# 1: Tranquility
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Beach Vacation With A Twist, Goa, India - A Travel Tale
By Nayanna Chakrbarty
“Travel all the way to India to enjoy a beach vacation?”
Goa is a hub of architectural wonders that gives you a crash course in global cultural heritage. The best way to unearth this emerald island is by renting a two-wheeler. Whizzing past by-lanes, you will wonder whether your left turn was a detour to Rome. And you are not wrong. In 1510, the Portuguese captured Goa and constructed numerous churches. The St Cajetan church was built in the style of St. Peter’s basilica in Rome. In the sixteenth century, Goa was actually known as “Rome of the East.” The Basilica of Bom Jesus contains the mortal remains of St Francis Xavier, enshrined in a silver casket.
This city is also a pilgrimage center for the Hindus. The temple of Lord Brahma is the oldest shrine dating back to the 5th century A.D. The 13th century Mahadev (Lord Shiva) temple stands strong constructed with basalt stone. I believe that it is the burning faith in the hearts of the people that has kept these monuments intact through centuries, despite enduring battles and weathering.
Another sightseeing hotspot is the fort Aguada built in 1612 by the Portuguese. Guides are available at nominal charges who take you amidst cannons and ramparts, gesticulating the events of war. Gunpowder rooms, lookout posts, hidden reservoir and deserted lighthouse create an enthralling ambience for a mystery movie.
A section of this fort projects out into the ocean. It is popularly known as a sunset point. The clear, blue water on all three sides, clouds gliding like froth and seagulls flapping away, creates a romantic and picturesque backdrop. Treks, rock climbing, rappelling are also organized around this magnificent ruin.
If these hotspots still hasn’t intrigued you, then there is more to spice up your stay. A visit to the spice farm is an ideal way to spend the day. Locals take great pride in showing how spices are cultivated organically.
Other excursions available are catching up with the dolphins frolicking in the open sea. This activity includes fishing and snorkeling as well. Tourists are provided fishing rods and prawns as bait. Lunch is organized on a private beach where fresh sea food is prepared. For the adventurous souls, there are trips to the nearby waterfalls in open jeeps where they can explore rugged terrains.
Every holiday has to end with a shopping spree and there are plenty of souvenirs that one can take home. Flee markets offer a variety of trinkets and handicrafts. Flavored cashew nuts and spice boxes make unique gifts for the loved ones.
So traveling to India for a beach vacation is not bad after all. (Wink!)
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Nayanna Chakrbarty, international writer is a fiction writer at heart but her quest for an adrenaline rush has made her a world traveler. This sparked the travel writer in her. Her fiction stories have been published by Miss Saphira's Strange & Mysterious Tales, F. Grade Media Partnership, 'I Have My Eye On You' by Escaping Elsewhere Magazine, Eep Press, 'Changing Hands' by Inkspotter Press. Besides this, she has been the winner of several writing contests. Travel stories have made a mark on websites like Oriental Tales, Trippin Mag, The Travel Rag, Travel thru History, Ultra Travel, and the list goes on.