{"id":64867,"date":"2017-10-02T12:24:37","date_gmt":"2017-10-02T10:24:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.voyages-d-affaires.com\/?p=64867"},"modified":"2018-04-03T15:47:09","modified_gmt":"2018-04-03T13:47:09","slug":"india-goa-total-trend","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.voyages-d-affaires.com\/en\/india-goa-total-trend","title":{"rendered":"India: Goa, a total trend"},"content":{"rendered":"

They came from San Francisco, London, Paris or elsewhere; they were twenty years old, or not much more, and in their dreams they saw flowers replacing cannons. Who were they? They were the hippies at the turn of the 70s, children of opulence and the baby boom who settled on the beaches of Goa, living day by day their libertarian utopia of free love, music and artificial paradises. Why Goa? Because the small South Indian state had a very permissive policy on illicit substances at the time, because tolerance was traditionally de rigueur, because Goa distilled a unique way of life in India<\/strong>And probably also because the coconut palms on the beaches are much more welcoming than the frosts of its cousin Kathmandu in the Himalayas.<\/p>\n

Crazy parties on the sand, ritualised full moon parties, midnight baths-noon baths in very little clothing and music, music, music... Why evoke the hippie phenomenon<\/strong> of which not much remains today, apart from the gigantic Anjuna flea market, with no fewer than 7,000 stalls in season every Wednesday? Because it was they who really launched the destination, which was virtually unknown before the end of the 60s. With their music, their shiloms and their brightly-coloured tunics, they unknowingly laid the foundations of what is now an ultra-glamorous spot, attracting not only Bollywood film stars, but people from all over the world. To these must be added Indian families, individual Western and Middle Eastern tourists, the bohemian bourgeoisie from the major metropolises... and, of course, corporate groups. That's a lot of people, but Goa is perfectly equipped when it comes to hotels, from the smallest budget hotels to the most luxurious establishments.<\/p>\n

A trip to Goa is first and foremost a seaside holiday. With all that that entails developed beaches<\/strong>These are the beaches of the old hippies in the north of the state, around Calangute or Anjuna - where Bob Dylan, among others, spent some time with his guitar - or those in the south, which stretch non-stop for around fifty kilometres and are much more exclusive, much more well-groomed, and much more solitary too. They are endless, made of blond sand and bordered by coconut palms. As a result, most of the major international chain resorts are located here.<\/p>\n

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These beaches, which stretch for miles to the north and south of the capital of the state of Goa, were once the delight of the hippies. And they're still as pleasant as ever, even if today's swimmers are a little more dressed up than they used to be... Here, the beach at Candolim.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The crazy nights of Goa<\/h2>\n

A seaside destination, then. With water sports, themed parties - white or hippy to keep with the theme - and nightclubs that, when it comes to hipness, have nothing to envy their Mediterranean counterparts like Mambo or Tito's, a must since 1971<\/strong>. But these are far from the only activities on offer during a stay in Goa. Alternatively, you can explore the hinterland, teeming with tropical vegetation, by bike or scooter, or on one of the very exotic tuk-tuks. Cultural outings too, and not the least, with an astonishing discovery of old Portuguese India. That is, until 1961, when the state of Goa gained its independence and the Portuguese who had occupied it since 1510, in other words since the conquest by Afonso de Albuquerque, left the country for good.<\/p>\n

And while we're on the subject of heritage, we might as well start with what sailing ships used to see when they arrived: a defensive fort - the Reis Magos, built in 1551 - located at the mouth of the river Mandovi and facing Panaji, the current capital of the state. Climbing a hill, well hidden behind its laterite ramparts punctuated by turrets, this fort is home to some noble white houses that are unmistakably Portuguese. It's very pretty and sophisticated.<\/strong> This military fortress, armed at the time with 33 formidable cannons, could almost be described as a holiday camp. All the more so as it has been remarkably restored and, alongside tourist visits, serves as a cultural centre. It is also open to the public, and understandably so, because with a view like this - the river, the city on the other bank and the sea straight ahead - the cocktails held here are bound to be a success. Down below, isolated among its coconut palms, a ravishing church, immaculate as it should be, watches over the peace of souls at the same time as taking the prettiest photos.

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