If you’ve just travelled from one of India’s major cities, or even one of its smaller towns where crowds and noise and pollution are par for the course, Goa will appear like an oasis of calm, a magical haven of chilled out tranquillity. That is not to say that there aren’t crowds. There are, but this crowd is one of bikinis and kaftans, jingling ankle bracelets, beards, carefree braided hair, tanned and relaxed and a little like they communally swallowed a bottle of happy pills. That is to say, that anything goes and nobody really minds at all. 

It is Goa where you are likely to walk down the beach past a cluster of dreadlocked men beating out a glorious rhythm on their bongos. Where chill out tunes float on the breeze from beachside cafes. Even the beach hawkers selling colourful sarongs and hats and toe rings casually chat and joke without any of the serious hard sell that you’d be subjected to in the cities. The pace is unhurried as this is a town distinctly at ease with itself. 

The first thing you will notice about Goa is that western influence is strong. Jeans and t-shirts are the basic uniform of the locals, with all the usual labels you’d find in European shopping malls. It is the foreigners wearing the saris and salwar kameez, embracing the eastern culture in a place that has one foot firmly in western ideals. You are just as likely to find pancakes and eggs on the breakfast menu as you are to find dhal. You will even recognise the Indian dishes that you can find in the local curry house back home as tourism is Goa’s biggest trade and they do it well. 

Whilst there are temples to see and markets to visit, Goa’s biggest attraction is its gorgeous beaches and lush countryside. Most of all, Goa attracts the crowds for its peaceful vibe. The atmosphere harks back to the fun loving hippy 60s scene and though times have moved on, the bohemian feel lives strong and word spreads quickly amongst backpackers and travellers that here they will find a community of like-minded laid back people. 

Aside of lazing on the beach or in the cafes, undoubtedly the best way to see Goa is to hire a small scooter or motorcycle either solo or with a partner or group of friends and putter your way around the countryside stopping off to admire the views wherever takes your fancy. Be sure to try the mouth-watering fish, caught freshly every day, together with a fresh tropical fruit lassi - heaven. Or park up the scooter and hop on a river boat up the backwaters in search of crocodiles! 

There are two faces to Goa, the town and the beach and a taste of both will offer you the best overall feel of the place. In the town you will find an interesting mix of churches, cathedral, temples, forts and even an art gallery. Being a former Portuguese colony the architecture still reflects the elegance of those times.