You all may have been on a trip to Goa sometime or the other. Some of you may have gone more than once. For some it must be an annual tradition, either with friends, cousins or family. The beaches, the shacks, the casinos, the cheap booze, the sea food and the medieval churches.
But to someone, who grew up in Goa, the story is very different. I am a third generation Guju in Goa. And for me, Goa means something very different than the stereotyped expectations. After a few family trips and a school picnic, beaches lose their clichéd charm. Now, I visit North Goa beaches only for the flea markets, and South Goa beaches for a night under the stars.
The residential life in Goa is slow, calm and hassle free. Especially, the town I spent my childhood in, Vasco-da-Gama is an idyllic port town. Almost everybody knows everybody else, and a walk down the street is an occasion to acknowledge and nod hellos to almost every person you encounter. This is a far cry from the tourists who come here under the veil of anonymity to indulge in all the pleasurable vices.
Life in Goa is very friendly and soothing. From the newspaper boy in the morning to the vegetable vendor in the market, families have traditional ties. Going to the market is no different than stepping into a neighborhood pub. You will bump into friends along the way, and have a good time.
But even for those who come to Goa with a wanderlust, the place has more to offer than beaches and booze. Leave the coastline behind, and you will enter deep tropical forests, rustic villages and ancient temples. The winding roads pass through paddy plantation and sacred groves.
Some temples in the Goan hinterland date back to very old ages. For instance the Tambadisurla temple, devoted to Shiva is a monolithic temple, surrounded by green hills and a flowing river. At any given time, hundreds of butterflies swarm the place. This too is Goa.
The Chorla Ghat, on the border with Karnataka, is engulfed by the clouds for most part of the year. Here, high up in the valley, more than hundred species of birds, animals and amphibians make it a botanical paradise. If you drive through this land, the forest will embrace you and etch an everlasting memory in your mind. This too is Goa.
Many traditional festivals are celebrated with splendour in the forgotten villages. The Tripuri Poornima celebration in villages like Sanquelim include burning of demonic idols in the middle of a lake, surrounded by decorated houseboats. Many such customs continue within the folds of this historical land. And this too is Goa.
Goa has something to offer for every taste. On your next trip, uncover the real treasures of Goa.
