This small state, halfway down India's west coast, was a
Portuguese colony until 1961. This goes some way to explaining the
alternative atmosphere here. Cut off from British India by a wall
of mountains and vast alluvial plains Goa relied on trade with a
declining Portuguese Empire, but what was lost in British trade it
made up for in Portuguese attitude and it retains a distinctly
laid-back feel today.
Goa was discovered by travellers in the late 60s who were
relieved to have found somewhere away from the mainstream, where
holidaying meant simply hanging out, smoking weed and partying on
the beach, particularly at full moon. The state quickly grew a
reputation for its hedonism and liberal attitude under a hot sun
that sets in splendour every evening over the Arabian Sea. In
recent years the authorities have tried to discourage the hippies
and budget backpackers, angling rather for clientele with fatter
wallets, and Goa is trying to shake off its image as a hippy
hangout.
Now with a quick rail link to Mumbai and charter flights from
the UK, thousands of tourists flock here each winter to relax and
enjoy the Goan cuisine - a blend of exotic Indian spices with the
Latin love of meat and fish. Many hotels and resorts have popped up
over the last few years to cater for this ever-popular destination,
but with more than 25 miles of beautiful sandy beaches there is
still plenty of tranquillity to be found.
