After ten anxiety filled months, with Covid-19, lockdowns and moving homes, we finally decided to take a break in Goa. Delhi is cold and often foggy in January. The clear sunshine and warmth filled days, with surf and sand, seemed too enticing to resist.
The first day started with a walk on the beach. The gentle sound of the waves and the soft sand under the feet made exercise a total pleasure. Goa is famous for its beaches. Baga, Anjuna, Candolim and Cavelossim, the list of famous beaches in this beautiful part of India seems unending. It would need a longer vacation to enjoy all the lovely beaches that Goa has to offer.
Apart from its beaches, Goa has serene river fronts and estuaries of rivers like Mandovi, Mapusa and Chapora. Each one offers a different delight. There are nine large rivers in Goa. They flow out of the Western Ghat and into the Arabian Sea. There are also 42 smaller tributaries that are a part of the river system. They are called the “backwaters” and are part of a large system of inland waters of Goa. The navigable rivers of Goa, with a length of around 250 km, form the main blood vessels of the state and are an integral part of Goan life. In addition to the rivers, tributaries and backwaters, there are some large and several small lakes.
Houseboats or floating houses in Goa have a unique structure and provide an exotic experience. These boats are produced from anjili or wild jackfruit tree along with natural materials like bamboo and palm leaves. The houseboat is constructed without nails and other metal holding elements. Boat cruises, both day long or short ones in the rivers, backwaters and water bodies of Goa are a good source of adventure and fun. They offer an opportunity to view Goan natural delights including its bird species and even crocodiles. For avid bird watchers, Goa has bird sanctuaries, one is named after famed Indian ornithologist, Salim Ali. Tours for dolphin viewing are another enjoyable pastime for young and old alike.
Being a popular tourist destination, Goa has plenty of places to stay, both on the beach and on river fronts. We spent a night at a homestead on a small river. The peace and tranquility can only be experienced and are a soothing balm for lockdown ravaged souls!
One visit that we enjoyed was a trip to a tropical spice plantation, where a guide shows various trees and creepers that provide us the spices used in our Indian food. Apart from a welcome drink, the tour provides a traditional Goan meal. The plantation involves a walk in a green setting and the drive to the plantation offers a view of the green cover of the Western Ghat.
Goa is India’s smallest state, located in the west coast of India. The region is known as Konkan. It has an interesting history that goes back to the 3rd century BC when it was part of the Mauryan empire.
Goa was the first part of India to be colonised and the last to become independent. Goa was Portugal’s first territorial possession in Asia, captured by Afonso de Albuquerque in 1510, and it served as the main Portuguese base in the East for four and a half centuries till it was liberated to form a part of India on 19th December 1961. The Portuguese were the first Europeans to settle in India. Goan culture, food, music, dance and way of life is an interesting amalgam of Europe and India. No visit to Goa can be completed without visiting the beautiful churches. The Basilica of Bom Jesus, a Roman Catholic basilica is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and holds the mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier.
As I watched the waves on the beach at night during high tide, it struck me how the waves that were desperately trying to kiss the beach at low tide were surging powerfully to reclaim the beach as their own at high tide. The pandemic, lockdowns and winter may have brought the low tide in our lives, but high tide isn’t far behind. I hope that the sunshine from Goa brings cheer to all your lives.
