Do It Go

For travelers looking for a beautiful holiday on the beach, in a city with a lot of character and history, five-star hotels in Goa should be on the list.  These are fabulous hotels, with a splendid combination of old-world charm and new-world amenities.  Guests will be connected to the world at large with state of the art technologies, and also pampered in the traditions of hospitality that go back many generations.  Goa has a warmth and generosity of spirit that permeates everything.  It is a real travelers paradise, offering beautiful views, a lively urban center, and a complex and complicated history that is evident in the architecture and the decor.  The sense of style is obvious in the interior of the hotels, where tradition meets innovation.

There are many famous people who have passed through Goa at one time or another.  One of its most famous residents was the great expert on India, and Buddhist scholar, Dharmananda Damodar Kosambi.  By all accounts, his was a most fascinating life.  He was born in Goa in 1876, and died in 1947 after deciding to die by fasting.  There is an interesting correspondence between Kosambi and the great M.K. Gandhi about his fasting, where Gandhi continually urged him to desist, but in the end the wishes of the Mahatma were not heeded.  It is an interesting question to ask why he would choose this end for himself, and the answer might be found somewhere in his life.

Dharmananda Kosambi was interested in study and travel from a very early age.  He traveled all over studying both Buddhism and Jainism.  His son, D.D. Kosambi, Jr., would go on to become a very prominent scholar in his own rite.  But Kosambi, Sr., was very interested in studying Buddhism in its original Pali language.  He is one of the great Pali scholars in India, but many of his efforts were fruitless, or at the very least, extremely frustrating.  He would follow ideas all over India, pursuing possible avenues for scholarship in Pali and in Sanskrit.  He taught widely, and in later years, was able to bring his wife and children with him.  There is no doubt that he was extremely devoted as a scholar, and translated many texts that were still widely unknown.  He was also deeply influenced by Marx, and many of his critical studies of Indian culture take on a Marxist perspective.  It is perhaps here that he began to really connect the different strands of scholarship, and he started to examine the colonial legacy left by the Portuguese on his native Goa.  It haunted him, and perhaps was partially what inspired him to become more committed in his religious and political life.

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The city of Goa has many wildlife sanctuaries.  Some are dedicated to various species of the animal kingdom, and some, such as the Dr. Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary are species specific.   The best time of year to visit any of these outdoor locations is the winter season, which falls between the months of October through March.  The summer season in Goa is sweltering hot, and the monsoon season, although a beautiful time of year, is quite rainy and stormy.  The winter season is also the peak tourist season, so book  accommodations early in four star hotels.  Goa becomes very crowded and the hotels often times are booked to capacity.

Dr. Salim’s Sanctuary is located along the Mandovi River in Goa, and although the smallest, is the most well known in India.  Dr. Salim was a respected ornithologist in India.  There is a large variety of plants and over four hundred different species of  birds in this small sanctuary , of just under 2 kilometers square.  Local species are housed here as well as some of the migratory and exotic as well.  One must obtain permission to visit from the Forest Department.  The sanctuary sits in a mangrove forest, mangroves being one of the best habitats for animals as well as insects and fish.  Just after the monsoon season, the beginning of winter, is the best time to visit as the birds are out and about, and the migratory species have flown in.  One may also catch glimpses of the other species indigenous to the area such as foxes, jackals and crocodiles.

The Cotigoa is located in the southern part of Goa, in the district of  Canacona, and houses various species of the animal kingdom.  Opened in 1969, it is quite expansive, covering almost ninety kilometers square.  It is second in size only to the Bhagwan Mahavir Sanctuary.  In order to travel to this location it will be necessary to hire a driver.  Once there, there are spectacular views from the various towers.  The Talpona River runs through the center of the park, and is one of the spots many of the animals are regularly seen.  This sanctuary also has a center for Wildlife Interpretation which offers lectures and seminars on the plant-life and the wildlife.  The forests are thick here, and offer home to the species such as panthers, bison, hyenas, and eagles.  It is an incredible sight to see.

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India is rich in cultural history and the arts. Dance is one of the most common and relevant aspects of the arts being integrated into one’s daily lifestyle. Classical Indian dance plays an essential role in many spiritual and entertainment oriented performances. The folk dances of India are just as important and are the ones that are incorporated into regular life. Most of the folk dances consist of simple movements and basic cultural themes. These dances are most often seen at social gatherings such as weddings and festivals. They are also incorporated into life celebrations, such as the birth of a child. In many dances, men and women will dance together, while in others, they are limited to men or women only. They often involve singing and are usually accompanied by instruments. 5 star hotels Goa are an excellent resource for information on where a dance may take place and the nature of its theme.

One of the common folk dances, Koli, derives its name from Goa and the local fisher people. This tradition is known for the same reason the people are, the lively nature of their personalities and dances. These dances generally involve a specific focus, the sea and fishing, which makes obvious sense as it is also tied to the most common occupation, which is also what the village was known for. This dance is performed by both men and women who are separated into two groups. The larger of the two groups represents the background of the story. They work in pairs and their movements indicate the flow of waves and the rowing of boats. The smaller group is also broken into pairs. These pairs articulate the main story of the dance, which usually involves the Kolin (the fisherwoman) advancing on the Koli (the fisherman). This is a ritual oriented dance that is symbolic to the locals and fascinating to tourists.

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