All thanks to my umpteen Goa visits in the winters that
my love for forests have often been thrown down the gauntlet by the bang
up-to-date beaches in Goa! But the last long weekend sometime in the month of
January had undergone a lot of destination research and we both hit off the
road to discover the less-discovered. We wanted beach minus the crowd. We
wanted a resort right on the beach without burning a hole in the pocket. We
wanted a cleaner and calmer alternative to Goa. And thoroughly Konkan and
rustic Vengurla suited the gauges!
The hills and the Arabian Sea hemming Vengurla in from
all sides, made its beaches proudly virgin - white sand beaches, clear cobalt blue
waters alive with myriad marine life. Beside the beaches and one lighthouse,
there is not much to see, unless you love ancient temples and historical forts tucked
away in the quaint little villages.
The favourite part of our Vengurla exploration was
the Lighthouse atop a cliff from where the sea stretching far over a horizon looked
infinite while the small boats sliced through the seawaters as they approached the
pier to drop off the day’s catch. I stood by the little balcony that circled around
the lighthouse and the wind swished past my open hairs – a perfect easy-on-the-mind-and-soul
holiday.
Our stay, the Golven Beach Resort (GBR) offered a right-on-the-beach
experience with its cute and cozy cottages laid squarely across the beach with a
great gallery to have the above-ground view of the wide stretch of Ubhadanda shoreline.
The hospitality and food of GBR need a special mention here with their extraordinary
‘malvani crab masala’ topping my list. The thick green canopy of cashew, mango,
coconut and an assortment of berries in and around the resort attracts a lot of
birds like the Indian Swiftlet, Green Bee Eater, White Throated Kingfisher,
Oriental Magpie Robin, Purple Sunbird and others, making it an ideal place near
for nature enthusiasts.
Vengurla is unassertive on tourist frills, and also
oblivious to its simple charms. You don’t get to rent your own shack on the
beaches nor you have beach facing booze and seafood bistros or flea market at
every nook and cranny – it’s a no-crowd and no-extravagance beach holiday and
you will love every bit of this quiet only if you are looking for peace at no
cost!
Explore:
o Beaches
- Sagareshwar Beach, 3 kms from the bus stand, the beach is hidden behind rows
of tall casuarinas.
o Fort -
Terekhol, 20 kms south of Vengurla at the Goa border.
o Vengurla Jetty - The best time to visit the jetty is in the evening around 5.00pm when the boats return with the day’s catch.
o Vengurla Jetty - The best time to visit the jetty is in the evening around 5.00pm when the boats return with the day’s catch.
o
The Lighthouse - 3 kms from the town and near the jetty (6 AM – 5:30 PM), to
the northwest are the Vengurla Rocks, also called Burnt Islands.
o
Mochemad
- 9 kms from Vengurla, is famous for a small blue-and-white church reminiscent
of Goa’s churches.
o
Local
Market - Malvan Fish Market or the Shiroda market for some flavours of the
local life.
Quick
Facts:
o
State
- Maharashtra
o
Distance
- 522 kms S of Mumbai Travel
o
When
to go - November-February
o
Air
- Nearest airport is Dabolim, Goa (127 km/21/2 hrs).
o
Rail
- Nearest railhead is Sawantwadi (28 km/1 hr).
o
Road
- Vengurla is lies on the Mumbai-Goa route. It is well-connected by roads to
Mumbai and other major cities in Maharashtra.
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