Goa : Picnicker's Delight
Although all the beaches
of Goa are great spots for day picnics, there are some delightful
picnic spots - not necessarily beaches - that are far from the madding
crowd.
Some of my personal favourites, with beautiful
views of the sea and sand, are listed here.
Cabo-de-Rama Fort
Cabo-de-Rama (The Fort of Rama), in South Goa, is a
beautiful place for a day picnic. Its tiny stretch of rocky beach is
not meant for swimming, but it can be fun to explore the fort.
There aren't any tour guides here, so you'll have to
make your own way, but its well worth the effort.
Terekhol Fort
Terekhol (Tiracol) is the northernmost beach on the
map of Goa, just before the Maharashtra border, with a tiny picturesque
fort on top of a hill.
The fort now houses the Tiracol Fort Heritage hotel
- definitely not cheap, but worth it if you're looking for a unique
experience. Just remember to carry along some insect repellent and you'll
be fine.
The view from the fort is amazing, overlooking miles
of sea and on a clear day, you can see the northern beaches of Goa,
from Arambol and Chapora, right upto Fort Aguada.
The hill is densely forested and excellent for trekking
and bird-watching. The Redi beach across the river is not safe for swimming,
though, as its located at the mouth of an estuary.
Cheap accomodation can be found in the homes of some
of the villagers near the fort. We stayed in a dormitory adjoining the
house of one of the more enterprising villagers where we sampled the
freshest catch of the day at enviable prices.
Agonda Beach
Agonda is a virgin stretch of beach twelve kilometres
from Palolem beach, and is undiscovered
by tourists. It is sometimes frequented by day picnickers.
The waters are crystal clear and its easy to see the
bottom of the shore while swimming. Watch out for the sharp barnacles
if you decide to climb any of the rocks there.
Until recently there was just a solitary shack on the
beach. Accomodation would be hard to find here. You could pitch a tent
and stay for the night, but a better option is to stay at Palolem beach,
and drive down to Agonda for the day.
The more adventurous can rent a bicycle in the village
and cycle cross country to the beach.
Bambolim Beach
Bambolim beach is a small, clean, largely undiscovered
beach, in a shaded spot before the mouth of the river Zuari. The entrance
to the beach is easily missed and lies along the hill between Goa Medical
College and the Goa University.
The road goes all the way down to the Bambolim beach
resort from where you can make your way to the beach. The beach is carpeted
with broken mother-of-pearl and other shells, which makes it a haven
for shell-collectors.
Thick coconut groves line the beach and provide shade
and privacy. Its a beautiful beach for a quiet, cosy picnic.
