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Beyond its sun, sea, and sands, the 'Pearl of the Orient' beckons with its fascinating history, vibrant arts, hidden escapades, and alluring local attractions.
Being an avid traveller with a carefully crafted bucket list of destinations, I possessed an unquenchable thirst for swift and immersive journeys and experiences. Pick a destination, chalk out popular tourist spots and book a short flight to instant nirvana—this was my mantra. It was the pandemic that put a temporary stop to my destination-hopping, and made me realise the merit of slow, sustainable tourism. The more I learnt about slow travel, the more I realised how it made sense from a longevity standpoint. Our world, with its infinite experiences, does have finite resources, and travel leaves a heavy carbon footprint. It is here that slow travel, as a concept, hopes to make a difference. Slow travel emphasises on taking time to explore a place and immersing oneself in the local culture, while also promoting sustainability and conservation. There is no better place to start your slow travel journey than Goa. Most people associate this sunny state with dazzling lights, infinite drinks and techno music ringing in a fast-paced life. But beyond the sun, sea, and sands lies a whole other universe of Goa—rich in history, art, secret adventures, local charms, and much more. The following itinerary will help you unlock the slow tourism potential of Goa through bite-sized experiences.
Though observing Goa through the rose-tinted glasses of one of its many hotels is undoubtedly an experience, the best way to explore the state is by staying at an eco-conscious resort. I chose to stay at MansionHaus, a 19th-century heritage home in Anjuna, which highlights the timeless architecture of the state as well as its gastronomic legacy. The property belongs to Kezya de Braganca, a second-generation real estate entrepreneur, who spent three years restoring what was once an ancestral family home. With help from local artisans, Braganca reused timber from a 100-year-old ship stranded on the Arabian Sea coast to construct the summer room. There is ample open space that takes in the natural daylight and offers plenty of ventilation throughout the day. At this boutique hotel, all material and equipment selections were made with the environment in mind, such as low-flow water consumption bath fittings and grey water reuse for landscape irrigation. In the three days spent here, we dined on Goan cuisine prepared with organic and locally-sourced ingredients.
The Museum of Goa is a private museum that celebrates the state's rich cultural heritage while promoting environmental sustainability. Founded by Goan artist Subodh Kerkar in 2015, the museum's exhibits focus on art, history, and nature. Situated in a three-storey, 16,000-square-foot building in Bardez, the museum also hosts workshops and events that highlight the contribution of Goa’s diaspora to the world at large. When I was in Goa, I attended a month-long exhibition, titled 0832 (the telecom dial code for Goa), that was held at here. You can escape the beach crowds and immerse yourself in one of the many exhibitions that are held at the Museum of Goa all year round, featuring the best talents from the state and around the world. Open six days a week (Mondays are closed), the ticket for the Museum of Goa is INR 200 per adult.
Think sunny mornings, a cool breeze on your face, lush greenery and Goa’s best historical destinations. Sounds exactly the opposite of the stereotypical image of the state as the party capital. To experience the sunny side of Goa, my partner and I hopped onto our bicycles and joined 'The Bicycle Trip' on a cycling tour. The group organises active, insightful, responsible and intimate experiences across the beach state, ushering in a sustainable and slow form of exploration. You can choose to go island-hopping or immerse yourself in the Latin quarter of Panjim. On our second day in Goa, we chose to go on a customised culinary tour called Gastronomia De Goa. We joined a small group of travellers, both Indians and foreigners, and started the day with local cuisine. On our journey through North Goa with 'The Bicycle Trip', we explored old town bakeries, brewed and drank artisanal coffee, and dined on local Goan delights. All this while burning calories! We wrapped up the day with beer and chips at a local watering hole in Anjuna to the tunes of a Jazz band.
Goa is known for its abundant biodiversity. Its coastal location makes it the perfect place for varied marine species to thrive. You can go dolphin watching or explore the backwaters and mangrove forests that is teeming with flora and fauna. But over-tourism and industrialisation have threatened Goa’s biodiversity. However, on your slow travel journey, you can support various organisations that are trying to promote ethical tourism in the state. We spent our third day dolphin-watching. We were taken to the ocean by Terra Conscious, a marine conservation and responsible tourism company in Goa that offers dolphin watching and other sustainable marine tourism activities. The company promotes marine conservation and education through their eco-tourism initiatives and also works with local communities to support sustainable fishing practices.
Puja Mitra, who founded Terra Conscious in 2017 with her husband Roshan Gonsalves, is trying to promote responsible and slow tourism while supporting local livelihoods and conservation efforts. The organisation also offers a boat excursion called the Mangrove and Estuary Experience, which focuses on spreading awareness of mangrove ecosystems. They also have a Mangrove Kayaking Trail, which is an educational experience that goes through the mangrove woods of the Nerul River in Candolim. We accompanied them on a boat excursion in Aguada Bay and learnt about Goa’s mangrove systems. From museums to art galleries and sustainable tourism initiatives, there are many places and sustainability initiatives that travellers can explore while learning about environmental conservation and sustainable living. My slow travel experience in Goa taught me that travelling is not just about completing bucket lists. It is about understanding a landscape, culture and its people. We need to be mindful of our footprint and make sure we explore the world sustainably.
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