A visa is needed by most foreign nationals visiting India. You can get it at the Indian Missions, Consulates, High Commissions Overseas. A list of this is given in the Travel Kit section of the Goa Tourism website. The validity ranges from a 15 day period to a six month period for tourists. Visas can also be extended in India, (depending on the application) at the local "Foreigners Registration Office" located in every major city in India. In Goa it is located at the Police Headquarters in Panaji.
 A list of addresses and websites of Indian Missions Overseas is given in the Travel Kit section of the Goa tourism website. Contact them for the latest information regarding applications, fees and addresses.
The fees vary with each country and are often reciprocal. At the time of application, check and confirm with your local Indian Consulate Overseas.
It is advisable to get vaccinations and immunizations against Tetanus and Diphtheria, Polio, Typhoid, Hepatitis A and B, Meningococcal meningitis, TB, Rabies and Japanese B encephalitis prior your travel to India.. Record all vaccinations in the International Health Certificate available at your local Physician or Health department. International tourists should carry their Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate conforming to International Health Regulations, if they originate or are transiting through countries where Yellow Fever is endemic. International travelers / tourists originating from the USA, UK and Canada do not require any mandatory vaccinations. The International Health Certificate is not normally asked for by immigration officials; however it is better to carry one which may be of immense help in the case of a medical emergency. To avoid Malaria and Dengue fever, carrying mosquito repellents, nets, and using sprays against insects in rooms is usually sufficient. A first -aid kit carrying adhesive bandages, thermometer, water-purification tablets, antibiotics, antiseptic creams and mosquito repellents is recommended.
Goa has health facilities comparable to the best in India. The apex medical institution in Goa is the Goa Medical College Hospital and the campus is located at Bambolim near Panaji. The other towns of Mapusa and Margao are served by district hospitals, namely the Asilo Hospital in Mapusa and the Hospicio Hospital in Margao. Vasco da Gama has a good private hospital, the Salgaocar Medical Research Center. There are a lot of cottage hospitals and primary health centers in every small town and village.
You can visit Goa at any time of the year it is idyllic regardless of the time of the year. However, Goa is at its most beautiful during the monsoons from June to September.This is also the time when the hotels offer the best discounts.
Check out the various sections in the Goa tourism website to get information on the all possible aspects of Goa. We have also tried to cover various aspects of Goa in this website which might be of help.
Goa can be reached by all means of transportation. The international gateway for this part of India is Mumbai. Goa's airport is at Dabolim near Vasco. Goa is well connected by roads to major neighbouring cities like Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore and Hyderabad with excellent bus services. The most modern railway line in India, the Konkan Railway connects Goa to major Indian cities via links and express trains.
Most major maps are available on the internet. Printed versions are available at all bookshops and other places around Goa.
As Goa has a tropical climate, it is advisable to wear cotton clothes. The preferred Indian clothes are pants, shirts, t-shirts and shorts for men. Most Indian women wear saris, Indian dress, pants, skirts, shorts, t-shirts and blouses. Please remember to dress reasonably to avoid unwanted attention.
The usual personal effects along with clothes. Make sure you have electronic accessories suited to the 220V which is prevalent in India. You would do well to carry prescriptions of medications and your spectacles. Ensure you have the International driver’s license if you wish to drive. Carry enough local currency equivalents to $100 worth at all times to pay for local services. Make sure your documents including cash, passport and credit cards and tickets are secure and keep a copy with you at all times.
It is always better to be prepared, do carry any necessary and valid travel insurance papers with you. An International Drivers License is to be carried by all foreign nationals.
Yes it would be prudent. One can never predict when one might need specialized services which might not be available in Goa.
Preferably Travellers cheques and cash in Indian currency up to $100 at all times to pay for local services. Credit cards such as Masters, Visa, Amex are also widely accepted in Goa.
Yes. There are quite a few places in Goa where you can use your credit card to withdraw cash.
The Indian currency is called Rupees. One rupee is made of 100 paise. A rough estimate is 1$ = 56.12 Indian rupees.
The Indian postal service is very reliable, provided all the transactions are done at the post office. There is a post office in every village, town and city. The Head Post Office or HPO of Goa is in Panaji .
The local transportation is a mix of Private and Public enterprises. The public transport systemis called the KTC or the Kadamba Transport Corporation. The private buses all have individual names and locals usually refer to them as such. Most local cities and towns have a designated Bus stand from where most services arrive and depart. Private cabs and bikes ply frequently throughout the state. They can also be rented by the hour/day/distance. You have an option, in both cars and motorbikes to be self-driven or chauffeured. The rates vary and your bargaining skills will be tested here.
Goa has one airport - the Goa Airport; and it is located at Dabolim, near the city of Vasco da Gama. It is classified as a international airport with connections to major Indian cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Cochin, Pune and Chennai. It is about 45 minutes drive from the capital city of Panaji.
Yes. There are numerous Internet cafes scattered throughout Goa. The charges are variable. The dial-up lines are fast and reliable, but most cyber cafes are on ISDN / DSL or broadband lines.
It is all available almost everywhere in Goa at quite reasonable rates.
The whole of India has one time zone including Goa. It is commonly referred to as IST or the Indian Standard Time. The IST is GMT + 5 & 1/2 hours.
Only if it runs on 220V. If you come from a country with 110V standard, please get a conversion kit or an adapter. Since there is wide fluctuation in voltage in India, you are advised to use a voltage stabilizer to prevent damage to sensitive electronic equipment.
Quite safe, Yes. Goa has a special Women's Police Station to handle women related crimes.
It is generally extremely safe. However please follow some common Do's and Don'ts while in India in general. This includes locking your suitcases, keeping an eye on them during travel, locking hotel rooms and placing items of importance in hotel safes for safekeeping. Please always keep a sufficient amount of money in small bills in Indian Rupees for sundry use. Keep your passport with you at all times.
Drugs are absolutely illegal in Goa with severe penalties if caught in possession of even minute quantities.
Nudity is banned on all Goan beaches.
Yes, both Indian Coconut. However according to a recent law passed in Goa, consumption of alcohol is no longer permitted on the beaches.
Goans proudly speak Konkani, which is Goa's official language. There is a lot of variation in the way it is spoken among different communities and locations in Goa; this is partly due to history. Konkani uses "Devnagiri" script which is common with Hindi. English is widely spoken and understood with an accent variation depending on the educational background of the speaker and their area of origin.
Almost all countries have missions in India. A list of all these is given in the Travel Kit section of the Goa Tourism website.
