GOA IN MONSOON

I have been visiting Goa every year for 20 years. This year I decided to do Goa in monsoon and it was much more beautiful and full of surprises than I expected. I had heard from people that one should visit coastal regions during monsoons but then I thought what can one do? One can either sit in a room and sip tea or have a drink after sunset. But no! there is a lot more you can do if you are a nature lover and an adventure enthusiast. I am a Bollywood buff and have admired the way monsoon is showcased in Indian films like singing and dancing in rain, walking on the beach, riding a bike or driving a car in ghats, or indulging in water activities. Trust me Goa has all the elements of a perfect monsoon dream holiday. Even if you do not love doing all these, I am sure there are other things which you can enjoy in Goa. It is definitely beyond Beaches and Churches. This year in July I experienced a lot of things to do in monsoons. Added to my list were another few attractions by Mr. Nikhil Desai, Managing Director, Goa Tourism Development Corporation in a Media Conference held recently at Goa International Travel Mart 2019 in Goa

GOA in MONSOON 

Monsoon in Goa starts in June and ends in September. Sometimes it extends till Mid October. The weather ranges from dark cloudy overcast, drizzling, rains to heavy rains and heavier rains.

Goa has always been a winter or party mood destination. The happy Goan feel is uniform in all seasons. Monsoon has the added advantage of lush greenery, ample food, fresh seafood, less crowd, fuller rivers, and ponds. Basically, everything is so welcoming, how can one stay away from it As they say ‘You can love rain or hate rain but you can avoid it.

The waterfalls are in their full power, there is greenery all around, clean and empty beaches, romantic river cruises, and off-season discounts on accommodations are a few reasons pulling the crowd to Goa during monsoon. Of course, there is another segment of young blood, adventurous enthusiasts who are always looking for trekking, hiking, nature, wildlife, and adventurous activities even during monsoons. Goa is surely a place in monsoon to be for everyone.

Reasons to Visit Goa in Monsoon

1. The Ghats

Being a resident of Bangalore, we always drive to Goa via the western ghats. The lush green dense forest, wet and misty curvy roads, cloudy valleys, overflowing waterfalls, Chai and Bhajiyas at roadside stalls, freshly made smoked corn, and the positive vibes. I highly recommend a drive-through ghats and rest assured you will never regret it.

2.  Beaches

The beaches are generally cleaner and isolated for you to enjoy the gushing waves, sunsets and your drinks calmly at the shacks. The service by the vendors and hotel staff at the beach is also good as there are fewer people. Though there are no water activities you still can enjoy water rafting, sunset cruises and dolphin shows.

3. The Majestic Dudhsagar Waterfalls

Yes! This is enough reason for many of the travellers to visit Goa. The train journey and that first glimpse of the waterfall, hike up to the falls, the jeep safari and the dip in the cold water at the base of the falls is what you look for. You will never want to come out. You can also never get enough of photographs. This is indeed Goa’s most visited and spectacular sight.

Image Courtsey : www.treksunlimited.in

4. White Water Rafting in Mhadei River

During monsoon, Southern River Adventures conducts White Water Rafting at River Mhadei. The strong rapids of the river passing through the dense forest give you an adrenaline rush for sure. In stunning jungle scenery along with Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary, this is ‘THE’ thing to do when it rains in Goa.

Image courtsey: Goa Tourism

5. Nature and Eco-Tourism

With spectacular hiking & trekking trails and spots, Goa is also a Bird Watchers’ Paradise. With around 423 bird species Dr Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary is the best place to spot local and migratory birds. The dense and lush greenery makes the birds even more cheerful and chirpy.

Image Courtsey : Goa Tourism

6. Forts- Chapora Fort

There are many forts to be visited in Goa, but I visited Chapora Fort especially to get the feel of Bollywood Movie of three friends ‘Dil Chahta Hai’ which was shot at this fort. Adilshah, King of Bijapur in India who ascended the throne in 1627 built this fort on the southern headland of the Chapora River. The view of the Arabian Sea on one side and the city of Goa on the other are worth the climb.

7. Local Cuisine

A  Lot of people visit Goa for seafood and its preparation. There is no dearth of non-vegetarian and sea-food but the vegetarians like me can also binge on food. The fresh fishes and prawns are to die for. The rates during monsoon for some of the preparations are comparatively cheaper. One of the popular restaurants we visited was Fat Fit. To my surprise, the restaurant was full even when it was pouring like cats and dogs. The food and service were beyond compare. ( I paid for my food). There were lots of international tourists too. Almost all the restaurants serve Goan, Konkani and Continental cuisines.

8. Discounted Tariffs

Although monsoon is no longer an offseason, still most of the hotels offer off-season tariffs. This applies to all-star categories of hotels across Goa. There are a couple of homestays, bungalows and BnB options available at a discounted tariffs too. Grab those opportunities. Even check for flight tickets. Sometimes you get very good deals on airfares too during monsoon.

So next time when you plan for Goa don’t just think of visiting during the rest of the year. Goa is for sure round the year destination. I personally would love to go to Goa during monsoon for fuller rivers, lakes and ponds, breathtaking waterfalls, range of green colours, rice paddy fields, soaking myself in rain on the beach and for food. With the government of Goa’s initiative, public transport in the form of taxis, bikes, cycle tours and hop –on buses the commute has become very easy. You can also live your childhood by playing football with kids in rain all over the place.