Goa is on.  Bus, train, flight or road trip, travelling to Goa from Mumbai is always fun. We all don’t need any explanation on Goa but have you visited each and every corner of it? Some make their own trip by googling famous spots, some google un-famous spots. Some ask the local people so that they can explore the un-touch beauty of Goa. Some want parties, liquor and some even want drugs.

Here is my version of Goa. I am from Mumbai and  I have been to Goa many times and I have experienced all the ways to reach there.

Right from my childhood days, I have visited Goa. I don’t remember how many times. But for me, Goa is next door. I remember, the first time I visited Goa was Panjim City. Don’t remember the hotel name though, But the famous Panjim bridge was visible from my room. All I remember in that trip was the story of how that bridge fell down, how lucky people survived, how unlucky people died, etc etc. And also I believed that the bridge was made of coins (Rupees coins).

Shree Mangesh temple

My kuldevata (tutelary deity in Hinduism) is Mangueshi-Mahalakshmi (Lord Shiva – Goddess Lakshmi). So Whenever I  had traveled to Goa, I never went there to visit beaches and all.  My family’s main motive was to visit our temples and do our rituals. Majorly, my stay was at Mangueshi Temple in Mardoli.  And after finishing all rituals, we used to visit Mahalakshmi Temple. Then for 3 days only Temples Temples. Mhalsadevi Temple, Ganesh Temple, Shanta Durga Temple, Ram Nathi Temple, Vikram-Betal Temple, Nageshi Temple. And on the very last day we used to see Miramar beach and then leave for Mumbai.

Mahalakshmi Temple

As I grew up, I started exploring beaches.  And mostly North Goa because it comes first while entering Goa, by road and South Goa was far. So in North Goa, obviously, that Baga beach. Don’t know why it is famous. It was just a happening beach, like other beaches, nothing else. After many years Chapora Fort became famous. It was because of the movie ‘Dil Chahata Hai’, and was famous as  ‘Dil chahata hai point’ rather than Chapora Fort.

Chapora Fort, Dil Chahata Hai Point

Many years later, I heard of ‘Dudh-Sagar waterfall’, which comes in South Goa. This place is good but a little difficult to go there as you have to pass through many rocks. Best  season to go there is after the rainy season. Rest all day, you get very less waterfall. And yes, the place is over-crowded.

Dudh Sagar Waterfall

So goa, goa, goa and beaches started to get over-crowding. All places, markets started to get over-crowding. Goa is fun but since hell lots of crowd, then we can’t enjoy much.  So one day, I decided to visit South Goa. Because as per google, the crowd is less there. The place is not-so happening there. So thought, let’s give it a try. I booked ‘Cuba Patnem’ shack-hotel located at Patnem Beach.

Patnem Beach

The beach was small, and very less crowded.  I enjoyed staying there. The rooms of that hotel were not so hi-fi, no TV (surprise to see after check-in) but the food was awesome. And since  it was a shack hotel, playing on the beach and cleaning our-self was not a hazel task. The waves were moderate and hence kids also enjoyed it too.  When not at the beach, we used to sit in a shack, watch sunset. The beach was so peaceful that people even used to do meditation there. In Baga beach, all u hear some nasty comments when you do such things. But my 3 days at that beach was awesome. peaceful and very relaxing.

If you haven’t seen all, then next time visit South Goa, book a shack-hotel at a not-so-famous beach and I am sure you will enjoy it. I Will surely visit once again but after go-corona-go.  Till then  stay safe, keep distance, wear a mask.