Going to Goa

What to do in Goa

by Matt Link

Isolated from the rest of India during 400-plus years of Portuguese rule, the state of Goa on the subcontinent's west coast boasts a rare blend of cultures. Portuguese influences are everywhere, from Catholic churches (about a quarter of the state's 1.4 million population is Christian) to afternoon siestas, cuisine, and European-style villas—but all with an Indian fusion making for a distinct local culture. In recent decades, Goa was synonymous with dropped-out, tuned-in, flower children and New Agers who populated the nude beaches and all-night raves. Although Goa is a little more mainstream and five-star now, it retains an alternative edge and freshness that makes it one of the most interesting places to visit in India, and an easy introduction to traveling in the sometimes challenging country.

Although Goa is the...

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