Goa

With its quirky blend of Indian culture and Portuguese colonial heritage, as well as tantalizing cuisine and fascinating religious heritage, Goa is a great place to spend time. It has rich flora and fauna, owing to its location on the Western Ghats range, a biodiversity hotspot, and you are likely to spot colorful birdlife.

Lying on the western coast of India, with the warm Arabian waters lapping at the soft white sands, this state is unsurprisingly popular for its beaches but there are also a large number of superb old churches, forts, temples and mansions to visit. However Goa is also very well known for having a totally laid-back atmosphere, so gentle cycling, local shopping for jewellery, fishing, massage, yoga and reading a book under a palm tree are usually the order of the day.

Accommodation standards have come a long way since the hippie days of the sixties, with excellent hotels and villas now available in serene locations for people who want to escape the crowds and stay in supremely comfortable surroundings. The perfect place for some rest and relaxation at the end of a cultural journey, there’s nowhere in India quite like it.