5 Must Visit Locations Present in Goa

India is a place which is full of beautiful sites that one can visit. To explore India, one will need to go to the key places that actually hold the true essence of India. A whole Indian subcontinent is a place where you can find different types of landforms at the same space. The coastal areas of India are known for their rich agricultural background and also because of its ports. One such place is the state of Goa. The state is quite small but it has an importance in India as it was a Portuguese colony in the past.

So, let us know a few places that one can visit in Goa.

• Baga Beach: When you are in Goa, you cannot miss the famous Baga beach. It is a place that is bubbling with life and it is wonderful to look at. As a tourist, one can visit the beach to sunbathe or take a dip in it. At night, the beach becomes a party hub where you can find people from all over India and also from abroad. You will also find the best hotels in Goa around the Baga beach.

• Fort Aguada: As we said earlier, Goa is a hub of the Portuguese culture. You have to visit Fort Aguada if you are interested in its colonial history. The fort faces the Arabian sea which gives it an exquisite location. It even has an old lighthouse that was built in 1864. Tourists explore the fort complex because of its beautiful architecture and its closeness to nature.

• Anjuna Beach: If you want to see a beach that is lined with red lateritic rocks then this will be your favourite place in Goa. It is a serene beach where you can enjoy your day to the full brim. If you are able to visit the beach on a Wednesday, you can experience the amazing flea market that is famous among the locals as well as the tourists.

• Spice plantations: Goa was always the choice of the Portuguese because of its port and the rich spice plantations. So, they form a very big part of the culture of Goa and you can feel that in their food and also the people. Currently, Goa hosts a spice plantation safari where you can see the different spices growing right on the plants. These plantations are generally situated about 30 Kms away from Panaji so it is very easy to visit them.

• Divar Island: This is one of the most beautiful and peaceful places present in Goa. The island is covered in forests which add to the experience of seeing the island. You have to go by a Ferry and there is a small village on the island which gives you the best hospitality even for being a small place.

So, here are some of the places that you should visit in Goa. Apart from these, there are several lesser known beaches that one can see. Another important part of Goa is the nightclubs and restaurants where you can spend hours. The state is quite beautiful and a tourist should definitely take in all parts of the state.

Festival of Durga Puja 2018

The festive season is now on and wherever you are in India you will find stalls known as “pandals” decorated with the statue of Goddess Durga. The Festival of Durga Puja is most popular in states of West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Assam, Tripura and Gujarat. The festival of Durga Puja or Navaratri marks the battle between Goddess Durga with the powerful buffalo demon called Mahishasura whom she defeats and restores righteousness. This year the festival of Navratri are dated between October 10th and 18th. Each day of the festival has its own significance for instance the first day of the festival is dedicated to Shailaputri or daughter of the mountain and the 10 day is Dusshera. Here are some of the photos taken in Kolkata.

Read more about India and Indian culture in this book

What do Indians wear?

India is a diverse country with different cultures and religions. The customs followed by Indian people vary across length and breadth of the country. Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism, and Christianity, are some of the major religions people believe and follow. Not only the religion affects the way people think, live and dress but also the region or the state they belong to has great influence.

What do Indian women wear?

Traditionally the dress for Indian women devoid of caste, creed and culture is sari. Sari (saree) is a four to nine yard unstitched garment draped in different styles and worn on an upper stitched garment called choli/blouse. Here’s how to wear the sari.

Though sari is popularly believed to be the traditional dress for Indian women, there are other dresses that are either region specific or culture specific which are also considered to be part of Indian traditional dresses. In Punjab the traditional dress is Salwar Kameez and in Rajasthan it is Gagra Choli or also known as Lehenga. In Kerala an older version of sari called Mundum Neriyathum is the traditional dress, where Mundu forms the lower garment and Neriyathu is the upper garment.

Indian bride wearing a saree

In other parts of the country the most popular traditional dress is sari which is draped in a variety of styles. For example, in Maharashtra the kachha style and in Gujarat front pallu style.

However, with time the sense of dressing is evolved. Due to factors like globalisation and westernisation, today’s women take a modern approach when it comes to dress. Except for the older generation who are conservative and orthodox, the sari has been popularly replaced by Churidhar-Kurta and the Salwar Kameez. Women of almost all the ages starting from 18 years old to 90 years old prefer dressing in Salwaar Kameez for their day to day life. The traditional garment Kurthi is worn as a top on jeans which gives a casual western look while still has the conservative elegance of Indian wear kurtha.

There is yet another class of Indian women who have taken a leap towards modernisation. These are again a section of females aged between 18 and 90 who are more influenced by the lifestyle and habitats rather than religion or culture of the regions. They believe in contemporary fashion and are more westernised. Pants, skirts, minis, you name it and they wear it!

Hijab – Muslim women wear it as part of their tradition. It is a long and loose dress usually black in colour, gown like outer garment which is either worn on sari or Salwaar Kameez. It is paired with a black head dress which has a black transparent face cover attached to it.

Can an American girl wear a sari?

What do Indian men wear?

Men, you can hardly find Indian men wearing traditional dress in the country today. Only during special occasions like weddings or festivals you will be able to find male section of the Indian society in traditional Indian dresses. But yes, in rural parts of India and countable number of senior citizens can be seen in traditional dress as part of their daily life.

The traditional dress for Indian men essentially is Dhoti paired with Kurta and Gandhi Ttopi or Oagri. Dhoti is a six feet unstitched garment worn in a particular style which gives the pant effect rather than a skirt effect! It is paired with a stitched upper garment called Kurta which is normally longer than a shirt with two slits on each side. A traditional Indian man’s dress is incomplete without a head dress. A Nehru topi/cap or a petah/pagri/turban accompanies depending on the culture and/or religion.

Sherwani is another type of dress with a long below the knee jacket styled coat or Kurta. It is usually worn with tight fitting pyjama like pants called churidars and sometimes a scarf is added to the attire.

Again there are variations in this traditional dress depending on region and religion. Kurta-Pijama, Lungi-shirt which is popular in south India especially Tamil Nadu and Gujarati dress which has a typical style of pants and a frock style Kurta.

But from the time after the British rule men in India have adopted to the pant-shirt culture. Today you can see them in jeans, funky half pants, shirts and t-shirts, suits and such western outfits.

Additionally the colour, texture and material are diverse as well. Depending on ethnicity and cultural preferences dresses and colour choices vary from occasion to occasion. For example, red is considered as auspicious by Hindus for many sacred occasions and festivals for women, including for a bride to be married. White is worn by Hindus for mourning whereas Christians wear white to weddings.

People in India were once found wearing cotton clothes. Only the upper or the class of people who belonged to royal family wore silk or muslin clothing. With times the materials used for clothing have acquired high fashion standards. India is changing and you surely need not worry much about what to wear in India next time you plan to visit here.

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5 Most beautiful places in India

The diversity of India makes it a truly beautiful country. Not only are the people and cultures diverse but also the geographical locations and terrain as well. India is a country which has beaches, jungles, deserts, mountains, cities, towns, villages, and the list just goes on. Whichever type of location you find appealing, you will certainly find it in India. Everyone has their own idea of what a beautiful place would be to them. If you are planning to retire or travel to India, then here is a list of some of the most beautiful places to go to.

Yumthang Valley

If you like mountains and you like grasslands, then you will love the Yumthang Valley in the Indian state of Sikkim. It is a very green and rugged pasture that is located upon rolling meadows. You will also find some natural hot springs, a smooth flow of river water, and the famous Himalayan mountains in the background. Above sea level, the valley is approximately 3,564 meters high. With all these natural geographical features in one place, your eyes will be amazed wherever you turn.

Munnar, Kerala

The town of Munnar is located in the state of Kerala. This is a town which is comprised of mostly tea plantations. These are some of the most beautiful tea plantations that you have ever seen. They literally stretch for miles into the green hills in the background. Some of these plantations go above sea level to about 7,000 feet. If you are ever in Kerala, just travel to the southwestern region of the state to find Munnar. It will be an experience that you will never forget.

Stok Range, Jammu and Kashmir

There are a lot of mountain ranges in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. In the state’s Ladakh region, you will find a range called Stok Range. The range forms part of the Himalayan Mountains of southeastern Asia. The tallest mountain of this range is called Stok Kangri, which is 20,187 feet above sea level (6,153 meters). If you can make it to the peak of the mountain, you will be in Hemis National Park. Stok Range attracts many mountaineers and mountain climbers from around the world. Some people climb these mountains because of the spectacular views of the mountain range around them while others are just practicing here before they climb the almighty Mount Everest.

Nubra Valley, Jammu and Kashmir

You might not think of a desert when you think of beautiful places, but India’s Nubra Valley in the Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir has a desert that you should visit. Since Nubra is at such a high altitude, it is a colder desert than the traditional deserts which are at lower altitudes. There is hardly any rain or precipitation in the desert, but there is a mild amount of vegetation and water bodies. The mountainous terrain in the back will be the most beautiful thing that you ever see.

Nohkalikai Falls, Meghalaya

If you prefer beautiful wet environments, then check out Nohkalikai Falls in the town of Cherrapunji. This is in the Indian state of Meghalaya. Nohkalikai Falls is the highest plunge waterfall in the whole country. The name “Nohkalikai” means “Jump of Ka Likai,” which refers to a local legend about a woman named Likai that jumped off the cliff because of a family tragedy that made her go crazy. The height of the waterfall is 1,115 feet, so it is not advisable for anyone to try jumping from the top of it. But it is still a beautiful tall waterfall to visit and enjoy seeing.

Festivals of Rajasthan in October

October Rajasthan is a special time of the year in India. There are a lot of unique festivities which are made available during this time. On top of that, the summer heat that plagues the entire city will slowly be moving away while the cooler air settles in. This means you can walk around more without having to sweat so much. Meanwhile, the clear blue skies and the picturesque scenery of the surrounding sites and festivities will make the whole trip worthwhile.

In total, you will find 4 major festivals in Rajasthan during October. The culture of Rajasthan can be attributed to ancient traditions which took place there. The people of this state have these festivities in October for the purpose of simply celebrating life. You don’t necessarily have to be a spiritual or religious person to appreciate this kind of celebration.

The biggest celebration which takes place between October 24^th and October 28^th is the Rajasthan International Folk Festival in the city of Jodhpur. Here you can listen to lots of cultural folk music that is unheard of outside the state. Most of the musicians perform at the Mehrangarh Fort, starting at dawn and ending at dusk.

If you’re in an adventurous mood, Rajasthan has an Adventure Festival in the city of Kota from October 18^th to November 5^th. When you’re idle, you can watch the beautiful Chambal river and the massive acreage around it. But then, you’ll be partaking in various fun and exciting activities such as windsurfing, rock climbing, trekking, water skiing, gliding, and more. This will give you a chance to see the real countryside of Rajasthan that you’ve never seen before.

Then, at night time during these 3 days in Kota, you can witness the Hindu Navaratri festival known as Dussehra Mela from 9th to 18th October. This is basically a celebration of good conquering evil and features an effigy of the mythical demon king known as Ravana. This effigy is 75 feet tall and is filled completely with crackers. At the end of the festival, the effigy is lit on fire.

From October 23rd to October 24th in Jodhpur, there is the Marwar Festival. This celebrates the historical rulers of Rajasthan who are considered heroes to the people there. Tourists might not appreciate this particular meaning but they will be attracted to the folk dancing and music that takes place on the streets during this time. The romantic lifestyle of these celebrated heroes is the main theme of the dancing and music that you witness. You can find the festival celebrated at the Mehrangarh Fort, the Umaid Bhawan Palace, and the Mandore Gardens.

When going to these events, it is recommended that you arrive a few days early just in case there are flight delays. You just start in the city of Jodhpur and then travel by train to Kota. It may be hard to find flights to Kota because they only have one small airport that just goes to Jaipur. That’s okay because the train ride to Kota will give you a chance to truly see the Indian countryside like you have never seen before.