The Beauty of the land that lies in Natures hands

Everything that nature gave us

Goa is synonymous with it golden shores and why not? Its grainy sand, and blue waters make for a paradise within a small state. And away from these shores, lie hills filled with local fruits and berries, calm lakes, rivers that flow through the land and islands that hold beauty not many have explored.

GORGEOUS SANDY SHORES!

If beaches are what you crave and a bit of sunshine is your doze of happiness then Goa could be the cure! From beaches that are dotted with shacks and food, to beaches that are quiet and lazy. In Goa, you have the luxury to pick and choose the beach you want. Along the Northern belt, the beaches are filled with water sport activities, shacks and people! Some of the most pristine yet quieter beaches away from the noise is Morjim, Mandrem and Ashwem Beach. In Morjim, the shoreline is quiet and calm with a few tourist scattered around. The waters might get rough at times, but it is perfect for a short swim in designated areas, long walks or just sitting and gazing out at the waves. Vagator which the locals divide it into small Vagator and Vagator is a beauty in itself. The cliffs surrounding Vagator are beautiful and the view from the top – Breath taking! The Sinquerim beach is another beach in North Goa that is great if you want to try out parasailing or deep sea fishing. Another striking feature is the Sinquerim fort that wades into the water. The fort in itself is beautiful and the view from it all the more stunning.

Away from these busy beach belts in North Goa are quieter, yet pristine beaches tucked away in the corners of the state. One of these is the Butterfly beach situated in the Southof Goa along the coastline of Palolem beach. This beach is picturesque with little or no crowd, blue waters and golden sands that greet you while rocks and the occasional spotting of a dolphin captures your gaze. Although reaching the beach might be a little difficult, the trouble is well worth it. Other stunning beaches in the south of Goa is Mobor beach, Palolem, Majorda and Varca, Agonda and Colva Beach.

OLIVE RIDLEY TURTLE NESTING SITES

Everyone might know of the over popularized Calangute and Baga beach belt. Come season time and this area is filled with shacks, sea beds and watersport activities. But, have you ever heard of the beaches that have turtle nesting sites in North and South Goa? The Morjim and Mandrem beach in the North and the Galibag and Agonda beach in the South have protected areas for the endangered Olive Ridley turtles. These nesting sites are demarcated to prevent disturbance to these turtles. This has also invariable helped the beach area remain pristine and peaceful till recent times.

AWARD WINNING BEACHES OF GOA

While most of the north Goa beaches are well known, these jewels in the South have been getting attention of visitors worldwide. Recently a reader choice award named two of Goa’s beaches among the top ten in Asia. Hurrah for Goa as Agonda Beach features as number 4 while the cool blue waters of Palolem came in at 8 in all of Asia!

WHERE DO YOU GO WHEN WATER SPORTS CALL YOUR NAME?

The North Goa Beaches like that of Sinquerim, Candolim, Calangute and Baga are hubs of energy as watersport activities happen here in full fledge. From parasailing, to the popular water jet skis these coastal belts have it all. The activities only take a break when the monsoon makes its annual visit. The seas are then too rough to play in. In South Goa, watersports are not as active as its North Goa compadres but fun nonetheless. In the South watersports can be found only in a few select locations mainly at Colva Beach and Palolem beach.

WILDLIFE SANCTUARIES

Being a small state, Goa has an impressive number of wildlife sanctuaries. In total the state has 6 wildlife sanctuaries and one national park as well as a zoo. Although the zoo is small, it hosts a number of wild animals including a sloth bear and Goa’s state animal the Indian Gaur. These wildlife sanctuaries area must visit and let you connect with nature, breathing in the natural beauty of Goa. Each of the wildlife sanctuaries have something different and unique to offer and make for a great visit if you are a lover of the wild. The Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary located in the western ghats is currently being considered as a tiger reserve owing to the presence of its resident tigers. Apart from the wildlife, these sanctuaries also have a wide range of flora and fauna.

GOA’S ONLY BIRD SANCTUARY

The Dr. Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary is Goa’s only bird sanctuary located on the island of Chorao. A walk through the sanctuary is beautiful in itself as informative boards and trivia about the birds and other wildlife you might spot are placed all over the sanctuary. It also has a bird watch tower that gives you a decent view of the river as well as the tree tops cascading over head. The birds you are likely to see depend on the time of the day you visit as well as the season. If you want, you can also take a boat round the sanctuary and catch a glimpse of theses winged beauties from the water.

BUTTERFLY PARK

Goa currently has just one butterfly park that is situated in Ponda although the government plans to open another in the capital city of Panjim. The butterfly conservatory of Goa lets you walk along with nature and gaze upon these winged beauties that fly to and fro from bloomed flowers. The conservatory has recorded 140 species of butterflies and is built to mimic a riparian forest. The conservatory follows an open garden concept and is fuelled by harvested rainwater.

Planet Goa Team

For us at Planet-Goa, our team is driven by that feeling of exhilaration that one gets when discovering that something ‘unique’ and ‘new’ about Goa for our ever-so-discerning readers.