Goa, the party capital of India has a lot to offer to those travelling even on a tight budget! Explore Goa for less than INR 3000 and save some cash for your next trip. Happy travelling!
Fort Hunting
You could spend a great deal of time simply hunting down the many forts of Goa. Start with the Bardez ones, then move on to Salcete and finally keep a day or two for your own discovery.
Fort Aguada
Don’t miss Aguada Fort, Cabo Palace Fort, Reis Magos Fort, Chapora Fort and Fort Cabo de Rama, some of the most famous forts in Goa. The entry time for most of these forts is sunrise to sunset, while for Cabo Palace Fort, the entry is for Sunday Mass only.
Chapora Fort
Churches Calling
All the churches in Goa are superb examples of late Renaissance, early Baroque architecture, which follow the composite Portuguese style of ornamentation that is called Manueline.
Basilica de Bom Jesus
Do visit Basilica de Bom Jesus and Church of St. Francis de Assisi and Church of St. Thomas, the sheer magnitude of these churches will surely take your breath away.
Shopper’s Paradise
For most tourists, shopping in Goa means heading off to the Anjuna Flea Market in North Goa, along south Anjuna beach, on a sweaty Wednesday morning to dig through bric-a-brac from around the country. On Wednesdays, the beach turns into a magical kaleidoscope of sugar, spice and everything nice!
Flea market in Goa
Rajasthani textiles, Tibetan thangkas and ornate silver jewellery are in great demand, as are home-made Goa Trance CDs. If you are the adventurous sort, you can hop into one of the tattoo or body-piercing stalls at the market. Complete the hippie look by buying silver jewellery and trinkets, which are available in plenty.
Budget Accommodations
You can rent lovely villas/serviced apartments on sharing basis in Goa, something between INR 800 to INR 1000 per night. In addition, there are loads of budget hotels in Goa which will happily take care of all your accommodation worries.
A villa in Goa
Local Transport
How about taking a scooter ride on the streets of Goa? Well, if that is your idea of exploring this beautiful state, you can happily do that. Hire a scooter/bike for around INR 300 to INR 600 per day. Carry your driving license and some identity document such as passport, PAN card, Voter ID etc. Also, do check the credibility and past record of the rental agency.
Ferry ride is another great way of travelling within the state. It is really joyful to travel around Goa on blue-painted passenger-vehicle ferries that cross the state’s many rivers. They are pretty cheap and the best part about them is that they run from early morning till late evening. The main routes are: Panaji to Betim, across the Mandovi (every 15 minutes); Querim to Terekhol over Tiracol River (every 30 minutes); Old Goa to Divar Island (every 15 minutes); and Cavelossim to Assolna (every 20 to 30 minutes).
Foodie’s Paradise
You’re never stuck for eating options of any sort in Goa. Its legendary beach shacks serve dishes from several parts of the globe at pocket-friendly prices. The standard backpackers’ banana pancake is a breakfast staple, as is French Toast. Pastas, Indian-Chinese favourites, hummus and falafel, and tandoori chicken are also available.
Goan curry
But best, of course, are the gems of Goan cuisine; the local restaurants in Goa also offer an astounding variety of seafood, cooked in delectable ways. In short, Goa is a foodie’s delight!
Goan Fish curry
A Toast to Feni
There is no cashew feni worth drinking that is marketed commercially. To get the real flavour of Goa, its state drink, its primary tipple, you need to get someone who knows an old lady who still distills the stuff in her backyard.
Cashew Apple for Feni
The best gifts to take from Goa are cashew nuts and cashew or palm feni, the divine local brew. Both are available from grocery and liquor stores around the state.
Beer, Beer Everywhere
What do you do when you find out that beer is cheaper than a bottle of water in Goa? You get drunk and throw all your worries to the wind! Well, you get a Kings Beer just for INR 35 at shacks and restaurants.
So, all set to explore Goa for less than INR 3000? It’s time to pack your bags and head here for a memorable, yet affordable trip!
About the author:
Jigyasha loves to read and travel!
