Goa, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Dreamland Tours

Western India stretches along a massive 2236 kilometer long coastline facing the Arabian Sea from the port city of Kandla, Gujarat to Marmagoa, Goa. With a vast and varying geographical and cultural spread, dense population, bustling metropolitan cities like Mumbai ( formerly Bombay ) and heritage sites like the Gateway of India and Sabarmati Ashram ( Mahatma Gandhi’s residence ), wildlife reserves, hill station town resorts and the funky beaches of beautiful Goa with its free flowing liquor, Churches and westernized populace, this region is a haven for tourists of all shades.

Mumbai is linked to the world directly by sea and air, with an international airport and is the financial capital of India, with its skyscrapers, stock markets, with an incredible population of 18 million ( as of 2006 ) from all corners of India, the suburban rail transport known as the ‘Mumbai Local’ which transports over 6 million passengers daily around Mumbai, and is also home to India’s motion picture industry, Bollywood, with its film stars and studios.

Goa

While tourism in the rest of India is just beginning to grow, Goa has long been a preferred destination for Western tourists. Goa has a mixed population with Christians and Hindus intermarried and a hotch-potch of Churches ( including the Church of St. Francis of Assisi ) and temples.

Rhythmic music, Feni ( alcoholic beverage ), spicy food and the discrete beaches with sea side resorts where almost everything is tolerated, not to mention a fabulous coastline of scenic beauty and calm waters make Goa a highly attractive destination for tourists who want to lay back, relax and have a good time.

In that sense, Goa is comparable to Bangkok as a tourist destination, where tourists can enjoy a good time in the privacy of their hotels and beach fronts without the local populace looking askance. This makes Goa a particularly popular destination for honeymoon travelers from both India and abroad.

South India

The states in this region are Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, all four of which have their own languages, slightly differing from each other, but vastly different from the language and culture of the Indian heartland in the North and West. View more

Central India

The state of Madhya Pradesh, which literally means ‘Central State’, lies at the geographic and cultural center of India. Of all the varied attractions in Madhya Pradesh, man-made or natural, the most famous tourist View more

East India

East India covers a vast and uneven terrain along the Indo-China border. Sloping down from the lower heights of the Himalayan peaks, this area is dotted with dense forests and blessed with differing climate zones, View more

North India

The northern part of India is a dazzling array of cultural heritage, monuments and a living tribute to the rich and varied streams of history, empire and ancient religion View more

West India Tour Packages

Goa Packages

Beauty of Goa

Maharashtra

Maharashtra

Maharashtra is the economic and educational hub of India, with a huge concentration of manufacturing and service industries based in and around Mumbai, not to mention in nearby cities like Pune, Aurangabad and Nasik. Maharashtra has a very colorful history, with Chatrapathi Shivaji, a warrior King, as a popular and historical figure. One of the most magnificent and still functional buildings in Asia is the Chatrapathi Shivaji Terminus ( CST , formerly known as Victoria Terminus ) in Mumbai, built in 1888, a masterpiece of Gothic architecture and a World Heritage site.

Other attractions in and around Mumbai include the Gateway of India, Marine Drive and the Elephanta caves. Mumbai also has a fantastic nightlife, with bars and discotheques and entertainment outlets open full night and a vibrant and highly educated local community which splurges money in shopping malls and hotels. Other notable cities in Maharashtra worth visiting for a tourist are Pune, the original capital of Maharsahtra before the British came along and Aurangabad, which has numerous historical sites such as the Ajanta and Ellora caves and sculptures, the Daulatabad fort and Bibi Ka Maqbara, which is a duplicate of the Taj Mahal.

Maharashtra’s official language is Marathi, but Hindi, the national language is spoken by everybody, and almost everyone understands and speaks fluent English, especially in the cities. The cuisine has its own unique style, not as spicy as that in North India, but delicious in its own way. Not everyone eats meat, and a lot of restaurants will not serve meat. The festival of the Hindu God Ganesha, called as Ganesh Chaturthi, is a huge spectacle in the whole of Maharashtra, especially in Pune and Mumbai, with magnificent and huge idols of the Lord Ganesha taken out in processions to the river and immersed in the water after days of worship and festivities.

Gujarat

Gujarat is one of the richest states in India, with a wealth of natural resources and a hard working, well educated and industrious populace, known for their innovation. Dwarka, the home of the Hindu God Krishna, lies in Gujarat. The temple of Dwarkanath and Akshardham are two of the most important temples in Hindu culture.

Gujarat also holds the Gir National Park, which is the only habitat of lions place outside Africa. Gujarat also features ruins of the ancient Indus valley civilization like Lothal and Dholavira.

Lastly Gujarat is the home state of Mahatma Gandhi. His residence at Sabarmati Ashram, from where he started the Dandi March ( which led to a nationwide non-violent uprising against the British Empire, and eventually to the freedom of India ) now houses a museum, and is a heavily visited tourist attraction.