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The off beaten track in South Goa

Sep 10, 2020

4 MIN READ

Beyond the beautiful beaches of Goa, the heritage mansions of its main towns and villages and much-visited islands, are a variety of sites and activities worth exploring if you have the time.

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Cabo de Rama Fort

This huge fort is located 17km from Agonda. While a legend says that Lord Rama stayed here with his wife during his 14-year exile, the fort was actually built in the 18th century by Hindu warriors. It was later taken over by the Portuguese and there are still remnants of their colonial rule in the form of rusty cannons and turrets. Inside the fort is the church of Santo Antonio. The fort is built on a clifftop and offers gorgeous panoramic views of the sea from its parapets.

Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary

Goa’s southernmost wildlife reserve, Cotigao is known for its excellent wildlife trails. There is an eco-tourism complex inside the sanctuary, where, in addition to a restaurant and cottages for an overnight stay, there is an animal rescue centre. There are watchtowers throughout the sanctuary, including a tree-top tower for animal sighting. You can see gaur, sambar, leopard and spotted deer, as well as a variety of birds, snakes and frogs. Remember: this is a no-plastic zone, and, if you are taking your own vehicle inside the sanctuary, keep the music down and do not honk unnecessarily.

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Pansaimol Petroglyphs

Around 36km from Mobor, on the banks of the Kushavati River and on the riverbed are the 12th-century Pansaimol petroglyphs. These carvings include fertility symbols, prehistoric animals and animals that look a lot like those on seals from the Indus Valley Civilization. There is also one labyrinth. The drive to the petroglyphs is confusing since there are no clearly marked signs. Drive out from Mobor to the Curdi village in the Sanguem taluka. On the way, as you pass through the Rivona village, make sure you ask for directions at regular intervals.

Chandor

The village of Chandor, located 12km east of Margao, is the erstwhile Chandrapur, one of the capitals of the Maurya king Chandragupta. Remnants of its glorious past are still visible in the area. The main attraction here is the Menezes-Braganza House, a 300-year-old mansion with the longest facade in Goa. This house now belongs to two sides of the same family. It houses colonial artefacts, chairs inspired by the ones in Buckingham Palace, Belgian mirrors, the largest library in Goa and even a relic of St Francis Xavier. A guided tour is arranged by a family member. Close to Chandor is the Chandreshwar Parvat, with its Bhootnath Temple, which offers fabulous views of the area.

Big Foot Village, Loutolim

The village of Big Foot or Ancestral Goa is a theme-based model village with life-sized statues of tradesmen and craftsmen from an era gone by. The statues depict women washing clothes, men and women extracting Feni, cobblers, carpenters and load-bearers and showcase some typical Goan themes. The park also has the largest laterite statue of Mirabai, as well as a huge dance floor that is given out for celebrations.

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Sao Jacinto & Sao Antonia Islands

Just off the shore from Vasco da Gama are two tiny islands that are wonderful examples of typical Goan village life and traditions. The Sao Jacinto Island is connected to the shore by a small causeway and is a tiny hamlet of toddy tappers. The island has an old church and a lighthouse. A slight distance away is the Sao Antonio Island, also connected to the shore by a narrow isthmus. A typical Sunday afternoon spectacle here is the locals who gather to look for clams (tisryo in Konkani) along the muddy shore. This is followed by some drinking and merrymaking and then they retire home to cook the day’s haul in some fiery masala and wash it down with Feni.

Scuba diving Grande Island

Grande Island off the coast of Vasco, offers excellent diving sites such as Suzy's Wreck, Davy Jones’ Lockers, Sail Rock, Turbo Tunnel, Surge City, Umma Gumma Reef and Bounty Bay. Several PADI-certified operators conduct scuba diving and snorkelling here. If you are a certified diver, you need to carry proof of that before you can rent equipment for diving or you could receive training at these centres.

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India Homepage: https://www.lonelyplanet.com/en-in

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