While Goa, India is famous for its popular beaches, wonderful seafood, and thriving cities, this small state in India is actually a haven of traditional Indian life. With almost 350 villages, Goa is a great place to explore the character and variety offered by Indian Village life.
While the cities are run by Goans, many actually live in a nearby village and commute to the city each day. This suggests that the cities are the domain of tourists and to understand the people of Goa, one needs to venture out into the countryside. There are usually a number of villages within easy distance of the 5 star hotels Goa.
Many of the villages in Goa have beautiful scenery, especially in the mountain areas. However, even villages along the coastline or in the “hinterland” offer stunning views and lovely architecture to stimulate the eye. Each village has its own personality and charm. The pace here is even slower than in the cities, which can be a shock to the system of tourists from bustling urban cities. Villagers tend to be very friendly and the shops and restaurants in villages are usually clean, neat, and offer a fairly good value-for-money. Some villages have become tourist magnets and can be a bit pricer, so careful research is needed.
Villages that are worth exploring are Mollem which includes the Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary, Shiroda, Goa Velha, and Britona. Other villages include Cortalim, Usgao, Benaulim, Savoi Verem, Reis Magos, and Curtorim.
