The State Transport Authority under the Department of Transport,  Govt. of Goa has granted approval for operations of GoaMiles app-based taxi service in accordance with the Guidelines for App Taxi operators in the State. This approval from the Goa Transport Department now makes GoaMiles the state-run app-based taxi service and throws open its doors for all categories of registered vehicles to sign up and boost the State’ first and only app-based taxi service – GoaMiles. Following this approval, the aggregator can now aggregate taxis in the category of AGT(All Goa Tourist), Yellow black taxis and AITP taxis, Yellow Black  Motorcycles, Rent a Cab, Rent a Bike etc as per the guidelines formulated by STA. Goa has around 30,000 registered tourist taxis operating across the State. GoaMiles which was launched last year by the Goa Tourism Development  Corporation has already achieved success and had been appealing to local tourist operators to join the new service which has proven beneficial to the hundreds of taxi operators already in service with GoaMiles. GoaMiles is managed by a local Goan company called FrotaMiles Pvt. Ltd. created as an SPV as per the requirements of the tendering process.  This SPV  is the subsidiary of the […]

We have all heard about the famous Goan fish thalis, prawn curries, sorpotel, chicken cafreal, and vindaloo. Now it’s time to celebrate the sweets of Goa. The people of Goa still make traditional sweets from recipes passed down from generation to generation. Here are some of the famous traditional sweets of Goa: Bebinca This is a type of layered pudding. The ingredients which usually go into it are all-purpose flour, eggs, sugar, coconut milk, nutmeg, and ghee.  It takes time to prepare this lovely dessert as each layer has to be baked first before adding the next one. Bebinca usually has 7 to 16 layers. In many places, it is served with vanilla ice-cream. You can eat all the layers at once or peel one layer at a time and savour each one. Dodol Dodol is made using coarsely ground raw paddy rice flour, black jaggery, coconut milk, and cashew nuts. The coconut is ground and the juice/ milk is extracted. It is traditionally cooked on firewood.  The end result is a pudding-like sweet which almost melts in your mouth. It is mostly made for Christmas. Sugar isn’t used and so dodol gets its taste from the delicious Goa jaggery. Its […]

Fish is considered as the staple diet of the Goan people. All humans use readily available edible resources and slowly develop a culture around it and the knowledge is passed from generation to generation. Fish became an integral part of Goan diet from prehistoric times (50000-60000 years before present). Goa has an unenviable culture showcasing different ways communities look at, understand, worship, love/hate, catch, cook and serve fish. Goa being rich in freshwater and marine ecosystems offers free, highly diverse (about 250 species of fish and shellfish) fisheries resources so the culture of catching fish developed much before animal husbandry or agriculture. Due to early semi-nomadic settlers who camped first in Mandovi and Zuari river basins about 50-60000 years ago and developed the practice of catching fish using different gears. Fish was a staple diet in ancient Goa even before the caste system was developed so almost all ethnic Goan communities are found to utilize fish in their food but there are clear taboos about meat. After the advent of GSB (Goa Saraswat Brahmins) migrants the legend of Sage Saraswat saving the Vedas by consuming fish from Vedic river Saraswati became popular and the Brahmins too justified consumption of fish […]

The annual four-day Carnival float parade will be held in Goa from February 22 to February 25. The main float parade of the festival will be held in the capital city Panaji on February 22 followed by other cities across the state. The float parades will be held in Margao and Quepem on February 23, Vasco and Curchorem on February 24 and Mapusa and Morjim on February 25. Tourism Minister Manohar Azgaonkar held a meeting with the carnival committee members with the Commissioner of Corporation of City of Panaji, Sanjit Rodrigues suggesting that the route of the Panaji Carnaval Float Parade should be changed from the existing Miramar to Dona Paula road, to Patto bridge to Azad Maidan. This, the CCP Commissioner said, was in order to bring the festival atmosphere in the city. The Committee members of Margao Carnival Float Parade decided to restore the old route from Margao Holy Spirit Church to the old bus stand instead of the parade taking place in Fatorda. The other routes of Mapusa and Vasco Carnival parades will remain unchanged. This year only five prizes will be awarded. Carnival in Goa, though significantly smaller than the well-known Rio Carnival or the Portuguese […]

The next Navhind Times workshop on March 22 at Dempo House, Panaji, will see award-winning celebrity nutritionist and director of Diet Dr Clinic, Harpreet Pasricha, speaking about nutrition, weight loss, superfoods, etc. Participants will also get a free body composition analysis with nutrition counselling.  Maria Fernandes| NT   Owner and director of Diet Dr Clinic, a chain of wellness and weight loss clinics in India, Harpreet Pasricha has been in the wellness business for over 20 years. With a post-graduation in food and nutrition, a certification from International Sports Sciences Association, USA, a certified practitioner of Nutrigenomics, and a doctorate in alternative medicine, her achievements in the field of nutrition are many. Her fame as a credible lifestyle guru has established her as one of the leading nutrition experts in the country and she was awarded the International Quality Award by former Miss Universe Sushmita Sen. She was also honoured with The Best Nutritionist in India at the India’s Best Doctors Award (IBDA) for making a real difference to her clients’ lives and achieving the highest levels of excellence in her offerings. Pasricha believes that each individual has a unique constitution and her holistic approach to weight loss revolves around […]

Want to experience the nightlife as well as the serene beaches during a tight vacation? Baga is the place to be! Baga is indeed one of the most serene yet commercialized places in Goa. Baga, a small village, along the coast of Goa is nothing but beautiful for the traveler who is on a time limit. Baga creek Baga creek is the perfect place for you to sit and watch the sunset. Right next to Baga beach lays the creek and it has one of the most beautiful views. The picture perfect place makes it a get-away to few locals who come fishing daily and also a view of the ever buzzing Baga beach. The creek is surrounded by beautiful rocks with the waves clashing against it. Saturday night market Another place to visit whilst in Baga is the Saturday Nite Market. As the name specifies, the market is open during the nights. The vast number of stalls sell clothes, jewelry and other kinds of artistic pieces. They also have food stalls that’ll help curb that mid-night hunger! They also have an open stage which gives upcoming talent showcase their work. Baga tibetian market Baga Tibetian Market is another flea […]