Planning your next family getaway? If you fancy exploring India, one destination well worth putting on your shortlist is Goa. Often referred to as a tourists’ paradise, this tiny state on the country’s western coast has a lot going for it. To help you decide whether a Goan adventure will suit you and your family, we’ve put together a list of some of the region’s family-friendly attractions.
Calangute Beach
The beach is a mainstay of family holidays abroad, so I thought this would be a good place to start. Goa has a vast 105 km of Konkan coastline, and its beaches have a reputation for being among the best in India. So, if time spent lazing in the sun and building sandcastles with the kids is your thing, you’ll definitely be coming to the right place.
Now, Calangute Beach is one of the best known in the state, and it’s a real winner for families – particularly thanks to the huge range of facilities on offer. I think this is one of the key elements of finding the right spot on the shore for your family – after all, you really don’t want to end up with hungry, grumpy children because there’s nowhere to eat or be stuck without a cool drink when you’ve been in the sun all morning.
As well as having plenty of handy amenities, Calangute Beach has lots of palm trees, which means there’s also a fair amount of shade, so you can keep younger kids out of the sun. One thing worth bearing in mind about this beach, though, is that is does tend to get pretty crowded.
Baga Beach
Situated around 19 km from the state’s capital, Panaji, Baga Beach is another decent choice for families. It’s quite a firm favourite with partiers at night, which is worth being mindful of, but since you’re not likely to be on a seaside outing with the kids late in the day, it’s still a good spot for parents and youngsters. The top thing to do here is spot dolphins, but you can also snorkel or dive to explore the local coral reefs.
Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary
India is home to some pretty exciting wildlife, so while you’re in Goa it’s well worth treating the kids to a visit to one of the many animal sanctuaries. There are four key wildlife parks to choose from, with the largest being Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary.
To have the best opportunity to spot a decent number of animals here, it really is best to stay for several days (there are hotels in nearby Mollem). Among the creatures you can see are leopards, elephants and spotted deer. For the best chance of seeing them, visit early in the morning or late in the evening, and head up to Devil’s Canyon View Point.
State Archaeology Museum
Not all of Goa’s family-friendly attractions are outdoors; there are also plenty of museums and other cultural sites well worth visiting. Among the best is the State Archaeology Museum on the outskirts of the capital, Panaji, where you can see more than 8,000 artefacts.
These span everything from cultural anthropology to sculpture, and kids are bound to love discovering the massive variety of ancient treasures on display – especially the oldest exhibit, a piece of fossilised bone dating all the way back to 10000 BC.
Convent and Church of St Francis of Assisi
To experience Goa’s history, families will be best off exploring Old Goa, where you can see sites like the Convent and Church of St Francis of Assisi. Built in 1517, it features unusual touches like a floor made of carved gravestones, while you can also view old murals that tell stories from St Francis of Assisi’s life.