North Goa
Yesterday’s visit to Old Goa was a memorable one. It shall always be there in my memory and I shall cherish the same for years to come. Today we have planned to visit North Goa and touch Arambol Beach, Sinquerim Beach, Aguada Fort, Old Lighthouse Tower, Church Square and finally Miramar Beach. It’s my last day in Goa in this trip. I shall be leaving Goa tomorrow around 3 am. So I am trying to make the most out of whatever time I am left with today.
Arambol Beach, North Goa
Arambol beach, sometimes also referred to as Harmal. It is the last of the developed beaches in North Goa right near the Maharashtra border.
The beach is both rocky and sandy, and pristine as there are fewer tourists. It is also one of the cleanest North Goa beaches. Once popular with the hippies, there is a distinct Bohemian and laid-back feel about this beach. It is one of the greenest beaches in Goa, as palm and other trees line the entire 16 kilometer long shoreline.
Paliem Sweet Water Lake
Beach shacks line Arambol beach, and many provide accommodations and sun lounges to relax on in front of the ocean. We walked 10 minutes around the cliff to the north of Arambol beach and found ourselves at a more secluded stretch of sand, unusually enclosed by sea on one side and tranquil Paliem Sweet Water Lake on the other.
By the lake a foot trail enters into the jungle along the Arambol Mountain. Here you can arrive at the stream, a shallow secluded creek surrounded by Fuller’s Earth (Multani Mitti) cliffs. There you can hear the water gurgling out which is the source of the sweet water of the lake. Fuller’s Earth is very good for skin to we took our time to cleanse ourselves with the same and bathed in the cool refreshing water.
Banyan Tree Baba
Going further along the trail following the markings on tree trunks we arrived at the (in)famous Banyan Tree. Some say that in 1970 a French guy later on known as Shankar Giri discovered this very location. After two years 1972 Baba Bholenath, popularly known as Banyan Baba started visiting the place during winter season. He is basically from Himachal Pradesh but studied in Jalandhar DAV. Another popular belief is that the place was first discovered by an Israeli tourist. He cleaned the area and began arranging parties for tourists under the banyan tree. Tourists would sit there, away from the crowded beaches, taking in the calm and some narcotics.
Sinquerim Beach, North Goa
The foremost beach after crossing Mandovi from Panaji in the northwest direction is the Sinquerim Beach. It is the first tourist beach of North Goa as considered. Nowadays, one of the largest music and dance festivals known as Sunburn Festival is populating Sinquerim by the end of the year. It started in 2007 and this year it will be the third year.
Sinquerim is one of the few beaches in Goa where you can rent windsurfers, water skis, and other water toys without having to be a guest at a hotel. It’s much cheaper to rent equipment from these places. Tourists and vendors crowd this small, sandy beach stretching in front of the Taj resorts.
Aguada Fort, North Goa
Aguada Fort is a well-preserved seventeenth-century Portuguese fort, along with a lighthouse. It is on Sinquerim Beach, overlooking the Arabian Sea. It is a massive and marvelous citadel defining the landscape of North Goa. Portuguese built the Aguada Fort to guard and defend their stronghold in Goa against the Maratha and Dutch invaders. It is located at the confluence of the Arabian Sea and the Mandovi River. Therefore, it became the most prized fortress for the Portuguese back in the seventeenth century.
The State of Goa attained the status of Union territory soon after liberation from Portuguese by the Constitution. Central Jail was functioning at Diu prior to liberation. After the liberation it shifted to Margao. Subsequently, since 1968 Aguada Fort houses it.
Old Lighthouse Tower, North Goa
The lighthouse at Fort Aguada is the oldest one of its kind in the entire continent of Asia. The lighthouse initially made use of oil lamps to guide the ships out in the sea. It emitted light in every 7 minutes. Later in 1834, it upgraded to emit light in every 30 seconds.
From there we headed to Church Square. On the way we crossed the restored 1st Mandovi bridge. The original one collapsed in 1986. Before construction of this bridge the only commute between South Goa & North Goa was by boats.
Church Square
Also known as Municipal Garden, Church Square is a green rectangular park in the heart of the city of Panjim.
The Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception sits atop a hill facing the square below. This church houses the ancient bell that was removed from the Augustinian ruins of the Church of Our Lady of Grace. This bell adorned the lighthouse on Aguada fort before being shifted here.
Miramar Beach
The Miramar Beach located in Panjim is one of the most visited beaches in North Goa also known as ‘Gasper Dias’. Stretching as far as 2 kilometers, the beach sits on the confluence of the Mandovi River and the Arabian sea, offering splendid oceanic views. Located in the heart of Panaji, the city’s capital, Miramar beach is easily accessible by all possible vehicles.
Miramar Food Street
A replica of Chowpatty, of course! Sev Puri, Pani Puri, Pav Bhaji, Ice Gola, Corn cobs. This food street on Miramar Beach offers all the Mumbai street food specialties in one 50 m stretch that sees 15-20 carts line up starting 5 PM every evening. Visitors are spoilt for choice with all the options on offering.
Well, this was the end of my solo trip to Goa all thanks to Sanjeev. Hadn’t he invited me over I wouldn’t have had the urge to be here nor I would have spent few of the most memorable days of my life out here. This trip truly inspired me to travel and explore the world around. It ignited the never ending fire in me to go to some place new, somewhere unexplored. To face my fears, my anxieties, my doubts and come out as a better person than previously.
I shall be ever thankful to Sanjeev for giving me something very precious – his time. Because time is the most precious thing you have. When you give someone your time, you are giving them a portion of your life that you’ll never get back.
In the coming days I shall look forward to travel more, travel further. So, I keep vouching, while you keep watching.
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