Goa is one of the best holiday destinations in India. A land filled with beautiful beaches for you to get that right amount of suntan. With temples and churches, intermingling faiths of Hinduism and Christianity, a cuisine of seafood and scrumptious meats and a beachfront with just the right weather, Goa is worth visiting. Here’s an itinerary that you could use for a 5-day vacation in Goa.

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Soak up the Sun

It’s Saturday, and your first day in Goa. Time to hit the beach! Goa has a beautiful sea coast filled with rich number of beaches – Anjuna, Benaulim, Candolim and Colva to name a few. However, I suggest you drop by Baga and Calangute. These two are filled with adventure sports like windsurfing, paragliding and jet skiing. And if the beach is a bore, you can head to the popular Club Tito’s and Cafe Mambo! Also, check out the Saturday Night Bazaar at Arpora for a combined experience of shopping, food and music.

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Take a tour of churches:

On Sunday, Old Goa will take you a whole day to explore. The most famous Church is the Basilica de Bom Jesus, where you will find the mummified body of St. Francis Xavier. Other than that, check out Church of St. Francis of Assisi and Church of Saint Cajetao in Old Goa. Also keep your eyes peeled while strolling around for ruins of many chapels and churches that can be found.

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Bumble in the wild:

Connected with the Western Ghats of Maharashtra, a visit on Monday to Mollem National Park would give you an experience of the unique flora and fauna. Here you will stumble upon many birds, reptiles and butterflies. Also you can swing by the Shiv temple, Tambdi Surla Temple, hidden in the forest. And if you happen to come by during the monsoon season, the Dudhsagar Falls is a must visit.

Visit a fortress:

There are many forts across Goa and most of them are in ruins. However, the Aguada Fort is still well-preserved. A little far off from Panjim, the capital of Goa, dropping in on Tuesday is a good way to spend the day.  Built by the Portuguese and once used as a lighthouse, it offers a beautiful view of the Arabian sea.

Shop till you drop:

Wednesday, the last day, is a good time to go shopping. Pick up something to show off back home from Anjuna flea market.This is a market that runs only on Wednesdays from morning to sunset. You will find a variety of things from clothes to carved statues to mementos. And at the end of your tiring day, refresh yourself with a few beers at Curly’s Beach shack!

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And after your five days of Goa madness, make sure you show off your tan back home as a reminder of all the fun you’ve had! Happy vacationing!

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Do you want to re-discover yourself through a spiritual trip? Or do you want to visit a place where you can see mountains, forests, beaches and deserts? Or do you simply want a budget holiday to a place with a different culture? If you answer to any of these is yes, then India should be your next holiday destination! You can see the Taj Mahal in Agra, camp out in the Thar desert in Rajasthan, party on the beaches of Goa, relax in the backwaters of Kerala, experience spirituality in Varanasi and see the urban hubs of Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai and Hyderabad.

But before you make that trip, give some thought in deciding what you wish to carry in that backpack of yours.

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Clothes:

India is a tropical country and is hot and sticky for most of the year. So carry comfortable, loose cotton clothes. Men can dress as they please – anything from jeans to shorts are good. For women, its best to avoid wearing clothes that show too much skin to avoid unnecessary attention and/ or eve teasing. Instead, you may want to try out Indian traditional wear. Otherwise, something as simple as a loose t-shirt over jeans should do.

Cities in India are good party hubs, so you can carry some party wear if you like!

Finally while visiting any religious places like temples and mosques, its best to cover yourself up, preferably long pants, while women should cover their head with a scarf.

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Personal kit:

Carry a few rolls of toilet paper with you. Though most hotels will provide toilet paper, some may not. Plus, it will come in handy if you decide to travel within the country by road or rail. Toilets on the road are almost non-existent and the ones that are there, do not keep toilet paper. The railways do not keep toilet paper either as most locals use water.

Due to the tropical heat you may constantly want to spray deodorant on yourself so carry a few cans.

Lastly do carry a first aid-kit in case of those by-chance cuts or bouts of migraine.

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Gadgets:

India is a developing country and electricity and internet is fairly available, so feel free to carry your IPods, tablets, smartphones, etc. Getting a mobile phone with a prepaid connection is quite convenient and cheap in India. Pick one up from a local mobile store when you reach.

Mosquito Repellent:

Buzzing mosquitoes are rampant in tropical India. Pick up mosquito repellent cream to protect yourself.

You’re ready to go! You can explore the marvels of India whether you are on an adventure trip, a romantic getaway, a budget holiday or a spiritual re-discovery, with your bag packed with everything that you need. So enjoy that trip and come back with great stories to tell!

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