You've heard of attractive beaches and wild nightlife, but you won't have heard that Goa is simply a celebration. The state city, Panjim, resembles Lisbon in many ways: the tiles, the spicy sausage, and therefore the sparkling buildings in the colonial neighborhood of Fontainhas. But don't worry, it's still in India and there are still plenty of cows halfway there.

Located on the west coast, Goa is the smallest state in India and in contrast to the other, known for its white sand beaches, stellar nightlife, eclectic seafood, architecture listed as world heritage. Spread over just 3,702 km, Goa is located within the Konkan region. It's a far cry from the hippie haven or a beach getaway, and one of the few destinations that are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The tranquility (susegad) of Goa attracts so many international tourists because it attracts Indians, or perhaps more.

Goa is well accessible by road, rail and air from most of India and international destinations. It is served by Dabolim Airport (the only airport in Goa) that is connected by regular domestic flights. Since Goa is on the Konkan railway line, there are frequent trains from Mangalore and Mumbai. Except for this, many long-distance interstate buses travel to and from Goa.

The closest main entry point to Goa from different parts of the planet is the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai. Mumbai, being the key city, is well accessible to Goa via flights, railways and roads.

Goa is preferable during the dry season, around the end of November to mid-March. During the other period of the year, it is not very pleasant. During the high season, from mid-December to early January, the weather is ideal, with temperatures rarely exceeding 32 ° C. However, finding an area or house to rent at that time, particularly during Christmas and Twelve months when rates double or triple - it can be a real hassle.

Many people visit Goa with the expectation of being able to party on the beach every night and are distressed when most of the places to jump prove to be conventional clubs that they probably wouldn't look twice at home. The reality is that the elbow-to-air beach party of yesteryear, when tens of thousands of people were trying space in huge techno sound systems under neon-painted palm trees, is, by now, almost a thing of the past in Goa.

Goa's seaside spots experienced their first big parties during the 1960s with the influx of hippies to Calangute and Baga. Initially, villagers paid little attention to those bizarre gatherings, but with each season the scene became better established, and by the late 1970s, the Christmas and New Year parties, specifically, had grown into major events, drawing travelers from all parts of the country.

The Goans are very tourist friendly and celebrate many festivals throughout the year, the most famous being the Twelve Month Carnival and Goa. While the seafood is excellent, Goa has one of the most effective nightclubs in India with trendy bars, beach cabanas, chic cafes, and many clubs and discos. Due to lower alcohol prices within the state, Goa is also ideal for younger tourists with relatively tighter pockets.

For those people perpetually confused between North Goa and South Goa, this might help: the state of Goa is divided into North Goa and South Goa. While North Goa is the hub of nightlife where all the tourist beaches, flea markets, and beach huts are located, South Goa is the land of luxurious resorts and relaxed beach vibes.

Panjim, the capital, dominates the calm Mandovi River, where world-famous floating casinos operate. The center is well connected to a world airport and the roads and trains run from north to south as part of Goa.

With a coastal strip that stretches for about 100 kilometers, the city is not without beaches. Where Baga and Calangute meet the Indian crowd, Anjuna and Arambol are loved by foreign tourists. The southern beaches of Goa are not really that explored, but few of them like Agonda and Palolem would really surprise us.