour was customized so that we can enjoy Goa beaches to our hilt. And truly speaking beaches are the foremost attractions of this place. I reached Goa in afternoon from Delhi via flight where I joined my friends who were waiting for me at airport lounge. Form there we took a taxi and reached the Anjuna Beach Resort. After having quick refreshment we headed towards the Anjuna beach.

I was spellbound at very first sight of this beach. This is a picture perfect beach whose charm lies in its azure sea and silvery sand and palm fringed bays. The gentle sea breeze and sound of waves lapping the shore maximizes its scenic charm. The serene and scenic ambiances of Anjuna Beach engrossed me completely.

Evening at this beach was amazing. We saw the dramatic version of nature in which star studded sky slowly and swiftly enveloped the vast expanse of sea. Slowly and silently nature changed its colorful attire which makes me not only speechless but also thoughtless. It was really a sense stimulating experience which almost made me numb.

As the night fell the beauty of darkness had its own romanticism to reveal. I with my friends strolled around the beach watching star studded sky flanked over the vast Arabian Sea. The whimsical sound of sea waves molded with sea breeze hypnotized us like a black magic. We rested on the seaside till late night and then headed for our dinner in a beach side restaurant. Here we tasted lip smacking Prawns Masala and Crab Curry with peg after peg of alcohol. The food was so good that its taste is still lingering on my taste buds because it was made from the fresh sea fish and original spices.

Next morning when we wake up from our last night hangover we found that we were in our resort. We don’t know how we reached here but the jubilant we felt last night can’t be expressed in words.

After having refreshment we again went to the beach to enjoy our day in lap of serene and scenic ambiances. Through out the whole day we enjoyed the pleasure of swimming, sun bathing and beach strolling. Though each activity we enjoyed had its own excitement yet the thrilling experience of swimming in the sea is the most memorable one.

The whole day was full of fun, thrill, excitement and above all after long time we childhood friends were together sharing our memories. After spending whole day in leisure we return to hotel and packed our luggage and move towards airport, from there we took flight of our respective destinations. Before saying goodbye to each other we planned our next tour for Kerala Beaches to enjoy our holidays.

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Beaches are one of the marvels of natural wonders which are known for their perfect juxtaposition of dazzling white sands and azure blue sea. This romantic combination makes it a high flying destination where one can stimulate their sense of imagination. The amalgamated beauty of sun, sand and sea fringed by coconut trees make beaches a romantic destination where one can get relief from their weary thoughts and life.

Three day weekend holidays provided me an opportunity to spend a memorable holiday at beachside, as I was in Thiruvananthapuram Capital City of Kerala for my official work. This plan was in my mind so I wrapped up my work by Thursday and extended my guest house booking for two more days.

On early Friday morning I went to Kovalam Beach which is located around 13 km downtown from this place. The name of Kovalam Beach conjures up the images of boundless blue waters of the Arabian Sea and miles of white sands washed away by the surf along with stalwart palms trees and the rocky terrains. It is one of the most famous and most sought after Beach destinations of India which is visited by large number of tourists from various parts of the globe. The ambiance of blue sea, silvery sands and unending rows of palm makes it an enchanting destination and popular beach hangout in India.

When I reached near the beach I felt the magical charm of this place which I had only read in the magazines till now. The charming spell of this place is too overwhelming to be quoted in words. The bewitching feature of this place is enhanced by the rocky terrain that separates this crescent shaped beach into three parts. I took coconut water to quench my thirst and went atop the rock to have a bird’s eye view of the entire surroundings.

The views of entire beach at one go mesmerized me and helped me to identify the place where I can spend my maximum time in solitude, watching the natural panorama of rising and falling sea waves.

After enjoying my binocular vision from the cliff I went near the sea to enjoy its coming and going blue waves lapping the shore. For the first time in my life I stepped in the sea and the joy that I felt is beyond description. I was standing and sea waves lapped my feet which enthralled me and made me laugh as I felt as if someone is tickling me.

Every time I had to maintain my balance because of the thrust of sea waves and loose sand beneath my legs. Despite of being completely wet I enjoyed myself at my best. After spending an hour at this place I went to the nearby sea-restaurant to taste lip smacking Kerala Sea food for my lunch. The lunch was really good as it was made from the fresh sea fish and original spices from the backyard of the restaurant.

This internationally renowned bow shaped beach is made up of three beaches which are separated from each other by a rocky terrain. The largest beach is known as Light House Beach because of its 35 meter high lighthouse, situated on Kurumkal hillock. The second one is Hawah Beach. It was the first topless beach in India but now topless bathing has been banned here. And the third is Samudra Beach which is famous among the local fishermen of Kovalam as it is a center for fishing.

After satisfying my appetite I felt lazy and decided to rest for sometime in the shadow of palm tress. I purchased a plastic mat from a nearby hawker and climbed the cliff. In the shadow of palm trees I lied down facing sea. The cool sea breeze lapped me and its sound was like a lullaby which made me sleep.

The birds chirping woke me from my sleep, I saw the time it was 5 p.m. I slept for more than 4 hours, but it was one of the pleasant experiences of sleeping in the lap of nature. Even after I was awake I stayed here for more than an hour watching sea. I was captivated by the beauty of scenic ambiances which prompted several thoughts in my mind based on various subjects. I analyzed some of my thoughts which calmed down my mental anxiety because I pressed down the right issue with reasonable arguments. It is because of some issues related to my personal life I stayed here for two more days even after completing my official work. I got the answers of those issues which I was looking for a long time.

After unleashing my mental burden I walked down to enjoy the evening beauty of this place. The taste of lunch was so tempting that I headed to the same restaurant to fill my stomach. This time I took fried Crab with chilled beer and enjoyed the delighted evening from the rooftop of the restaurant.

As the night fell the beauty of darkness had its own romantic panorama to reveal. I strolled around the beach watching star studded sky flanked over the vastness of Arabian Sea. The whimsical sound of sea waves molded with sea breeze hypnotized me like a black magic. I rested on the seaside till midnight and then I headed for my guest house.

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“Don’t let your cares stop you from smiling now, today and forever”. This wonderful thought sank deep into my heart, comforting it to the hilt. Actually I was getting bogged down by the work pressure in my office. My worries were robbing me of my smile. After reading this quote I decided to keep smiling and not to be defeated by problems. And I felt that when my focus changed from worries to smile my environment started supporting me. Well my company organized a short trip to Kanyakumari,Tamil Nadu a South Indian state which is famous the world over for its rich cultural heritage and natural beauty. Well for me it was the power of positive thinking.

My face was radiant with a warm smile because we were going to Kanyakumari, a destination I can visit a thousand times. Kanyakumari is truly a fairy-tale like destination located at the confluence of the three great oceans: the Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean. It is a paradise when it comes to natural beauty.

We were booked in the Sparsa Resort which is at a walking distance from the breathtaking Kanyakumari Beach. In the early morning I, with a heart waiting to absorb the beauty of Kanyakumari, and my colleagues walked up to the beach. I was completely engrossed in the cool, fresh breeze, swaying palms, multi-colored sand and the unfathomable waves hitting the rocks. Finally we treated our senses with the breathtaking sunrise.

I felt a different aura about this place. It is soaked in peace and beauty as if telling us to pause for sometime and enjoy everything about the nature. We sat there chatting about different things in life. This beach experience was such an antidote to the monotony of daily routine. While we were going back to the hotel for breakfast I bought some beautiful shells from a stall at the beach.

In the evening we again came back to the beach to see its other attractions. We visited the beautiful Kanyakumari Temple located on the shore. It is dedicated to a manifestation of Parvati, the virgin goddess who did penance to get married to Lord Shiva. We also saw the two rocks, near the temple, jutting out of the sea. One of the rocks is named Sri Padaparai as it has the footprints of the virgin goddess. The other one is the famous Vivekananda rock Memorial where the great spiritual leader Swami Vivekananda attained enlightenment. We also visited the Gandhi Memorial.

Now was the time to get bowled by the sunset. It was the most awaited moment and finally it was there. It was simply overwhelming! The reddish glow of the sun was cloaking the waters. The view was more than perfect and the feeling was more than breathtaking. The joy I felt here was truly beyond words. With that joy and a fresh attitude towards life I came back to Delhi.

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When I was a kid, I used to think that everything what swims is eatable! With time and maturity, I started believing that water bodies are meant for adventure.

What I experienced during my trip to Goa last month surely was the best adventure to me. Goa. undoubtedly, offers an extremely good climate and excellent facilities for water sports in India. It was May and Goa welcomed me with cloudless & blue skies and placid waters.

For the first time in my life, I enjoyed windsurfing at the picturesque Dona Paula beach under the guidance of an expert. He told me that Windsurfing is a unique blend of surfing and sailing. I was supposed to adjust my strength and balance to the changing patterns of wind and water as a surfer. After giving trials at least ten times, I was able to do it by shifting my feet forward & backward, leaning the weight to the right or left, and manipulating the boom in or out. I know it seems like a typical Physics theorem, but it was superb. People told me that Dona Paula beach organizes crowd pulling events like ‘Windsurfing Regatta’ and ‘Open Board Sailing Competition’ every year.

I then headed for Agonda beach, where I experienced the true pleasure of angling and relished the most authentic seafood delicacies. I came back to my hotel that evening and joined a beach party with some of my friends.

Next day was very exciting. I paid short visits to Majorda, Baga, Candolim, Calangute and Anjuna beaches. Except scuba diving, I guess, I enjoyed each and every activity there – from beach volleyball to dinghy sailing (beer and sandwich sailing), water skiing on speedboats, water scootering and parasailing etc. The convenient part about Goa is that if you are an adventure freak or sports enthusiast, you can easily hire all the equipments and attires on rent from beach side shops. This way, Goa proves to be the freak capital of India where life can be relished at its best.

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It is believed in my Buddhist practice that when you desire something deeply, pray for it earnestly, visualize it happening and without any doubt believe it is going to happen for you. And I could see the actual proof of it when I got a chance to visit Andaman and Nicobar Islands- my dream destination. My first sight of this wondrous destination left me speechless. All I was doing was absorbing every bit of its natural beauty in my heart and in my camera.

Here on the islands one feels that seas are punctuated by small pieces of lands. Romance and peace seem to be in the air here. This fascinating world of water transported me to a fairy land. The celestial natural beauty, turquoise waters, white-sand beaches, lush green forests, chirping birds and peaceful and blissful environment, what else can one ask for to adorn one’s holidays with golden memories. I enjoyed at the beaches and flocked from one island to another by ferries.

Marine life is a major attraction of this arresting destination. I saw a variety of corals here- brain coral, finger coral, plate coral and leather coral.  My guide Sarvanan told me that these islands boasts of more than 100 species of wild orchids. And I even saw some of them. I also visited the Chiriyatapoo, a bird sanctuary, on the islands. There I saw a variety of colorful birds chirping away to glory.

Next we head for Mahatama Gandhi Marine National Park on the Andaman Islands. It is a cluster of 15 islands. It is truly a heaven for marine life lovers. Here I saw several colorful fishes, shells, starfish, turtles, coral reefs, mollusks and salt-water crocodile. This Park is a home to around 271 varieties of birds, remarkable. With my binoculars, I saw white-bellied sea eagle, heron, terns, Andaman teal etc.

My experience of Andaman and Nicobar Islands was getting richer and richer with every attraction I saw. And still there was so much to explore, so much to enjoy!

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Being an adventure enthusiast, I consider Goa as my dream destination for holidays. Blessed with the waves of pleasure, Goa has India’s most famous and justly popular beaches. As I arrived there, I found excellent tourist infrastructure, right from a host of stay options to innumerable operators offering a range of water sports. As I was looking for quiet alternatives, Goa offered me beaches that promise relative seclusion. I was simply overwhelmed to see the rustic beauty of the landscape, shopping opportunities, pubs that stay open till late and the shacks that offer superlative food from across the world.

It was the last week of October when I arrived here and I found the skies cloudless and blue, and the waters placid. Facilities for the most thrilling water sports were open for all. I had two days with me and I decided to devote one entire day to the water sports in Goa. I first visited the Dona Paula beach and enjoyed windsurfing. My assistant there told me that it is a unique blend of surfing and sailing, which requires the surfer to adjust his strength and balance to the changing patterns of wind and water. I could see a number of people there indulged in the same sport, as they all were practicing for Windsurfing Regatta, which is an annual event.

Next I also enjoyed scuba diving and water skiing a lot. Both these sports are gaining popularity among tourists. As the underwater visibility in the more tranquil of Goa’s bays and lagoons ranges from 5 to 10 meters, I could not reach in more deep areas. But what I enjoyed most during scuba diving were attractive coral heads, lobsters, bright colored fish, and other marine life patterns. Similarly, water skiing was also quite exciting. It is like combating the sea on speedboats.

I paid short visits to the Calangute, Colva, Palolem, Vagator and Baga beaches as well, and enjoyed activities like Dinghly Sailing (cruising on long crafts that can accommodate 3-4 people comfortably), Angling (fishing), Water Scootering and Swimming. Apart from that, Parasailing is another fun activity that involves a parachute attached to a motorboat. The parachute goes up in the air as the motorboat starts moving.

My visit was undoubtedly superb as I could satisfy my hunger for adventure. I had never thought that this small state could offer such a range of exciting sports.

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