Location

Topics on this page:

Travel information
About Arambol
Healing and spiriuality
Arambol Carneval
Around Arambol
Parties
Drugs

 

Travel information

There are many different ways to stay, ranging from simple rooms to fully self contained houses and appartments. Please understand that we usually can not arrange accomodation or provide you with quotes.

For comprehensive information kindly refer to

Lonely Planet Guide - for all topics
Indiamike - Forum - for a travellers exchange
India-Government - for your national visa requirements (important!)

 

About Arambol

Well, if you never heard of Arambol it might be about time.

Considered as one of the last resorts for alternative lifestyle in Goa, it is situated in the very north of the state and whilst the rest of Goa is turning more and more mainstream, Arambol still remains an inspiring village.

Even though beachfront restaurants have mushroomed along the shore, there is enough space to find your peace.

The sand still sqeeks under your feet on this mostly unspoilt beach and every dawn, people flock to practice meditation and Yoga together or to simply take a stroll and watch the sunset.

During the daytime it is leisure and people do what they do on the beach: lay in the sun, go swimming, Kitesurfing or Paragliding, play Volleyball or Frisbee - but more than that: workshops for Capoeira, Aiki-do, drum circles and Firespinning and much more - all this happens right here.

A few restaurants even organize open stages for music or poetry and even though some say that the magic of Arambol is about to fade - it still is very alive and nobody has heard of a feasible alternative so far.

 

 

Healing and spirituality

Especially North Goa has developed into a place with an incredible variety of healing, meditation, Yoga, massage and therapies of both fields, "traditional" or "alternative". Arambol in particular offers the whidest variety of all Goa for tuition and classes, be it Ayurveda massage, Cranio-sacral balancing, Reiki, Theta-healing or Mandala Dance, name it yourself.

 

 

Arambol Carneval

Every year - so far - there is Carneval on the beach happening in early February with a huge, colorful parade.

Most unfortunately it is uncertain at this point, whether the parade will happen next season - as some girls completely misunderstood the freedom that tourists generally enjoy in Goa and were going topless, with nothing on but body paint.

Despite the tolerance and hospitality of the Goans, one needs to bear in mind that India is very conservative, when it comes to nudity and these girls (unknowingly) created a scandal all across the country.

We are not Victorian, but we would like to emphasize that travellers need to respect local customs and values.

We keep you posted whether Arambol Carneval 2009 will be happening.

 

 

Around Arambol

North Goa has beautiful beaches and the Western Ghats are very close, as is Hampi - a legendary temple town.

Arambol is close to the Maharashtra border with more beaches and further south are the villages of Vagator, Anjuna, Baga, Candolim and Calangute (the latter ones are mostly regarded as the mainstream tourist locations in Goa).

Anjuna is host to the Wednesday Flea Market and what once started out as a small Hippie Market, has now developed into a full scale tourist attraction, with Indian and Western stallowners alike.

The Baga/ Arpora area is host to Ingo's Saturday Nite Bazaar and Mackies Saturday Night Market. The former is one of the most beautiful markets, retaining much of the original Hippie flair with hundreds of Western stallowners.

Little further south are the towns of Mapuca and Panaji, the former is host to a local market and the latter - being the capital of Goa - to the world heritage "Cathedral of Bom Jesus".

South Goa

is well worth a visit, too. It has a different flair than the buzzling North, many unspoilt beaches and in the meantime a good infrastructure. The most famous destination here is Palolem, a place well comparable to the ambience of the Thai islands like Koh Samui and its smooth granite rocks.

 

 

Parties

The Goan government is facing harsh criticism - from tourists and local restaurant owners alike - for its prohibition on electronic music after 10pm and its crack-down on the world famous "Goa parties".

Parties still do happen, just by far not as frequent as in the past. Yet around Christmas and New Years Eve, party goers can still get a flavour of why "Goa (Full Moon) Parties" have found copycats worldwhide and of the famous "Goa Trance" music - which was born right here.

Locations like the Hilltop Motel, Club West End, Curlies and Shiva Valley still organize huge raves, 3-day festivals and day parties on the beach - there is lots of party left.

Yet we like to point out that the restrictions of parties have been provoked by reckless profit makers and irresponsible ravers alike. The former disrespecting the local population by organizing parties every night next to villages and the latter by causing accidents and scare on their Enfield motorcycles the morning after the party.

Please: party responsibly!

 

 

Drugs

Well guess what: illicit drugs are illegal in India as they are everywhere else. These are not permitted on the Juggling Convention (especially since we want to invite school classes to the Convention) and we will discourage you from taking them on the event. In case you get caught consuming drugs on the event, we will have to expell you - please understand.

What you do outside the event is none of our business.