Goa Travel: Young At Heart Seniors' Camaraderie On A Fun Trip

goa travel guide, top attractions of goa, things to do in goa, travel blog, must visit places in goa

 

This travel blog is about my recent trip to Goa, which has been one of the most memorable trips of my life. The fun-filled journey began with selecting the picturesque coastal state of India as our travel destination for this year's meet-up. Everyone in our group (of senior citizens) was super excited to travel to Goa, after all, we are young at heart and believe that age is just a number ;)


Our sojourn to the beach destination was about discovering nature, building camaraderie with fellow travellers and having unlimited fun.

Read on the Goa travel guide:

We all started planning and packing for the trip as soon as a four-day itinerary was shared with us. The itinerary was well planned with fun activities, sightseeing, beach hopping, lip-smacking Goan food, soaking up the sun, Dolphin sighting, a visit to the spice garden and an evening on a cruise on the Mandovi river with Goan music, dance and dinner onboard.

Goa Travel Guide: How To Reach Goa?


By Flight: Dabolim Airport (GOI), Goa and Manohar International Airport (GOX), North Goa

By Train: Madgaon Junction Railway Station (MAO)

Travel Blog: Embarking On A Fun Trip To Goa


Finally, the wait was over and we embarked on the much awaited journey to Goa! Taking flights and trains from our cities, we all reached this popular travel destination of India. We have not met for over a year after the Delhi trip, though we meet online every day.

We are a group of senior citizens residing in different parts of India, united by an online platform called Evershine Club, the brainchild of Pankaj Sir. We are grateful to the platform for empowering lively elders like us to live our lives to the fullest.

It is a place to enjoy an array of sessions including yoga, tambola, bingo, natyashala, dance, art and more. It's a place that adds cheerful vibes to our lives as the showrunners (moderators) ensure to entertain us every day.

Our heartfelt thanks to the team of moderators, especially Saradha and Shraddha who accompanied us on the Goa trip to make our vacation enjoyable and hassle free.

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Goa Travel Guide: Things To Do in Goa


This travel blog is written to ensure that before embarking on a trip to Goa you pre-plan to make your stay hassle free.

Goa Trip Itinerary: Day 1


As soon as we landed, our excitement soared high. We started feeling the Goan vibes already! From the Manohar International Airport, North Goa, we took a cab and reached the River Deck Baga Resort.

We were served Goan special Kokum juice as a welcome drink. After keeping our luggage in our rooms we headed for lunch. Next, we enjoyed an array of fun-filled activities organised by Sarandha and Shraddha. The day ended with lip-smacking food and a dance party.

The next day we had planned to visit the top attractions of Goa.


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Goa Travel Guide: Places To Visit in Goa


Goa Trip Itinerary: Day 2


Fort Aguada: After breakfast, we left for the North Goa sightseeing. We headed to Fort Aguada, a popular place to visit in Goa. The fort, situated at the top of a hill is notable for its Portuguese architecture and is one of the top attractions of Goa.

It was strategically constructed from 1609 CE to 1612 CE at the confluence of the Mandovi River and the Arabian Sea to restrict invaders with a robust defence system. Italian military architects were employed by the Portuguese to build this double-walled fort.

In Portuguese, aguada means water and the fort got this name as it housed a fresh water spring. A four storied lighthouse was built in the premises in 1864 CE, though it is closed to the public. Later another lighthouse called 'Aguada Lighthouse' was constructed.

Aguada Fort is one of the largest forts in Goa and a part of it was used as a jail. Another portion of the fort has been converted into a luxury beach resort known as Fort Aguada Hotel.

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Dolphin Sighting: After having lunch at a local restaurant, we went for a Dolphin sighting. Spotting playful Dolphins was so much fun and if you are looking for things to do in Goa, you can't miss it. We were excited for this boat ride to watch beautiful creatures playing in the azure water of the Arabian Sea.

You can't stop women from shopping, so we went shopping at the local market (things to do in Goa). We bought souvenirs from the market. You can find a wide selection of fridge magnets and handicraft items.

Baga Beach: The coastal state is known for its stunning beaches. Next, we went to Baga Beach, one of the most vibrant beaches in the coastal state. The scenic beach is located around 17 km from Panaji. Apart from the adventurous water sports, you can enjoy strolling on the beach.

We had dinner in a dreamy ambience at a seaside restaurant.


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Travel Blog: Top Attractions of Goa


Goa Trip Itinerary: Day 3


On the third day of our stay, we left for the South Goa sightseeing after breakfast.

Mangeshi Temple: We visited one of the most popular temples in Goa, the Mangeshi temple. Located at Priol in the Ponda Taluka, around 22 km from Panajim, it is dedicated to Lord Manguesh, another name for Lord Shiva. The 400-year-old temple is also known as the Shri Mangesh Temple and is one of the must visit places in Goa.

A seven story lamp tower is an attraction constructed within the temple premises. The temple was shifted to its current location from the South of the Zuari River due to the Portuguese invasion.

One of the legends about this temple is that Lord Shiva came to Goa after losing everything at a game of dice to his wife Goddess Parvati. When she came to search for him, he took the form of a tiger.

Goddess Parvati got scared by the tiger and called for her husband's help. Lord Shiva transformed himself to his original form and together they went back to their holy abode in the Himalayas.

Tropical Spice Plantation: Spice gardens are one of the top attractions of Goa. There are a few of them and we went to a lush green Tropical Spice Plantation. It was near Ponda in Keri village. This is a place to get one with nature, strolling through the spice garden. We saw tropical trees, ranging from cashew, palm, betel nut, star fruit, papayas and citrus fruits. We purchased organic spices and had lunch in their restaurant.

Basilica of Bom Jesus: Old Goa houses the Basilica of Bom Jesus, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Along with its spiritual significance, it is one of the important places to visit in Goa for its striking Baroque architecture. The Church was constructed between 1594 and 1605 and relics of Saint Francis Xavier are enshrined here. The name of the Basilica, 'Bom Jesus' means infant or good Jesus.

Miramar Beach: We visited another gem of the coastal state. It is located just three km from Panaji, the capital of Goa. We witnessed the panoramic views of the blue water with the historic backdrop of the Aguada Fort. And enjoyed the stretch of golden sands, waves kissing the shore and a spectacular sunset. It is a must visit places in Goa.

River Cruise on the Mandovi River: With so many exciting things to do in Goa, next we enjoyed an unforgettable evening on a cruise in the Mandovi River. We indulged in enchanting views of the seascape and lively Goan music and dance. After having dinner on the cruise, we went back to the resort.

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The next morning, we checked out and left for our homes. Although the trip ended, we built lifelong friendships and returned with cherished memories.

I hope this Goa travel guide will help you plan an enjoyable vacation in the coastal state.

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