A trip to south Goa beaches.
Date - 13-15 April, 2007
Place - Goa.
A long awaited trip to the beaches of south Goa materialised when me and my wife boarded the bus to Goa. The plan was to visit as many beaches in south Goa as possible. We decided to stay at a place called as Colva. After a 12 hour bus journey (from Pune), we got off at Margao's main bus stand. From here, we boarded a small matchbox bus to Colva. Although the bus said only 11 people standing, I could count around 20 odd folks standing, including myself. It took around 35-40 mins to reach Colva.
Once at Colva, I made the wrong choice of staying at GTDC owned Colva Residency. The pictures I had seen in the GTDC website were very enticing, but the actual rooms were nowhere near to what I had seen. Water in the bathrooms were as (un)predictable as Indian Cricket team. The geyser didnt work, and the A/C had no temperature control. Later, I moved into another Hotel Sea Coin, just across the road. It was lot better and cheaper than the GTDC mess. To commute around, we hired a bike, a Pulsar 150. It costed me 700/- for two days' and 2 nights' usage. Plus petrol.
We spent the evening at Margao, checking out the local market and a park where some sort of musical fountain was present. A very simple setup, but lot of crowd to watch it!!!
With a bike in control and a map in hand, we started off early in the morning to Mobor Beach. Its located at the southern most tip of Salcette district. It forms a kind of bay here with sea water moving deep into the main land. We were greeted with a vast expanse of empty beach on one side, and hills forming the coastline on the other side of the bay. And some birds, cranes to be precise, lazing away on the coastline. Undoubtedly, one of the best beaches I have seen.
Just north of Mobor is another beautiful beach called Fatrade. There were couple of beach side shacks here (and a third one being dismantled), and it seemed to be a private beach owned by the neighbouring Ramada Beach Resort.
When in South goa, can anyone really miss Palolem and Agonda beaches? Palolem is a crescent shaped beach, nestled between a rocky projection on south side and an large Island on the north. The beach is dotted with coconut trees and palm groves, with some sea side huts to stay in. Not many hotels around, but there are quite a few sea side shacks which serve food and alchohol.
Just north of the island lies the vast expanse of Agonda Beach. This beach can be reached by a small and narrow village road. Only a few bamboo huts dot the beach side.
We went there in the afternoon, so there werent many people around, baring few souls who were playing on the beach and some picnicers who were seen washing their plates in the sea (ahem ahem) after eating lunch in their cars.
Finally, the beach where we stayed. Colva beach. It is crowded to the hilt in the evenings. The area outside the beach has absolutely no space to move because of parked vehicles and icecream vendors. But inspite of all the crowd, it is still relatively clean. (Well, relative to Chennai's Marina or Mumbai's Juhu beach!!!)
After spending three days in Goa, it was time to leave, and perhaps its an apt shot that captured our moods at that moment. But the small trip to Goa has been good enough to make me look forward to coming back to Goa again. Next time it will be North Goa. :)
Place - Goa.
A long awaited trip to the beaches of south Goa materialised when me and my wife boarded the bus to Goa. The plan was to visit as many beaches in south Goa as possible. We decided to stay at a place called as Colva. After a 12 hour bus journey (from Pune), we got off at Margao's main bus stand. From here, we boarded a small matchbox bus to Colva. Although the bus said only 11 people standing, I could count around 20 odd folks standing, including myself. It took around 35-40 mins to reach Colva.
Once at Colva, I made the wrong choice of staying at GTDC owned Colva Residency. The pictures I had seen in the GTDC website were very enticing, but the actual rooms were nowhere near to what I had seen. Water in the bathrooms were as (un)predictable as Indian Cricket team. The geyser didnt work, and the A/C had no temperature control. Later, I moved into another Hotel Sea Coin, just across the road. It was lot better and cheaper than the GTDC mess. To commute around, we hired a bike, a Pulsar 150. It costed me 700/- for two days' and 2 nights' usage. Plus petrol.
We spent the evening at Margao, checking out the local market and a park where some sort of musical fountain was present. A very simple setup, but lot of crowd to watch it!!!
One of the patterns formed at the musical fountain.
With a bike in control and a map in hand, we started off early in the morning to Mobor Beach. Its located at the southern most tip of Salcette district. It forms a kind of bay here with sea water moving deep into the main land. We were greeted with a vast expanse of empty beach on one side, and hills forming the coastline on the other side of the bay. And some birds, cranes to be precise, lazing away on the coastline. Undoubtedly, one of the best beaches I have seen.
Unofficial entrance to the Mobor beach. Unofficial, as it is a private beach.
The southern tip of the beach.
The entrance to the bay.
A fishing boat inside the bay.
A boat building yard at Mobor.
Just north of Mobor is another beautiful beach called Fatrade. There were couple of beach side shacks here (and a third one being dismantled), and it seemed to be a private beach owned by the neighbouring Ramada Beach Resort.
Vast expanse of Fatrade beach.
Enroute we came across a church in every town. This one was at Cavelossim.
When in South goa, can anyone really miss Palolem and Agonda beaches? Palolem is a crescent shaped beach, nestled between a rocky projection on south side and an large Island on the north. The beach is dotted with coconut trees and palm groves, with some sea side huts to stay in. Not many hotels around, but there are quite a few sea side shacks which serve food and alchohol.
South side of the crescent shaped Palolem beach.
The island to the north of Palolem beach.
Surf at Palolem. Bit unusual as this beach is known for its calm waters.
Check out the blissful look of the dog. Must have felt like heaven.
A cricket match goes on at the beach. I wonder where the 'thirdman' is going off to!!! ;)
Just north of the island lies the vast expanse of Agonda Beach. This beach can be reached by a small and narrow village road. Only a few bamboo huts dot the beach side.
A coconut tree provides shade at the entrance of Agonda Beach.
We went there in the afternoon, so there werent many people around, baring few souls who were playing on the beach and some picnicers who were seen washing their plates in the sea (ahem ahem) after eating lunch in their cars.
A row of bamboo huts at Agonda.
Yours truly and my wife. She was finding it hard to open her eyes into the glare of sun!!!
Finally, the beach where we stayed. Colva beach. It is crowded to the hilt in the evenings. The area outside the beach has absolutely no space to move because of parked vehicles and icecream vendors. But inspite of all the crowd, it is still relatively clean. (Well, relative to Chennai's Marina or Mumbai's Juhu beach!!!)
Setting sun, as seen at Colva.
After spending three days in Goa, it was time to leave, and perhaps its an apt shot that captured our moods at that moment. But the small trip to Goa has been good enough to make me look forward to coming back to Goa again. Next time it will be North Goa. :)
posted by AP at 3:23 AM
8 Comments:
Have visited palolem, baga and anjuna. Palolem takes the crown. Beautiful and clean and (as rightly noted) huge surges. :)
gr8 snaps..AP..awesome pics...[:D]...dogwala pic is butifl...
i visited a lot in north goa, nw i feel that i missed the southern part of it..[:)]...
Good trip that you have.. :-) but try the North Goa trip and with a longer time.. the best one I have seen there is Maswem and Vegator
very well crafted AJ....
means i would again have to go to GOA..this time south GOA..
and you can have a trip to the North GOA....it can well produce one more blog of yours.
Great work.
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iam a goan and i still havent seen baga,kalangute and so many other beaches..but i have been to palolem and its breath taking...
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