India’s over 7500-km coastal belt has some of the world’s most alluring holiday destinations. While Goa with its golden beaches has long been the Mecca of sun-worshipper from the cold climes of Europe and England, there are so many other gorgeous places where holidaymakers can take home super seaside memories of delicious days on the sands, under the sun and in the sea.
But Goa is always a good place to start that memory ball rolling. What say????
For the sheer spectacle of rugged cliffs edging the vast expanse of shimmering sands and tropical splendour Goa has everything going to snare the attention of beach lovers. If you are looking for a lively, crowd-pleasing vibe, the beaches of north Goa are unbeatable for their people-friendly buzz. From snack shacks to cold beer hops. From water sports to loads of beach shopping stalls awash with sarongs, hats and souvenirs… It’s as busy a day as you might want it to be. Smashing seaside hubs to explore here are the ever-popular Calangute-Baga-Candolim triumvirate. Water sports lovers can never have enough of Candolim!
The red cliffs of Vagator offer a stunning foil to the aqua waters, luring the young and hungry to party till dawn breaks in this unique setting. For more eco-friendly encounters, Morjim Beach nestles by sea waters that are friendly for dolphin-spotting boat rides and some exciting Olive Ridley turtle nesting experiences.
Looking for a more tranquil scene? Head South for those lovely beaches like Palolem, where the waters are gentle enough to swim and enjoy some boat excursions for dolphin-spotting. It’s unique also for its ‘Silent Noise Parties’ when you use a headphone to hear only the sounds of the night...the rush of the waves and the sea breezes.
And while here, you must take a boat ride to the nearby, but secluded, uncrowded Butterfly Beach to soak in the fabulous scenes of hundreds and hundreds of butterflies flitting about here and there. The calm waters here are much favoured by snorkelling buffs.
A local hotspot is Colva Beach where you can mingle at ease in the snappy bars and eat stalls. Savour those gorgeous sunsets and slew of water sports that cost a bomb here.
Did you know there’s a secret beach, a unique gift, offered twice a day by the sea for a few hours, before it disappears and comes back again at the whims of the tide. Welcome to Odisha’s Chandipur Beach in Balasore district. Under a moonlit sky you can ride a fast horse or stroll with your beloved on the silvery sands left behind by the receding waters, before the hungry sea rushes back to recapture those 5km of terra firma from you at high tide. Did you know that back in the day Balasore was a huge textile hub (it’s still reputed for its excellent hand weaves and handicrafts) and was renowned for its muslin handkerchiefs? In fact, because these were so unique and their quality so distinct, an Englishman established a factory in England to manufacture Balasore Handkerchiefs.
Mumbai’s Juhu Beach is gathering fresh interest as it’s become the centre of attention for a unique nightly phenomenon. Stock up the picnic basket and your blanket and head out with friends to soak up the marvels of this electrifying fantasy from Nature, so close to this hectic commercial metropolis. Juhu has joined the limited line-up of beaches in India that are known as bioluminescent beaches. The magic unspools as the waves of the sea are glitter with an otherworldly glow in shades of blue. What is creating this mysterious underwater bio-luminescence is the great abundance of bioluminescent aquatic bacteria or phytoplankton in the sea, about half a kilometre away from the beach, in the dark of a moonless night. These organisms are dragged towards the shoreline by the currents. The change in environment causes them to emit a blue light and sparkle on the dark sea. Chemical reactions in species such as jellyfish, aquatic algae and fireflies also make them sparkle. When this shimmering happens en masse on the vast body of phytoplankton, it creates another magical narrative of the sea.
And that’s just for starters. As winter closes its doors by the time the festival of Holi comes around in India spring and summer are just round the corner. Time to pack bikinis, sunscreen and bionic and head for the beach.