Panaji

Panaji has somewhat less of the poverty and hustle and bustle of India's other state capitals, and its palm-lined plazas, elegant Portuguese colonial architecture, and other sights are easy to explore. There are historic homes and churches, restaurants serving flavorful Goan cuisine, and many unique galleries and boutiques. The best way to see the older parts of the city is on foot—in fact, if you leave without having explored the backstreets at leisure, you haven't really seen the best it has to offer. For die-hard sun-and-sand lovers, there's the city beach at Dona Paula, but Panaji isn't recommended for its beaches, as they tend to be dirty and crowded.