Goa – India’s perennial party destination, the land of sunshine, sussed-out vibes and beaches – has lost a bit of its luster this winter. According to multiple reports (especially from friends who keep sharing videos of empty cabanas on beaches), this small state is seeing fewer sun hats this winter. For years, this has been happening Other places to visit should be when the temperatures drop, but the situation is changing this season. Passengers are saying “not this time,” and it seems Goa has been gently removed from its seat.

So, why the insult? For starters, what was once a budget-friendly paradise has now become an expensive indulgence. If you want to spend, Goa is by no means economical. Hotel rates have gone up, beach shack menus have gotten tastier, and renting a scooter feels like renting a luxury car. Also, let’s say you would be better off taking a flight to Bangkok or Hanoi at roughly the same price, and that would be better for you and the ‘gram. The allure of cheap and cheerful goa holidays Now that is a distant past.

And then there’s crowd fatigue. The remote work revolution turned Goa into a year-round hotspot, but it seems the constant buzz has made people tired. Who wants to walk through beach bars or get stuck in traffic jams for hours when they’ve already done so six months ago? The once charming “off-season Goa” has become overcrowded, and we don’t want to deal with it anymore.

And if you don’t want to spend too much but still want to visit the beach, options like Gokarna, Varkala and Pondicherry are set to steal the show. These beach towns offer the kind of tranquility that Goa has lost, while also offering unique experiences that feel refreshing and less commercialized. Add to this the allure of the pristine backwaters of Kerala or the cultural allure of Sri Lanka, and suddenly, Goa doesn’t seem so inescapable.

This year the party crowd has also turned its back. With big-name music festivals like Zero and Magnetic Fields and concerts by stars like Diljit Dosanjh, the music scene is thriving – and not just in Goa. With travelers gig-tripping all over India, sipping cocktails at Baga Beach seems like an alternative option people don’t mind skipping.

And let’s not forget the weather. While the rest of India enjoys a comfortable coolness in the air, Goa’s version of winter is more like a bearable summer. And if you’re from the South, you probably don’t want to deal with sweaty, muggy heat every now and again!

And then there’s the Instagram effect. Goa has been so over-hyped on social media that its iconic places now feel overstated. The sunset at Chapora Fort, the swings at Palolem beach – it’s all starting to look the same. Seasoned travelers are abandoning déjà vu for new, less-documented experiences in places that still feel fresh and undiscovered. These destinations can also be spiritual in nature! Mindful, alcohol-free breaks in Dharamshala are now in as much demand as a boozy Goa weekend, if not more.

However, at its core is the simple truth that many feel they have “killed Goa.” After countless trips filled with the same beaches, same parties and similar experiences, the crowd is craving something new.

That said, I love Goa and hopefully it won’t be completely out of my taste. Its loyalists still swear by its Susegad spirit, and the cool weather may be just the reset it needs. Perhaps smaller crowds will let Goa rediscover the magic that made it famous in the first place. However, for now, the rest of India has put a pause on its love affair with this coastal paradise.

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