Goa Beyond the Beaches

On my last trip to Goa, we enjoyed our stay at Baga Hideout Resort that offered a great Goan ambiance and vibe. The hotel was strategically located near the tourist attractions and surrounded by many food stalls. Having explored Goa beyond the beaches, here are some other wonderful things to do in Goa I can recommend from my own experience.

Things To Do In Goa Beyond the Beaches

Fort Aguada: ‘Dil Chahta Hai Point’

Popularly known as the Dil Chahta Hai Point, this fort is also a four-storey lighthouse. We couldn’t finish our trip to Goa without shooting up on its rugged stairs to get the view of the vast Sinquerim beach.

Another intriguing fact about the fort is the central jail in the basement, which is also the largest of Goa and was used mainly to imprison drug traffickers. The prison area is still off limits to the public. It’s indeed an amazing spot to hang out and to enjoy the superb view of Mandovi River and take tons of photos with your loved ones.

2. Crocodile Spotting in Goa

When packing your bags for Goa’s ‘Treasure Island’, there’s a heck of a lot of adventurous things on the cards. For us, one adventure we had to have was the crocodile spotting.

It was an impromptu fun boat ride from Cortalim Jetty to the Cumbharjua Canals, which are widely known as the home of the crocodiles. It’s recommended not to stand too close and avoid standing on the edge, as the crocodiles have a habit of popping up suddenly which could give you enough of a surprise to lose your footing! But hey don’t let that scare you! Just follow that simple rule and you’ll be fine. Most of the time, the crocodiles swim slowly and just chill on the bay.

3. Basilica De Bom Jesus: The Church of Living Legend

 CC 2.0 / Binh Huynh

It was such a captivating visit to this Basilica De Bom Jesus built by the Portuguese in 1542. We were astounded by the magnificent architecture — both the facade and interior — as well as the long history of the church. The main attraction of the church, however, is the remains of St. Francis Xavier. His body is enshrined in the mausoleum to the right, in a silver casket with several gilt stars and glass windows to look into the casket. It has been more than 400 years by now and yet, his body remains fresh, in a non-decomposing state.

4. Anjuna’s Flea Market: Shopping Sprees in Goa

And the world stops here! As much as I relish Anjuna Beach, the flea market here is a Goa attraction that gets me a little more excited. A rocking hide-out for those who love to eat and shop, this market is only open on Wednesdays — so don’t miss it!

The flea market is indeed a depiction of ‘Hippie culture’ with colourful apparels, guitars, jewelry, art, music, coffee, tea, spices and street food. For me, this place was an excellent one-stop centre that offered anything for anyone.

  Lip Smacking Snacks At Flea Market

5. Martin’s Corner

Martin’s is another spellbinding food hub which is also known as ‘The Paradise of Goan Delicacy.’ We wouldn’t dream of missing this! This lovely place to visit in Goa is ready to charm you with its colourful caricature, laid-back ambience, the excellent choices of food, live music and many more! Visitors will discover the lively and vibrant Goan culture through the play of colours, flavours, and music in the restaurant.

 

A post shared by Akriti Jain (@_foodazzle) on Feb 3, 2017 at 5:14am PST

Even with all that, I must say I haven’t fully explored all that Goa has to offer beyond its lovely beaches. There is so much more about its culture and diversity that you can only find in their historic sites, streets, and nature.