Goa means different things to different people, for most it’s like the way the waves keep coming back to the shore, you can never get enough.

The state is located on the south western coast, Maharashtra, Karnataka and the Arabian Sea borders it. It is divided by villages that till today remain painted with colonial history. The Portuguese came in search of India, looking for spice routes and eventually settled there and remained so until the annexation in 1961.

Goa’s main industry is tourism and receives 12 per cent of foreign tourists in India. During winter, the state receives mostly foreign tourists and during the summer people from all over the country come flooding in. There are plenty of beaches to choose from, you can watch as the sun sets into the sea from on top of the ruins of fort Aguada or the rocky hill slopes of Arambol, or even as you immerse your feet into the sand along the shoreline.

Wellness in Goa

Over the years, Goa has carved a niche for itself as a destination for Yoga, Ayurveda and Wellness tourism. Several Yoga festivals take place here, celebrating the tradition of Yoga and its evolution with yogis from world. These festivals see a line-up of several internationally recognized teachers as well as musicians and artists to add some fun element. The festivals offer yoga classes, sound workshops, concerts, beach parties and more.

Whether you are looking for a yoga holiday, attend an intensive Yoga retreat, a teacher’s training course, therapy courses or even yoga for children and women, Goa has something for everyone.

Weather in Goa

Most yoga enthusiasts visit the state between November and March, when the weather is pleasant and yoga schools stay open although a few stay open all year round.  Goa features a tropical monsoon climate, being in the tropical zone and near the Arabian Sea, has a hot and humid climate for most of the year. The month of May is the hottest, seeing day temperatures of over 35 °C (95 °F) coupled with high humidity. Most of Goa’s annual rainfall is received through the months of June to late September.

During winter there are plenty of activities to nourish the soul, from reiki healing sessions to meditation and almost anything in-between. Here, almost every form of Yoga and Ayurvedic practice is taught and practiced. Palolem, Agonda and Patnem in the south of the state, and Arambol, Mandrem and Anjuna in the north, are particularly great places to take courses and one can choose from a variety of retreat centers.

Goa has become the home to people from different parts of the world, and the reason that so many decided to stay is because it’s not just sun, sand and sea, it’s a great big welcome for you and me.

Getting There:

The airport caters to scheduled domestic and international air services. Goa has two rail lines—one run by the South Western Railway and the other by the Konkan Railway.

Goa has four National Highways passing through it. NH-66 (NH-17) runs along India’s west coast and links Goa to Mumbai in the north and Mangalore to the south. NH-4A running across the state connects the capital Panjim to Belgaum in east, linking Goa to cities in the Deccan.

In large towns such as Panjim and Margao, intra-city buses operate. However, public transport in Goa is less developed, and residents depend heavily on their own transportation, usually motorized two-wheelers and small family cars. One can get around in Goa with taxis, or cars and bikes that can be hired.