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Candolim Beach - GOA State

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Candolim
Candolim is a census town in North Goa in the state of Goa, India. It is situated just south of the famous Calangute beach, and is a popular tourist destination.

Candolim Beach
Fifteen kilometers from Panjim, the Goan capital, is Candolim beach in north Goa. Beginning at Fort Aguada and merging with Calangute beach towards the end, it is one of the longest beaches in the state and is located in the Bardez taluka. The beach in itself is very calm and peaceful, at times tourists come here from Rajneesh Ashram in Pune to take a break. What adds to the scenic beauty of the sand and sea are the scrub covered dunes at the back of the beach quite popular with tourists.

The main road that is the Candolim Calangute road is packed with shops and restaurants, but the beach front is rather free of any commercial activity apart from some water activities. Though the beach is close to bustling Calangute beach, life is rather laid back at Candolim. Even the village isn't very clustered, its quite spread out so there isn't any centre to it as such. The area around the beach can be termed as resort free as there aren't any resorts there. However, the beach has quite a number of inns at reasonable prices with good facilities.

Another interesting feature about the Candolim beach is the ship River Princess, which has been stuck at the shores of the beach since 2000.

Aguada Fort

The fort was built by the Portuguese way back in 1612 for defense against the Dutch and the Maratha invaders. Along with the fort the church, lighthouse and the barracks of the Aguada Jail have become tourist attractions.

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 Photos: Sutthona Banni Team Karnataka ( Shriharsha, Chethan, Uttesh, Sudeep, Satish, Mallesh, Shrinivas)
Information Courtesy: Wikipedia

Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary and Mollem National Park-GOA

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Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary and Mollem National Park is a 240 square kilometres (93 sq mi) protected area located in the Western Ghats of South India, in Sanguem taluk, Goa along the eastern border with Karnataka. The area is situated near the town of Molem, 57 kilometres (35 mi) east of Panaji, the state capital of Goa. National Highway 4A divides it into two parts and the Mormugao - Londa railway line passes through the area. It contains several important temples dating to the Kadamba Dynasty, and Dudhsagar Falls. The parkland is also home to a community of nomadic buffalo herders known as the Dhangar.

History

This area was first known as Mollem Game Sanctuary. It was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1969 and renamed as Bhagwan Mahavir Sanctuary. The core area of the sanctuary covering 107 square kilometres (41 sq mi) was notified as Mollem National Park in 1978.

Flora and fauna

This sanctuary contains pristine vegetation classified as West Coast Tropical Evergreen Forests, West Coast Semi - Evergreen Forests and Moist Deciduous Forests. The evergreen forests are mainly seen at higher altitudes and along the river banks. The predominant species are Terminalia, Lagerstroemia, Xylia and Dalbergia. The forest canopy is almost closed and the availability of grass is very limited. There are several perennial water sources in the sanctuary and the availability of water is not a limiting factor for wildlife.

Mammals

Birds

Popular birds which can be seen in the sanctuary include: Drongo, Emerald dove, Fairy bluebird, Golden oriole, Greater Indian hornbill, Indian black woodpecker, Malabar grey hornbill, Malabar pied hornbill, Grey-headed myna, Grey jungle fowl, Large green barbet, Paradise flycatcher, Racket-tailed drongo, Ruby-throated yellow bulbul (the Goa state bird), Shrikes, Three-toed kingfisher, Sri Lanka Frogmouth, Wagtails. This sanctuary contains quite a few birds which are endemic to the Indian Subcontinent, specifically the Southern India.

Butterflies

Some of the many interesting butterfly specien in the area are: Blue Mormon, Common Jezebel, Common Mormon, Common Mime, Plum Judy, Common Wanderer, Crimson Rose, Lime Butterfly, Plain Tiger, Southern Birdwing and Tailed Jay.It also has endemic specied like Malabar Tree Nymph and Tamil Yoeman.

Reptiles

This sanctuary is famous for its snakes, particularly the king cobra. Also here are: Bronzeback Tree Snake, cat snake, hump-nosed pit viper, indian rock python, malabar pit viper, rat snake, russell's viper, Indian cobra and common krait,

Attractions

This sanctuary and national park contain several geological, cultural and visitor service attractions that make this largest protected area in Goa a popular visitor destination.

Tambdi Surla Temple

This small but exquisite 12th century Shiva temple of the lord Mahadeva is an active place or worship, located 13 km east of Bolcornem village, past the end of a single lane paved road in the northern region of the park. The temple consists of garbhagriha, antarala and a pillared Nandi mandapa built of basalt. The four pillars, embellished with intricate carvings of elephants and chains support a stone ceiling decorated with finely carved lotus flowers of the Ashtoken variety.

Dudhsagar Falls

Dudhsagar Falls (literally Ocean of milk) is a tiered waterfall located high up on the Mandovi River, at the Karnaraka border in the southwest part of the park, 10 km upstream from Collem village. At 310 m, It is Goa's tallest waterfall, India's 5th tallest, and is 227th in the world  An Aqueduct of the South Western Railways passes spectacularily through the waterfalls. This popular destination may be reached by hiking along the 10 km one lane dirt road or hiring a 4 wheel drive vehicle at Collem. Access is dangerous and restricted during the monsoon season of June and July.

Devils Canyon

This is an eerie canyon of water carved crevises downstream from Dudh Sagar Falls, created from solid rock by serpentine underwater currents. It is just off the main trail soon past the Collem entry point.

Tambdi Falls

This waterfall, located about 2 km southwest of Tambdi Surla, at the Karnataka border, is equally spectacular and only slightly less tall than Dudsagar Falls, however it is rarely visited because of its difficult access by a steep, winding and irregular rocky path. A local guide is required.

Sunset Point

This point provides a breathtaking view of the park, revealing a vast expanse of closed canopu treetops. It can be reached by park vehicles, hired at Mollem check-point, driving along a zig-zagging road carved from the mountain.

Threats

This protected area is threatened by extensive surface mining and transport of manganese and iron ores. A serious threat is the deposit of toxic wastes. In 2006, nearly 13 truckloads of sponge iron by-products had been dumped in the Mollem Wildlife Sanctuary and at Anmod Ghat,The settlement of private rights and concessions has still not been done away with. Some private lands are still within the sanctuary and need to be acquired in due course of time.

Visitor information


Permits- All visitors to the park must obtain Entry permit from the Range Forest Officer, Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary and Mollem National Park, Mollem, Goa Phone: 91-832-2612211.
Accommodations- For bookings at the Forest Rest House in Mollem, contact: Chief Conservator of Forests, Forest Department, Panaji, Goa Phone: 0832-2224747 or 0832-2225926.
The Doodh Sagar Resort has cottages, dormitory and a restaurant at Mollem adjacent to the Sanctuary Headquarters. Phone: 0832-2612319 or 0832-2612238
The OM Shanti Eco-Resort near the Tambdi Surla Temple and the Shangri-la Jungle Village Resort near Anmod offer high-end foreign tourism experiences including forest trekking, elephant rides and tribal music.




Courtesy:Wikipedia

GOA State

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Goa  is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located in West India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its western coast. Goa is India's richest state with a GDP per capita two and a half times that of the country as a whole. It was ranked the best placed state by the Eleventh Finance Commission for its infrastructure and ranked on top for the best quality of life in India by the National Commission on Population based on the 12 Indicators.

Panaji is the state's capital, while Vasco da Gama is the largest city. The historic city of Margao still exhibits the cultural influence of the Portuguese, who first landed in the early 16th century as merchants and conquered it soon thereafter. Goa is a former Portuguese colony, the Portuguese overseas territory of Portuguese India existed for about 450 years until it was annexed by India in 1961.

Renowned for its beaches, places of worship and world heritage architecture, Goa is visited by large numbers of international and domestic tourists each year. It also has rich flora and fauna, owing to its location on the Western Ghats range, which is classified as a biodiversity hotspot.

Goa's main rivers are the Mandovi, the Zuari, the Terekhol, Chapora River and the Sal.

Konkani is spoken as a native language by about 61% of the people in the state but almost all Goans can speak and understand Konkani. Other linguistic minorities in the state as per the 2001 census are Marathi (21%), Kannada (5%), Hindi (5%), and Urdu (4%

Subdivisions

The state is divided into two districts: North Goa and South Goa. Each district is governed by a district collector, an administrator appointed by the Indian government.
North Goa District: Panaji is the headquarters of the North Goa district.
The North Goa District is further divided into four subdivisions – Mapusa, Bicholim, Panaji, and Ponda; and six taluks, Pernem, Bardez (Mapusa), Bicholim, Sattari (Valpoy), Tiswadi (Panaji) and Ponda.
South Goa District: Margao is the headquarters of the South Goa district.
The South Goa District is further divided into three subdivisions – Margao, Mormugao (Vasco), and Quepem; and six taluks, Mormugao, Salcete (Margao), Quepem, Canacona (Chaudi), Sanguem, and Dharbandora.


Transport


Air

Goa's sole airport, the Dabolim Airport, is a military and civilian airport catering to domestic and international airlines that stop en route to other Indian destinations. The airport also handles a large number of chartered flights. Goa receives international flights from Qatar, Dubai, Sharjah and Kuwait in the Middle East and from Britain, Germany, Netherlands and Russia during the charter flight tourist season. Dabolim Airport is serviced by the following carriers — Air Arabia, Air India, Kingfisher Airlines, Go Air, SpiceJet, Jet Airways, Qatar Airways — besides charter flights from the UK, Netherlands, Russia, Germany operated by Thomas Cook, Condor, Arkefly, Monarch Airlines, etc. Another international airport at Mopa is proposed.

Road


Goa's public transport largely consists of privately operated buses linking the major towns to rural areas. Government-run buses, maintained by the Kadamba Transport Corporation, link major routes (like the Panjim–Margao route) and some remote parts of the state. In large towns such as Panjim and Margao, intra-city buses ply. However, public transport in Goa is less developed, and residents depend heavily on their own transport, usually motorised two-wheelers.

Goa has three National Highways passing through it. NH-17 runs along India's west coast and links Goa to Mumbai in the north and Mangalore to the south. NH-4A running across the state connects the capital Panjim to Belgaum in east, linking Goa to cities in the Deccan. The NH-17A connects NH-17 to Mormugao Harbour from Cortalim. The new NH-17B is a four-lane highway connecting Mormugao Harbour to NH-17 at Verna, via Dabolim airport. Goa has a total of 224 km (139 mi) of national highways, 232 km (144 mi) of state highway and 815 km of district highway. Hired forms of transport include unmetered taxis and, in urban areas, auto rickshaws. A unique form of transport in Goa is the motorcycle taxi, operated by drivers who are locally called "pilots". These vehicles transport a single pillion rider, at fares that are usually negotiated. River crossings in Goa are serviced by flat-bottomed ferry boats, operated by the river navigation departments.

Rail


Goa has two rail lines — one run by the South Western Railway and the other by the Konkan Railway. The line run by the South Western Railway was built during the colonial era linking the port town of Vasco da Gama, Goa with Belgaum, Hubli, Karnataka via Margao. The Konkan Railway line, which was built during the 1990s, runs parallel to the coast connecting major cities on the western coast.

Sea

The Mormugao harbour near the city of Vasco handles mineral ore, petroleum, coal, and international containers. Much of the shipments consist of minerals and ores from Goa's hinterland. Panjim, which is on the banks of the Mandovi, has a minor port, which used to handle passenger steamers between Goa and Mumbai till the late 1980s. There was also a short-lived catamaran service linking Mumbai and Panaji operated by Damania Shipping in the 1990s.

Tourism


Tourism is generally focused on the coastal areas of Goa, with decreased tourist activity inland. In 2010, there were more than two million tourists reported to have visited Goa, about 1.2 million of whom were from abroad.


The tourism board appointed Prachi Desai, a young Bollywood actress as the face of Goa. Goa has two main tourist seasons: winter and summer. In the winter time, tourists from abroad (mainly Europe) come to Goa to enjoy the climate. In the summertime (which, in Goa, is the rainy season), tourists from across India come to spend the holidays.

With the rule of the Portuguese for over 450 years and the consequential influence of Portuguese culture, Goa presents a somewhat different picture to the foreign visitor than other parts of the country. The state of Goa is famous for its excellent beaches, churches, and temples. The Bom Jesus Cathedral, Fort Aguada and a new wax museum on Indian history, culture and heritage in Old Goa are other tourism destinations.

Historic sites and neighbourhoods

Goa has two World Heritage Sites: the Bom Jesus Basilica and churches and convents of Old Goa. The Basilica holds the mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier, regarded by many Catholics as the patron saint of Goa (the patron of the Archdiocese of Goa is actually the Blessed Joseph Vaz). The relics are taken down for veneration and for public viewing, as per the prerogative of the Church in Goa, not not every ten or twelve years as popularly thought and propagated. The last exposition was held in 2004. Goa also has the Sanctuary of Blessed Joseph Vaz in Sancoale, Pilar monastery which holds novenas of Venerable Padre Agnelo Gustavo de Souza from November 10 to 20 November yearly. There is also a claimed Marian Apparition at the Church of Saints Simon and Jude at Batim Ganxim, near Pilar, where a number of Goans and non resident Goans visit. There is also the statue of the bleeding Jesus on the Crucifix at the Santa Monica Convent in Velha Goa. There are a number of churches (Igorzo), like the Baroque styled Nixkollounk Gorb-Sombhov Saibinnich Igorz (Church of the Our Lady of Immaculate Conception) in Panjim, the Gothic styled Mater Dei (Dêv Matechi Igorz/ Mother of God Church in Saligao and each church having its own style and heritage, besides Kopelam/ Irmidi (Chapels). The Velhas Conquistas regions are also known for its Goa-Portuguese style architecture. There are many forts in Goa such as Tiracol, Chapora, Corjuem, Aguada, Reis Magos, Nanus, Mormugao, Fort Gaspar Dias and Cabo de Rama.

In many parts of Goa, mansions constructed in the Indo-Portuguese style architecture still stand, though in some villages, most of them are in a dilapidated condition. Fontainhas in Panaji has been declared a cultural quarter, showcasing the life, architecture and culture of Goa. Some influences from the Portuguese era are visible in some of Goa's temples, notably the Shanta Durga Temple, the Mangueshi Temple and the Mahalasa Temple, although after 1961, many of these were demolished and reconstructed in the indigenous Indian style.

Museums and science centre

Goa also has a few museums, the two important ones being Goa State Museum and the Naval Aviation Museum. The Aviation museum is one among three of its kind in the India, the other two being in Delhi and Bengaluru. Also, a place not well known to tourists is the Goa Science Centre, which is located in Panjim. The National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) is also located in Goa at Dona Paula.

Old GOA:


Old Goa  or Velha Goa (Velha means "old" in Portuguese) is a historical city in North Goa district in the Indian state of Goa. The city was constructed by the Bijapur Sultanate in the 15th century, and served as capital of Portuguese India from the 16th century until its abandonment in the 18th century due to a plague. It is said to have once been a city of nearly 200,000 where from, before the plague, the Portuguese traded across continents. The remains of the city are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Old Goa is barely 10 kilometers from the state capital of Panaji.

Churches of Old Goa

Old Goa contains churches affiliated to various congregations, including the Se Cathedral (the seat of the Archbishop of Goa), the Church of St. Francis of Assisi, the Church of S. Caetano, and notably, the Basilica of Bom Jesus which contains the relics of Saint Francis Xavier, which is celebrated every year on 3 December with novenas beginning on 24 November.

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Photos: Shashidhar.B.S & Wikipedia
Information Courtesy: Wikipedia

Dood Sagar Falls- Goa & Karnataka Border

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Dudhsagar Falls (दुधसागर धबधबा in Marathi; ದೂದಸಾಗರ್ ಜಲಪಾತ in Kannada; English translation: Sea of Milk ) is a tiered waterfall located on the Mandovi River in the state of Goa, India, on Goa's border with the state of Karnataka. It is 60 km from Panaji.

Legend

Legend has it that a beautiful princess lived in the forest (near present day, Dudhsagar Falls) where there was then a palace. She loved and enjoyed bathing in a lake nearby and used to drink "sweetened milk" from her "Golden Jug" after finishing with her bath. One day while enjoying her jug of milk she found herself being watched by a prince, who was standing amongst the trees. Red with embarrassment at her inadequate bathing attire, she poured the jug of milk in front of him to form an improvised curtain to hide her body, while the maids rushed to cover her with her dress.
And it is said that, it is that sweetened milk that cascades down the mountain slope to this day as tribute to the virtue and modesty of the Princess, as the "Dudhsagar Falls".

Location and surounding


The falls is in the border of Karnataka and Goa and the roads leading to it are maintained by the Goa Forest Department, and are closed in the rainy season. The roads are again opened from the month of October. At its base, there is a small pond. One can bath but in their own risk. There are also fishes in the pond and the water is very cold, even in the afternoon. The Waterfall is located inside the Bhagwan Mahavir Wild Life Sanctuary at Collem in South Goa along the western Ghats.
The surrounding area is surrounded by a deciduous forest and there are many species of birds, insects, plants and animal abound here.

The waterfall

Dudhsagar is one of the world's most exquisite falls that lies in India.The falls lie high up in the Mandovi River's watershed and so are not particularly spectacular during the dry season. During the monsoon season however, the falls are transformed into one of the most powerful falls in India.
Dudhsagar Falls is listed as India's 5th tallest waterfall,and is 227th in the world at 310 m.The water plummets hundreds of feet in large volumes during the monsoon season, forming one of the most spectacular natural phenomena in Goa. It is a major part of the Goa ecosystem.This is a four tiered waterfall with a total height of 310 metres (1017 feet) and an average width of 30 metres (100 feet).

Transport

The Water Fall can be reached both by road and rail. It can be reached by road from the National Highway (NH-4A). The nearest Station to the falls is Collem (Kuhlem) (South Central Railway). The route for rail to reach the falls from Goa is Collem - Mollem (6 km) - Dudhsagar Falls. The another route is from Carambolim (Karmali Railway Station - Konkan Railways). The route is Carambolim - Old Goa - Ponda - Tiska- Mollem (total 50 km) - Dudhsagar Falls.
But entering the park and mountains which lead to the falls is not advisable in a normal car, and may only be accessible to SUV's and 4WD jeeps, as the road comprises a jungle track that has rivers criss crossing it at several points. The driver drops one just near the falls from where one may have to walk 1 kilometre ahead, crossing over small ways carved through the rocks at the foot of the falls. This waterfalls lies on the Londa-Margaon railway route.
The falls is in the border of Karnataka and Goa and the roads are maintained by the Goa Forest Department, and are closed in the rainy season. The roads are again opened from the month of October. The train route to reach the falls from Karnataka is as follows:

Trekking

Trekking in Dudhsagar is a famous tourist attraction. There are 2 abandoned shelters for the refuge of trekkers (left to the falls and right side beside the railway track) however they are available on the first come first serve basis. Medical and pure drinking water facilities are not available around Dudhsagar but one can approch the station guard at Dudhsagar railway station in emergency. There are 4 possible routes to reach Dudhsagar Falls, of which only two are accessible in monsoon.
Route 1 (Castle Rock Route)
This is the most famous route during the monsoon, Reach Castle Rock station and start a Scenic 14 km hike to Dudhsagar Water falls along the railway track, it normally takes 5–6 hours for a normal person to reach.In this route we will be passing through a number of tunnels, a board reading "Welcome to Goa" and also great views of the Valley.
Route 2 (Kulem Route)
This is equally scenic but less popular as compared to Route 1, One has to get down at Kuhlem/Collem Railway station and walk towards the falls which is about 11 km away. It normally takes 4–5 hours for a normal person to reach. The famous photograph of Trains passing through before the waterfalls can be seen in this route, and also the complete strecth of the falls will be visible while you hike towards the waterfalls.
Route 3 (Transport + Hike)
In Kulhem one can hire a 4X4 to reach the foot of the Dudhsagar waterfalls, There is a taxi stand called 'Dudhsagar Taxi stand' where one can hire a vehicle and get dropped near the falls which is 1 km hike from the dropping point. This is used in the post-pre monsoon season and is suitable for large groups with kids and ladies.
Route 4 (Kuveshi-Dudhsagar)
This is the most adventurous route and cannot be attempted in monsoon since we have to cross Mondovi river during the hike. The hike starts from a village called Kuveshi around 10 km from Castle Rock railway station. The hike is through thick jungle and is difficult to complete without experience. By this we can reach Dudhsagar Railway station which is 1 km from the falls.

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Courtesy: Wikipedia