text:
Goa

Goa (Konkani: गोंय / Gõy), a state on India's West coast, is a former Portuguese colony with a rich history. Spread over 3,700 km² with a population of approximately 1.4 million, Goa is small by Indian standards. It has a unique mix of Indian and Portuguese cultures and architecture that attracts an estimated 2.5 million visitors each year (including about 400,000 foreign tourists).

Goa is blessed with waterfalls (Dudhsagar, Amboli, Mangeli, Dodamarg) and ghats. Since the 1960s, Goa has been attracting a steady flow of visitors: first the hippies and returning expatriate Goans, then the charter tourists (starting with the Germans in 1987), pilgrims visiting Catholic and Hindu shrines, those opting to settle in Goa as their home, people going for medical treatment, and a growing number who attend seminars and conferences in Goa.

Regions
By Indian standards, Goa is a very small state with only two districts - North and South Goa. These districts are together further divided into 12 talukas. These divisions, however, don't make much sense for a traveller. North and South Goa are similar, and each has its own "coastal" and "interior" areas. The major division in Goa is between the central coastal areas where the beaches are, and the hinterland. The coastal areas were under colonial rule for longer, reflecting more of Portugal's influence, including having a relatively large Catholic population. The interior is more Hindu, and has more protected forest areas, mining zones and villages.

Cities

 * — also called Panjim, and known as Nova Goa during Portuguese rule – the state capital.

 * — the town is in North Goa and around 13 km from Panji. Mapusa is one of the important market centres in Goa

 * — second largest city, commercial and cultural capital of Goa

 * — it is home of 16th-century churches, convents and monuments

 * — a populous town in the south Goa district of Marmagoa Taluka

Goa also has other smaller, charming and sometimes crowded towns such as those along the beach belt (Calangute, Candolim), and in the interior (Chaudi in Canacona, Sanvordem-Quepem, Bicholim, Pernem town, etc.) Some of these are gateways to the nearby touristic areas. In addition, Goa has nearly 350 villages, often scenic, with each having its own character.

Other destinations

 * , Loutolim —
 * , Shiroda —
 * Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary and Mollem National Park is a pristine area diverse in flowering plant life and vegetation is habitat for many mammals, birds, butterflies and reptiles. The largest protected area in Goa. One can also find the Tambdi Surla Temple, Tambdi Falls and other attractions.

Understand
Goa was a colony of Portugal from 1510 to 1961, when the Indian army was sent in to take it back. This annexation is referred to as the Liberation of Goa in India, and the Invasion of Goa in Portugal.

Goa's heart is in its villages. Prominent Goan architect Gerard Da Cunha has argued elsewhere that, unlike others, Goans don't live in the cities. They mostly live in the villages and they travel to work.

Not surprisingly, it's the villages of Goa which hold both charm and character. Living in Goa can be tough and slow, but holidaying there is just fine. Take an aimless ride on a relaxed evening or a languid morning, and surprise yourself with the charms of the Goan village.

Unlike urban areas, the villages tend to be neat and clean, friendly and even good value-for-money, except maybe in those areas where there are a lot of tourists already.

Goa has many different faces. The coast varies from the "hinterland". Some villages such as Assolna, Benaulim, Britona, Cortalim, Curtorim, Raia, Goa Velha, Mollem, Usgao, Reis Magos, Savoi Verem and Shiroda may offer something more unusual, but this list is far from complete. Villages such as these are often close to the places where most tourists stay, so a quest for accommodation is not likely to be a problem.

Goa is visibly different from the rest of India, owing to Portuguese rule which isolated it from the rest of India for 451 years. The Goan population is a mixture of Hindus and Roman Catholics, the distribution being approximately 65% Hindu and 24% Christian. There is also a smaller Muslim population. Despite this, communal violence has been virtually non-existent and Goa is regarded as one of the most peaceful states in India.

Goa's staple diet is fish, curry and rice.

Culture

Goan culture has been shaped mainly by the Hindu and Catholic population. People are mostly easy going ('sossegado' in Portuguese). With better connectivity by air and rail, there has been an influx of people from neighbouring states that has brought with it different cultures. Many Indians from other states have come and settled here.

Goan Catholics generally acknowledge their Hindu roots and carry traces of a caste system within their beliefs. It is recorded that in many instances the Hindus left one son behind to convert and thus continue to own and manage the common properties while the rest of the family preferred to emigrate to neighbouring areas along with the idols representing their Hindu deities.

Over the years large numbers of Catholics have emigrated to the major commercial cities of Bombay and Pune and from there onward to East Africa (to the then-Portuguese colonies of Angola and Mozambique), to Portugal, and towards the end of the 20th century to Canada and Australia. Many old Goan ancestral properties therefore lie either abandoned or mired in legal tangles brought about by disagreements within the widely dispersed inheritors of the property. Expat Goans have been returning to their home state, often purchasing holiday homes along the coast (which are then converted into 'rent back' apartments, hired out to short-staying tourists by agents).

The best time of the year to visit Goa is mid-November to mid-February when the weather is comfortable, dry and pleasant.

Arts & culture
Goa has a more than its fair share of museums, art galleries and libraries. You will find many government run museums in Panaji, including the Goa State museum, the Kala Academy, the Central Library and the Goa Science Centre. In Vasco da Gama, you can find the Naval Aviation Museum, a great place to see vintage aircraft.

Old Goa is a great place to see examples of Christian religious art, and sometimes, secular art. There you can find the Christian Art Museum and also a modern art gallery containing the works of surrealist Dom Martin. In Mormugao, you can find the Religious Museum of the Blessed Joseph Vaz. The Xavier Centre of Historical Research at Bardez also has a gallery on Christian Art.

Attracted by Goa's bohemian life, many artists, painters and architects have made their home here. They too have proceeded to set up art galleries and museums. An example of this is Subodh Kerkar's art gallery in Candolim. Benaulim also has the Goa Chitra Museum, containing the largest collection of ethnographic artifacts ever assembled in one place.

Goa has become India's creative hub, attracting contemporary artists, designers and creative coders and engineers. In this context, India's first Museum for Technology and Art, called Sensistan, chose Goa as its location. This museum features new media, light and sound installations, Virtual Reality applications and unique space design across 700 m² indoors and 1000 m² outdoors. This digital playground for all ages is located in Badem, Assagao, between Vagator and Chapora.

Other museums of note are Gerard da Cunha's architectural museum Houses of Goa in Benaulim, Big Foot(aka Ancestral Goa) at Loutolim, Salcette, an attempt to illustrate and recreate Goa's traditional past. There's even a vintage-cars collection of sorts -- Ashvek Vintage World, in Nuvem, Salcette

Goa's links with Portugal
Apart from the consulates there are cultural organizations active in Goa, with the Portuguese again being most active.

Fundação Oriente has a large presence in Fontainhas, the Latin quarter of Panjim, and sponsors cultural events that add variety to Goa's cultural scene. However, it faced some major problems when it was first set up. Goa's uneasy parting of ways with its former Portuguese rulers, and lingering ultra-nationalism amidst a section of freedom fighters could be seen as some of the reasons. The Fundação has also been subsidizing a book-publishing plan which has helped put out more Goa-related titles in what is otherwise a small but colourful market for books dealing with a tiny region of South Asia.

Public holidays
Goa has nearly two weeks of holidays each year. Government offices have a five-day week (closed Saturday-Sunday). Panjim closes early (around 8PM) each evening, and shops here could have a fairly longish siesta break (from around 1PM till up to 3:30PM). Goan shop owners take this siesta break seriously, and no business is conducted during this time. Bars, restaurants and other shopping centers are more buyer-friendly.

Major public or special holidays are around Christmas, Republic Day, Id-ul-zuha, Gudi Padva, Good Friday, Independence Day, Ganesh Chaturthi (both days), Gandhi Jayanthi, Dussehra, Diwali, Id-ul-fitr, Feast of St Francis Xavier, Goa Liberation Day, Mahashivratri, Holi and Id-e-milad. Banks may remain open during local religious celebrations.

Expect a huge influx of tourists and locals residing in other states during festivals like Ganesh Chaturthi and the Carnival, which is celebrated just before the beginning of Lent in the Christian calendar. It is advised to make bookings for trains, buses and flights well in advance if you intend on visiting the state during these times.

Goa remains green and beautiful because there are restrictions on buildings in green areas. Residential properties are crowded into marked zones and the green zone is always left undisturbed.

Read

 * Goa Freaks: My Hippie Years in India by Cleo Odzer (1995). Cleo Odzer writes about her hippie years in Goa and her experiences.
 * The Goa Inquisition by Anant Priolkar. This book by Anant Priolkar provides a very comprehensive account of the Goa Inquisition, an important period in the history of Goa. Bombay University Press. ISBN 978-0-8364-2753-0

Talk
Goa's state language is Konkani. Most Goans speak Konkani, English, Hindi, and Marathi. Portuguese is also known by a small segment, especially the elite and earlier privileged class or the older generation which studied in pre-1961 Portuguese-ruled Goa.

Different languages tend to be used for different purposes in Goa. Konkani is the most widely spoken. English and Marathi tend to be most widely read. Most newspapers are also published in these two languages.

Catholics largely use Konkani for their prayer services, while the language for religion for Hindus in the state is largely Marathi. The administration is largely conducted in English, which is also the language of publication of the official gazette and the language mainly used in the courts.

It can be rather difficult to learn Konkani. The language is written in four to five scripts, in and beyond Goa: Devanagari (the official script), Roman or Romi (widely used in Goa), Kannada-script, Malayalam-script and Perso-Arabic, reportedly used by some Muslim communities further south along the Indian west coast. Books to learn Konkani in the Roman script have also been published, making it easier for those not knowing the Devanagari script (used to write Hindi, Marathi and other languages) that is the officially-recognized script for Konkani in Goa.

Get in
Goa can be reached by two airports, by train, and by the many buses connecting the state with cities in India (primarily Mumbai, Mangalore and Bangalore). If you are travelling from Mumbai or Pune, car travel will provide you a journey through breathtaking scenery of the Konkan area.

By plane
The, in Vasco da Gama is Goa's main airport. Some airlines fly directly to Goa, but most international flights arrive via Mumbai. Air India has international flights to Kuwait and UAE twice a week. Air Arabia has discount flights to Sharjah. Qatar Airways has flights to Doha, along with convenient connections to Western Europe, Africa and USA.

Flights can be chartered to the United Kingdom, Germany, Russia and Switzerland.

Many domestic airlines have daily flights to and from Bangalore, Delhi, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Pune, Chennai, Jaipur, Ahmedabad and Kozhikode (Calicut).

On arrival, take pre-paid taxis from Dabolim Airport. A yellow pre-paid taxi booth can be found 30 m on the left when you exit the main building. There is also a pre-paid taxi stand in the international arrival area. Rates are slightly cheaper than the yellow cabs.

Many resorts pick up guests from the airport for free, so make sure you ask your resort for free pick-up.

at the northern tip of the state opened in January 2023, serving mostly domestic flights for now, but with plans to expand into international routes as well.

By bus
There are bus routes from various cities, but most traffic is from Mumbai and Pune. Due to increasing demand from the south, there has been an increase in buses and trains from Mangalore and Bangalore. Overnight buses from Mumbai to Goa are an alternative to trains and flying. Book in advance during the crowded seasons (particularly during the Christmas-New Year rush, for Carnival, or when other Indian regions have school holidays when families travel).

Kadamba Transport Corporation is the Goa state-run transport service. Its buses have seen better days, and more efficient times. There are also other state-run buses run by the governments of Karnataka (some services are efficient, specially the Volvo buses), Maharashtra, and Andhra Pradesh. Many private players also offer bus connections to other cities, with varying levels of discounts and efficiency, with the two usually being inversely related.

Some of the more efficient private operators with well timed, well connected and clean services is VRL (Vijayanand Road Lines) based from Karanataka. They have a well connected and systematic service for passenger and cargo along the Konkan coastal belt and between the Western-Eastern-Southern states of India. Book online on their well maintained website VRL Travels Online booking

The main centre for booking train and bus tickets, in Panjim, is around the Kadamba inter-state bus terminus. Tickets for the Konkan Railway can also be booked here, though expect long queues during the holiday season (which in India, can also coincide with the timings when children have a school break).

By train
Indian Railways connects Goa with direct train services from Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Mangalore, Kochi, Kolkata, Thiruvananthapuram, Bangalore, Chennai and Hyderabad. The destination station is usually Madgaon in South Goa. Travelling to Goa by train is a real pleasure as the route passes through greenery and many tunnels. Goa is also connected to Pune via the Belgaum Miraj line.

A railway station some tourists tend to miss is Thivim, which is served by most trains and is 20 minutes away from Calangute beach by taxi. For budget travellers, this is the cheapest option, along with being faster and much more comfortable than travelling by road. It is advisable for tourists to make reservations well in advance as the major trains such as; Konkan Kanya and the Nethravati Express are usually heavily booked.

Trains from Mumbai and most other places have a quota of seats set aside for tourists. Quota tickets must be purchased in person at the rail station by the tourist and cannot be booked via a travel agent. Quota tickets are only sold at the station of origin. Tickets can be booked online.

Unless travelling on a shoestring budget, it is advisable to travel in air-conditioned sleeper coaches. These are quieter and much more comfortable. Each bunk is provided with two freshly laundered sheets, a blanket, and a pillow. You can also have a hand towel on request.

Most travel agents will book tickets for a small fee (₹200), but trains do get busy and you need to book in advance. Do not leave booking your ticket to the last moment as you may be disappointed. It is convenient to book online on IRCTC site, reservations open up four months in advance.

Travelling by train can be quite an experience as you are more likely to interact with Indians visiting Goa from different parts of the country, under more relaxed conditions.

See also Rail travel in India

By ferry
Occasional cruise services used to sail from Mumbai to Goa, but these were discontinued because of security concerns and unpredictable weather and are unlikely to resume.

Get around
High resolution maps are not available for Goa. For example, some popular isles are not shown in many maps.

Parts of Goa lack sign boards, so finding your way around could be challenging. When in doubt just ask; usually people are friendly and helpful, but don't expect accurate answers (a so-called 'five-minute drive' could take twenty minutes).

When driving, expect surprises like domestic animals and little children darting across the road, unmarked speed breakers and speed bumps.

By motorbike
There is a choice of manual and automatic gearbox motorbikes and scooters to be rented (typically without helmets). Those planning to stay long may consider buying one instead. Rentals are around ₹350 a day (₹400 in non-peak season) for a Honda Activa scooter and a little more if one is looking for a geared motorcycle. Many small roadside shops sell petrol at ₹105 per litre as of early May 2022, while the going rate at a station (these are hard to locate in the coastal areas) would maybe be a little more than ₹105 per litre.

For the motorbikes, always ask for a discount if renting long-term (one month or more). You should not have to pay more than ₹100 per day. Ensure that you have all the ownership documents of the bike. Also, avoid taking motorbikes with yellow plates out of Goa, as it is a punishable offence. Hiring a bike with white plates is acceptable for local travel in the immediate vicinity but if you want to travel further afield then always rent a bike with yellow plates.

Wearing a crash helmet is compulsory when you go on any major roads (there is a ₹100 fine for not wearing one). Foreigners will need an International Driving Permit (Convention 1949); this is the first thing police will ask you for if stopped. You should also carry your normal driving licence with you.

By bus
Travelling by bus in Goa is extremely convenient as the road network easily connects all the places in Goa with roads. State Transport Corporation and private buses are available which serve transport services in major locations.

Despite the off-schedule service, noise and overcrowding, there is some unique charm in travelling by private buses which are designed with colourful local characters.

Buses are inexpensive and fares are often around ₹4-6. ₹10-15 for a 30-40 km ride.

By car
There are many car hire companies available, both for self-driving and cars with driver, and online taxi bookings are also available throughout Goa. As of early May 2022, rentals cost around ₹2,200 a day for Innova and around ₹3,500 for Tempo traveler, ₹4,500 for Camry, and a little more for others.

By taxi
In Goa you will easily get taxi services outside of a hotel or can book online taxi booking. There is no taxi service from companies like Ola or Uber, but the ride sharing app Goa Miles is available for booking local taxis on iOS and Android.

Art & culture
Goa has more than its fair share of museums, art galleries and libraries. You will find many government run museums in Panaji, including the Goa State museum, the Kala Academy, the Central Library and the Goa Science Centre. In Vasco da Gama, you can find the Naval Aviation Museum, a great place to see vintage aircraft.

Old Goa is a great place to see examples of Christian religious art, and sometimes, secular art. There you can find the Christian Art Museum and also a modern art gallery containing the works of surrealist Dom Martin. In Mormugao, you can find the Religious Museum of the Blessed Joseph Vaz. The Xavier Centre of Historical Research at Bardez also has a gallery on Christian Art.

Attracted by Goa's bohemian life, many artists, painters and architects have made their home here. They too have proceeded to set up art galleries and museums. An example of this is Subodh Kerkar's art gallery in Candolim. Benaulim also has the Goa Chitra Museum, containing the largest collection of ethnographic artifacts ever assembled in one place.

Other museums of note are Gerard da Cunha's architectural museum Houses of Goa in Benaulim, Big Foot(aka Ancestral Goa) at Loutolim, Salcete, an attempt to illustrate and recreate Goa's traditional past. There's even a vintage-cars collection of sorts -- Ashvek Vintage World, in Nuvem, Salcete The Latin Quarter of Panjim or Fontain has many heritage buildings, some preserved in their original condition.

Beaches
Goa is famous for its beaches, ancient temples and churches, and the Goan carnival.
 * Agonda — also known as Turtle Beach, in the south.
 * Anjuna beach — close to the Chapora Fort, its key attraction is a magnificent Albuquerque Mansion built in 1920, flanked by octagonal towers and an attractive Mangalore tile-roof. Anjuna was the second home (and main location) of the hippies in Goa in the 1960s and 1970s, after other destinations like Calangute got too "crowded" for them. It is still the venue of a (vastly-changed and more mainstream) flea market held each Wednesday. In the nearby village of Arpora, two colourful Saturday night bazaars are held in the non-monsoon seasons. This is still part of "alternative" Goa, though charter and other tourists also visit in increasing numbers to "get a feel of the hippy years".
 * Arambol beach — a quiet beach in North Goa near Pernem. Not too many facilities in terms of hotels or eateries. The water is shallow and good for swimming.
 * Asvem beach — quieter beach in extreme north Goa's Pernem Taluka.
 * Baga beach — family beach and charter tourist destination just outside Calangute.
 * Benaulim beach
 * Calangute beach — queen of all Beaches in Goa. Once highly rated. Now crowded. Expect traffic jams along the main crowded street. This beach is full of Indian tourists, provides a lot of noise, a lot of souvenirs, and some water sports beggars. You won't get peace here, but it does have many famous clubs, and some nice dining options.
 * Candolim and Sinquerim — beaches in North Goa's Bardez taluka. Once humble fishing villages. Now the crowded concretised coast of North Goa. Goa's Benidorm. Or quickly getting to be as crowded.
 * Chapora — home of the Chapora fort. Close to Vagator and Anjuna beaches. Also site for a fishing jetty where trawlers (introduced into Goa in the 1960s and 1970s, amid protests from traditional fishermen, who were affected by them) bring in their catch. Dil Chahta Hai Movie's one song was shot at this fort. Although in pretty damaged state, Chapora fort offers mesmerising views of sea and both beaches. It's a bit difficult to find the way to the fort, but bikers won't mind it. Built on a hill top, fort offers some resistance for climbing up.
 * Colva beach — known for its scenic beauty. This is part of Salcete, Goa's only Catholic majority sub-district. Once a very hospitable area, now relations are getting monetised thanks to tourism. Salcete's beach stretch starts with Velsao beach and ends at Betul which is where the Leela and Holiday Inn hotels are. The other popular beaches on this stretch are Utorda, Majorda, Arrosim, Benaulim and Varca. The Southern beaches are beautiful, quieter and have a lesser number of shacks. It is easier to enjoy the natural scenic beauty of the Goa here versus the beaches in the Northern part of the state that are more commercialized. The southern beaches are more family geared and generally cleaner and more beautiful.
 * Mandrem beach — in the extreme north Goa's Pernem Taluka.
 * Morjim beach — a beautiful beach, inhabited by Russian tourists. This place is popular among kitesurfers due to the shallow depth of the sea and a very wide beach. Prices are high, with many restaurants offering Russian cuisine. Nightlife is vibrant here.
 * Palolem beach — southernmost beach in Goa, situated in Canacona taluka. Scenic and quiet with nearby islands. Good eating options. It is becoming pricey (by local standards) and getting a bit crowded, but still less crowded compared to other popular beaches.
 * Patnem beach — small and quiet beach in Canacona Taluka.
 * Vagator beach — in Bardez, neighbouring Anjuna. Frequented by Western backpackers and home to raves.

Wildlife sanctuaries and others
There are several wildlife sanctuaries in the region. Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary in Sanguem is one of the largest protected wildlife regions in Goa. The Dudh Sagar Waterfall also in Sanguem measures 600 m from top to bottom.

The Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary in Ponda is home to sambar, gaur (Indian bison) and wild boar, amongst other animals. Elephants have also been spotted here at times. The Butterfly Conservatory of Goa also in Ponda has butterflies and a unique rain water harvesting experiment.

The Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary in Canacona is a forest with rare plants and tall tree where hardly any light can reach to the ground. The Dr. Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary in Panaji requires permission from Chief Wildlife Warden.

Do

 * Carnival. Held in mid-February, just before Lent, the four-day event features lively processions, floats, the strumming of guitars, graceful dances and non-stop festivity.
 * Diving — the season is between mid-October to mid-May. Diving is not possible during the monsoons in India (June till mid-October). The water temperature is 27-30⁰ C. The local diving consists of dive sites around Grande Island, just off the coast near Vasco da Gama. The dive sites are mostly 12-16 m deep, and visibility varies through the season with an average of around 5-6 m. Marine life is abundant, with many species of reef fish, hard and soft coral, and several shipwrecks to dive. Several dive centres conduct PADI courses and organize dive trips to Pigeon Island (also known locally as Netrani Island) in the neighbouring state of Karnataka.
 * Jet-ski — with banana ride, bumper ride and parasailing. Head to Anjuna /Baga / Calangute beach during daytime and you will find many small groups of vendors offering these. If in a small group, with adequate bargaining and luck, you can bargain to around ₹1,000 - 1500 (season) and a little lesser in the off-season for a 1 short round jet-ski ride, 5-min banana ride, 5-min bumper ride and a 1 min para-sailing session per person. These activities are also available on less popular beaches and you could get a bargain there as compared to popular beaches where demand exceeds supply.
 * Kitesurfing — not the best place in the world to try kite surfing, but it still has something to offer. Check Morjim, Arambol and Aswem beaches in North Goa. You can find instructors in Morjim, that take ₹8,000-12,000 for beginners course. The season starts in January, you can expect 1-2 windy days a week during January and February, and 2-3 days a week during March. Most people use 10-14 m² kites. Water is choppy most of the time, don't expect wave riding.
 * Bungee Jumping &mdash at Mayem lake.
 * Paragliding — check Arambol beach in North Goa for tandem paragliders.
 * Relax at the beaches — Goa has an almost unbroken 70 km coastline of beaches. Don't forget to carry suntan, towels and chappals along when hitting the beach. Beachbeds can be hired for ₹100 per hour, you should get the beach bed for free if you are ordering snacks from the shack.
 * Trekking and camping — October to December is the perfect time to go trekking in Goa. The Goa Hiking Association in Panaji organizes a major trekking program in October each year. The Goa Branch of the Youth Hostel Association of India also runs Trekking expeditions and Family camping trips in Goa every December. Some recommended places to trek and hike include the Sahyadri Hills, Devils Canyon and the Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary in Mollem, the Chandrasurya Temple in Netravali (2 hr south of Panaji), and the Kuveshi Falls to Castle Rock just over the border in Karnataka state.

Buy
Goan handicrafts are under-appreciated and can be a real bargain. Their range includes carved furniture, brassware, crochet and more (see section on the government-run Aparant emporia).

Global items come in amazing diversity specially at the night markets of North Goa. In Panjim, the 18th June Rd is faster emerging as a lure for shoppers and tourists. Mapusa, while hosting a traditional market each Friday, attracts a number of tourists, specially foreigners. Goa's talented goldsmiths are neatly lined up at Mapusa's market, and in parts of Margao and Panjim. Check out traditional Goan lacquer-ware toys' (available at the Aparant emporia''). There is a ''flea market at Anjuna.

Health tourism, foreign tourists come here for medical services. There are a number of outlets that offer a form of 'health tourism'. These include centres like Dr Pimenta's Dental Practice at Romano Chambers (near the Old Petrol Pump in Calangute) and Lake Plaza near Nehru Stadium in Margao.

Handicrafts
The Aparant network of outlets are managed by the State-run Goa Handicrafts network. In their 10 outlets across Goa you may find an interesting range of handicrafts from Goa. Items range include shell-work, ceramic, bamboo, paper mache, coconut-items and fibre. If visitors have a problem with carrying back some the (more fragile) handicrafts home, then fibre is a good choice. Four outlets are in Panjim, at Vasco da Gama, (on Swatantra Path, at the Vasco Residency) and at the local GTDC-run "residency" hotels in Margay, Mapusa, Calangute, the Bicholim Pottery Production Centre at the Industrial Estate, and at Loutolim's Big Foot.

In Panjim, the other outlets of Aparant are at the Udyog Bhavan, (opposite the Goa Police Headquarter, near the Ferry Jetty); at the main Kadamba bus-terminus; and at the Crafts Complex office of the Goa Handicrafts in Neugi Nagar, (Rua de Ourem). The largest number of items are available at the last location, about 2.5 km from the centre of town.

Products of dry coconuts and coconut-shells are carved and often designed to fit on a wooden base. Items produced include table lamps, flower pots, table clocks, different religious statues and decorative items.

Crochet items of beautiful designs and shapes. Likewise, sea-shells that were once discarded by the beach get transformed by artisans. Traditional ceramics include pots, ash-trays, flower pots andimages of gods. Same for the case of bamboo products.

A few of these items are produced in-house at the Goa Handicrafts' centre in Bicholim. Others come from artisans across the state. This network has done a fair job in highlighting the skills of geographically scattered local artisans, and also finding them the market to help sustain their talents.

Hand-painted ceramics, Goa has its own unique product.

Furniture, is another area of interest, in terms of shopping options. Despite its bulky nature antiques are also a growing business.

Eat
The Goan staple diet consists of rice and fish curry along with pickles and fried fish. This can be found on many of the beach shacks. The Goan cuisine is a blend of Portuguese and local flavours. Many dishes such as prawn balchao and kingfish in garlic have distinct Portuguese flavour. The cuisine is mostly seafood based, the staple foods are rice and fish. Kingfish (vison or visvan) is the most common delicacy, others include pomfret, shark, tuna and mackerel. Among the shellfish are crabs, prawns, tiger prawns, lobster, squid and mussels.

Dishes such as vindaloo, dopiaza, xacuti (pronounced "chacuti") and cafreal will be familiar from Indian restaurant menus abroad, and are typical Goan dishes. Bebinca is a traditional Goan layered pudding which can be found "home made" at certain hotels.

Most beaches have shacks that serve surprisingly delicious meals, especially seafood. They will usually consult you to see how you like your food. Don't miss the shack eating experience. Most fancy hotels and restaurants serve terrible food, it is best to eat at local places; ask a taxi driver where these would be and don't let him take you to any fancy restaurants as they receive commission.

Drink
For a destination which tends to be costlier -- in almost everything -- than the rest of India, Goa has liquors and wines that are priced noticeably low. Products available range from wine (red and white), to the oddly-named Indian-made foreign liquors (IMFLs, which include whisky, brandy, rum, gin, vodka and more), and local liquors (basically cashew and coconut feni). Prices of domestic products range from ₹40 to ₹350 per bottle.

Feni
There are two local brews long made and drunk in Goa: cashew feni and coconut feni. One comes from the cashew apple, and the other from the sap of the coconut tree.

Feni-brewing skills have been honed by Goa's former Portuguese rulers. The cashew was brought in by the Portuguese, and today it is integral to Goan society and the economy. Cashew-apples go to waste in neighbouring states, so they are imported from nearby Maharashtra into Goa.

Feni has come to become synonymous with Goa. Cashew Feni has been accorded protection as a Geographical Indication so it can be made only in Goa.

Feni has a strong taste, and some like it but some don't. At one of the liquor outlets in Panjim, you can run into bus-loads of tourists picking up souvenirs of feni.

Wine and other products
Of course, there are a range of other options too. Local wines are priced at between ₹40-150 per bottle. Goa hosts the "Grape Escape", a festival of wines, around the start of each year, often held in mid-February.

Do try Urrak. It's a local drink with smoky flavour. Ask for it at local bars. It's a summer drink, with a refreshing taste and light alcohol.

In terms of local products, Madame Rosa has also been diversifying into coffee and other liqueur. Flavours include mango, anise, almond and chocolate mint. PVV (Pedro Vincent Vaz), another prominent brand, comes out with its cashew and palm products (in sizes of 750 ml, 180 ml and 60 ml). Other brands have names like Dom Pedro, Goan Treasure, Cashew Inside, Fruit Shape, among others.

Sleep
Goa is one of the more expensive states in India to stay in. During the peak season, which lasts from November to late March, the prices are very high. Especially in December, 5-star hotel rates range from around ₹20,000—35,000 per night. All tourist spots charge more in the peak season.

Huts/shacks are an economical and fun option to consider. These can be found along most of the beaches, prices range from ₹400-600 and you get a whole hut with a double bed, lock, towels and an attached bathroom with toilet. Beach huts are closed during the monsoon.

The last week of the year, between Christmas and New Year the place is usually completely packed. Try to avoid that overhyped week and you will get a better deal without the added pressures.

Farmstays are an increasingly popular option away from the crowds. Farmstays are available in some of the more rural parts of Goa.

Cope
The Central Library is in the old-style colonial Institute Menezes Braganza in Panjim. Don't miss the rare books section. There are also the municipality libraries in the main towns, including Mapusa's Athaide Library. Other research institutions with good collections include the Xavier Centre of Historical Research at Alto Porvorim, the also Jesuit-run Thomas Stevens Konknni Kendra next door at Porvorim, the Goa University, and a quaint Konkani-focussed library called Amchem Diaz (Our Traditions), that functions out of the first floor of a commercial establishment not far from the Margao bus stand and the local court.

Money
Goa has a large network of banks, some of which will change currency. In the tourist pockets and urban areas, one comes across such services easily.

Leading hotels, shops and travel agents will also offer foreign currency exchanges.

Phones
Country code is +91 (India), Goa is 832, or 0832 if the country code is not prefixed.

Goa's telephone directory hasn't been published for several years. In a state with among the highest teledensities (phones per hundred users) across India, this is a serious handicap. Old telephone directories have segregated phone subscribers on the basis of the many small phone exchanges in the State. (Previously, it needed a trunk-call to call from one exchange to the other, but at least this is not the case now.) So it can be very confusing to locate a particular phone number. However if you do have a phone number for the BSNL Co., then getting the address is easy by dialing 197.

Add to this the reality that the telephone network in Goa is frequently growing, and that telephone numbers have grown from four-digits to the current seven in not too many years, finding the right number you need can be tough.

The Government of Goa's Department of Information and Publicity (at Udyog Bhavan, near Azad Maidan and the Goa Police Headquarters in the heart of Panjim) comes out fairly regularly with an under-priced -- but not easily available -- pocketbook of phone numbers. This focuses largely on politicians, government officials and media persons. Some useful fax numbers, email addresses and websites mentioned here. But don't expect officials to reply to your e-mail!

Yellow pages are also available. To inquire about local businesses contact Hello 2412121 (0832-2412121) or Hello Group Goa.

Mobile services have grown fast in Goa. It is fairly easy to get a Prepaid mobile SIM card. It will cost around ₹100, just take a copy of your passport (visa page, entry stamp and photo page) and two passport photos to a phone shop and away you go. It is worth thinking about cost and coverage if you are travelling around India as once you leave Goa and travel to another state you then pay roaming charges for all calls. It is still cheap though. A single text to the UK from Goa costs ₹10 and calls cost about ₹12 a minute.

Internet
Internet cafes can be found in Goa's urban areas, tourist spots and hotels. It is not difficult to find an internet centre in a state known for its large expat and tourist population. ID has to be presented and foreigners will need to present their passport before being allowed to use the internet.

Stay safe
Be careful when wading at the beach as undertow riptide currents can be strong in certain beaches. Avoid the mouths of all rivers (such as the Mandovi River at Miramar), especially at low tide when the flow of the water current out to sea is the strongest. And just don't get into the water at all in the off season. The safe swimming period in Goa is November to early May.

Avoid contact with unprocessed cashew nuts as they contain an irritant ('urusiol') also present in poison ivy. The cashew apple is edible when ripe.

Goans are very friendly and helpful. If you meet a driver you like, get their contact information and book them for subsequent trips. Travel guides can be expensive and have been known to dupe foreign visitors. Beware of guides offering to take you to a disco with lots of attractive girls, who will dance with you. This is a scam. Don't go to cheap disco clubs, which are mostly in Calangute, Baga and Anjuna. They steal your money and put you in trouble. The rates are mostly around 500 INR; avoid this.

Any scam that offers a free ride in return for a "prize" will be guaranteed to disappoint.

Beware the 'ear doctors', who are more likely to accost men than women and 'produce' some tiny revolting creature, supposedly from your ear, for which they then offer a 'cure' It is, however, humorous to read the cards they print up promoting themselves.

While travelling by train, beware of pickpockets, strangers who offer you snacks or tea, and other such people who make trains in India a regular hunting ground. Do not take off your shoes in non-A/C coaches or they might get stolen. The same goes with all your valuables.

Don't trust travel agents who say that a train is fully booked. They want you to hire a car that costs more and provides them a kick back. A better thing to do is to check out the details yourself on the Indian Railways website. Also, you can book your railway ticket online.

Temperatures in winter and summer can be extreme, so do not forget sunscreen.

Emergency services
Goa now has a number — for medical emergencies. This service is run by the GVK EMRI (Emergency Management and Research Institute) and is based out of Goa Medical College (Bambolim) and has ambulances posted at various parts of Goa. These ambulances are fully equipped and have trained paramedics.

Go next

 * Amboli — around 130 km from Goa, Amboli is one of the most preferred destinations for visitors, especially for honeymooners. It is in Maharashtra and features several spots such as Hiranyakeshi Temple, Nagatta Falls, Bauxite mines and Shirgaonkar.
 * Gokarna — around 132 km from Goa and exact replica of Goa. It is surrounded with plethora of beaches like Kundle Beach, Paradise Beach, Om Beach and Gokarna Beach. Gokarna is also known as Rudra Yoni, where confluence of two rivers called Aghanashini and Gangavali takes place.
 * Ratnagiri — The scenery of this place has been demonstrated by an integration of good civilization and natural geography. Ratnagiri is 250 km from North Goa and features deep valleys, green hills, and paddy fields. There is something unique for every visitor to enjoy and discover here.
 * Sawantwadi — It is surrounded by spectacular greenery and range of hills 100 km from Goa. At Sawantwadi, you may come across amazing wildlife including tigers, leopards and wild boars. This place is recognized for its artwork including chitrakathi, kalasutri, bamboo work and other wooden products.

title: Goa


text:
Gobabis

Gobabis is a town of 19,000 people (2011) in Namibia.

Understand
Gobabis continues to grow as a town due to goods being transported from the mines of landlocked Botswana to the Namibian port of Walvis Bay, and furthermore from consumer goods being imported into Namibia from Gauteng in South Africa. The transport route is known as the Trans-Kalahari Corridor. Gobabis is connected to the Namibian railway system.

The town hosts a state hospital, a state clinic and a private hospital, banking and shopping facilities. Legare Stadium is located in the town.

Epako is a community about 2 km east of the city centre on the Trans-Kalahari Corridor, separated from it by an unpopulated area of bush. Epako was created before Namibia's independence as a home for black workers. About half of the residents of Gobabis live in Epako. The urban landscape of Epakos ranges from one-storey stone houses with a front garden and fence to corrugated iron houses - the so-called shacks - to the smallest temporary accommodation made of plastic and natural materials. The informal settlement area in the north of Epakos makes up a third of Epako (as of 2013).

History
The Gobabis district was proclaimed by the German authorities in February 1894 and in June the following year Gobabis was occupied by a German garrison. While the military fort, built in 1896–7, has long since disappeared, one of the few buildings dating back to that era is the field hospital, or Lazarett, which has been declared a national monument.

By road
The B6 (Trans-Kalahari Highway) is the main road between Namibia and Botswana and passes through Gobabis. Gobabis is 200 km (120 mi) down the B6 motorway from Windhoek, and 113 km (70 mi) from the Buitepos border post with Botswana.

Route C30 is a secondary road that runs north west to Gobabis via Steinhausen from the C22 just south of Otjiwarongo. It is a more direct alternative route to the Waterberg Plateau Park in the Otjozondjupa region.

There are Combie (Shared Taxis) from Windhoek.

By train
At this stage the railway line from Windhoek terminates in Gobabis but it does not carry any passengers. The proposed Trans-Kalahari Railway may pass through this town.

See

 * Cattle Country Statue at the southern town entrance, directly on the B6
 * Churches: Gobabis is the 'Town of the Churches' in Namibia. 14 historic churches are in town, all major denominations are represented.

Sleep
There are numerous lodges and campsites in and around Gobabis.

 * Goba Lodge is on the outskirts of town and overlooks a dam.
 * Nossob Safaris provides bunk-style and backpackers' accommodation about 12 km out of town on Route C30.

Go next
Witvlei is the next destination on the way to Windhoek.

If you are on your way to Botswana, the next stop is the borderpost at Buitepos.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Gobabis


text:
Gobi

Gobi or Govi is a region in Mongolia that covers the Gobi Desert in Mongolia.

Cities

 * is the capital of Govĭ-Altai province.
 * is home to the Govi Bear, sand dunes, and some nice oases.
 * , quickly becoming the richest town in Mongolia, is a starting point for exploring the Red Hills.
 * is the capital of Dundgovĭ province.
 * is growing industrial city with a large monastery.
 * (Zamyn-Üüd) is the main border crossing with China, and a stop on the Trans-Mongolian Railway.

Understand
The Gobi Desert covers the bottom third of Mongolia and has quite a lot to offer for most travelers to Mongolia. It is one of the largest desert regions in Asia and has long served as a buffer between the Mongolian steppe and China. It is also the world's coldest desert. The climate is drier and slightly warmer than the rest of Mongolia, but still frigid in winter. Thus, travel here even into September and October is not unheard of for tourists.

Sand storms are common in the spring, and it is joked that Mongolia's oldest export to China is dust from the Gobi. It is not uncommon for provincial schools to close, due to dust storms. Most Mongols tie weights around their gers during the spring to support the home during the dust storms.

The Great Wall of China follows the southern boundary of the desert. The desert's dry cold weather has made it one of the best places in the world for finding dinosaur bones. For any related Gobi Travel, the best start is Dalanzadgad, the provincial capital of South Gobi province, within which, lies most of the Gobi's attractions.

Get in
It is possible to fly to Altai, Bayanhongor, and Dalanzadgad on one of the domestic airlines from Ulaanbaatar. Sainshand lies on the Trans-Mongolian Railway and can be reached by train. All parts of the region can be reached by bus from UB, however only Sainshand and Bayanhongor have paved roads connecting to the capital.

Get around
Hiring a private driver is essentially the only option. Call local hotels and ask, go on social media, reach out. Expect things to not go as planned. Tourism infrastructure in Mongolia is not yet developed (as of 2021), relative to other countries. Fuel is relatively expensive. A driver's fee can be 50-75 USD a day, and you must feed him and lodge him. Wherever you stay, there will likely be a discount for the driver's lodging.

Do
Go to South Gobi and see the flaming cliffs, the singing sand dunes, and the ice canyon.

Eat
Camel meat. Not bad, from most visitor's perspectives. Nothing special, but a memory will suffice

Drink
Camel milk. Not bad, not great. 4-10% alcohol perhaps. Causes constipation.

Stay safe
The Gobi can be quite hot, and the range of temperature between the sunny areas and the shade is tremendous. Keep this in mind and take more than enough water. Make sure your car has more than enough petrol, and you have plenty of water, food, torches, batteries, and trustworthy people.

Go next
Go to Elsen tasarkhai.

title: Gobi


text:
Gobi Gurvan Saikhan National Park

Gobi Gurvan Saikhan National Park is in Mongolia.

Understand
If you stay with local families (not tourist ger camps), prices seem to be pretty much standardized (as of Jan 2024):

 * Bed in a shared ger: 25,000 ₮ (tögrög)
 * Food: 6,500 ₮
 * Camel ride (1 hr): 10,000 ₮
 * Guide (1 hr): 10,000 ₮

History
Gobi Gurvan Saikhan (Three Beauties of Gobi) National Park is west of the city of Dalanzadgad. The park was protected in 1965 for the Yolyn-Am of the East Saikhan Mountain. It is comprised of 27 million hectares in area, 2,400-2,600 meters above sea level.

Landscape
The park has rocky and sandy desert areas among them; the most famous is the Khongor dunes. There we can see many rocky formations, dried up basins, saltwater rivers, sources, and oases.

Flora and fauna
More than 620 species of endemic plants from Central Asia grow there. The park also houses many animals: Mongolian gazelles, goitered gazelles, onagers, Siberian ibex, mouflons, argalis, wild goats, and the very discreet snow leopard. In total, 52 species of mammals are registered in this area, among which eight are protected species.

Get in
The park is easily accessible from Dalanzadgad, the capital of the province.

Fees and permits
Entrance fees to national parks and protected areas are 3000 ₮ or US$3 for one person. It is paid one time when you enter. Museums at the Yol Canyon ticket cost 1000 ₮.

Get around
The only option to get around is by hired jeep.

See
Yol Canyon, Bayanzag (Red Flamming Cliffs), Khongoryn Eels (Singing Sand Dunes), Khermen Tsav, Energy Center

 * The Yolyn Am (Vulture Valley): at the northeastern part of Zuun Saikhan Mountain. This area has been main attraction of tourists for many decades. Very wide at the entrance, it narrows gradually into a remarkable gorge. A spring two or three km long winds its way through the defile and in July, freezing into a thick corridor of ice that stretches along a considerable distance.

 * The Dungeneegyn Am: is at the southwestern part of Zuunsaikhan and Bayandalai soum or county. The area's length is 12 km. There are cliffs, canyons, caves and rivers. Tourists can see mountain sheep and mountain goats in here.

 * The Khongor Sand Dunes: Also known as the "singing dunes", they are up to 800 m high, 20 km wide and about 100 km long, and bordered by lush green vegetation supported by a small river Khongor, which is fed by underground sources from surrounding mountains.

Do
Camel riding, horse back riding, climbing to the dunes, hiking in the Yol canyon.

Buy
Some souvenir shops are in front of the museums, and monastery.

Go next
Go to Elsen tasarkhai.

title: Gobi Gurvan Saikhan National Park


text:
Gocta

Gocta is the name for a tall waterfall near Chachapoyas.

Understand
La Catarata Gocta, known locally as La Chorrera, is allegedly the world's third highest waterfall (771 m) with a main drop of 540 m. There is some debate regarding the measurement method.

History
It was found in March 2006 in the Peruvian forest by German investigators lead by Stefan Ziemendorff who took topographic measurements. It is the third highest in the world, after Angel Falls (Venezuela 972 m) & Tugela Falls (South Africa 948 m).

Legends relating to the curse of a beautiful blonde siren helped by a giant serpent protect a gold vase; & the local Juan Mendoza who disappeared enchanted by the rocks behind the waterfall.

Landscape
In the same valley there are around 22 similar waterfalls.

Flora and fauna
The declaration as a national reserve could promote the conservation of flora & fauna & promote ecotourism, coupled with attractions like Kuelap.

Get in
From Chachapoyas it is a 1hr 5min journey by vehicle to the village of Cocachimba.

There are no direct colectivos running regularly to Cocachimba, so if you are not a group of 4, there are 2 options: taking the collectivos up to Pedro Ruiz (S/10) and going down on the road in the small village called Cocahuayco and from there its a 2 hours mostly uphill walk to Cocachimba. Another option is to continue with the collective to Pedro Ruiz and from there runs regular collectivos to cocachimba (S/8).

From Cocachimba it takes 2-2½ hours to hike (about 5.5 km each way) to the base of the tallest fall. A local guide will be assigned to you at the ticket office (mandatory, S/20 per group). The trail is very up & down, so do not be deceived by the walk only being 5.5 km, it feels like much more. The trail can be hot, humid and muddy. Take water & sun protection. Make sure to wear boots after rainfall. Also, take a bathing suit in case you want to swim in the pool at the base of the falls.

There is another alternative route from the village of San Pablo to the base of the first fall, but it is rarely explored.

Tours are available from Chachapoyas for around S/40 that include transport and a guide.

You can rent horses from Cocahimba for S/25 both ways or S/20 for just the return from the main fall. The horses don't go all the way, so there's still a 40-min walk each way at the end of the path. The handlers guide the horses on foot so, so no riding experience is necessary. If you're on a tour you need to advise them well in advance that you want horses - before you leave or on the drive there is best.

Fees and permits
Visitors must register & pay entrance at the office in Cocachimba. a local guide is mandatory, but could be avoided if you insist. There are others services offered such as horse riding, camping gear rental, etc., but they have yet been tested. The entrance fees are:
 * Adults: S/5
 * Students: S/2.5

title: Gocta


text:
Godalming

Godalming is an ancient English market town sitting on the River Wey, in Surrey, England.

Godalming has existed since Saxon times. It was a wool manufacturing and trading center in medieval times, later followed by a substantial pioneering phase in tanning, leatherworking and related industries.

Notably, the town was reportedly the first to be connected to electricity much of which was provided by the German company Siemens.

There are still light industries in the town, which also houses the UK headquarters of the World Wide Fund for Nature, formerly the World Wildlife Fund.

By train
Godalming is served by South Western Railway on the London Waterloo to Portsmouth Line. There is a relatively frequent service throughout the day. Journey time is around 45 minutes to Waterloo on the stopping service. Godalming is two stations from Guildford, where you can get an express to Waterloo in around 30 minutes.

 * From Guildford – 2 stations away – you can get a direct train to Gatwick Airport in about 50 min.
 * From Woking – 4 stations away – you can get a bus to Heathrow Airport (50 min), and a direct train to Southampton Airport Parkway station (50 min).

Get around
The town centre is about five minutes walk from the railway station. Although the town is not large, many of the suburbs are on surrounding hills.

There is a limited bus service around the town, with the large majority of services run by Stagecoach. Service 46 serves Charterbouse, Hurtmore, Farncombe and Binscombe. 70, 71 and 92 serve Meadrow, with 92 running to Eashing Lane, and 70 and 71 continuing through to Milford. Compass runs service 42, which serves Catteshall, Farncombe, Binscombe, Busbridge and Winkworth.

There is a taxi rank at the railway station.

Do

 * Godalming Navigation, pleasant walk along towpath extends from the town centre up to Guildford and beyond. Parallels 70, 71 and 92 bus routes, which allow easy return journeys. The path starts by the parish church and runs through parkland, then fields and countryside.
 * Godalming Navigation, pleasant walk along towpath extends from the town centre up to Guildford and beyond. Parallels 70, 71 and 92 bus routes, which allow easy return journeys. The path starts by the parish church and runs through parkland, then fields and countryside.

Eat
There are various small restaurants in and around the High Street.

Drink
There is a wide range of pubs in and around the High Street.

title: Godalming


text:
Goddard Memorial State Park

Goddard Memorial State Park is in Rhode Island.

Understand
The park is open year round from sunrise to sunset. Office hours range from 8AM to 3:30PM (winter) and 7:30AM to 4PM (summer). The office can be contacted by phone at +1 401 884-2010.

History
The site that would become Goddard Memorial State Park was first a privately owned estate. On November 29, 1927 site was acquired by the state of Rhodes Island. On June 1, 1930 the park was formally opened. During the New England hurricane of 1938 the park received an extensive amount of damage. To this day, the park is a hot spot for thousands of tourists each year.

Landscape
The park stretches across 489.2 acres.

Flora and fauna
62 deciduous and 19 evergreen species can found in the park.

Get in

 * From Providence Take Interstate Rte. 95 South, to Rte. 4 South, to East Greenwich exit, turn right onto Division Street, to Rte. 1 South, follow signs to Goddard Memorial State Park.

Fees and permits
There are no entrance fees.

Do

 * Beach Whether going for a swim or just taking a shoreline stroll the beach is a great stop for park-goers.
 * Picnic The park has many fields that are ideal for friend and family gatherings.  Picnic sites can be rented for $2 a table.  Larger parties may consider renting the Picnic Shelter for $35.  The shelter has 8 tables and sturdy roof to combat those New England rains.
 * Carousel Performing Arts Center This quaint indoor facility plays host to a variety of local events.  The venue is open to all profit and non-profit groups, providing reservations are made in advance (preferably one year).  Cost is $100 a day for non-profit groups and $200 a day for all other groups.
 * Potowomut Golf Club The park's 9-hole golf course is ideal for golf lovers. A full 9 holes costs $12 on weekdays and $14 on weekends and holidays.  The course is open from April 1st through November 30th (weather permitting).  The course can be contacted directly by calling +1 401 884-9834.
 * Horse riding Horses can rented and taken around 18 miles of bridle trails.

title: Goddard Memorial State Park


text:
Gogounou

Gogounou is a town in Northern Benin.

Understand
Passing through the heart of Gogounou is Rte 2. The town's charm can't be embraced while flying by in a taxi or charter bus. Market day, every Friday, brings colorfully dressed vendors of a potpourri of cultures. Tourists will see Bariba, Peuhl, Tuareg and Guando in their unique, vibrant, attention-stealing garb.

The bazaar provides a mix of items varying in utility; nex to mangoes, tomatoes, and rice a vendor of traditional jewelry makes change for the voudoun healer seeling dried crocodile bead, bat wings and snake skins.

A strong Muslim presence is also reflected in the market. Gold-gilded ornate copies of the Qu'ran, prayer mats and beads as well as embroidered hats are common place. The 17:00 call to prayer is also an impressive display of the normally quiet village's strong, rich cultural diversity.

The best times of the year to visit are
 * Oct - Jan: great weather, tabaske and Ramadan
 * April: Bariba fete

Get in

 * Taxi from Parakou = CFA 2000
 * Taxi from Kandi  = CFA  500

See
After the Bariba party in Nikki, Zoungou-Pantrossi (21k west of Gogounou) hosts another Bariba fete. Horse riding, kings parading, folklorique groups dancing - culture! The date changes yearly, but is always in April.

Do

 * View wildlife in Zoungou-Pantrossi.

Eat

 * Bean balls and fried yams on the road to Bagou
 * Great Beninese home cooking at the bar/restaurant d34 (trois puissance quatre), found on the highway on the north end of town on the west side of the road.
 * Yam Pilee (mashed yams) - Village center, across from the market/auto gare.

Sleep
It's best to stay in Kandi (42 km north). You'll find air conditioning, water, etc. A home stay is suggested. Some houses have electricity from 16:00-00:00. It's certain that any place you stay in Gogounou will make up for the lack of luxuries with hospitality.

title: Gogounou


text:
Goiana

Goiana is a city in Pernambuco, Brazil. Historic buildings, beautiful beaches and original cultural manifestations are the main touristic attractions.

By plane
Fly into Recife's Guararapes International Airport.

By car
From Recife, take BR-101 north. Goiana is 78 Km north of Recife.

Historic sites

 * Our Lady of Carmel Church and Convent of Saint Albert of the Carmelites (Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Carmo e Convento de Santo Alberto das Carmelitas). Built in 1666.
 * Our Lady of Whitemen Rosary Church (Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Rosário dos Brancos). Built in 1705.
 * Tejucupapo. Site of the 1646 Tejucupapo Battle, in which local women defeated Dutch troops. An obelisk (built in 1931) celebrates the victory of the Tejucupapo Heroines.
 * Our Lady of Ó Church (Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Ó). Built in 1864, in Ponta de Pedras beach.
 * Saint Anthony Church (Igreja de Santo Antônio). Built in 1887, in Catuama beach.
 * Saint Lawrence Church (Igreaja de São Lourenço), . Built in the 16th century.
 * Saint Lawrence Church (Igreaja de São Lourenço), . Built in the 16th century.

Beaches

 * Ponta de Pedras beach
 * Carne de Vaca beach
 * Catuama beach
 * Barra de Catuama beach

Do

 * Catamaran Boat Rides. Goiana river, Celeiro Island, Itamaracá Island.
 * Aparauá EcoAventura . Environment and adventure sports (trekking, biking, mountain biking, rapel).
 * Scuba Diving: Wrecks of the Nicolau Copérnico (1883) and the Vapor Bahia (1887) at Ponta de Pedras beach.
 * Watch trained crabs offer you drinks at Buraco da Gia restaurant.

Buy

 * Ceramics
 * Paintings

Eat

 * Buraco da Gia. Rua Padre Batalha, 100; tel.: +55 81 3626-0150.  Don't miss the trained crabs that offer you a drink!!!

title: Goiana


text:
Goiás

Goias (Portuguese: Goiás) is a state of Brazil in the Central West region of the country.

Cities

 * — the state capital was a planned city founded in the 1930s with some Art Deco buildings
 * — formerly known as the City of Spiritual Cures because of infamous psychic healer, João de Deus, in home prison as of August 2023
 * — gateway to Chapada dos Veadeiros
 * — abundant fishing on the Araguaia River, and beautiful beaches
 * — hydrothermal resort with lively carnival
 * — an area with some tremendous hiking trails and waterfalls in the Chapada dos Veadeiros Park
 * — historic city with beautiful waterfall
 * — a town surrounded by waterfalls and caves
 * — the former capital, designated "Historical Heritage of Humanity" by UNESCO
 * — hydrothermal resort

 * — an historic former goldmining town
 * — historic city 100 km from Brasilia
 * — a village at the main entrance to the Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park
 * — the access point to Bananal Island, the largest river island in the world

Other destinations

 * — a prominent eco-park with canyons, valleys, rapids and waterfalls. Enter the park through Alto Paraíso de Goiás or São Jorge

Understand
The name Goiás (formerly, Goyaz) comes from the name of an indigenous community. The original word seems to have been guaiá, meaning "the same person" or "people of the same origin."

The most central of the Brazilian states and the most populous of the region, Goiás is characterized by a landscape of plateaus. In the height of the drought season, from June to September, the lack of rain makes the level of the Araguaia River go down and exposes almost 2 km of beaches, making it the main attraction of the state.

By plane
The largest airport in the state is the Santa Genoveva International Airport, in Goiânia , which has domestic and international flights. Depending on where you are going, it is more practical to fly to Brasilia. Nelson Ribeiro Guimarães Airport in Caldas Novas has local flights.

By car
The State of Goiás is located at an important national road junction. The national and state road network is present throughout the state, with more than 92% of paved roads.

By bus
Almost all cities have a bus terminal with buses to various cities in the country. Consult the coverage areas of the bus companies. The busiest bus terminal in the state is in Goiânia.

See
Museums, bars, restaurants, cafes, nightclubs, concerts, theaters and nightlife in general in Goiânia.

Hot springs in Lagoa Santa, Caldas Novas, Rio Quente and Jataí.

Buildings from the Colonial and Imperial eras of Brazil in Cidade de Goiás, Pirenópolis, Corumbá de Goiás, Niquelândia, Pilar de Goiás and others.

Waterfalls in in Cocalzinho, Jataí, Cavalcante, Corumbá de Goiás, Alto Paraíso and Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park.

Do
Trails and eco-adventure in the Chapada dos Veadeiros and Alto Paraíso National Park.

Beaches and water sports in the cities of Araguaia, Aruanã and Luiz Alves, and Lago da Serra da Mesa, Niquelândia and Uruaçu.

Cultural festivals in Goiânia, Cidade de Goiás, Pirenópolis and many others.

Buy
It is common in the cities of Goiás to have a good number of souvenir shops. Many of these souvenirs are very amusing and resemble items from the state, such as pequi, farms, kitchen utensils from Goiás.

In medium-sized cities such as Anápolis, Jataí, Rio Verde, Itumbiara and Luziânia there are good malls with big brands.

In Goiânia, trade is quite diversified. You can buy everything. In addition, the capital of Goiás is known for its low prices, especially for clothing. Therefore, many retailers from the North region come to shop in the city.

Eat

 * Pamonha - Brazilian local delicacy. It can be savoury or sweet; à moda (a lot of possibilities; most common is savoury paste with sausage and cheese); "Romeu and Julieta" (guava and cheese).
 * Pequi - local fruit. Apreciated by locals, especially with rice or chicken. It has a peculiar smell. Please don't bite, there are lots of thorns. You have to just gnaw.

The cuisine of Goiás is very diverse, with its main dishes being fish on the tile , suã (pork meat) with rice, rice with pequi, and also the everyday Brazilian dishes such as rice and beans; in addition to pamonha, which is used as the main dish at meals; the fruits are the jaboticaba, the guabiroba, the jatobá, among many others from the cerrado. Mixtures, the name given to vegetables such as milkweed and taioba, also stand out, in addition to the introduction of guariroba, one of the main ingredients in casserole, as a vegetable in the almost daily diet. The greengrocer, the name given to homemade biscuits, is also diversified: breaker, mané pelado (cassava cake baked in banana leaves), cheese biscuit (which was invented in Goiás), lie (fried manioc biscuit), peta, the almost forgotten brevidade (povilho beaten with eggs and sugar), the dulce de leche pastry and the sweet rice cake (the latter two are typical greengrocers in the City of Goiás). The variety of sweets is extremely rich: marmalade in a box (in the region of Luziânia), “Moça-de-Engenho” or “Moça Branca” (molasses beaten and framed in the form of a sculpture),milk jam (mainly with grated papaya sticks or grated cider), egg jam (ambrosia made directly in molasses), candied fruit jam (very rich in Pirenópolis), grated cider jam, fruit peel (orange, lemon), among many others. Seasoned brown sugar (with milk, orange peel, cider or peanuts).

The seasonings are very diverse, with a cuisine rich in spices such as saffron and ginger.

Pequi, for example, in the old villages of Meia Ponte (today Pirenópolis) and Vila Boa, still in the beginning of the 18th century, began to be used in the cuisine of Goiás. In the region surrounding the industrial city of Catalão, pequi was only used in the manufacture of pequi soap, with therapeutic properties. Today it is marketed in jam.

The fruit can be tasted in the most varied ways: cooked, in rice, in chicken, with pasta, with fish, with meat, with milk and in the form of one of the most appreciated liqueurs in Goiás.

'Rice with pequi: Made with the typical fruit from Goiás. Be careful not to bite the fruit, as the pulp hides fine thorns that can hurt your mouth.

Canned meat (ancient method of storing meat using lard)

Carne de sol (ancient method of storing meat by drying it in the sun and protecting it with a fly screen)

Chambaril - Broth made with pieces of beef cinnamon, manioc and chili pepper.

Empadão goiano - Pasta stuffed with chicken, sausage, potato, cheese, olive and guariroba (typical bitter heart of palm)

Different types of farofa (egg, apple, eggplant, carrot, banana)

Galinhada - Rice with pieces of chicken with saffron and black pepper

Goiabada - Guava jam

Pamonha - Green corn dough stuffed with cheese and packed in corn straw. It can be sweet or "salt".Pastelinho from Cidade de Goiás

Drink
Liqueurs of different flavors (jabuticaba, chocolate, vanilla, cupuaçu, etc.)

Regional juices (tomato, jabuticaba, seriguela, cupuaçu, açaí, oiti, etc.)

Cachaça (aged or distilled)

Beer (light or dark)

Cozumel (a drink made with light beer, salt and lemon)

title: Goiás


text:
Goiás (city)

Originally Vila Boa de Goiás, Goias city (some residents consider the popular nickname Goiás Velho (Old Goias) as pejorative, avoid using it, prefer to use City of Goiás; someone born here is a vilaboense) is a UNESCO World Heritage site and the former capital of the Brazilian state of Goias with a population around 27,000.

Understand
Soon after the discovery of gold in Mato Grosso and Minas Gerais, a belief emerged in the seventeenth century, that also would be gold in the central region of the country, still uninhabited. Then, very close to the Serra Dourada, Bartolomeu Bueno da Silva (the Anhanguera), found gold in the Red River and founded the Arraial de Sant'anna in 1727. The region was inhabited by the Goyaz Indians, who knew the locations of gold deposits. The Indians refused to tell the scouts where the deposits were then Bartolomeu Bueno da Silva put brandy in a bowl and puts fire. The Indians, astonished, shouted "Anhanguera" which means "Old Devil" and revealed the pioneers of where the mines were located.

A decade later, in 1737, the Arraial is elevated to the administrative category of Village, changing its name Vila Boa de Goyaz. In 1748, with the Royal Charter in effect, the Captaincy of Goyaz is created, and Vila Boa becomes its capital. The first governor, Don Marcos de Noronha, also known as Conde dos Arcos, builds many important buildings in the city, as the Foundry House and Conde dos Arcos Palace, the new seat of government.

In the early nineteenth century, the gold mines were exhausted; the city turned its economic activities for agriculture, and began to be valued culturally by resembling the São Paulo of 450 years before. The Procession of the Blaze is an important demonstration of Goiana culture. This occasion, that happens the Wednesday of Holy Week, is a representation of Christ's arrest. Also at this time, it was decided to construct a new pre-planned state capital, Goiânia, as the ancient city of Goiás had enormous problems of planning and had no where else to grow.

The construction of Goiânia, begun in 1933, by Governor Pedro Ludovico Teixeira, meant a setback in the question of the city population, since many of the residents moved to the new capital, but the effect was positive for the conservation of the historic center. The appointment of the City of Goiás as World Heritage by UNESCO in 2001, further contributed to the city's tourism, which receives thousands of tourists every year, many from other countries.

Get in
To access the newer parts of town you will want to take either the first or second access entries into Goias from the main road. To access the historical area, enter at the third access road.

 * BR-070 west from Brasilia, 320km or east from Barra do Garças, Mato Grosso.
 * From Goiania, it is a fairly straight shot through Inhumas on GO-070 connecting with BR-070 east of town.

Get around
Most of the touristic places to see are in the Historical Area of the city, which can easily be handled on foot. There are taxis available for short trips out of town. The bus stop is a fairly lengthy walk from the historical section of town, so if you are carrying much luggage expect to need a taxi for the last leg of the trip. A car is not very useful for in-city activity as the streets are extremely narrow.

Do

 * Trekking. In the nearby Serra Dourada hills.

Waterfalls/Swimming Holes
Use caution in the rainy season - flash floods are common!
 * Andorinhas is a pleasant, isolated waterfall accessible via the NW exit from the historical district. It is fairly well sign-posted as of 2007.  There is not a large swimming area but the waterfall is high, the area shaded, and children can easily walk under the water.

Go next

 * Anápolis (150 km)
 * Brasília (279 km)
 * Cocalzinho (163 km)
 * Corumbá de Goiás (160 km)
 * Goiânia (139 km)
 * Jataí (315 km)
 * Pilar de Goiás (156 km)
 * Pirenópolis (142 km)

title: Goiás (city)


text:
Goiânia

Goiânia, the capital of Goiás, is a large city in central Brazil.

Understand
One of several major planned cities, Goiânia was founded in 1933. The city plan is generally radial, with Avenida Goiás running north-south and intersecting Avenida Anhanguera at the center. It was planned for about 50,000 inhabitants, but as of 2016, it has over 1½ million in the city and 2½ million in the metropolitan area. The architectural plan was designed by Atílio Correia Lima, who took the art-deco style to the first buildings of the city. It was founded by Pedro Ludovico Teixeira because the old capital, City of Goiás, did not meet the administrative needs of the state capital.

By plane
Good air service. Non-Stop flights from São Paulo - 1 hour 20 minutes flight time. From Goiânia, there are numerous flights per day to other cities in Brazil, either through São Paulo or Brasilia. At the airport of Goiânia you can do business and exchange offers many rental vehicles and taxi points.

By bus
Goiânia has a very good bus station at Praça do Trabalhador, (worker's square), which connects it to any other place in Brazil. So, taking a bus to or from Goiânia will not be a big problem. If you visit Brasilia, which is 3 hours away by bus (R$35 - conventional bus), it's even easier to visit. The bus station is on the northern side, about 1 km from the central district. The bus terminal shares its location with Araguaia Shopping.

By taxi
For international visitors, taxis are you best option. Fares run around R$20 or less for most rides within the central area of the city

By e-hailing
Goiania is covered by some e-hailing services including Uber.

See
During the day, there really isn't much to be seen in Goiânia, as it's the urban center of a young region. There are a couple of parks you can visit, malls and commercial streets. At night, you can find many bars, pubs and night clubs filled with young people. Each of these is attended by very well defined social classes.
 * Museu de Arte de Goiânia - Rua 1, nº 605, Setor Oeste. Founded in 1969, was the first public art museum in the Central West region. Inside Bosque dos Buritis.
 * Estádio Serra Dourada (Serra Dourada Stadium) - It is the stage of Brazilian football matches. Considered the best lawn in Brazil. Every Wednesday and Sunday there are games in this stadium.
 * Museu de Arte de Goiânia - Rua 1, nº 605, Setor Oeste. Founded in 1969, was the first public art museum in the Central West region. Inside Bosque dos Buritis.
 * Estádio Serra Dourada (Serra Dourada Stadium) - It is the stage of Brazilian football matches. Considered the best lawn in Brazil. Every Wednesday and Sunday there are games in this stadium.
 * Museu de Arte de Goiânia - Rua 1, nº 605, Setor Oeste. Founded in 1969, was the first public art museum in the Central West region. Inside Bosque dos Buritis.
 * Estádio Serra Dourada (Serra Dourada Stadium) - It is the stage of Brazilian football matches. Considered the best lawn in Brazil. Every Wednesday and Sunday there are games in this stadium.
 * Museu de Arte de Goiânia - Rua 1, nº 605, Setor Oeste. Founded in 1969, was the first public art museum in the Central West region. Inside Bosque dos Buritis.
 * Estádio Serra Dourada (Serra Dourada Stadium) - It is the stage of Brazilian football matches. Considered the best lawn in Brazil. Every Wednesday and Sunday there are games in this stadium.
 * Museu de Arte de Goiânia - Rua 1, nº 605, Setor Oeste. Founded in 1969, was the first public art museum in the Central West region. Inside Bosque dos Buritis.
 * Estádio Serra Dourada (Serra Dourada Stadium) - It is the stage of Brazilian football matches. Considered the best lawn in Brazil. Every Wednesday and Sunday there are games in this stadium.
 * Estádio Serra Dourada (Serra Dourada Stadium) - It is the stage of Brazilian football matches. Considered the best lawn in Brazil. Every Wednesday and Sunday there are games in this stadium.

Parks

 * Parque Mutirama, northeast from the center at the end of Avenida Araguaia. Larger than Buritis, with walking trails and hilly terrain.
 * Parque Mutirama, northeast from the center at the end of Avenida Araguaia. Larger than Buritis, with walking trails and hilly terrain.
 * Parque Mutirama, northeast from the center at the end of Avenida Araguaia. Larger than Buritis, with walking trails and hilly terrain.
 * Parque Mutirama, northeast from the center at the end of Avenida Araguaia. Larger than Buritis, with walking trails and hilly terrain.

Buy

 * Feira Hippie (Hippie Fair) (open-air market) Sundays at Trabalhador's Square, on Central Sector.
 * Feira da Lua (Moon's Fair) Saturday at the Tamandaré Square, on Oeste Sector. This fair you can buy clothes and to delight with the food stand along the square.
 * Feira do Sol (Sun's Fair) Sundays at Sol Square, on Oeste Sector. You can buy clothes and pictures by popular artists.

Shopping streets

 * Rua 3 and Rua 4 (3 Street and 4 Street) You can find lots of used books, CDs or LPs stores (called Sebos). It's not as big as the São Paulo's sebos, but usually, it's possible to find quite rare peaces at a very good price.
 * Avenida 85 (85 Avenue) You can find numerous clothing stores and car dealerships.
 * Avenida Jamel Cecílio (Jamel Cecílio Avenue) You can find many hotels, supermarkets and shopping malls
 * Praça do Sol(Rua 9 Setor Oeste) - Sunday market here.

Bars and restaurants

 * Pizza Hut Brasil - Sun Square, Oeste Sector.
 * Pizza Hut Brasil - Sun Square, Oeste Sector.
 * Pizza Hut Brasil - Sun Square, Oeste Sector.
 * Pizza Hut Brasil - Sun Square, Oeste Sector.
 * Pizza Hut Brasil - Sun Square, Oeste Sector.

Sleep
Full range of options - from Backpacker to Business Executive.

title: Goiânia


text:
Gokarna

Gokarna is a small pilgrimage town on the coast in the Karnataka state of India. It's a conservative Hindu pilgrimage town, home to several temples and festivals. The town is full of locals and pilgrims, and doesn't have much in the way of facilities for tourists, other than a handful of guesthouses and local restaurants.

Understand
Gokarna means cow's ear in Sanskrit. One of the Hindu epics states that "aatmalimga" of the God Shiva is in the shape of a cow's ear in the Mahabaleshwar temple and the town gains its name as Gokarna.

The town is mostly centred around the KSRTC bus stand. About a kilometre from the bus-stand, the Gokarna beach starts, forming the coast of the town. As you trudge along the narrow lanes of the town towards the beach (the lane is named 'Samudra Marg'), you will come across houses of priests where some religious talk will be going on or people invoking the Holy Lord with chants.

Most foreign tourists come to stay on one of the 4 beaches just south of town. Kudlee Beach is the first, about a 20-minute walk, followed by Om Beach, Half Moon Beach and the secluded Paradise Beach - the beaches get more remote and less populated as you head south.

The most popular time to visit Gokarna is during the 4-day Shiva Ratri festival, when 2 giant chariots are pulled down the main street and up to 20,000 pilgrims descend on the town.

By train
Gokarna is connected by rail through Karwar, Ankola, Hubli, Mangalore, Kumta and Margao. The Konkan Railway and many other trains pass through Gokarna - Kumta (35 km) and Ankola (20 km) are the nearest major railway stations.

Gokarna Road (GOK) is the station nearest to the town itself, on the Konkan Railway. Train No. 16513/14 Bangalore City- Karwar Express (4 days a week) & 16523/24 Bangalore City- Karwar (Triweekly) Express have at halt at Gokarna Road, along with Mathsyagandha Express (Daily) (Mangalore Central to Mumbai Lokamanya Tilak Terminus), Marusagar Express (Weekly) (Ernakulam Junction to Ajmer ) & Poorna Express (Weekly) (Pune to Ernakulam)  Connections to Gokarna town (8 km away) are available by

There are regular government buses going from both Kumta and Ankola to Gokarna for about ₹10-15.

From Gokarna bus stand, the bus stop to get off is Madangeri junction.

By bus
From Bangalore, depending on the day of travel, there are anywhere from 1-4 buses operated by KSRTC. It is a 12-hour overnight journey from Bangalore to Gokarna. The experience taking the overnight sleeper was described as "being driven in a bouncy castle driven by the wicked witch of the west" - beware.

Private buses also operate from Hampi/Hospet. You can book online tickets to Gokarna from any one of the operators' websites. National highway 17 is about 9 km from the town. From Badami, the cheapest option is to take NWKRTC buses to Hubli, Ankola and Gokarna (9 hours, possible in one day).

The Bangalore - Goa highway passes through Ankola which is 20 km from the town. Coming down to Kumta is a good option because one can easily catch buses to different places (especially Mangalore) as it is well connected.

If arriving from Goa, you can take a local bus from Madgaon or Canacona to Karwar, then catch another bus to Gokarna. There is a regular (every 30 minutes or so) NWKRTC bus service between Gokarna and Ankola.

From Mumbai, there are bus services of NWKRTC to Karwar. There is also a private bus service of Canara Pinto which drops off at Gokarna on its way to Mangalore. But the drop will be at Madangeri junction adjacent to a Petrol Pump and from here it is 12 km to Gokarna Mahableshwar temple.

There are buses from Bellekan village to Gokarna.

From Gokarna you can get a ticket at the numerous travel agencies in town, and the bus will depart from Cheack (SIC) Post, five minutes walk from the bus stand, on the wider part of Gokarna Road.

By plane
The nearest airport is in Goa at Dabolim. (Rail link via Margao)

On foot
The most common way to get around, as the town is small and compact. Getting to the beaches is best on foot, although there are some rickshaw and boat services described below.

By bike
Also a convenient way to get around Gokarna. Bicycle rentals are available.

See

 * The Maha Ganapati Temple is meters away from the Shiva Temple and made in honour of Lord Ganesha having played a hand in taking the Atma Linga from Ravana. It is common protocol to first visit the Ganapati Temple & then move to the Shiva Temple.
 * The Mahabaleshvara Temple is one of the largest in town, at the western end towards the beach.

Festivals

 * Visit during Shiva Ratri (Feb-Mar) festival. The celebrations are a tremendous sight to watch as thousands of pilgrims descend on the town.

Beaches
Visit one of the four beautiful beaches to the south. The beaches are pretty clean, but ask locally about swimming, as the currents can be very strong. Accommodation in huts or shacks and food are available always on all the beaches from ₹100 (basic bamboo hut on Kudle beach with mosquito net and electricity, outside shower and toilet) to ₹500-1500 (small cottage-type house with all necessary amenities on Om Beach) per night in the peak season. Om beach, due to its popularity, tends to be a bit more expensive. Same as Kudle, it has several restaurants that call themselves cafés on this beach. Enjoy the sea, sunlight, beer by sitting in any of the cafés near the beach.

Don't fall for the dolphin sight-seeing gimmick from the speed boat vendor. All you get is a 10-min ride and a distant glimpse of something in the water that might be a dolphin.

To get to the beaches beyond Om (Half-moon and Paradise) generally you have to walk from Om. This is not advisable during the monsoon as the walk is quite treacherous. In high season, however, during daytime there are boats cruising between the beaches and picking up the passengers. Usual price for a "shared" boat ride is ₹100 (₹150 for a more remote ride, say from Kudle to Paradise), but you have to wait until there will be several people going roughly in the same direction. You can also "charter" a boat (this can cost you say ₹400 for a return trip to Paradise beach with a one-hour stop there), or can be asked if you want to pay more (₹200 or ₹250) if there are not enough passengers but you do not want to wait.

Buy
The small shops in the town sell religious items, psychedelic T-shirts and clothes for cheap. Trance music CDs and if you spin fire, (cotton) pois are available as well.

Malas (prayer beads), incense, cheap jewellery and religious paraphernalia are sold in dozens of stalls along the main road and gathered around temple entrances.

Eat

 * There are a handful of local restaurants and dhabas in the town proper (including a couple of good options at the end of the main road where it hits Gokarna Beach).
 * Excellent local restaurants on the right just before the arch that leads into the main street. Incredibly cheap all-you-can-eat thalis, just don't drink the regular water though; buy yourself some bottled water. Street food is good, particularly the little fried pies and bhel puri. Fish (pomfret, kingfish, seer being the popular ones) is served fried, roasted or curried; as you like it.
 * All the beaches have basic accommodation and beach shacks (in season) serving food and drink.
 * In Namaste cafe at Om beach you can get Mexican, Israeli, Indian food, and delicious sea food like Prawn Masala and King Fish Sizzler. Some Nepali people also run a really good restaurant from a straw and bamboo hut on Kudlee beach.

Drink

 * Fresh coconuts are widely available as are delicious lassis.
 * You may be able to find beer (around ₹240 for Kingfisher) at any of the guesthouse restaurants on Om Beach. Some have harder liquor that you would have to ask for, since it's not legal for the restaurants to sell harder alcohol.
 * There is a wine shop selling all sort of liquor right outside the bus stand in the main town.
 * Green Bar and Restaurant, next to the bus stand, has a wine shop on the ground floor and an eating & drinking area on the first floor balcony. There's no barman to mix drinks for you. When you order your liquor, the waiter will simply get the bottle for you and then it's up to you how you fix your drinks. The restaurant is run by couple of very enthusiastic boys from Nepal.

Sleep
It is next to impossible to find some accommodation during the peak season. So, book in advance. (This might be outdated, since there are many guesthouses in Kudle Beach these days.)

Respect
Gokarna is a pilgrimage town first and foremost, so it's best to keep this in mind - remain quiet and respectful of local traditions, ask permission (and remove your footwear) before entering any of the temples, and if you must consume alcohol here, do it on the premises of your guesthouse (if you're staying at one of the beaches), not in town.

Anyone carrying Cannabis should be particularly careful. It is common to see Sadhus sitting in a haze of ganja smoke, but don't assume that it's OK for you to do it too. Locals will report you to the police if they see you doing it or smell it about you and the police will treat you politely but firmly and won't accept baksheesh particularly during Shiva Ratri. Expect a term in jail with absolutely no sympathy from your consular officials. There seems to be an "agreement" with the police and the restaurants, however, not to hassle the locals. Use caution at all times, of course.

Go next
There are several other temples near Gokarna. Murudeshwara Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, is a 45-min to 1-hour drive from Gokarna.

 * Honavar
 * Goa
 * Hampi
 * Karwar — An easy day trip by train, bus or taxi since it is merely 55km away; however, there aren't too many direct buses. Ask at the Gokarna bus station. Direct buses at 7:30 & 10:30AM. The better way to go is to go to Ankola and then take another bus to Karwar from there. You can also take the KR-2 train from the Gokarna Road train station. The station is around 9 km outside Gokarna town. Auto rickshaws charge something between ₹100-130 for the trip. The train journey between Gokarna & Karwar is around 45 min. You may not get a seat as the train is in the last leg of its journey. The fare is ₹9. The train is scheduled to arrive at Gokarna Road at around 10:20AM but is often late by an hour or so.
 * Mysore

 * Anshi National Park
 * Udupi

title: Gokarna


text:
Gokayama

Gokayama (五箇山) is composed of two historic villages in Nanto City (南砺市), Toyama, Japan. Together with the better-known Shirakawa-go in Gifu, they were registered as UNESCO World Heritage Sites on December 9, 1995.

Understand
Gokayama is famous for its farmhouses, which are built in a unique architectural style known as gasshō (合掌). The name means "hands together" as in prayer, referring to the steep roofs that keep the snow off in the winter. Underneath the roofs, the large attic area was used to house silkworms.

The kanji of the current name mean "Five Mountains", but the original name is actually "Between Five Valleys" (五箇谷間), which is pronounced the same.

Tourist Information Site
The area has a bilingual guide site.

Get in
There are no train stations in Gokayama, but there are buses. From Toyama Prefecture, the "world heritage bus" runs from JR Johana Station (40 min) or Takaoka station (90 min, ¥1,800). From Gifu Prefecture, there are buses from Shirakawa-go that connect fairly well with the buses that come from Takayama. There are also direct buses from Kanazawa. Some of the buses do not operate in the winter.

See

 * Suganuma Gasshōzukuri Village (菅沼合掌造り集落).

Sleep
Gokayama offers numerous Japanese inns (ryokan) for overnight stays. Most of these inns are gasshō-based inns and offer both dinner and breakfast in the accommodation fee. Dinner is generally traditional Japanese dishes consisting of river fish and mountain vegetables; you will almost certainly sleep on a futon on a tatami mat.

Stay safe
Just like the better known Shirakawa-go, Gokayama's buildings are mainly produced of highly flammable traditional materials, the village has a no-smoking policy. There is a smoking area in the village (indicated by bench seats, a sign and a 3-foot-high large ash tray).

Although this is a moderately popular tourist destination, some people do live in some of the traditional houses. Keep this in mind as you tour.

title: Gokayama