A pleasant way to spend the evening with family and friends, the cruise treats you to beautiful performances of traditional Goan folk dances on board, like the Dekhni (temple dance), the Kunbi (harvest dance), Corridinho (Portuguese dance) and the Mando (Goan song-dance) among others, against the beautiful backdrop of a setting sun.
Dancers in bright colourful costumes, spirited music from a live band, a well-stocked bar and the cool gentle sea breeze is a heady concoction worth indulging in. The boat ride also offers a guided tour along the river from where one can see the magnificent Reis Magos Fort and Church, the beautiful churches of Britona and Old Goa and the palatial residence of the governor the Cabo Raj Bhavan.
As the name suggests, the moonlight cruise offers an evening on the river under the moon on a starry night with the brightly lit up sky line of Panaji city for company. The beautifully illuminated palace of Adil Shah makes a pretty sight. One can also see the palatial Solar Dos Colacos-an aristocratic mansion build over two centuries ago- along the bank of the river ion Ribandar, overlooking the picturesque island of Divar. The boarding point for the river cruises is below the Mandovi bridge in Panaji city. Tickets cost between Rs 100 and Rs 200 per head.
Snorkelling
Hundreds and thousands of tourists flock to Goa and its beaches every year. But ever wondered what happens beyond that edge of water that the sea keeps pummelling out? Why not dive under it to find out. Try something like snorkelling. If you haven’t heard about it, try this for an explanation.
Snorkelling is swimming on or under a body of water using a L shaped tube called a snorkel, and usually fins on your feet. In cooler waters, snorkelers normally also use a wet suit, but you wont need one in India.
There are many a places off the state’s coastline which provide excellent opportunities for snorkelers who want to see the sea more intimately by slipping into its womb. The islands off the coast like Monkey Island, Bat Island and Grande Island offer clearer waters and therefore provide a
great vantage point to amateur snorkelers. Some snorkelling outfits also offer the opportunity closer to shore like Candolim, Baga, Sinquerim and Anjuna beaches.
To get great deals on a host of snorkelling gigs the best place to choose from are websites like cleartrip.com and india.gobananas.com, where most activities come with attractive deals.
