Sun & Surf in Goa

Nestled along the warm and boundless blue of the Arabian Sea, Goa is breathless and mesmerizing. I was longing for a beach holiday for sometime and so ultimately when I received the invitation from Goa Tourism to visit this little speck of paradise, I simply couldn’t refuse it. The invitation was god sent.

The travel consultant with great difficulty managed a rail ticket for me. I would have to travel to Pune by train and from Pune by road to Panaji, the state capital of Goa. The journey was indeed tiresome. It was evening by the time my bus reached Panaji’s Kadamba Bus Terminus. Though I was dead tired, the sheer salubrious air of Panaji invigorated me. I hopped into an auto-rickshaw and straight away went to Miramar beach, which is where my hotel was located.

Facade of Panjim Inn

Miramar beach is just 4 kms from Panaji city center and my hotel, Miramar Residency was located right on the beach.

After a sumptuous Goan meal, I finally rested for the night.

After a good night’s sleep, I woke up to the chirping of the birds. I could clearly see the red molten ball slowly rising up across the Miramar beach horizon. It was truly an ethereal setting but I could not spend much time at the beach since I was scheduled to go on a sightseeing trip of Panaji city.

We first visited the Boca De Vaca Spring that is located right in the heart of Panaji city. The spring is located next to the Mahalaxmi temple. The most fascinating aspect of Boca De Vaca Spring is that nobody actually knows the source of the water. This particular spring is 700 years old, which is indeed mind-boggling.

Traditional Goan houseboat

Our next stop was Dona Paula, which is about 7 kms away from Panaji city. The drive is beautiful and there are Portuguese style villas/houses on either side of the road.

Dona Paula is a secluded bay that offers a magnificent view of the Mormugao harbor. This idyllic rocky tourist attraction lies at the spot where the Mandovi and the Zuari rivers meet the Arabian Sea. It is easily one of the most popular spots on the itinerary of tourists visiting Goa.

Traditional Goan Restuarant at Panaji

We could see a few ferries taking passengers across the bay. The more adventurous ones were busy with water sports activities. By the way, water scooters, boating, parasailing, yachting, windsurfing and fishing are available in this area.

After an eventful day, I finally got back to my hotel at Miramar beach and freshened up and like every other Goan, I went out to have my fill of Feni at a local bar located very close to my hotel.

The following morning I was to go on a whistle-stop tour of the world famous beaches of North Goa.

Our first stop was at Fort Aguada. Fort Aguada is just 10 kms from Panaji. This magnificent fort was built by the Portuguese to keep a watch over enemy ships. There is a lighthouse built by the Portuguese just adjacent to the fort. From the northern ramparts of the fort you can see the turquoise blue Arabian Sea right below. The Governor’s residence, Caboraj Niwas can be clearly sighted on a clear sunny day.

A little distance away from Fort Aguada is the queen of all beaches - Calangute. Calangute beach is about 4 miles long and covered with palm trees. It used to be a hippy hangout during the 60s and 70s. The beach is unchanged - pristine, serene, golden sand and sun. Fresh seafood is everywhere on sale.

After having our breakfast at Cafe Pedro, we started our onward journey. By afternoon we had covered Baga, Anjuna, Vagator, Morjim and Mandrem beaches. We didn’t spend much time at any of these beaches because we found them to be a little too crowded. My guide, Krish was of the opinion that Arambol beach was by far the most spectacular beach of North Goa and very quiet - not many tourists venture towards Arambol.

The breaking wave height at Arambol is 0.8 meters; the foreshore slope in September is a moderate 1 in 30. Judging from the number of swimmers in the water, they felt that this was a safe beach.

Goa is not only about beaches. Historically too, it has a lot to offer. Goa is well known for its magnificent whitewashed churches, temples and mosques, which are centuries old. The ten-kilometer drive to Old Goa or Velha Goa is an interesting one.

The most famous churches of Old Goa lie to the right and left of the road from Panaji: the Basilica of Bom Jesus and the Se Cathedral. The Bom Jesus was constructed in the year 1594 and completed by 1605 by the Portuguese. In this church, three architectural styles have converged — Corinthian (Greek), Doric (Roman) and Ionic (Italian). The dead body of Rev. St. Francis Xavier is still preserved. Every 10 years the body is opened to the public for 45 days starting from November 25 to January 10.

Opposite the church of Bom Jesus is the Se Cathedral. Se Cathedral is the biggest cathedral in Asia built by the Portuguese in the year 1650. The importance of Se Cathedral is the Miracle Cross. The cross is still preserved and people who are sick or are suffering from incurable diseases still take away small pieces of the wooden cross and put it on the mouth of the patient.

Since I was invited to visit the magnificent Majorda Beach Resort, we headed towards Majorda via the beautiful countryside of Cortalim and Sancoale. I was simply stupefied by the sheer authentic Goan ambience inside the hotel.

Majorda Beach Resort was an ISO 9001-2000 certified hotel as far as quality management is concerned. The unique feature of Majorda Beach Resort is that it is a compact resort of 120 rooms built on 22 acres with a configuration of 10 cottages nestled in the midst of a garden and outdoor pool. The best thing about this resort is that it is a family-oriented resort. Even though it is a deluxe hotel, it’s still affordable to the average Indian. Majorda’s unique architecture is a blend of Portuguese and Goan traditional style, which was conceptualized by renowned architect Jasbr Sachdev. I was especially mesmerized by the Byzantine form of village street, which symbolized a picturesque individuality. It is one place in the hotel, which is just like an authentic Goan village. This place is ideal for families or groups traveling together.

While at Majorda, try out the mock Goan marriages that take place every Friday at the Garden lawns.

I was now coming towards the end of my blissful Goan vacation. But the best part of being at Goa was that I was unhurried. There was no tension and no stress. Simply a laidback style of living, which helped me recharge my batteries for the rough grind of city life. Goa will beacon me for a lifetime.

Fact File:

Getting There: Dabolim airport in Goa is well connected by regular flights from Mumbai. One can reach Mumbai by Indian Airlines, Jet Airways and Kingfisher etc… from Mumbai and take a connecting flight to Goa.

There is another alternative: From Mumbai you may travel by Konkan Railways to Goa (Karmali / Margao).

Accommodation:

In Goa you will find a wide range of accommodation starting from budget to 3-star, 4-star, 5-star and 5- star deluxe. Many domestic tourists prefer government accommodation and so Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) has set up hotels and resorts in all the tourist spots of Goa. The rates are competitive without being too extravagant.

For further information and reservations contact:

Goa Tourism Development Corporation Ltd, Trionora Apartments, Dr Alvares Costa Road, Panaji, Goa- 403001 Tel: 0832 2424001/ 02/ 03 Fax: +91-832-2423926 / 2420779 Email: reservations@ goa-tourism.com

[ BY SUBHASISH CHAKRABORTY ]