North Goa Holidays

North Goa, on India’s west coast, was a hippy mecca back in the Sixties and, unlike the south, the north has retained its free spirit, with full moon parties on the shores still a regular occurrence. As far as scenery goes, this is starry-eyed territory, with white-sand beaches and ancient temples hidden among jungle foliage.

The region is dominated by culture-rich towns like Candolim and Baga. Here, lantern-lit cafés tempt you with spiced curry dishes, and locals shout prices from street-side market stalls in a bid to get you to part from your rupees. The Saturday Night Market in Arpora wears the retail crown – sparkly pashminas, jewelled bedspreads and chunky jewellery stack up on the stalls here. And the strong smell of incense fills the air as local bands croon reggae and Punjabi melodies.

Med-style churches, colonial fortresses and afternoon siestas are just a few of the legacies of Goa’s spell as a Portuguese colony. You’ll see this European influence across the region – especially in the east-meets-west cuisine. In fact, in these parts, you’re just as likely to come across Portuguese staples like ‘chourico’ sausages, as you are coconut-infused curries.