Goa and Calangute Beach

In retrospective, one of my biggest regrets going into Goa was going in blind; I had only two full days in the state and not knowing specifics was a bit of a blocker. Here are a couple of things I wish I’d known:

Goa is broken down into two parts: North Goa and South Goa. South Goa is for those people who like nature and want a quieter stay; this is where the luxury hotels are. North Goa is for those who are there to party / rave / trance / not sleep. All of the beaches combined make up 125kms of India’s western coastline. As such, it’s difficult to get around unless you have a scooter, know the bus schedule, or have a hired car. The best time to go is in the winter (October to March). It’s monsoon during the summer months.

People seem to be very protective of their preferred choice of beach; and, there are so many to choose from. The ones that come to mind immediately are in North Goa: Vagator, Ajunta, Baga, Calangute, Sinquerim, and Candolim. Even though I went into this blind, I did have some good friends and co-workers tell me where to stay: the Raman Beach Cottages in Calangute (North Goa).

For the most part it was pretty quiet. During monsoon all the beach shacks disappear and the people with them. Compared to other beaches around the world, it was still pretty busy, the water rough, the beach dirty, and the scenery muted. Again, this could be because it was monsoon.

The view looking towards Calangute beach:

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The view looking towards Baga beach:

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My little cottage at the Raman Cottages was excellent. The cottages are located partway between the Calangute and Baga beaches. They’re set back a few paces from the water, are clean and quiet, and can’t be found in guide books or on the Internet. I found out about the place from a friend. As such you’ll need to have directions written down to give your driver at the airport.

Here’s the view of my little hut from the pool:

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The smart little dog who liked hanging out in front of my door:

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The view from the door of my cottage. The beach is on the other side of those trees:

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The door of my cottage:

And finally, inside:

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All this said, I think for my next visit, I will save up and stay in the Hobbit Hotel [link removed].

10 comments on “Goa and Calangute BeachAdd yours →

  1. can you please send me the contact details of raman resorts, i am travelling next month and wanted to make the bookings. thanks

  2. To make a booking contact the owner – Manoj, a very kind man – see details below
    The place is really nice though not so cheap compared to local average
    But I think the location is wort it.

    Raman Cottage
    Behind Barbreshwar temple
    Khobrawaddoo
    Calangute Bardez
    Goa 403516
    +91 9822180133 (mobile)
    +91 832-2277797 (landline)

    email: manoj996@hotmail.com

  3. it its a very nice resort , location is also very gud….n hotel staff is awesome…..owner is also very kind….i stayed dere frm 15 to 21st november 2009……

  4. Like the rest of India, I think the cost depends on the season, your ethnicity, your bartering ability, and the type of room you want (AC/non-AC, single cottage, shared cottage or long house). That said, it’s very reasonable for Goa.

  5. I will vouch for Raman’s & they owners Manoj & namita. Been there twice & going back again next month. Known this place for 4 years now – it only gets better. Lovely staff & a very safe place to be in. Much better than some of the expensive cottages & star hotels around.

  6. When I was there they only accepted cash. However, that was almost 3-years ago. You can contact the lodge to check:

    Raman Cottage
    Behind Barbreshwar temple
    Khobrawaddoo
    Calangute Bardez
    Goa 403516
    +91 9822180133 (mobile)
    +91 832-2277797 (landline)
    email: manoj996@hotmail.com

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