5 Misconceptions About Goa, India

This one’s the daddy of all misconceptions. Yes, Goa is about beaches, shacks and pubs, but it offers more than that. If you have not witnessed the magic of the butterfly conservatory in Ponda, visited the exotic spice plantations of Savoi and Ponda, indulged in crab-catching expeditions along the backwaters, wandered amidst the spooky caves of Devil’s Canyon, strolled through the rural countryside of Goa with its lush greenery and Portuguese-style houses, then you have not experienced Goa in its totality.

And miss the array of handicrafts meticulously crafted by the local craftsmen? Blasphemy! With coir products, brass work, papier-mâché, bamboo crafts and terracotta pottery, you should be revisiting that gift list. These traditional artefacts can be found at several state-owned handicraft shops and are excellent gifting options for the kin back home. So, go ahead and make some room in your suitcase for those handicrafts – you won’t regret it.

It’s more than a summer destination. Goa is equally fun during the monsoons, and here’s why. First, it is impossible to ignore the financial benefits that arrive along with the monsoons in Goa, including cheaper air tickets, massive discounts on the best accommodations, economical holiday packages and so on. During the monsoons, Goa will mesmerise you with its waterfalls, lakes, gardens and dams. For example, check out the Dudhsagar Falls, the Salaulim Dam, and the waterfalls in the forests of Chorla Ghats and Valpoi. And do not forget to participate in the monsoon festivals: Sao Joao Festival and Bonderam Festival, celebrated by the locals in August. Visit Goa during the rains and watch its true beauty and grandeur come alive.

In 1842, India’s first medical school opened in Goa. Ever since then, this Konkan state has become home to some of the most prestigious academic institutions: Goa Institute of Management, one of India’s premier business schools; BITS Pilani, the illustrious engineering college; Goa Medical College; and Goa Engineering College. Goa can be a boon for a student pursuing academics, with some of the best institutions, cultural fests, helpful locals and a naturally colourful social life!

A trip to Goa is incomplete without a visit to its historic churches and cathedrals. While the churches are an architectural delight, it would be a shame not to explore the resplendent temples of Goa. An intriguing fact about these temples is that they are an architectural amalgamation of influences: Portuguese, Hindu and Nagari. The structural designs of the Mangeshi Temple, Nageshi Temple, Shantadurga Temple and Brahma Temple add more richness and flavour to the architectural landscape of Goa.