Footloose India

If you have never been to India, this short video will give you a feel for what a small town, main road lined with vendors and people mingling, feels like. In essence the ride is often an obstacle course and the driver has a horn on constantly, but the people are used to this and hardly look up.

Calangute is one of north Goa’s busiest beaches and a popular place for travellers to the south Indian state to stay in. Although you’ll undoubtedly want to head to some of Goa’s quieter stretches of coastline during your trip, Calangute is an excellent starting point and has a selection of facilities.

Due to the easy access to other beaches, such as Baga and Candolim, as well as its proximity to the state capital Panaji, it’s home to a range of hotels in north Goa, giving you plenty of accommodation options.

Before you head off to explore Goa’s other hidden gems, here are a few things to do in Calangute on your holiday.

Hit the beach
Calangute is certainly not a quiet sandy stretch, but it is home to a wide range of amenities, including sun beds, sun shades, restaurants, shops and more besides. If you simply want to lie back and enjoy the weather shortly after arriving in Goa, this is as good a place as any to go.

As it runs for 7 km, even when it’s busy you’ll be able to find somewhere to settle down and enjoy the sunshine. Grab a cool drink or some food from one of the vendors and just soak up the atmosphere.

Sample local cuisine
Both the beach area and the town of Calangute itself are not short of restaurants where you can try a host of different Goan dishes – as well as more international fare if you’re not brave enough to sample the local delicacies. Unsurprisingly given its location on the coast, seafood is an important part of many of the authentic meals, so make sure you don’t miss out.

Temptation Shack, located on the beach, serves basic but delicious food, including barbequed calamari and tiger prawns. If you’re looking for something a bit more formal, try Electric Cats on Baga Road, which offers a variety of seafood, or head to Pousada by the Beach, where you can choose from both Indian and international cuisine.

Try some water sports
If you tire of lounging in the sun and want to get active, there are many water sports you can try, depending on how adventurous you’re feeling. Water skiing, parasailing and jet skiing are among your options. You can also learn how to windsurf, although the wind is only strong enough and blowing in the right direction in the afternoons.

Of course, there’s nothing to stop you simply taking a dip in the waters of the Arabian Sea, if you’re not feeling up to having a go at anything more energetic!

Discover the local art gallery
While much of the attention is, understandably, focused on the beach, it’s worth heading into the town for a few hours to seek out some of its attractions – one of which is the Kerkar Art Gallery. The establishment exhibits pieces by Subodh Kerkar, a local artist who still lives in Goa. He specialises in using different media for his work, so you can expect to see a collection of paintings, photos and sculptures as you wander around the gallery.

Pay a visit to St Alex Church
Churches are an important part of Goa’s heritage and they hark back to the era of Portuguese rule that lasted for more than 400 years. In Calangute you’ll find St Alex Church, which is characterised by its two large towers and a central dome. Step inside the place of worship and you’ll be greeted by seven altars, each one dedicated to a different religious figure.

Just to keep you informed.

As per the Notification issued by the Government of India (Ministry of Finance), effective 1st April 2012 the service tax applicable increased from 10 to 12 %.

The net effect due to the latest service tax increase will result in the following:

Service tax on accommodation will increase to 6.18%  (earlier it was 5.15%)

Service tax on Meals will increase to 3.71%  (earlier it was 3.09%)

Service tax on Transportation will increase to 4.95% (earlier it was 4.12%)

As a result total tour package cost will increase to 3.09 % (earlier it was 2.58%)

Also please note that there is a definite chance of further escalation in fuel prices; we will let you know as updates will become available.

In a related matter, in recent railway budget passed by government, there is a hike of 30% on fares in 1A/C & 2 A/C tickets effective 1 April.  This will be applicable on all future tickets to be booked and also on already confirmed tickets.

For any keen traveller, India is one of those places that just has to be visited. Of course, because it’s so vast, the question of where exactly to go is always a tricky one – especially when you consider how diverse its regions are. Here’s our choice of top spots, which should lend you a little inspiration.

The Golden Triangle

Tours of India often include what’s known as the Golden Triangle. This is basically a collection of three of the most popular places to visit, and it’s a particularly good option if you’re making your first trip to India and want a broad introduction to the country.

So, what is the Golden Triangle exactly? It’s made up of the capital city, Delhi, Agra and Jaipur – all of which are home to attractions that should grace every serious traveller’s list.

Of course, since it’s the capital city, it’s no surprise Delhi’s one of the top places to visit. While you’re here, make sure you explore both New Delhi (which was built by the British to make a new seat for the government) and Old Delhi. Discovering the differences between the two – like the wide streets of New Delhi and the narrow of Old Delhi – is a really interesting way to start your trip.

The capital of Rajasthan, Jaipur’s main draw is its amazing buildings. Don’t miss the chance to see the huge Amber Fort – which was once the local seat of power – and the Palace of the Winds, which is also known as Hawa Mahal.

Perhaps the most famous of all India’s attractions, the Taj Mahal is an absolute must-see. You’ll find it in the third part of the Golden Triangle, Agra, where it was built by Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal.

Kerala’s backwaters

One of the most interesting things about India is the fact it’s so diverse in everything from landscapes to customs. That’s why taking a trip to Kerala’s backwaters should be on every traveller’s itinerary.

Made up of lagoons, rice fields, canals and lakes, the Kuttanad backwater region provides a wholly different experience of the country. It’s best travelled by converted rice barge, so bear that in mind when putting together your travel plans.

Ranthambore National Park

When you think of India, it’s practically impossible not to think of things like painted elephants and, of course, tigers – and it’d be a shame to travel all the way here and miss out on seeing them in the flesh. If you’re particularly keen on watching big cats on the prowl, there is no better place than Ranthambore National Park. What makes it stand out from other spots is that it’s relatively small – this means the population is quite dense, which gives you a better chance to see tigers.

Thar Desert

India is famous for the organised chaos of its big cities, so it’s nice to experience a different side to the country. One of the best ways of doing this is camel trekking in the Thar Desert (which is in Rajasthan). This is about as big a contrast as you can get to the urban areas – expect an incredible stillness, and to see nothing more than the odd mud-hut village for as long as you’re here. It’s a good idea to stay out here overnight, if you can – there’s nothing quite like seeing the night sky from the desert.

Jaipur, also known as the Pink City thanks to the colour of its buildings, is a beautiful place to visit in India – and one that’s on the list of many travellers. As with much of the country, though, there are very poor communities here who can really benefit from some of your help and you may consider volunteering either before or after your Rajasthan tour.

Volunteering overseas is a great thing to do on a gap year, as it means you’ll be giving something back to the areas you visit, as well as participating in an incredibly rewarding experience.

There are several projects you can get involved with in Jaipur if you’re happy to spend a bit of time in the city, allowing you to fully explore its stunning streets and assist some of the locals at the same time!

Community work

If you love spending time with children, helping them learn and aiding their development, joining one of the community projects in the city will be right up your street. One of the best things about choosing this sort of scheme is the sheer variety of tasks you’ll be able to do.

A main focus is to give families some support with their childcare, so you’ll probably get thrown in at the deep end and be expected to help look after a group of excitable children! It’s loads of fun, though, and you can play games with them, as well as get involved with improving their education.

Some of the community groups in Jaipur also teach local women new skills that they can use in their everyday lives, or that can help them find work. This is highly rewarding and, if you think your knowledge could benefit this aspect of the project, make sure you speak out.

Many people – not just the children – want to learn English, so you’ll also be encouraged to help out in the classroom and put your language skills to good use with groups of all ages. One of things that will impress you most about your students is their willingness to learn; it really makes you appreciate the education system we have back in the UK!

Help out at a theatre group

If you’ve got your heart set on working with children, your best bet will be to get involved with one of the community theatre projects. This will allow you to engage the local kids, build their enthusiasm about performing arts and just have a lot of fun.

It’s a two-way street, though; while you’ll be helping to get them up on the stage, they’ll be teaching you a host of their own traditions and folklore at the same time, so you’ll leave Jaipur feeling as though you’ve really got to grips with one aspect of Indian culture.

Work with elephants

It’s not all about working with people, and if you’re more comfortable when surrounded by wildlife, a scheme in Jaipur that allows you to care for elephants will suit you down to the ground. You won’t actually be based in the city – you’ll be working with the community in the nearby village of Amber. The locals here keep elephants to give rides to tourists who visit the Amber Fort and your duties will involve cleaning, feeding and even massaging these gentle giants.

The elephants are well-cared for by their owners and this is a unique opportunity to get close to these majestic creatures. Caring for them involves more than just making sure they’re fed and watered: you’ll get to play with them and help give them a daily massage when they return from work! This really is one of those once in a lifetime opportunities.