A popular tourist spot among locals and foreigners alike is Goa. The sea side state was under the Portugal rule and after independence was a union territory of India for many years. It is only after it was declared as an independent state that it made tremendous progress. The state is beautiful and provides all kinds of tourists with a different experience, something that they can never experience elsewhere. This is primarily the reason why tourists keep returning time to time. Every kind of traveler wants to experience the beauty of the state again and again.
For the tourists looking forward to some relaxation, there are plenty of accommodation options; many even beach facing and some elite ones with their own private beach. This setting, especially with the option to cook grilled food on one’s own and spend a relaxed evening watching the sunset with a glass of wine in the hand is second to nothing, at least in India. Many small cottages belonging to the locals dot the areas around the beach and most of them rent out a room or two for tourists are affordable rates. One need not shell out a bomb to find a room in some beach facing five star properties.
In fact, the cottages offer more freedom than professional hotels and one can even get customized deals as per requirements. Goa is the only place in India where one can hire all kinds of vehicles on self drive for almost negligible cost. All other places have high to very high cost for the self drive option which has not yet gained ground in the country. With a vehicle at one’s own disposal and the freedom to explore, Goa offers many hangouts which are off the beaten path. Apart from the usual beaches and churches there are plenty of spots known only to the locals, that too not all of them and one can indeed have a gala time with friends and family alike.
One of the attractions that not many people visit is the Dudhsagar falls. It is a three tier perennial waterfall located in the border region of Goa and Karnataka. Can be accessed via a detour from the NH-17 and thereafter the government provides 4 wheel drive vehicles for entry into the restricted area. Personal 4 wheel drive vehicles are also permitted but the entry of such vehicles are limited and regulated daily. There is no entry to the restricted area during the monsoon, when the waterfall is at its best. At those times it can be accessed only via the Konkan railway and thereafter a trek down the hills, after alighting at the Dudhsagar station.
Sal dam is another attraction. Located in the interiors well within some local village, it is difficult to find unless one has precise directions. Once there, the low profile dam is a great place to have a truly refreshing time. One can spend hours without realizing that the day is drawing to an end. The water isn’t too deep and neither does it flow fiercely. It is a perfect place for some fun filled experience that cannot be matched by any other spot; not in Goa, not anywhere else. If one wants to go off the beaten path, this is one of the must visit spots while in Goa. Entry is totally free.
The Vagator fort is another location visited only by those who are aware of its existence. This is the place where the famous scenes from the Bollywood movie ‘Dil Chahta Hai’ were shot. People often confuse it with the Aguada fort but the locals only laugh at such ignorance of the tourists. The Vagator for can be accessed from nearby the Vagator beach after a short trek and the view that the place offers is truly mind blowing.
One can reach Goa by rail or road from Mumbai. Around 600 kms away by road, the journey takes approximately 8 to 9 hours. The rail journey is preferred by many as trains depart from Mumbai late at night and one can reach Goa early the next morning. Goa is totally a place where adventure seekers can have a lot of fun. Adventure sports like snorkeling, kayaking and scuba diving are also available for those seeking that kind of fun.