This time of year usually brings out the
romantic in most people living in Goa, with the weather often giving one, what
has been termed by ‘the millenials’ as, ‘the feels’. The monsoon is usually one
of the best times to head out on that long drive through Goa. There are a lot
of green stretches that yearn to be explored, fun places to stop at for piping
hot food and drink amidst the cold of the rain; and as an added bonus to
residents of the state, at this time of year, there are usually less tourists
congesting the roads in rented vehicles. Across various parts of Goa, here are
a few quaint drives that can be undertaken:
Betul – Agonda
This stretch is
not for the entirely faint of heart, as there are a couple of steep drops and
many sharp turns. But from abundant greenery, to intermittent glimpses of the
River Sal, to expanses of land that don’t seem to have seen rainfall in years,
this drive has a little bit of everything, including a short stretch through a
gap cut in stone, between two hills.
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Margao – Curtorim
‘The Granary of
Salcete’, Curtorim has lush expanses of green, especially during the wetter
months. The most picturesque part of the trip is the stretch between the
villages of Maina and Curtorim. When heading from the former to the latter, the
entire strip is laced with traditional Goan houses on the right hand side,
overlooking fields on the other side of the road.
Panjim – Old Goa
Leaving the capital city towards the old religious hub of Old Goa, one first
comes across the fishing village of Ribandar, crossing the narrow, age-old ‘Ponte de Linhares’ (more commonly known
as the Ribandar Causeway). The village has tiny lanes with houses that
literally live in each other’s spaces, and a few jetties that lead to the
popular islands of Divar and Chorao. The Mandovi River is a constant companion
on this trip, always to the left of the driver.
Kudaim – Farmagudi
Along the eastern
front, this (to quote The Beatles) ‘long and winding road’, is an absolute
treat. Involving a ghat, for good measure, it is interspersed with steep climbs
and drops, broad, well-tarred stretches, the occasional sighting of temples and
plenty of cows to cut through, for added thrill-seeking.
Loutolim – Verna (via Verna Industrial
Estate)
This has been referred
to by some as ‘the Grand Canyon road’, and not without good reason, either. It
climbs hills through a narrow back road in Loutolim, crossing the Verna border
at the rear end of the industrial estate, before heading into a wide pass, cut
through the hill itself. This road eventually leads to the main highway (NH17),
which is an adventure in itself, and serves as a shortcut for residents of
Loutolim, looking to head further north.
Parra: Tinto – Church
This is probably the shortest run of the entire lot, lasting less than a
kilometre in all. However, it epitomises the expression, ‘fun while it
lasted’. From the tinto to
the church, is the shortest of short distances, but it’s also postcard
material. The road is wide enough for just one vehicle to pass at a time, which
means that vehicles coming from opposite sides need to coordinate with each
other for safe passage. Through this entire process, the setting is a green
one, with palm trees flanking vehicles on either side of the road, and fields
beyond that.
