About Goa
The best time to visit Goa is from late October to the end of February when the post monsoon period brings long, sunny days with temperatures of around 30ºC during the day and around 25ºC in the pleasant evenings.
The perfect weather continues until the middle of April when humidity begins to rise sharply and the temperature increases to an average of 35ºC.
By May, some of the seasonal shops, restaurants, beach shacks and other facilities that are generally available during the peak season will close down until October.
However, since the pandemic and over the last few years, Goa has become a year-round holiday destination with many restaurants and activities now available throughout the year. Of course, global warming has had an impact on Goan weather over the last few years, with some rainfall sometimes occurring during the traditional season.
A former Portuguese colony, the state of Goa is located on the western coast of India in the coastal belt known as Konkan.
The state of Maharashtra borders Goa on the north, the state of Karnataka is on the south and east, and the vast expanse of the Arabian Sea on the west forms the magnificent coastline for which Goa is justly famous.
Portuguese merchants first landed in Goa in the 15th century and annexed it soon after. This Portuguese colony existed for about 450 years until it was taken over by India in 1961.
Today, it is not just the familiar remnants of Portuguese colonialism or the picture-book Indian exoticism that makes Goa so accessible; the Goans themselves are extremely welcoming and have a very relaxed outlook on life…which is happily contagious while holidaying there!
Internationally renowned for its beautiful sandy beaches, Goa is visited by many foreign and domestic tourists each year. There are beaches to suit everyone, from tranquil to lively, with gourmet shack restaurants and a multitude of water sports.
Besides beaches, Goa is also known for its world heritage architecture including the Basilica of Bom Jesus in Old Goa. The Fontainhas district of Panaji, the capital, is a heritage area where you can still see Portuguese architecture as it existed during the colonial reign. Narrow streets are fringed with old houses sporting the most dazzling colours – a throwback to the times of the Portuguese who insisted that the walls of each house be freshly painted after every monsoon – except for the churches, which got the mandatory white-wash.
The allure of Goa is that it remains quite distinct from the rest of India and is small enough to be grasped and explored in a way that other Indian states are not.
It is a truly breathtaking experience to watch the hot sun setting in splendour every evening over the tranquil Arabian Sea. Goa is definitely worth a visit and Villa Alina is the perfect luxury villa to rent!