Roads Less Travelled in the Beach Destination of Goa

Goa has been popular for many years as the most visited beach destination in the country. It not only is the dream travel destination for the youngsters in the country but is also popular among tourists the world over. The place is so attractive that even many movies in the country have Goa as the backdrop for stories of love and friendship. But Goa as a beach destination is overestimated. Before you get us wrong, yes, we agree the state has some of the best beaches in the world. But, the precedence given to beaches has unfortunately shadowed the many other places of interest in Goa that are unique. So, lets think beyond beaches in Goa and if that does not conjure any images, our travel guide on the roads less travelled in the state is sure to help.Traversing across the well-laid roads of Goa, catching glimpses of the vast green fields, thick forests, quaint churches and villages; travellers can observe that Goa has plenty to offer beside beaches and night life. Goa is in fact, a nature lovers paradise with the many sanctuaries and wildlife parks located across the state. It also has some of the most beautiful waterfalls and freshwater lakes. For lovers of art there are various galleries, bungalows and museums that boast of architecture, culture and artistic expression. Take a look at some of the lesser known attractions in Goa. The road less travelled in Goa begins with a bird sanctuary named after the renowned Indian ornithologist, Salim Ali. Located at a very short distance of 6.5 km from Panaji, the Dr.Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary is a haven for bird watchers that spans an area of 440 acres. With a thick cover of mangrove forests, the sanctuary has many varieties of birds and is ideally visited during the months October-May. Wildlife photographers are also known to head to the sanctuary to take great photos of exotic birds such as the Mudskipper and Black Drongo.Photo Courtesy: ptwo The waterfalls that translates to mean The Sea of Milk is located in the state of Goa in the region bordering Karnataka. Located at a distance of 46 km from Madgaon, the cascading waters appear a beautiful white, thus earning the name of Dudhsagar. The roads leading to the beautiful waterfall is blocked during the monsoon season and is opened only in October. The base of the waterfall has a small pond. It is the fifth largest waterfall in the country, and is surrounded by lush green forests that abounds with wildlife.Photo Courtesy: Soumyajit Pramanick Shadowed by the more prominent Baslica of Bom Jesus is a quaint church located in close proximity known as the Baslica of Our Lady of The Mount. The beautiful white church is picturesquely located atop a green hill and provides great views of the surrounding areas. The church is believed to take on an ethereal glow on moonlit nights.Photo Courtesy: Nagarjun Kandukuru Situated near the little village of Sanquelim is another less explored place in Goa, the Harvalem Falls and Caves. A great place to explore in the post-monsoon season, the waterfall that flows from the mountains, crashes down from a height of 50 mt. The waterfalls has in its vicinity a famous Hindu temple known as the Rudreshwar temple and it is believed that praying here will help in attaining moksha. The village can be approached by bus from Mapusa, however, you will need to walk or hire bikes to traverse the distance to the caves and waterfalls from Sanquelim.Photo Courtesy: Nilankar Arambol beach is slowly gaining popularity, but dont worry we are not discussing the beach. In fact, the beach hides a lesser known attraction of a freshwater lake. Situated away from the main beach by a walkway that is not too encouraging, we advice you to keep patience as a small opening among the greens opens up a fresh water lake, locally referred to as the lagoon. Surrounded by greenery the water is cool and clear and you can spot many little fishes swimming in the shallow waters.Photo Courtesy: Uri Baruchin An ancient temple in Goa is seldom on the list of places to explore for most travellers. But here is why! The temple dates back to the 12th century and is still active for worship, dedicated to the Hindu God Shiva. Built from Basalt rock, the temple is a fine work of art involving the styles of Kadamba and Yadava. The temple located in the remote Tambdi Surla of Goa is set against the backdrop of the Western Ghats and can be reached by small roads. You will find the temple at the foot of the Anmod Ghat.Photo Courtesy: AshLin A tribute to the age-old Goan way of life by artist and curator Victor Hugo Gomes, the Goa Chitra museum and gallery is a great place to check in the coastal village of Benaulim. The museum displays artefacts and items that have been carefully collected over the years. It consists of vessels, tools, pottery, musical instruments and the traditional methods of farming. The place itself looks charming and you can spend some quiet time relaxing and learning about Goas colourful history.Photo Courtesy: Victor Hugo Gomes The beautiful town of Netravali in Goa is a great place to head to for wildlife sighting and jungle walks. The Netravali Wildlife Sanctuarys main attractions include the Black Panther, Slender Loris, Great Pied Hornbills, etc to name a few. The government provides jungle lodges for stay and you can take guided walks through the trails in the forest and maybe even be rewarded with some thrilling sightings.Photo Courtesy: Pradeep Kumbhashi Did you know that Goa is also popular as a cave explorers destination? Some of the caves such as Avalem, Lamgao and Rivona involving both natural and man-made structures are filled with legends of the past. The stories of Buddhist and Hindu characters such as Padavas are related to these caves. They present a great opportunity to trek and view the lesser known attractions in the state.Photo Courtesy: Sanjeev Beekeeper Very few travellers have discovered a surprise art installation on Ozran beach. The jutting rock patch into the sea provides a curious sighting for travellers that dare to walk it, a large and perfectly sized bowl, almost like a crater in the rock. This is not a real crater and is actually an art installation called the Prithvi Kund by artist Subodh Kerkar.Photo Courtesy: Jaskirat Singh Bawa