Goans know the secret: Goa is best during monsoons. You might doubt the statement and go for the proverbial sun-soaked Goa during October to March season if you haven’t seen Goa in the rains. But you have to see it to believe it! Designer Wendell Rodricks, a Goan, puts it aptly: “…The pace slows down due to the downpour. But for us Goans, it is the best season. We see a green Goa (the garbage is in the undergrowth) and for a few months it looks like the Goa of yore… I do love the rains indeed!”
There are plenty of reasons for you to experience a different Goa and there are several things to do. For starters, you can experience the original charms of Goa sans the crowd you find during the peak season. Nature is at its beast with lush greenery, easier air to breathe and the sea raging with unending fury, which is a spectacle to see. However, most beaches are inaccessible and you will not be able to swim. But the rain-washed landscape wouldn’t let you regret that. You must instead take a walk through the Goan countryside to soothe your senses and feel the romance.
That’s what Dr Varun Carvalho, the popular dentist and a singer from Goa, likes to do. “Go to the countryside and walk around. Goa is extremely green and vibrant during this time of the year,” he says.
The rains make Goa all the more enchanting, making it a peaceful refuge for those seeking respite from the concrete jungles of the urban world. Naturally localites feel blessed. Interestingly, there are some averse to ‘sharing’ Goa in its unadulterated form during the rains. Goa’s very own Remo Fernandes likes to see Goa sans tourists. “I don’t believe in promoting more visitors in Goa especially during the rains,” says Remo. “Goans stop selling Goa…non-Goans stop buying Goa,” he asserts curtly. Of course the local government and the hospitality industry wouldn’t agree. Tourism, after all, is the mainstay for Goa’s economy. In fact, they are now promoting Goa as a 365-day holiday destination rather than just a ‘beach holiday’ destination during October-March period.
Monsoon Tourism
Currently, only 10% of total tourist arrivals to Goa occur during the monsoon period. To attract more tourists, Goa government started the ‘Raindrop Tourism’ campaign which targets travelers especially from West Asia, where rains are sparse. Pascal Dupuis, General Manager, The Leela Kempinski Goa says, “I would recommend traveling to Goa during monsoons to those who are tired of the daily hustle & bustle of their regular corporate lives and would like to explore pristine nature for once with a touch of beaches & rich culture. Goa has everything that a customer requires – beaches, mountains, historical monuments, night life etc…. The list is endless.”
Offers Galore
The shacks are missing but the good news for you is that this romantic experience is very easy on pocket. Restaurants, shops and hotels feeling the pinch during the quiet season have scores of offers and discounts during this season. Almost all hotels offer discounted rates or packages for the monsoons too. These include offers like 3 nights with buffet breakfast for the price of two nights on double occupancy, and can be extended with every third night fee. Offers also include free wine, food and beverage credit, gifts and the use of recreational facilities. Not to forget cheap air tickets to Goa during the monsoons.
Revel in the Festivites
Other important flavors of Goa you’d miss during the peak tourist season are the festivals that make the state come alive. San Joao, the traditional 'rain dance' festival, which is celebrated on June 24th every year, is the most popular. Tradition has it that it was on this day that unborn St. John the Baptist gave a 'leap of joy' in his mother Elizabeth's womb, as Mary, the mother of Jesus visited her.
You’d see a procession of village youth wearing crowns of leaves, carrying bottles full of Feni dancing through the village, ultimately arriving at a well of pond into which they jump. Shrikant of Hotel Lalit feels the festival reflects the spirit of the state. “There’s so much energy and revelry during the festival… Be it to welcome newly weds to the maternal home or just to guzzle a drink, dance, sing, make merry and jump into wells and ponds.” Besides, the feast of Saints Peter and Paul, at the end of June, sees people sailing up river on rafts performing plays and songs. Another festival being marketed now is the carnival-like Bonderam flag festival is held end of August on tiny Divar Island, off the coast from Panaji.
Take a long walk in the rain along the beach, enjoy the wildlife, revel in celebrations and more importantly relish cleaner air, greener scenery and a less-crowded Goa. There’s something for everyone even during the rains. Just pick up your umbrellas and experience the rainy side of sun-soaked Goa!
(Published in a travel magazine)
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