ANN/THE STATESMAN – Goa in India, with its stunning beaches, warm sands and beloved fish curry with rice, is a dream destination for sea lovers. So it comes as no surprise that it’s becoming increasingly popular among tourists. What started with occasional flights has now grown to daily flights between Kolkata and Goa.
The newly opened Manohar Parrikar International Airport in Mopa, North Goa, which has been operational since January, is modern and luxurious, making direct international flights to Goa a reality. Additionally, Dabolim Airport serves the southern part of the state. For those who prefer other routes, travelling by train to Mumbai followed by a car or bus ride is also an option.
There is, however, more to Goa than the sea, and the beaches. It gives a wide range of options for the entire family wanting to let down its hair. Goa is changing.
The infrastuctural changes are noteworthy by way of the new roads, bridges and better connectivity. One keeps discovering new facets, but when you scratch the surface, the fish and feni are still the same. If you thought Goa was still associated with hippie culture, you may not be wide off the truth.
Goa is still unique for the kind of people it attracts – not just tourists but settlers too. This adds a blend of the local with the global, a unique flavour of freedom from routine and the conventional. Beautiful old-style haciendas are fast being replaced by new villas built by rich expatriates, but the lovely sea beaches and the shacks in which to sit and enjoy the beautiful sunsets.
There have been different kinds of settlers in Goa over time. Some ‘flower people’ of the 60s stayed back to open bakeries and make cheese. They were joined by several expatriates who were retirees from the United Kingdom, and considered it cheaper and warmer to settle in Goa.
Some came to unwind from their rigourous military training, just as they went to Himachal Pradesh too, enriching the local cuisine. And then there was the Russian phase, with definitive enclosures for them. There are regions (Arambol for one) where the menu cards and names of shops are still in Russian! For now, it is a new-age Goa.
With a little bit of everything old peeping out from more of the ‘new chic’. Writers, artists and filmmakers were the first lot who had come from Mumbai to settle down. Then came the designers and the restaurateurs from all over the country.
When work from home started, many chose to work out of Goa in Sylvan surroundings. Now retired people from Delhi and Calcutta are eyeing second homes for probable relocation. What has changed is the way tourism is packaged into newer things to do.
Heritage walks, informative walks through spice plantations, curated meals in old houses, and art and music shows are some of the things tourists can experience. Plan your stay with a day earmarked for your different activities. LATIN QUARTERS If you are going to the Panjim side, throw in a walk through the Latin Quarters – Fontainhas – known for quaint Portuguese houses, some of which are well over hundreds of years.
WALK THROUGH THE SPICE GARDEN We all love Goan food – the primarily meat- and seafood-based cuisine – but have we ever wondered what makes it so special? Apart from the coconut, vinegar and Portuguese influences, the local spices grown so profusely in the state make their way into wonderful dishes. A walk through a spice plantation provided us with an informative session through the green foliage. We were educated on the cinnamon, clove, allspice, pepper, nutmeg and mace trees.
Not left out were coffee, cocoa and cashews. Did you know that, after saffron, vanilla is the most expensive food ingredient? What we get in our ice cream and cakes is artificial flavouring. We found sticks of vanilla growing naturally, all to be exported to developed nations.
But you need not only taste vindaloo in Goa. The fusion restaurants offer a mind-boggling variety, but post-COVID, food is no longer cheap. GOAN ART Mario Miranda is a famous son of Goa.
The Museum of Goa (MOG), set up as a private museum by artist Subodh Kerkar is another famous son of the soil. MOG houses some beautiful installations, sculptures and works of art. This three-storeyed structure provides a view of his eclectic work in fabric, ceramic and multimedia.
So take your pick of art, culture, history, food or scenic beauty. So go with the easy, natural flow of wherever you wish to do or go! – Manjira Majumdar.
