South Goa : the Off beat place for the real travellers

Goa is one of the most popular tourist destination in India. Throughout the year people from all over the world keep visiting Goa. 

But Goa is like a coin with two facades. North and South. While the North Goa gets all the attention with its parties, Bistros, music festivals- it becomes easier to ignore South Goa altogether.

To feel the beating pulses of Goa, 
you have to dig a little deeper and look for the places that are beyond a tourist’s perspective. And that is exactly what separates a traveller from a tourist. 

The real soul of Goa lies in South Goa.

Palolem and Colva Beach

What Baga, Calangute and Candolim are to North Goa, Palolem and Colva are to the South. Except for the fact that they’re much calmer abodes and the clientele here is usually much quieter for whom Goa is not just about drunk carousing but also about worthwhile musings against the backdrop of a setting sun in a place where nobody disturbs the flow of your thoughts and nobody judges you if you stay still staring into nothingness for hours at a time. Though Colva is comparatively crowded than Palolem but still it has its own charm. 

Palolem is located in Canacona in South Goa and is about 40 minutes from Margao whereas the 2.4 kilometers long Colva beach is just about 6-7 kilometers from Margao.

Places to Eat

One of the most beautiful beaches in the state of Goa, with a coastline melting into the Arabian Sea, Palolem offers an extensive variety of culinary treats to sample, from freshly caught seafood to delicious South Indian curries.

Some of them are German Bakery, Magic Italy, Ourem 88, Cafe Inn, Little World etc. 

Night Life at Palolem

In the evening Palolem Beach turns into a real spectacle of lights and colors. 

Palolem Beach is well known with its famous "silent" discos, which are held directly on the beach or in some bars. 

Silent Noise is a world recognized headphone party being held at Neptune Point next to Palolem Beach, South Goa and the place has undoubtedly left its mark on the parties. It can be called as an idyllic beach town home as the organizer has found out a rare location for all tourists and other local visitors. The diversity seen among all tourists makes them fall in love with this place. 

Silent Noise Party is fixed on every Saturday’s and Retronica on every Wednesday’s at Neptune Point. A person if wants to get down on the floor then needs to pay for the wireless headphone which costs rs500 and plus rs500 as deposit which is returned when the headphone is returned to the concerned member of Silent Noise. 

Image source : Google

Best time to visit

Goa is that kind of a place which can be visited during any time of the year. Though November to February are the best months to visit the party capital since the weather is pleasantly cool and comfortable. It’s the perfect time to relax on the beaches amidst other tourists who make the most of these three months in Goa. December is the time when Goa witnesses one of its most popular festivals, Sunburn, besides extensive Christmas and New Year celebrations and is home to lakhs of visitors from across the world. 

Goa Carnival

Goa Carnival takes place around February, marking the end of festivities before the season of Lent (the 40 day period of abstinence before Easter). The carnival was introduced by the Portuguese and initially celebrated by Christians, but eventually it was assimilated into the very cultural fabric of Goa, breaking all religious constraints. The three days of dance, music, merry making, mirth and food attracts the tourists all over India. 

Hence Goa is not just about Baga, Calangute. There is another side to the party capital of our country that you must explore and it’s down south.

And there are numerous places to visit in South Goa that are not just restricted to beaches but there are other areas full of vim and vigor that a true traveller must explore.

So Happy Exploring :) 

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The 'Golden City' of Rajasthan Jaisalmer (Part 4)

...continued from Part 3

Authors Advice: All along the road to Sam, you will a number of young men chasing you to stay at their resort and how and why their resort is better than others. I would suggest you to stay put and keep moving. There are a number of resorts by the end of the road. Bargain for the best deal i.e. maximum facilities in minimum prices. The package generally includes a Swiss tent/cottage (AC or Non- AC, your choice!), a camel ride, evening tea share, dinner, morning breakfast and a cultural program in the evening.

We checked in one, ‘K. K. Resorts’, which is a government recognized resort and booked a Swiss Tent. We freshened up and met the Manager in regard to the Desert Safari. Apparently, only Camel Safari is what one gets in the package. One needs to pay extra for the Jeep Safari. One of my friend who had been to the place had strictly asked me not to miss out on the Jeep Safari and hence, we got a Jeep booked and zoom! We went inside the desert. Exactly! Like the one you get to see on Discovery Channel or in some romantic number from a YRF movie, we were in a Golden Heaven. ‘Mahindra Thar’, the perfect jeep for a Desert Safari and a perfectly trained driver, ensured we had a paisa-vasool safari. Sam’s Sand Dunes are the biggest and tallest dunes in the Thar Desert. And post our Safari, we definitely couldn’t deny this. The driver took us to the top of a dune and then bamm! Straight down you go. You haven’t even completed your breath and before that there’s another stunt performed by him. He goes all round and round in the desert, blowing as much sand as he can with you standing behind inside the Jeep, praying that you return back to the resort in a single piece! It’s like you go for the Safari as a human being, and return back looking somewhat ‘like a human being!’ But, all said and done! If you miss out on this, you basically came to Jaisalmer to learn History! This is an adventure of a lifetime. Period.

Mahindra Thar : Your Friend for the Desert Safari

Jeep Safari at Sam Sand Dunes

Back to the resort, we were welcomed by little girls dressed in typical Rajasthani costumes. Next on the itinerary is the Camel Safari. The camel safari takes you to an altogether different location called the ‘Sunset Point’. You reach the Sunset Point – sit on the sand bed – take a halt – look at the setting sun - and Peace!

Sunset Point

Camel Safari at Sam Sand Dunes

Back to the Camp, we had our evening tea share and sat for the cultural program. The program included folk music and dance followed by a DJ after which the dinner was served. Post the dinner, people went back to their tents, we sat outside ours and Cheers! <clinging of glasses>

Next morning, we left back early for Jaisalmer. Back in Jaisalmer, we returned the bike, went around the local market to pick up some stuff for friends and family and gorge on some more Rajasthani food before 5:00 PM when finally we bid adieu to the Golden City and took a train back into our regular lives!

FEW OTHER TIT BITS:

1)      FOOD: For non-vegetarians, Lal Maas is the specialty of Jaisalmer. Do try it! For vegetarians, the typical Rajasthani Thali including Bajre Ki Roti (Millet Flour Flatbread), Kadi (Indian yogurt gramflour curry), Ker Sangri (seasonal vegetable), Gatte ki Subzi (curry prepared with gram flour as base ingredient), Dal (lentils), Baati (hard bread made up of wheat powder) and Choorma (the sweet dish- coarsely ground wheat crushed and cooked with ghee and sugar) is a must have.  And yes, before I forget….The Mirchi! Food in Jaisalmer is extremely spicy. For the locals, having food minus red chilies is equal to having no food! So, in case your eyes start burning and your nose start watering, it’s advisable to tell the waiter beforehand to use as less chili as possible. You will still get it in your food, but this time it will be bearable. And if it still doesn’t work, do what we did. Couple it with some chilled beer and for non-drinkers, try lemonade or Masala Chaajh (spiced buttermilk)!

Typical Rajasthani Thali

2)      BOOZE: Too cheap! If compared to someone hailing from Uttar Pradesh. So drink as much as you want and as much as you can! The beer and wine shops closes at 8:00 PM, sharp but then again there is always the option of ‘under the shutter’ purchase. 

3)     COMMERCIALISATION: Due to heavy tourist traffic, Jaisalmer is becoming more and more commercialized by the day. So, buyers beware! Bargaining and striking the right deal is one thing you should learn before heading to Jaisalmer.

4)      ENTRY FEES: There is entry fees at almost every monument you visit in Jaisalmer, including Kuldhara! And there are separate charges for camera. So do keep change in hand.

About Parth:

A graduate from the National Law University, Lucknow. Parth writes about the history, culture and 

food choices of the places, he travels.  Travelling is not just his hobby but his passion. He likes to 

explore the unexplored. Mountains, "supposedly" haunted destinations and bike trips are things that 

give him the adrenaline rush. A certified trekker by the Youth Hostel Association of India, he dreams 

to cover the Himalayas on his bike someday!

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