TRAVEL TO GOA, INDIA
India's amazing diversity offers
you everything you could ever want in a visit to a country.
From the moment that you set foot in India you are on the
way to one of the most rewarding experiences of your life.
Bounded by the majestic Himalayan ranges in the north and
edged by a spectacular coastline surrounded by three seas,
India is a vivid kaleidoscope of landscapes,magnificent
historical sites and royal cities, golden beaches, misty
mountain retreats, colorful people, rich cultures and festivities.
At any part of the year India can offer you a dazzling array
of destinations and experiences. India, always warm and
inviting, is a place of infinite variety - one that favors
you with a different facet of its fascination every time
you come on a visit. India is a country where culture echoes,
traditions speak. Beauty enthralls and diversity delights.
We are sure that you will be able to obtain enough information
about India and Goa from the Internet and your web searches
before you visit this vast and spectacular country next
October.
ISRT-2008 will be held in Goa, which offers some of the
magnificent landscapes and tourist attractions in the country.
It is a former Portuguese colony, currently a state in India's
West region. It is 3700 square kilometres in size and has
a human population of approximately 1.4 million. Its east-west
mix, beaches and syncretic culture is what attracts an officially-estimated
two-and-half million visitors each year. Out of these, about
400,000 are foreign tourists, the rest coming from other
regions of India. Portuguese culture and architecture can
still be found. Some call it "India lite", a easy-to-encounter
version of India. Goa has its brown-tiled roofs, beaches,
a reputation for centuries as a place where cultures and
people meet, and undoubtedly, the holiday capital of South
Asia.
APPLYING FOR AN INDIAN VISA
All foreigners visiting India
must be in possession of a valid passport and visa. An Indian
visa is readily available from Indian Consulate in the country
of your origin. Visa fees may vary from country to country.
It is recommended to obtain a multiple Entry Tourist Visa
since this simplifies the procedure for visiting neighbouring
countries like Nepal and Sri Lanka. Indians holding foreign
passports would also have to obtain an Indian Visa before
entering India.
TRAVEL TO GOA
Goa is well connected to the rest of India by air, road
and rail. In order to reach Goa, ideally all foreign participants
would be required first land either in Mumbai or Delhi International
airports and then take a domestic flight to Goa’s
Dabolim Airport. You will be picked up at the airport by
the organizers and taken to your hotel, Holiday Inn Resort,
which is situated at Mobor Beach about 42 kms from the airport.
Please note that you are supposed to reach Goa any time
on 27th October 2008 and depart on 31st October 2008 morning.
If you plan to attend the 9th AOCNMB meeting in New Delhi
then you should take the morning flight to Delhi from Goa,
since the AOFNMB opening ceremony starts at 1700 hrs in
the late afternoon of 31 October 2008. All participants
who wish to attend the AOFNMB meeting in Delhi, it is advisable
that they first arrive in Delhi from their respective countries,
then take a connecting domestic flight to Goa (to reach
there on 27th October) and return from Goa to Delhi on 31
October to participate in the AOCNMB meeting and subsequently
take the return flight from Delhi to the respective home
countries after the completion of the AOCNMB meeting.
You should be able to book your air ticket for the domestic
sector (Delhi-Goa-Delhi) at a very low price by using the
Internet booking system. You should be able to do it from
your own countries. Alternately you may take the help of
the local organizing committee in India. I would strongly
advise you to do so through Internet. You will find it much
cheaper and highly convenient. Several airlines fly to Goa
from Delhi and Mumbai. These include Indian Airlines (http://www.indianairlines.in),
Jet Airways ( http://www.jetairways.com)
and King Fischer airlines (https://ssw.sabresonicweb.com).
October to December is the peak tourist season for Goa.
You must book your flights much in advance to avoid last
minute disappointment. Sometimes, it will be almost impossible
to get flights during this period if you do not book in
advance (3-4 months before).
PLACES TO VISIT IN GOA
A few days in Goa may not be
good enough to visit so many interesting places. In any
case try to make the best use of your time, whenever you
are not in the scientific aspect of the meeting to visit
some of the interesting places in and around Goa. The Sandy
beaches are the best thing in Goa. Try to find sometime
to stroll in the beach. Please find a list of other interesting
places in Goa. These include:
1.
Dudhsagar Waterfall, one of India's highest
and arguably the most spectacular waterfall, is situated
on the border between Goa and Karnataka. Dudhsagar
literally means The Sea of Milk and is located
high up on the Mandovi River This natural marvel measures
a total drop of about 310 metres. The waterfall is
accessible by train and rough road. It is 10 kilometers
from Kulem Railway Station. |
|
| |
|
|
2. Kesarval Spring, emerging from
the hard and compact rocks, is 22kms away from Panaji
on Verna plateau. It is one of the most exotic water
bodies in the whole of the beach state and any traveler
coming to Goa is bound to go to visit this spring
for its beauty and splendor. The spring emerges from
hard and compact rocks and people bathe in its water
with strong belief that it has medicinal properties.
This is a natural spring that has a legendary history
of having medicinal properties and is very popular
with the locals for that very reason. |
| |
|
| 3. Shri Pandurang
Temple, dedicated to Shri Vithal, and built
by the ancestors of Rane family in the 14 th Century
on the banks of the river Valvantha hosts it's main
festival during Chaitra Purnima. |
|
| |
|
|
4.
Fort Aguada is an old, well preserved Portuguese
fort standing in Goa, India, on Sinquerim beach, overlooking
the vast expanses of Arabian Sea. The fort was constructed
in 1612 to guard against the Dutch and the Marathas.
It was a reference point for the vessels coming from
Europe at that time. This old Portuguese fort stands
on the beach south of Candolim, at the shore of the
Mandovi river.
|
| |
|
| 5. Mapusa town
, featuring the colourful & vibrant 'Friday Bazaar',
is the place where one can shop for everything from
exquisite jewellery to authentic spices. |
|
| |
|
|
6. Basilica Of
Bom Jesus, built in the 16 th century dedicated
to Infant Jesus is the most popular and famous of all
churches in Goa. The mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier,
kept in a silver casket, are enshrined here. |
| |
|
7.
Shri Shantadurga. Built in 1738 by king Shahu
of Satara, this temple is the largest in Goa. It is
dedicated to Goddess Parvati, wife of Lord Shiva as
she takes on a violent form. Legend has it that once
during a quarrel between Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu,
she appeared in the form of Durga and helped to amiably
resolve the fight. In the Sanskrit language, Shanta
means peace. Thus by combining the two names, emerged
the name Shantadurga, who has now come to be the Goddess
of Peace. |
|
| |
|
|
8. Mahadev Temple,
quietly tucked into the forest foothills at Tambdi Surla.
Built in the 13th century, this is the only specimen
of the Kadamba-Yadava architecture that has stood the
test of time. The isolated and peaceful location has
helped in its preservation and it is believed to be
the oldest Hindu temple of Goa. The intricate carvings
that have been made on the pillars and walls of the
temple are noteworthy. |
Goa boasts of some of the finest cuisines of the subcontinent.
While in Goa, try to appreciate the richness of its food.
CURRENCY
Other than the Indian Rupee, the US Dollar and British Pound
are also accepted in most major shopping centers. You may
exchange your foreign currency for Indian Rupees in most
banks, hotels and several authorized foreign exchange outlets
at the airports, shopping malls etc all over the country.
ATM vending machines are available all over the country.
DRINKING
WATER
It may not be perfectly safe to drink water straight from
the tap in India. Bottled mineral water is preferred. Local
supermarkets and grocers usually carry a sizeable selection.
ELECTRICITY
India voltage is 220-240 volts AC, 50 cycles per second.
On request, most hotels will provide transformers to visitors
with electrical appliances of a different voltage, such
as 110-120 volts, 60 cycles per second. When shopping for
electrical appliances, do remember to check the voltage
of the item against the acceptable voltage in your home
country. The power plugs used in India are of the three-pin,
round-shaped type.
WHAT TO
WEAR
The period October- December
is probably the best time of the year to visit India. The
weather in Goa and New Delhi during the time of ISRT and
AOCNMB respectively is expected to be warm and sunny and
pleasant.
