Goa has become synonymous with the term freedom for all its out-of-towners. The vibe which is fanned out at all the mainstream North Goa beaches is not some recent phenomenon. Anjuna, Baga and Vagator have had those wild energies established since 1960s. They emerged as the very sources of hippie culture in the state. Watch these kick-ass documentaries to know more about the hippie days of 60’s – Last Hippie Standing (2001; Marcus Robbin) and Goa Hippie Tribe (2010, Darius Devas).

Been There… Done That!

I am sure you will relate to the phase when you catch up with your buds and someone happens to mention GOA. Man!!! It flashes the whole reel of youthful memories of you and the gang sloshed-singing in a karaoke bar or raging at Shiva Valley or riding around on those vibrant vespas at that one stretch of North’s beaches, hogging onto shrimps and Goan curry and reclining on the ‘we didn’t want to pay for this’ chair on the beach.

When that moist breeze goes by your face. And the scorching sun leaves the melanin in action, you still sit in front of that limitless sea for hours. Sipping on your chilled beer..(the popping of the opener, the oozing out sound of the fizz makes you want to take a sip and the orgasm of that very first sip can be traced on its trail till it reaches the belly AAAhhh..heavenly)

Goa – A State of Art

Okay, let’s snap out of this absorbing idea and acknowledge the fact that Goa is not only to EAT, RAVE, SIT ON THE BEACH, REPEAT, the smallest state of India is much more than a tourist hub. This place is a state of art, a wide patch of sand platform that embraces all them musicians, writers, dancers, painters, photographers, sculpture artists, local handicrafts, chefs, graffiti artists, the yoga bunch, performance artist, the fire poi lads, the hula hoop swingers and many more of these humans of craft.

ARCHITECTURE 

The local art and heritage of the state is visibly an influenced blend of Portuguese and Indian elements. As you navigate your way to the destination of Panjim, the capital, it’ll be difficult not to halt your gaze at the vivid concoction of colors spilled on baroque style homes, chiseled with a slight European influence. The doors and windows evoke a lot of thought about the homegrown ideas imbibed in the architecture of a space. Many such abandoned houses in Saligao were built with the mix of ground oyster and sea snail shells due to its proximity to the coast. In fact, the windows with a sea-shell facade will give you a peek in the original community culture before the Portuguese invasion.

PAINTING

Despite not being celebrated for any particular form of ancient painting style, Goa has embraced all forms of artists offering them the liberty to leave their impressions on the walls of the state. Whenever you’re marking your next holiday in Goa on the calendar, don’t forget to check the December schedule of this out-of-the-world arts festival – Serendipity. The streets are brimmed with installations and walls filled with crazy art put together in collaboration by artists from all over the world. It takes place across one big stretch of Panjim with multiple venues covering almost every form of art that exists. Right from the archived photographs of Goan families and their history to sculptures carved out with intricate details, exhibitions conducted at Adil Shah Palace incorporates storytelling sessions to performance artists who can arouse awareness about sensitive subjects without saying a word.

If you wish to dig in about the artists whose roots are in Goa but are now internationally recognized, a visit to the Museum of Goa, Pilerne (founded by Subodh Kerkar) and Mario Gallery, Torda is a must. 

CINEMA/ THEATRE 

“All the world’s a stage and most of us are desperately unrehearsed.” – A quote by Seán O’Casey really drive some of us nuts, leaving us scratching our heads about our role in this stage called ‘life’. Well, if you wish to catch on some thought-provoking storylines in English, Hindi, Marathi and Konkani pulled off by brilliant actors and directors, go to Kala Academy. This place holds an annual festival every November since the year 1974 wherein they enact plays in Konkani called ‘tiatr’ demonstrating a satirical take on politics, domestic issues and current happenings.

LITERATURE 

The online StageCulture.com said of GALF: “Hosted annually in December, this Fest has proven beyond doubt, that Goa is much more than just a hip beach destination and rave hotspot”.

Exactly, what I’m trying to tell you folksies.

Goa Arts and Literature Festival is an OPEN TO ALL fest. It features well-renowned authors and their work along with carnival-like-grand events. The main venue for Goa Arts and Literature Festival is the International Centre. Don’t be a coastline crab and dive into this deep-sea of knowledge and creativity while you’re there. 

A few recommendations if you wish to submerge into historical tidbits about the state:

• Sorrowing Lies My Land, by Lambert Mascarenhas
• Tivolem, by Victor Rangel-Ribeiro
• Angela’s Goan Identity, by Carmo D’Souza

DANCE

Elaborate wedding of Goa Christians is not complete without this Portuguese-yet-Indian dance ‘Mando’. It’s a very choir-orchestral way of expressing good wishes to the couple. You got to attend a Goan wedding to get a good taste of the music and an assortment of delectable seafood. Cake and Wine are a bonus to the whole feast and fiesta. 

MUSIC 

From the thumps of the ghumat (heritage instrument of Goa) played as an accompaniment to the folk and Mando music to the progressing BPM of psytrance and at underground raves to the uplifting vibrations of the djembe fellas at beaches, Goa has always had our heart beat to its insane music scenes.

It has recently seen a switch from electronic to live gigs, opening up the gates for a lot of instrumentalists, percussionists and reggae artists who vibe up the place with their flairs.

Arambol is the up-and-coming setting for the travelers who love to listen to a gamut of genres, that too live. Rock music to drum circles to jazz and techno, places like Twice in a Nature, Arcan Bar, The Black Sheep and Saltwater Terrace makes for the best spaces to let yourself loose to the groove and enjoy the damn night…

What are the other activities to do around Goa?

1. Carjeum Fort

2. Arvalem Caves

3. Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary

4. Tambdi Surla

5. Divar Island

6. Margao

7. Netravali Wildlife Reserve

What is the best season to visit Goa?

The best season to visit Goa is from October to February. But Goa is a destination where you can go throughout the year. During off-season you will find the beaches empty, shacks closed and the party scene dull. If you are someone like me and loves rain, then visiting Goa during the monsoon is a good idea.

Where to stay in Goa?

Budget Stay: Zostel, The Hosteller, Arambol – Imagination, An Artists Hostel, Roots Villa, Bunkker Container Hostel

Mid-Budget stay: Velvett Homestays, Miss Jenny’s Homestay, Casa Menezes, Island Pool Villa

Luxury Stay: The Postcard Velha, Casa Britona, Amrapali House of Grace

Ah! It was impossible to narrow down the artistic stream out of the infinite sea of ingenuity and creativity. The state of art has held unwavering for years now. Goa will never-ever disappoint you; those sonorous waves will always clear your mind and add a new wavelength to your journey. Now, I’ll leave you guys to draft a new itinerary for the state of Art.

I’ve realized that Art is not any different than travel. As Thomas Merton puts it “Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.”

And so does Travel. Don’t you agree?

Thank you Akshita for taking time in between running a cafe at Dharamshala to share your experience and recommendations for people looking to enjoy Goa beyond its beaches. This isn’t Akshita’s first guest post on the site so if you’re planning to go to Bir then check out her Quick Guide To Bir-Billing in Himachal Pradesh.

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