Page 25 - FlipBook

lorious
OA
India’s smallest state, a palm- fringed crescent with a Portuguese accent, is arguably its most enchanting. Curled along the country’s lush western coast, Goa was once a thriving Spice Route colony that in its heyday, in the early 1500s, had a population larger than Lisbon’s. After Portugal ended its 450-year occupation, in 1961, Goa became a hippie haven, synonymous with beachfront raves and the backpack brigade. But it’s currently in the midst of a more sophisticated transformation, drawing millions annually for its ocean adventures, spiritual sanctuaries and unflappable allegiance to all things susegad—a local term that traces its roots to
the Portuguese word sossegado, or “quiet.” The word captures the state’s affinity for easy living. Here we present a weeklong itinerary that you can follow in its entirety or adapt for yourself. Whether you’re wandering the old city’s Baroque basilicas, touring a cinnamon plantation or lounging on a gleaming stretch of the 63-mile coastline, it’s hard to get enough of sun-speckled Goa, or its homegrown calm.
To get around, you can rely on
the region’s comprehensive local
bus network, hire a taxi (your resort can help you arrange this) or hail the humbler alternative: an auto rickshaw. Bicycles are also readily available for rent in most Goan towns.
This idyllic Indian getaway, bordering the Arabian Sea, is home to powder-soft beaches, whitewashed churches and fragrant spice farms.
by Aarti Virani
Photography by Aaron Joel Santos
ENDLESS VACATION 23