Agonda or other suggestions?

Hello. I don't see all that much about Agonda on here. I'm wondering if it's what I'm looking for.

I plan to go to India alone for a month in late November. I want to relax, enjoy the sea, read some books, meet some friendly people (both locals and tourists), make a few excursions inland etc.

I'm in my 30s and no longer have much desire to smoke dope all day, nor do I have any pretensions about being enlightened or becoming a hippie...! At the same time, I like things a little bit alternative and off the beaten track.

Is Agonda a suitable place? Any better suggestions? Thanks!

Hi George,

If you are looking for somewhere quiet, and away from the bars, tourist hotspots etc, I would try Karnataka the next state south of Goa. Gokarna is a very nice small town with great beaches around.

Also, for your travels inland, do you plan to visit Hampi? If not you should it is wonderful and I would not miss it.

Cheers

R

Hi Rob. Thanks.
I was thinking about Gokarna, but I got the feeling it might be too much of a stoner hangout. Not that I'm so against that, I've had my day... I'm now just looking for something relaxed but unpretentious, where you can meet a different mix of people. I may well be wrong about Gokarna though?

Hampi sounds interesting. I'll have to look into it.

Agonda is a nice place, very long beach with long stretches with nearly nothing, especially in november till mid december.On the southern side there seems to be more activity, quite popular with young families with kids.The sea is a bit rough and in places dangerous, under water currents.An alternative could be Patnem, just south of Palolem, again not too many people till xmas but more than in Agonda,not too much dope oriented but keep in mind that everywhere in Goa where foreigners idle the winter away you will have a small dope scene.Several nice walks south of Patnem to virtually empty beaches,suggest balgigag(turtle territory,can't stay overnight there,maybe in some rooms in the nearby hamlet)

Have you checked on the beaches of South Maharashtra?

Malvan (Tarkarli, Chivla, Tondavali, Bhogwe)
Vengurla (Sagareshwar)

Thanks very much. Yes Patnem also looks like a good option. I haven't heard of the Maharashtra beaches but I'll check it out.