Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Gharhwal University, Srinagar (A Central University)

DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY STUDIES M.B.A. (Tourism) Ist sem Batch (2013-15)

TOUR REPORT 2014 GOA

Submitted by:-Saurav Rawat

TOUR ITINERARY7 march 2014 : (On Going Travelling –Whole day activity)

8 march 2014: delhi to goa via Goa Sampark kranti Express

9 march 2014: Reached Goa

10 march 2014 :visiting to Sarovar Portico Resort, beach and aguada fort.

11 march 2014: Visiting Church In Old Goa and boat Cruise

12 march 2014:Shopping at Mapusa and Beaches Visit.

13th march 2014 to 15th march 2014 : (Return Travelling – Wholeday activity)from madgaun railway station to hazrat Nizamuddin railway station

Volvo bus to haridwar

Trip to Goa, an experience to cherish.

There was a time when everyone used to ask me “Oh you love to travel? Have you been to Goa?” and then I used to say no and the usual reply was “What man” and look at me as if I have committed some crime.the train journey was itself an experience. When I am in train I am the laziest person.I heard many people saying..”If you want to Go crazy,Go Goa..”Why ??? I understood just after Going to Goa.

Goa is not a city. It's a State - amongst the smallest in India. This beautiful Coastline State dotted with swaying palms can be divided

in three tourist segments. North, South & Old Goa. Within each you could make sub divisions… beaches, forts, churches, temples, bazaars, bars, food shacks… makes sense to visit each one of them. Goa is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located in South West India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its western coast .

HistoryGoa was under Portuguese possession from 1510 to 1961. Goa's main rivers are Mandovi and Zuari. Goa has about 140 islands. Goa has more than three hundred

ancient tanks and over a hundred medicinal springs.

Goa Weather Average temperature- 25°C - 30°C (67.96F - 81.56F Approx). Average rainfall- 325cms (Approx.). Average daily hours of sunshine- Nine to ten hours in summer and three to five hours during the monsoon.  Goa has short winter between December and February. The temperature goes down to around 21 °C. May is the hottest, seeing temperatures of over 35 °C.

The five major cities of Goa are: Mapusa Margao Ponda Panaji Vasco Da GamaRenowned for its beaches, places of worship and world heritage architecture, Goa isvisited by large

numbers of international and domestic tourists each year.It also has rich flora and fauna, owing to its location on the Western Ghats range,which is classified as a biodiversity hotspot.Panaji is the states capital, while Vasco da Gama is the largest city.

Goa is one of India’s richest states with the highestGDP per capita which is two and a half times thatof the country as a whole.- Tourism is Goa’s primary industry as it handles12% of all foreign tourist arrivals in India.Goa is also notable for its low beer, wine andspirits prices due to its very low excise duty onalcohol.- Citizens who live abroad, remit money to theirfamilies, which is another source of income.

It was ranked the best placed state by the11th Finance Commission for its infrastructureand ranked on top for the best quality of life inIndia by the National Commission.We all Collected at Hari Ki Paddy parking at 7.00pm . Journey starts from haridwar on 7/02/2014 at 9.00 pm by a coach to Delhi(Nizamuddin Railway Station).

8/03/2014Delhi to GoaTrain- 12450/Goa Sampark Kranti   Express Departure-8.45AmTravel time-29:45:00

Reached railway station at 7.00Am but train was delayed to 8.45Am.We all 88 including faculty waited at railway station .Tickets were booked earlier,so we went straight to the platform.There we waited for the train and saw many people rushing to the platform.The Train finally arrived and we scrambled into our coach to get our seat.Seat was booked in Sleeper class.There was no sign of tiredness as All we were Happy and excited about the journey.

Traveling to Goa via train is an awesome experience for couple of reasons. Firstly, you go via the ghat section and the route is very scenic with great view of greenery and forests and also few lovely tunnels on the way. The tunnels are fun when the lights go off suddenly

and people scream their throat out for fun.

9/03/2014Reached goa at 2.30 pm.The Stay:Throughout our Goa trip, we stayed in ginger tree beach resort. The beaches are safe and cleanand strategically placed very closed to the seabeaches.

Outside railway station 3bus was waiting for us.we took our seat and engine started and though the market of goa we reached Ginger tree beach resort goa at Calangute - Candoilm road.At Same day visited candolim beach, had a

stroll in the beach took some photos.

At night took our dinner and headed back to our room for a good nice sleep.10/03/2014The day was reserved for visit to Sarovar portico hotels and resorts ,beach and aguada ford.. Planned to have whatever was available. Got freshened up and headed for the breakfast. They had idli sambar and along with toast/butter & omelets. I have to agree the food was quite heavy for my morning. Time to head out for the beach.The sun was shining really bright Rented out a beach bed for some rest. There were vendors all around trying to convince us about having a tattoo.We spent some time playing in the water.

Next we visited aguada ford.

Fort Aguada is a well-preserved seventeenth-century Portuguese fort standing in Goa on Sinquerim beach, overlooking the vast expanses of Arabian Sea. Built on the mouth of river Mandovi, it was strategically located and was the chief defence of Portuguese against the Dutch and Marathas. One of the distinctive features of the Aguada headlands are the Lighthouses built as early as 1864 thereby marking them as one of the oldest and first

lighthouses to be built in Asia. The lighthouse is open to visitors and it makes all the watching more enjoyable due to the scenic views one gets to see when they climbs up the spiral staircase with a metal ladder within the lighthouse.The jail is not open for tourists, and it looked very old and ill maintained too. Took a snap and headed back to the main fort. Fort Aguda is surrounded by sea on one of its side. The other sides have huge trenches built in and made accessible via a single path. It has open space in the middle surrounded byhuge walls. The tank is situated in a corner near to the entrance. We roamed around enjoying the views and capturing the memories in our camera striking poses. The view of the sea

from the fort was breathtaking. The lighthousewas also visible at a distance. Spend somemore time around there and it was time to headback.

11/03/2014Church and cruise

After reaching Old Goa firstthing we saw is the Bom Jesus Churchand the museum.

Goa is not merely a destination, it is anexperience. Among the numerous churches in Goa, the Basilica of Bom Jesus is a worthwhile exploration. This Portuguese piece

of architecture is counted among the UNESCO World Heritage Sites and mesmerizes all its visitors. This Jesuit Church is the first minor Basilica in India. One of the most important attractions here are themortal remains of the missionary Saint Francis Xavier. Photography was not allowed in the Museum but did lot of photo shooting in the church.

Cruise trip:

Many cruises are there on Mandova river which offers 1 hour trip in the river. The one in which took the trip was 2deacker cruise, there was a mini disco arrangement in ground level so that couples can dance,folk dances were organized in the 1st level of cruise and top level was open air space to enjoy the river and click photos in Titanic pose if u want!!.River cruise in Mandovi River is an attraction in Panjim. It

started at 5:30 pm in the evening. River cruise consists of dance performances by local artists and time given for the tourists to try their dancing talents.The cruise ship ( its not actually a ship, more like a ferry ) was completely full. It was getting dark and the view from the ship was amazing. There were many other cruises and the brightly lit ships passing by looked beautiful.

12/03/2014Beaches and shoppingVisited many beaches and headed towards mapusa for shopping.

Beaches in Goa

Goa is a popular state located in West India which is famous for its mesmerizing beaches. The deep blue sea, soft sand, swaying palms and coconut trees, delicious seafood, water sports and night-life of the Goan beaches makes it a popular and most loved tourist destination. About 83% of the Goan coastline is covered with beautiful beaches that will take your heart away.

Candolim Beach

Located 14 kms north of Panaji in the state of Goa, the Candolim Beach is a part of a long extension of beach coastline along the Arabian Sea that begins at Fort Aguada and ends at Chapora Beach.

The white sandy Candolim beach naturally beautified by the scrub-covered dunes draws a lot of tourists these days. Candolim beach offers various water-sports

activities-right from parasailing to water-skiing, wind surfing and so on. Fishing is an activity for those who love peaceful and quiet environment. Yoga & meditation has also gained popularity here because of the idyllic atmosphere. 

Special beach excursions are also arranged in Candolim beach wherein a tourist is taken right to the core of the sea from where he can capture some memorable sunsets. Candolim's nightlife is very calm, giving a break from the chaos and commotion of other beaches.

Food

There are a lot of makeshift bars and restaurants made from wood and palm leaves on the beachside. Tourists can stop at a small taverna (bar) for a drink of feni - a locally brewed drink made from cashew or coconut.

Major Tourist Attraction

Along with the fort the church, lighthouse and the garrison of the Aguada Jail have also been a part of tourist attractions.

Accommodation This beach has got a lot of inns with real good facilities. Candolim beach has also many hotels and resorts which offer extravagant stay.

How to reach there:There are a number of buses that help people reach Candolim from Mapusa and Calangute. The nearest interstate bus station is at Mapusa, which is the KTC bus station. Buses from Panjim stops frequently, at the bus stand opposite to the Casa Sea Shell.The Dabolim airport provide the connectivity through air.

Anjuna Beach

Located about 18kms from Panaji and situated in Bardez taluka, the Anjuna Beach is the part of a 30 km extended beach coastline along the west coast of Goa by the Arabian sea.

The Village of Anjuna, a five square mile area is nestled between the Arabian Sea and the Hill overlooking the beach. The beach is famous for its stunning natural beauty with swaying palms trees and soft powered white sands. The beach is marked by an unusual

rocky formation overlying a cove of white sand and black rock that juts out into the Sea. This area was known as the Jewel of Anjuna and called "Ozran". 

Anjuna beach is a favorite haunt of the hippies who used to organize the famous rave beach parties.

Places to StayThere are plenty of guesthouses around the Anjuna village, and even a couple of hotels and luxurious resorts that arrange tours for Goa sight-seeing. Some houses are also available on rent if one is planning to stay on the Goa Anjuna beach for a couple of months. But booking is a must during the high seasons and shold be done beforehand.

Baga Beach

Baga Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in Goa. This beach is basically an extension of Calangute Beach Holydays and is a part of 30 kms coastline along the west coast of Goa. This coast line begins at Fort Aguada continues as Sinquerim beach, then as Candolim Beach, then as Calangute beach before merging into Baga beach. It then again continues as Anjuna Beach, then as Vagator Beach and

finally ends at Chapora Beach and Fort.

Goa Baga beach holydays is also called a fishing beach and is an attraction for both foreign and domestic tourists. Baga Beach offers breathtaking scenic beauty, luxurious resorts and miles of pink sand. The sunset and sunrise of Baga Beach are also very mesmerizing and is a treat for a nature lovers eyes. 

The curvaceous coastlines of Baga Beach with sun-soaked beaches suit everybody's desires. The beach offers excellent swimming, surfing and snorkeling facilities, as well as abundant opportunity for less energetic pursuits like sunbathing, taking a walk on the palm fringed beaches, building sand castles, collecting seashells or just watching the sea play with the sand.

Calangute Beach

The "Queen Of Beaches", as this Calangute beach is often called offers a lovely beauty that will be rare to find. It is Goa's busiest and most commercialized resort.The beach is about four miles long and is covered with palm trees.It attracts many travelers and tourists who love to spend their holidays soaked in sea, sun and sand. This beach is often crowded with people swelling towards the sea, lazing around, taking sunbath and children making sand castles. It is also a perfect place to indulge in some water sports such as parasailing, water skiing and wind surfing.A quiet walk on its sandy beach is also a perfect way to relax one's mind, body and soul. For a

change from normal beach life, one ca n also take one of the crocodile and dolphin spotting tours on the Mandovi and Zuari rivers.Crocodiles inhabit the swamps and mangroves of the area whereas dolphins play at the mouth of the Mandovi River.

DonaPaula

Dona Paula Beach is situated just 7 km away from Panjim. It is also the meeting point of the Zuari and Mandovi rivers. It got its name from Dona Paula De Menezes, the daughter of the then viceroy, who committed suicide after not being allowed to marry Gaspar Dias, a local fisherman whom she loved. Cabo Raj Bhavan, the official residence of the Governor of Goa, is also situated in Dona Paula along the westerntip.

Bundled along the southern side of the hammer-shaped headland that separates the Zuari and Mandovi rivers, it is one of the most haunted beaches in Goa. One can have a nice view of Mormugao from here. Bordered by casuarina groves and palm trees, this beach is beloved by both local and international travellers. One can also shop for a variety of products varying from spices to straw hats from local vendors.

It offers a large number of water sports activities that adventure lovers can indulge in. These include motorboat riding, kayaking, water-skiing, windsurfing, para-sailing, ski-bob, harpoon fishing, sports fishing and much more.

Market

No journey is complete until you take home some souvenirs to make your trip memorable. Therefore shopping is always a priority for every tourist.

At Mapusa you get you get everything from dried fish and spices to curios and old coins.Mapusa, a small town huddled around the Mount (Alto), 13 kms away from Panaji, has been the market hub of North Goa since

ancient times even before proper roads were constructed.Mapusa market is also fondly known as 'Mapusa Friday Market' as it takes place every Friday.Mapusa's location at the center of commercial activity as well as its proximity to a religious site has caused the Mapusa market to develop to its current size and scope.The streets of mapusa packed with shops offering a wide range of goods, namely souvenirs, metal crafts, leather items, clothes and jewellery, not just from Goa, but from other parts of the country as well.Bargaining runs around everywhere so the better you are at it the more you’ll save.

After having our dinner it was time to hit the dance floor. After some initial inhibition, we started get going. We were already tired from the days travel, so we returned to our room.

13/03/2014-15/03/2014Returned from Goa by Goa xpress from madgaun to Delhi by train . By train it was almost two day journey.we reached Delhi at 6.30 am .where two Volvo bus pick up at 9.30 am to haridwar.we reached haridwar at 4.30pm and at night Reached Srinagar at 9.30. Now I can proclaim of-course I’ve been to Goa and it’s awesome.Best place in India to relax and holiday with amazing beaches and beautiful places to visit.It had been a very

pleasant journey,one I could look forward to on our return to Goa.

END OF THE TOUR THANK YOU.