Goa is a rather unique place in India, very different from the rest of the country. Before going there, I thought it was a city, or at least a place of fairly limited dimensions. This is not the case since in fact Goa is a state in its own right, even if it is the smallest state in India. With over 100km of coastline from North to South, there are many different towns, so better do some research before planning a trip to Goa. The former haunt of 1960s hippies now welcomes new alternative backpackers who eat vegan and do yoga, as well as many wealthy tourists who travel to luxury resorts. It is above all a very popular vacation spot for Indians who come to see the beach and party in this state, where the legislation is much more flexible .It’s quite common to hear travelers denigrate the “too touristy” side of Goa, but in fact, you should know that the majority of tourists there are Indian tourists.
The strong difference of Goa compared to the rest of India is due to its history: the state was under Portuguese domination from the 16th century until 1961, the date of its independence, and the Goanese are mostly Catholic. The result is a beautiful cultural and architectural heritage, which alone justifies a trip to Goa, beyond the pleasures of the beach and the party. the state was under Portuguese domination from the 16th century until 1961, the date of its independence, and the Goannes are predominantly Catholic. The result is a beautiful cultural and architectural heritage, which alone justifies a trip to Goa, beyond the pleasures of the beach and the party. the state was under Portuguese domination from the 16th century until 1961, the date of its independence, and the Goannes are predominantly Catholic. The result is a beautiful cultural and architectural heritage, which alone justifies a trip to Goa, beyond the pleasures of the beach and the party.
I spent a total of more than a month and a half in Goa, between December 2015 and February 2016, with my friend Emily, who published several articles on her travel blog . Whether it is to enjoy the beach, party, practice yoga or meditation or visit the cultural heritage, these are the best places to go to fully enjoy a trip to Goa. If you want to use an agency to organize your trip, you can make a free quote with Evaneos.
Sunset Meditation at Arambol Beach in Goa
As much to say it right away, Arambol was my favorite place in Goa. It has become a kind of rallying point for all new vegan or vegetarian hippies, followers of yoga, meditation and all kinds of Eastern philosophies and therapies such as tai-chi, reiki, qi-gong… Many slightly eccentric but friendly and peaceful “sweet-crazy”. Even if we are not really part of this movement, which is my case, we appreciate the joyful harmony and the brotherly love that emanates from it. Besides, it is also a good place to enjoy the beach.
Yoga and Addicted Yoga Classes on Arambol Beach
Arambol is therefore the ideal place to do yoga and meditation. There are plenty of centers that offer classes all day. Just walk along the beach or take a look at the announcement boards. For my part, I really liked the Love Temple which offers a variety of activities, from yoga to qi-gong and Bollywood dancing. I discovered in particular tantric meditation, which is a form of meditation applied to love and sexuality. With exercises, practiced alone or in pairs, you learn to feel your sensations more, to better circulate the energy in your body and to enter into communion with your partner. It is a very good practice to feel better about yourself and your relationships with others and to experience a more fulfilling sexuality.
Jugglers practice on Arambol beach in Goa
The daily appointment in Arambol is to go and see the sunset on the beach. The jugglers come to practice with the last light of day and the sellers of trinkets display their wares on colorful fabrics. Tam-tam players gather in a large circle to play music and make the spectators dance: this is the drum-circle. To stay in this “peace and love” atmosphere, in the evening you have to go to the “Twice in Nature”, a bar in the forest with alternative music concerts, or the “Banyan Tree”, renowned for its evenings of extactic dance. It’s a bit special, but interesting to see.
goa-pool-party-riva-resort
Arambol beach is also very nice. To be quieter, it is better to go a little further south. By walking along the beach you quickly arrive at the next town: Mandrem. This is also where many people meet on Sunday afternoons for the “Pool party” at the Riva Beach Resort (free). You can chill and have a drink on a large lawn where jugglers and addicts of yoga practice, just like dancing or enjoying the swimming pool.
To sleep in Arambol, I recommend two accommodations:
the Happy Panda Hostel : great atmosphere and very warm welcome, especially for individual travellers. The small weak point is that you have to walk 1km to get to the beach. Accommodation possible in dormitory or tent. Ideal for very small budgets (from 5 to 10 euros per night)
