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Aanaya Kumar & Abhinav Chandra ( 18 Minutes )
A Great and Different Goa- Monsoon Night
Super Cheap – Check the flight ticket prices. You can get a round-trip ticket for half the price, compared to the peak season. Those from Mumbai or Bangalore… Goa is just a road trip or a bus ride away. The best hotels and villas in Goa are also offered sometimes at a flat discount of 50%. Budget hotels are available at just INR 500 and that too, right next to a beach. You can ride a rented scooter for anything between INR 250 and 175.
The Lushness – Goa is at its greenest during the monsoon. The rivers are all full, and so are the lakes and ponds. The waterfalls look gorgeous and are at their roaring best. Dudhsagar falls, a famous landmark, is simply breathtaking during the monsoon. A torrent of water comes down the falls – you can hear the roar from a distance. The trees are all green and the rice paddies look incredible.
Nature – Walking and trekking is a pleasure this time of the year. There are many trails you can explore. Some of them take you over the Western Ghat Mountains. You can also visit the wildlife sanctuaries – Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sancutary, Netravali Wildlife Sancutary, and the Mhadei Wildlife Sancutary. There is also the Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary. Many birds come out after a shower. You can see them basking in the sunlight for drying off.
Enjoy the Rain – Goa is magical when it rains. Getting wet in the rain is a fun experience. Or you can just relax, put your feet up, and see the downpour. The cloud cover and rain over the Arabian Sea always look so beautiful. Watch the raindrops as they crash into the sea. Take a long siesta, have some coffee, and enjoy the beachside in the evening. Or go on long walks when it is not raining. There are so many ways of enjoying Goa in the monsoon months.
Monsoon Festivals – The festivals never end in Goa, even in the monsoons. Many Goans love to celebrate the arrival of the rains. Take for instance, the Sao Joao festival of June, and the mud games of Chikalkala. There is the feast of Patolleanchem too, and of course, India’s Independence Day on August 15th.
Adventure Sports – Swimming is not recommended in the rains because of the stronger currents and rough tides, but there are still plenty of adventure sports activities during the monsoon season. There is trekking, hiking, bird watching, and white water rafting, which is a hot favorite this time of the year. The monsoon makes the rivers swell, making white water rafting more challenging and exciting.
Nightlife – Goa does not shut down completely in the monsoon. Many nightclubs are still open, hosting their fun parties and rain dances. Visit Mambo’s, Tito’s and the St. Anthony’s Bar in Baga, the LPK (Love Passion Karma) in Candolim, Curlies on Anjuna beach, and the bar of Park Hotel in Calangute. A few beach shacks too host their parties in the rainy season.
Food – Most temporary shacks are open only during the peak tourist season. But you will still find the permanent shacks and the restaurants serving their drinks, seafood, Goanese and Konkan delicacies, and continental foods. There is an abundance of vegetables and fruits this season. Don’t forget to try the local delicacies, including the fruit punches, shakes, and mocktails.
That depends on your preferences. North Goa will be more active between June and August. Many of the beach shacks, restaurants, pubs, nightlife, and street side stalls will be open, but there is less nature here, especially in the busiest areas.
The South Goa on the other hand, will be more serene and peaceful. Many of the beaches here are lined with green palm groves. The south will certainly be more relaxing, and you can appreciate nature and the rains here more. But most of the activities, restaurants, and nightlife spots will be closed at this time.
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Infrastructure for the locals, the banks, government offices, fruit and vegetable markets, supermarkets, are obviously still running in the monsoon. But much of the tourist infrastructure could be missing, particularly in the south.
However, some of the big-name restaurants are open throughout the year, irrespective of the season, such as Mickey`s, Nostalgia, Martin`s Corner, and others. But in beaches like AGINDA , CAVELOSSIOM in the South and, Morjim and ARAMBOL in the North, you may not find any of them. No beach shacks, nightclubs, or restaurant is open in these places. What’s still open is for the locals, not the tourists.
The major beaches of North Goa include Baga, Calangute, Candolim, Anjuna, Vagator, and Ashwem. The major beaches of South Goa are Palolem, Colva, Cavelossim, Benaulim, and Agonda. Choose the North if you prefer action. Stay in the Baga, Calangute, Candolim stretch, because this stays quite busy, even during the monsoon.
Mackie’s Night Bazaar
This is the right place for shopaholics to spend their Saturday nights in. Located at Baga, Mackie’s Night Bazaar is lit up with lanterns all around the market. The golden hue along with the lake nearby provide a beautiful ambience to walk around and shop to one’s heart’s content. Everything from beads to bags can be found here. Ethnic handicraft is the specialty of this shopping arena, with peppy music being played around.
Night markets
The Night Markets in Goa are fun. The dark sky is lighted by twinkling lights. A variety of merchandises are on sale. Food, items, handicrafts, cashew, jewelry, clothes, everything under the sun are available at affordable prices.
After the sun sets and stars brighten the sky, Goa comes to life. The smallest state in the country is in happy party mood for 365 days of the year. As far as the nightlife is concerned, Goa is simply a pleasure.
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This post has been authored by Aanaya kumar & Abhinav Chandra, Execs with inputs of Suman Doonga, Managing Partner at Spicmacay Media. For business or inquires letters-abhinavism@execs.com
