 Arambol:
With no nightclubs or busy markets in the vicinity, Arambol isn't the first
stop on tourist itineraries. Which is precisely why you should go there.
Leave the hordes behind, and make your way to a place where it's just you
and the sea, and nothing else. Arambol is an hour's drive away from Baga,
and while the map may freak you out, rest assured it's a pretty
straightforward route. The signboards should be enough to guide you, and
when in doubt, do what men aren't really known to do - ask for directions.
The whitewashed Siolim bridge is a landmark, and as you cross the beautiful
stretch, you *will* feel the urge to do something fun and incredibly stupid.
Like standing up on your Activa with your arms spread out. Refrain. No
seriously, if you die before visiting Arambol, it'd be quite a waste.
The beach is an expanse of silver, free from blaring shacks and rows of
sunbeds. What you get instead, are a few shacks scattered along the
periphery, and a sprinkling of tourists - mostly foreigners - who've come
here to relax. Goa's often an end-point for such tourists who save up money
in their home countries, and travel around for a while before flopping down
here. Sheah, from Australia, is one such tourist. A social worker in search
for spirituality, she's been to places like Pushkar and Rishikesh, before
ending her Indian holiday at Goa. So did she find what she was looking for,
I ask.
 "Do
we ever find what we're looking for?", she smiles back. Food for thought,
that. The serenity of Arambol does inspire such thought. And if all that
thinking makes you hungry, drop in at any one of the shacks. I'd recommend
Diego's Dreamcatcher shack and its sunset barbeque. Food, beer and a
godawesome sunset - what more could you ask for?
P.S: Climb the jagged rocks on the north end of the beach. Apart from a 30%
chance of death, they offer some really great views.
 Vagator:
The name sounds like something out of He-Man - probably a cousin of Skeletor
or something. But it's a Portuguese name, and isn't really that important,
simply because this place could be called anything, and it would still take
your breath away everytime you visit. Vagator's one of the quieter North
Goan beaches, and is a short drive away from Baga. It isn't very long, but
the absence of commercialism makes it a beach lover's dream come true.
Placid, with hardly a shack in sight, it's the perfect place to lie back in
solitude and watch the waves lap at your feet. And all you lovey-dovey
types, it's a place where you can do..err..whatever it is that you do,
without being bothered by masseurs/ bangle sellers/ lecherous lukkhas.
On one end of Vagator is a hill that leads up to Chapora fort, more commonly
known as the 'Dil Chahata Hai' fort ( The famous DCH scene - "hum sab us
jahaaz ki tarah hain.." was shot here). While you can climb up to the fort
from the beach, an easier route takes you directly to the top by road,
leaving only a short distance to be traversed on foot. And as you step into
the gates of Chapora fort, you know the trip's worth it. Overlooking a large
stretch of Goan coastline, it offers a heavenly view. It's as if time stands
still, and the only sound you hear is silence. You see the waves crash onto
the shores below, but from up there it seems like everything's happening
behind a happy purple haze. And as the sun begins to set, the sky melts into
a riot of red, orange and violet. God's an artist, they say. And this is
definitely one of his best works.
 Baga
and Others:
There are beaches and beaches and then some. But there’s only one Baga. And
although people say it's too commericalised now, it’s the place to be if you
like your beaches full of life .
Sandwiched in between Calangute (which is definitely too crowded and
commercial) and Anjuna, Baga has just the right mix of natural beauty and
manmade buzz. A clean beach, with the most amazing waves. Plus, there are
rocking shacks, nightclubs and street shopping.
So if you don’t really want a lot of peace and quiet, make Baga your holiday
HQ! Other recommended beaches include Candolim (next to Fort Aguada),
Miramar (very close to Panjim city centre) and Colva (way down south).
Zara Hut Ke:
One of the hot new things in Goa is staying at a beach hut. They're
eco-friendly, no frills and as close to nature as you can get. At Palolem,
you can rent such a hut, which is right on the beach for as little as Rs 400
a day. Try Hi Tide beach huts, or for the fancier variety Chattai (www.chattai.co.in).
Beach huts can also be had at Mandrem (check out 'Dunes' - www.dunesgoa.com).
Other offbeat beaches include Agonda and Utorda. Basically, if you don't
like one beach there's always another, quieter one, somewhere close by!
|
