Tidung Island is an island in Indonesia that is located close to the capital city Jakarta. The Tidung Island is classified as Big Tidung and smaller Tidung and since the small island is mainly just covered with Mangrove forests, the bigger island is a place of tourist attraction.
The best part about this island is that it is mainly undiscovered and a less talked about place among tourists which makes it less crowded and relatively cheap! What else could you ask for? It is a large island with a single road in the middle. White sand beaches and clear blue water for as far as eyes can see. The island is basically a breeding ground for mangroves and the seeds are planted once a year.
How to reach:
From a port in North Jakarta (Muara Angke), you can either reach Tidung by a slow wooden boat or ferry or speed boating. The ferry would take 3 hours to reach while the speed boat would take you there in one and a half hours. The ferry timing is 7 am sharp and since it only leave once a day, make sure you are on it.
Lodgings:
The island is not commercially developed and is maintained locally by the people who live there. The lodgings are available on the big island of Tidung Besar as the smaller island is uninhabited. The people of the island have decorated their homes and fitted air conditioners so it is quite comfortable. It is a community-based island so instead of expensive hotels and resorts, you get to stay with the locals in their homes. Don’t worry they are quite charming and nice!
Tidung Waters are shallow and there are coral reefs, tropical fish and exotic sea creatures in it. The underwater world is one marvelous part of the island and if that does not tempt you to visit here, I do not know what will. It is the perfect place for marine tourism and diving for beginners. People interested in studying coral reefs may also visit.
There are also tree houses near the beach where you can sit back and enjoy the delightful blue waves. Also, it is one of the most pocket-friendly places to visit. A trip to Tidung will fit right into your budget and it is a better and cheaper option than the other crowded or expensive islands. This is a place of peace and quiet where you can hide from the noisy city and just live in the moment.
The most popular thing about the island is the bridge connecting Small Tidung and Tidung Large. It is a long bridge and locally known as ‘Bridge of Love’. At the beginning point of the bridge, locals often demonstrate diving into the beautiful blue water, entertaining the tourists and filling them with a desire to jump into those waters themselves. The end of the bridge lies at the small Tidung island where you may cycle along the paths, or relax at empty white sand beaches, soaking in the sun and filling your sight with beautiful scenery. The bridge itself offers picturesque views but crossing this bridge needs a strong courageous heart and is no child’s game.
Tidung Island also offers water sports facilities and many water games for the thrill-seekers and people with an adventurous spirit.These water game facilities are available at the western part of Large Tidung.Visit Tidung for a family getaway and you will have so much fun that you will not want to go back home. It has all the necessary fragments of paradise, so don’t miss out!
Odisha is renowned as ‘Goa of East’ but most of the tourists visiting Odisha mostly have temples on their mind or, if not that, monuments, museums, and wildlife sanctuaries. This means that the sea beaches of the state remain ignored. Even those who have sea beaches as tourist spots of secondary attraction in their mind are contended with beaches of Puri or Konark leaving about a dozen other beaches unexplored.
Odisha has a four hundred and a sixty-kilometer long coastline on the Bay of Bengal and is home to more than a dozen sea beaches. Some of these like those at Puri, Konark, the Chilika lake are rather popular and hectic because of their proximity with tourist spots (Puri sea beach is near the Jagganath temple – one of four Dhams of Hinduism and thus attracts thousands of pilgrims, Konarak sea beach is just three kilometers away the Konark Sun temple and the Chilika Lake is itself a major tourist destination). However, that also means that these beeches are rather crowded and commercialized. To some of us, a crowded and/or commercialized beach beats the purpose of its being beach – for one goes on a beach to be able to lay back and relax and the crowd might mean too little of private space to do that. Moreover, some people only want places that are haven’t got their well-justified attention.
If any of the above is the issue with you, we now bring to you five most unexplored beaches of the Odisha. Whether you want a quiet day, go swimming or fishing or boating, these beaches offer amazing alternatives for the more popular beaches of Odisha. The Balramgadhi Beach, the Astranga Beach, the Paradeep Beach, the Pati Sonalpur Beach and Gopalpur sea beach offer you all the more natural delights that a sea beach is supposed to offer while staying away from the crowds that frequent the most popular beaches of Odisha. Moreover, many of them are such scenic beauty that they offer photography opportunities to their visitors.
Read about them and consider visiting them, they deserve far more attention than they are getting at present. Otherwise, hush! And don’t spread the word, the best part of their beauty is in their virginity – their relative (and fortunately for us) lack of beauty:
1. Balramgadhi Sea Beach
This rather quiet and peaceful beach is situated just three kilometers from Chandipur. It is the meeting place of Budhabalange with the Bay of Bengal. The beach lacks commercialization of the major beaches and offers a calm silent audience to the music of waves. Let the sea kiss your feet or just lay back and spend an evening reading a book inside the cradle of nature. You can also observe locals fishing and boating done by locals here. The tranquility you will find at this beach is simply unmatched elsewhere in Odisha, if not in India.
How to reach Balramgadhi Sea Beach?
From Chandipur, drive for three kilometers on Balramgadhi road.
2. Astranga Sea Beach
The name ‘Astranga’ means ‘color of setting sun’ and, this beach located just three hours drive from Bhubaneshwar deserves this beautiful name for the mesmerizing way in which the light of setting sun plays on its waters and the horizon. The sun itself blushes at its own beauty every evening. The scenery here is any photographer’s delight. Prince Myshkin, the protagonist of Dostoevsky ceremonial novel, ‘The Idiot’, once popularly said, “Beauty will save the world”. He might as well have been talking about this beach.
How to reach Astranga Sea Beach?
The beach is eighty kilometers from Bhubaneshwar on State Highway 13.
3. Pardeep Sea Beach
Located at the meeting point of Mahanadi and Bay of Bengal, this beach offers splendid views to its visitors besides being an important sea-port of the state. Watch the ships, boats, and streamers from the port pass by as you enjoy the passing beauty of setting sun. The blue waters kiss the sands with every wave in amazing ways – your camera will love this sea beach.
How to reach Pardeep Sea Beach?
From Bhubaneshwar, first drive to Cuttack and, from here, take Cuttack-Pardeep road. The distance is 115 kilometers.
4. Pati Sonepur Sea Beach
This beach has been more or less untouched and offers mesmerizing virgin beauty as Bahuda river finds its destination in the Bay of Bengal here. Giving you a chance to dance in the shadow of the stars and kiss in the light of the moon, this beach is an amazing place for a romantic night. Consider making this beautiful little spot can serve as your honeymoon special.
How to reach Pati Soanalpur Sea Beach?
Berhampur is the closest railroad. From Berhampur you need to drive twenty kilometers on National Highway 5.You can Take a bus from Bhubaneshwar to reach Berhampur.
5. Gopalpur Sea Beach
Lined with coconut trees, the sea beach offers mesmerizing beauty. It also serves as a perfect adventurer’s retreat vailing swimming, surfing and sailing opportunities. You also get to see the local fisherman doing their job. The beach is just a few hours drive from Chilika lake. Despite the commercially created looks, it is not crowded and thus giving the best of both worlds. The seafood is easily available. This beach can be an amazing picnic spot and just the perfect spot if you are traveling in large groups.
How to reach Gopalpur Sea Beach?
Drive for 166 kilometers on National Highway 16 from Bhubaneshwar.
And a bonus beach just for you:
Balighai Beach
This is perhaps the calmest of all beaches of Odisha. The quiet beach is a step away from the urban noises and is the splendid place of feeling wise as you see the sunset on the horizon. The beach is perfect for a quiet beach night.
How to reach Balighai Beach?
A 73 kilometers drive from Bhubaneshwar on National Highway 316.
Conclusion
Please note that if you are considering exploring these beaches, we recommend having a personal vehicle at your disposal as some of these beaches can only be reached via public transport after changing several buses.
There are several other relatively unexplored beaches along the coastline of Odisha. We hope that in times to come, it will be able to attract beach tourism like Mumbai and Goa. After all, it has a far larger number of and far many more beaches than those two destinations. Do try at least one sea beach if you ever visit Odisha.
If you are on a tight schedule and sea beaches are not at the top of the list of attractions you wish to see in Odisha, we recommend you Puri or Konark sea beach which is located conveniently near to major tourist spots. However, if exquisite sea beech experience is of prime value to you, we recommend you to travel a little far to discover these unexplored beauties.
If you want a holiday away from holidaying crowds, the rush of urban life; Diu might just be for you. Probably one of the most underrated holiday destinations of India, Diu is a district in the union territory of Daman and Diu – one of the least populated ones. The serene beaches, the stunning sunset points, the churches, the easy availability of wine, even the Portuguese connection – there is a lot of Goa in Diu, more so for Gujraties for Gujrat is a dry state and it is here Gujraties come to have their fill of wine.
But it is far better than Goa – far less crowded, far less expensive and much further from the urbanity of Goa. It is also much safer even for even solo travelers. Diu has many portions of its beaches reserved for foreigners and women.
Need even more reasons to visit Diu? All sight-seeing on the island can be comfortably done in a day though as far as having your fill of it goes, a whole lifetime may not be enough.
History
Historically, the island of Diu was a part of the Saurashtra region of the Gujrat and an important port for trading on the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean.
Its strategic importance, Portugal had its eyes on Diu during the early 16th century and made several attempts to conquer it only to lose at hands of local rulers It was only in 1535, that Bahadur Shah, the then Sultan of Gujrat, made a defensive alliance with the Portuguese government against the Mughal emperor Humayun and, in quid pro quo, allowed the Portuguese to construct their Fort and maintain a garrison on the island.
For the next two centuries, it remained an important strategic point until the rise of Bombay reduced its strategic importance. Much like Goa, it remained under Portuguese long after India’s independence till 1961. It was in December 1961 that Indian armies invaded Indian territories occupied by Portuguese and won it in about 48 hours making it a union territory named – Goa, Daman, and Diu. Goa became a state in the year 1987, the remainder Daman and Diu continues to be a union territory.
When to visit Diu
The 38.8 square kilometers long island is at sea level and the climate is both warm and humid.
How to reach Diu?
Diu is connected mainland by a bridge. You can take local transportation from Una. It also has its airport that receives regular flights from several main cities.
Locally, the best way to travel is on a bicycle or scooter or a rickshaw, the former two are easily available on rent while the later offer package tours of the whole island at highly affordable rates. You will need to cover about 6 to 8 kilometers maximum in your trip and so plan accordingly. Though we
What to eat at Diu?
Gujrati and mainland food are easily available. Though unlike Gujrat, non-vegetarian food seems to be preferred here. One of the things you must try is Hoka. It is a palm that branches from one trunk and is an Africa plant brought here by Portuguese and it is to be only found in India in Diu or neighboring Kathiawad region of Gujrat.
Where to stay?
There are inexpensive hotels available in Diu. There is a Hoka resort near Nagoa beach which for its part Portuguese touch, Gujarati cuisine and other simple pleasure get our recommendation.
What to buy?
Diu is popular for its bamboo and leather products. We recommend taking back some corals as souvenirs.
Attractions
Diu Fort
Diu has a rather low skyline and in fact, the only tall building in the whole of the island is Diu Fort located on the western coast of India in Diu. It is with this fort we recommend starting your journey with.
The fort was built by Portuguese during the time of their colonial rule in 1535 and was the center of political activities of same in the region harboring their garrison for 235 years. It was only in 1961 that it finally fell to Indian forces ending Portegeuse colonial rules over parts of India.
The port hast a lighthouse which is the highest point on the island and can send a beam of light to a distance of 32 kilometers in every direction. Part of this fort has been converted into a Jail for the island. There are gardens within it and bastions with bronze cannons overlooking the sea. There is also a structure in the sea called Pani Kotha or Fortim do Mar – stunningly beautiful under a flood of lights if you manage to come back and have a look at the night time. Named as one of 7 wonders built by Portuguese around the world during their colonial rule out of a list of 27 monuments ( Basilica of Bom Jesus in Old Goa also made it to the list of seven), the fort has undergone some wear and tear over its long life and under the impact of tidal erosion.
Naida caves Diu
Naida Caves has a haunting beauty as natural sunlight shines off the orangish rocks – there is no knowing whether these caves are of natural origin created by geological forces or were developed because of quarrying by Portuguese. The entry is free and open for most of the daytime though it might be denied in evenings and night.
Paul Church
Our next stop is St. Paul’s church, it is only one of the three churches in Diu still used for its original purpose. The Church of St Francis of Assisi which was the first church ever built in Diu, in the year 1593 is presently used as a hospital while St Thomas Church is now a museum.
St Paul’s Church was built in ten years from 1601 to 1610, IT was dedicated in 1691 to Our Lady of Immaculate Conception. In the night time, it gets illuminated by floodlights. Its gothic architectural style resembles that of Bom Jesus Church at Old Goa. A marvel in architecture, one of the most beautiful things about it is its woods carvings with shell-like motifs.
Gangaoshree temple
According to a local legend, 5 shivlings were discovered here. It is a cave temple built somewhat in the sea with a somewhat submerged shivling and a Ganesha in a shrine that you reach by descending a few stairs.
Seashell museum.
Probably one of the best things about Diu. It is a museum full of amazing aquatic species in jars full of formaldehyde solutions. Photography is not allowed here.
Nagoa Beach
By now it will be evening time, and where else to spend your evening except on a beach? Diu offers several options for the same. Nagoa Beach is the most popular one. Full of all sort of Goan holiday pleasures – whether it be water sports like boat riding, hot air ballooning and bungee jumping, etc, easy availability of alcohol, or just plain old stunning sight of the sea, this is a tourist magnet of a beach. Though water sport activities might be suspended by authorities.
Jalandhar Beach and Chakratirth Beaches
If you are looking for less commercial, more solitary beaches; you may choose between Jalandhar Beach and Chakratirth Beaches. Beautiful stunning beaches and amazing places to watch the sunset. They are near Naida caves and another nearby point is INS Khukri memorial with a long list of soldiers martyred in that naval vassal during the Indo-Pak war of 1971.
8 St. Thomas Church
Built-in 1598 on gothic style and now a museum, the St. Thomas Church puts on display antique statues, stone inscriptions, wooden carvings, idols, etc. A part of it has been converted into a museum full of archaeological treasures dating back to 15th century. The reason why we have kept it for the late evening is so that you can enjoy the multicolored foundations and the special lighting that makes the building even more stunning.
Conclusion
Diu is a mini Goa in hiding. The panoramic views of the Arabian Sea it offers are stunning. When are you planning to visit it?
Goa has a laid back culture which attracts both international tourists as well as the nation’s youth – thus making it tourist capital of India. Still, it presents some challenges to solo familiar travelers. For one thing, there are drug and excessive drinking issues. For the second, there is news of increasing frequency of crimes against women. There are also some reported cases of burglary.
Goa is worth all those risks especially since most risks can be put off if you take measures against them and the risks mentioned above are no more prevalent than any other major international tourist destination.
We have already shared some tips that can come handy for a female solo traveler in general. Today Ghoomophiro brings you some safety tips for solo female travelers in Goa in particular:
Smile, be nice but also be assertive
While we must never forget to smile and be nice to those we talk; we must also be assertive about our rights. A foreknowledge of our rights help. Do not be taken by the aggressiveness of others who might try to intimate you.
Airport and taxis
Goa’s airport is as safe as you might expect an airport to be. Taxi services are readily available at the airport and can be considered fairly safe. That said, we recommend using the Uber app to order a taxi. The charges for such taxis are fixed and they have taken safety precautions of their own. Google has recently launched a new service which will warm you if your driver was to get off his route.
Beaches and Beach Huts
Goa’s beaches are it’s the biggest attraction. As far as female safety go, the beaches are the safest one can find in India. Women can roam around in two-piece without getting stares or get far fewer stares than elsewhere. There might though be robbery issues. We recommend putting your belongings in custody of some friend you made at the place. Avoid carrying too many valuables to the beach.
Beach Huts are one of the biggest attractions of the beaches of Goa. These pretty houses are made of a variety of materials including bamboo or banana leaves, wood or concrete. However, there might be chances of theft if safety measures are not taken. If you are a solo female traveler, we highly recommend avoiding huts made entirely of bamboo or banana leaves. We recommend sticking to ones that are made of harder material like wood or concrete and that can be locked properly. We recommend traveling lightly – such facilities as ATMs are readily available in Goa.
Night Life
While Goa has the best of night Life you can find anywhere in India, this also means lots of drinking and drugs. We recommend making friends at your hotel or guest house and enjoy your nightlife with them. Do not accept drinks except those served by the stuff at the club – as people are in habit of putting stuff into drinks. Avoid arguing with drunken men as they tend to grow aggressively. Don’t get into a taxi if you find that the driver is drunk.
Rentable scooters
Rentable scooters are the best way to roam around in Goa. They cost about 300 bucks for a day and if you rent them for multiple days 150 bucks a day. However, if you are a solo woman traveler or foreigner or both, you might be considered an easy target and the renters might try to charge you more.
Make sure to use helmets or you are liable to be penalized by local police.
Mobile phones
Mobile phones are the biggest weapons in the hands of solo female travelers. We recommend keeping them sharpened, metaphorically speaking.
We recommend getting your hands on a local sim and use it. The local telecom services offer cheap plans giving free unlimited local calls and good amounts of daily data quota. Use the internet to make your international calls.
Keep apps like Google Maps and Uber Service on your mobile. Use mobile banking to do your transactions as far as possible.
Some useful telephone numbers are given below:
100 police
102 Ambulance
1091 Women Crisis Response
1078 Coast Guard Control Room
1033 Emergency Relief Center on National Highway
Make sure your mobile devices are always charged. You can carry power banks for additional support.
Don’t accept invitations to unknown places
Don’t accept invitations to beach parties and clubs from unknown people if you are not too sure.
Conclusion
There have been rumors declaring Goa unsafe for women after crimes against women in Goa have recently hit the news lines, but we find Goa as safe a place as an international tourist destination with a laid-back lifestyle. The state has dedicated government bodies trying to make it even safer. With a bit of caution, Goa can be safely enjoyed. We hope these safety tips will help you gain confidence and consider traveling alone to Goa. J
Goa is the holiday capital of India and Panjim is the capital of Goa. That introduction should be hint enough as it’s the enormity of attractions it has to offer.
Here is what #ghoomophiro thinks must do’s while in Panjim.
Our Lady of Immaculate Conception Church
The first in our list of 12 amazing things to do in Panjim is a visit to the place that has become the face of the city – Our Lady of Immaculate Conception Church. This church that is standing here for over 400 years has not lost in its beauty and still enchants anyone and every one with its architectural brilliance.
Maruti Temple
Maruti is another name of Lord Hanumana. This beautiful saffron-colored temple grows even more beautiful at dusk when it gets it lits up and shines like a pearl in the hills. The temple is located at top of a hill and it is a somewhat hike of steps to reach there.
Adil Shah Palace or Old Secretariat
Enough with religious places, next in our list of amazing thing stop do in Panjim is a visit to the only palace in the city – that once belonged to Adil Shah. The yellow and white building is now home to some of the best art exhibitions you will see in the country.
Cabo Raj Bhawan
Cabo Raj Bhawan’s brilliant architecture of this building situated at next to the Arabian Sea makes a visit to it fourth in our list of 12 amazing things to do in Panjim.
Residence of Goa’s governor is open to the public on the last three days of weekend – Friday to Sunday. But you must book online to be able to visit it, and the booking costs 300 INR per person and you must have a photo of with you.
The tour will let you see Aushadhi Vatika (literally a herbal garden); the helipad; the cannon point where the cannons still standing to look at the Arabian Sea willing to take on perils that might come from that way; Raj Bhawan museum, church where Dona Paula is buried, Grotta and, of course, the beach.
Mahalakshmi Temple
Okay, one more temple. But Mahalakshmi temple is the most popular temples in Panaji, we just couldn’t help but include it in our list of 12 amazing things to do in Panjim. It is popular with the unique Deepstambh in brickwork here.
Goa State Museum
Next in our list of 12 amazing things to do in Panjim is Goa State Museum. There are some amazing artifacts here – including a wooden Raath (chariot); the ancient Hindu stones that honor the brave who sacrifices there loves posthumously, etc
Sunset at Dona Paula
Next in our list of amazing things to do in Panjim is watching the sunset at Dona Paula. A perfect vantage point where all you see is sea, sky, and sun, it is a perfect place to enjoy your sunset in Dona Paula. You must arrive half an hour before the time of sunset. The sunset at Dona Paula is best enjoyed during months after the monsoon (October and November) when the sunsets are even more particularly beautiful.
Miramar Beach
Included as next item in our list of amazing things to do in Panjim is a visit to Miramar Beach. Popular for its stunning sunsets, it offers you a chance to take a boat ride deeper into the sea. And there are dinner cruises available.
Fontainhas Heritage Walk
The Fontainhas is perhaps the oldest part of Panjim and is sometimes also called the Latin Quarters. It is known for its Latin architecture and colorful houses and steep staircases that connect it to the hill above making a cultural visit here one of 12 amazing things to do in Goa
Mandovi pleasures
Mandovi river and nearby areas offer a number of experiences which together form the next item in our list . To begin with it is just an amazing place for those who enjoy walking. Walk along the shores of Mandovi river and let your eyes feast on the beautiful sights it has to offer including tranquil peace of watching the sunset (particularly at Darya sangham).
You can also hire a private boat to explore the backwaters of the Mandovi river. Organized cruises mostly start in the evenings. Who knows you might even see dolphins!
You will also have a chance to go bird watching in the Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary nearby which is home to a number of exotic birds. All these pleasures together form an item we couldn’t help but include in our list of 12 amazing things to do in Panjim.
When to visit?
Panjim celebrates a number of festivals, the following ones are especially recommended at times to be in Panjim:
New Year – the fireworks at beaches are not an awesome sight to start your new year with; especially those at Miramar Beach.
Lokotsav – a folk festival when a number of artists from all over India perform at Kala academy for a duration of 10 days or so at Kala academy. The street food from all over the country also finds its ways into the city.
Viva Goa Carnival – full of joys that best carnivals can offer whether it be colorful decorations, music, dancing food and drinks, it is celebrated in the month of February.
Shigmo – on the 18th of June every year, the streets are filled with tradional music.
Sao Joao – The onset of monsoons is celebrated by jumping into wells and well, these days into swimming pools.
Narkasur Chaturdashi – Goan version of Diwali involves children creating a demon names Narkasur which is burnt on the day of the festival.
IFFI – International Film Festival of India held in November every year turns places like Kala Academy, ESG and INOX theatres are full of cinema lovers.
GALF – Goa Arts and Literary Festival held in December every year bring literature and art lovers to ICG (International Center Goa) for 4 days in which talks, panel discussions, workshops, networking, etc are held.
Christmas
Ganesh Chaturthi
What to buy?
Panjim is center to Goa’s and, often, national and international culture so there is no dearth of souvenirs you can buy in Panjim. Some of the places you can buy you from – Mario Miranda Gallery near Panaji Church, Wendell Rodricks Boutique in Campal, 18th June Road, etc.
What to eat?
The Zantye is where you can buy cashew and Kokum Sherbet. We recommend trying local fusion food at Black Sheep Bistro and Fish Curry at Ritz Classic. If you are into bars or cafes, Panjim has them almost everywhere.
Hotels in Panaji
Panjim has a number of both high-end, mid-range and budget hotels. The high-end hotels (Cicaade De Goa, Marriott Resort and Spa, Grand Hyatt, etc) are often next to sea beaches and offer stunning views making the price worth it. Among budget hotels, we recommend Hotel Mandovi which offers a charming view of the river.
Conclusion
Panjim is Goa in miniature, it will take you several days to take all it has to offer. We hope this article helps you in finding the best of pleasures it has to offer. J
In many ways, Goa is a fragment of West dislocated to the shores of India. The state has a culture as diverse as it’s cuisine – finding its inspiration from the Portuguese that once ruled it, Hinduism which was once prominent religion here, Christianity which has dug its roots deep inside its soil, the English speaking world which the youth here or the tourists have adopted themselves into.
There are many unique things in which this unique mixture of culture and values shows itself. One of them is increasingly popular Cashew Trail festival. If you have been to Goa, you probably would have drink feni, Goa’s national drink. Feni is made out of cashew.
Cashew Trail Festival is a 10-day festival organized by Park Hyatt Goa Resort & Spa. The festival celebrates cashew and drinks created from it – and their rich history.
Cashew tree was brought to Goa by Portuguese over 500 years ago. The impact of this fruit, well, technically it is not fruit but you know what I mean, Cashew’s impact on local culture has been so strong that it has inspired Thomas Abraham, general manager, Park Hyatt Goa to trademark the phrase ‘Cashew trail’ and initiate efforts to turn the harvesting time into a cultural event.
Launched in 2017 in collaboration with Vazs — Valentino, Mac, and Cedric of Madame Rosa Distillery, which Goa’s largest feni maker; Cashew festival refuses to be just another encyclopedic or museum activity. Instead, what we got to experience here was a diverse range of activity – cooking classes, cocktail lessons, cycle rides, barbeques.
You do however get to see the entire process from harvesting of cashews to the creation of Feni. The cashew orchids are a world apart from the rest of the Goa, suddenly you are in a place that doesn’t look like Goa or for that matter anywhere in India. The orchids present amazing sights of tranquil beauty to feed one’s eyes upon. And you can just pluck a fruit straight from the tree and start sucking on it! (Yummy!)
The cashew fruits are only used when ripened, they are thus picked from ground Instead of being plucked. A long stick with a pointed end is used for the purpose which is called Kanta
The feni-appreciation is probably the biggest highlight of this annual festival. With 42 percent liquor content, it tastes delicious and can easily make you tipsy if you drink too much of it which you probably will because like we said … Delicious. Just one sip of any of countless variations it comes in will help one realize that no other drink deserves to become a cultural symbol of Goa than Feni.
It is thus natural that the 10 day festival of Cashew Trail should make one forget all about everything else, the rest of world simply must lose itself to irrelevance as Goa gets high on its Feni lust.
There are two more drinks that we must mention. One of them is Urrak – formed at first distillation of Cashews. It has lower alcohol content (about 15 percent) and goes well with lime or lemonade substitute. If you were looking for a stronger drink, Goa’s special brew King’s bear beats them all.
Where to stay?
Park Hyatt Goa is a natural favorite for residence. The hotel is expensive but the experiences it offers are more than worth it, especially during this festival. The rooms are spacious, clean and full of all kind of amenities and there is also a spa facility available.
In so many ways, it has an experience you can’t put into words – a ‘you have to be there to know about it’ thing and we do hope that this article inspires you to be in Goa in time to experience this unique festival.
Conclusion
Cashew Trail festival is a uniquely Goan experience and something that, because of its amazing combination of experiences must be a part of everyone’s bucket list items. Are you already considering it to ornament your next trip to Goa or not? J
Goa’s pristine beaches are tremendously popular all over the world but this also means that are overly crowded, commercialized, chaotic and congested as is often the case with mainstream beaches of India.
If crowds get on your nerves, you might find the pleasure you drive from Goa’s enchanting beauty spoiled by these issues. But don’t worry, Ghoomophiro brings you an alternative which will get you best of both worlds. And that place is Grandmother’s Hole Beach.
How to reach Grandmother’s Hole Beach?
A GPS powered app such as Google Maps will be needed to reach this hidden gem of Goa as you move from airport area toward Baina. About 500 meters from the beach, your path turns into a sort of maze of minor roads as if the place is being guarded by nature from crowds. But don’t worry all roads lead to Rome… Well, Grandmother’s Hole. You might need to ask people for directions and there is a petroleum refinery in the sea, seeing which will prove you are on the right track but eventually you will end up at the beach. The beach is about 220 steps down a cliff – not a very easy hike for old people.
The beach
The beach is surrounded by a semi-urban area. There is parking available on top of the cliff. On steps down the cliff, you will see a fort wall through which you must pass to reach the beach. It is the ‘hole’, after which the beach is named.
It is a narrow Sandy which that Haas jagged rocks. It is beautiful in the way the places deserted by humans to nature’s care can often be. The tranquil beauty though is only to be seen.
There are good reasons it is deserted. There are floating in seawater making swimming a risk business and there are no coastal guards.
Moreover, it is lacking in pleasures that a commercial beach would offer – no carts to buy your food from, no beach beds. You must bring your own mats in order to picnic here.
Besides tranquil picnics, you can enjoy clicking pictures here of sea showing its majesty in brilliant tides and screeching birds that fly overhead without worrying about tourists obstructing the view.
Some tips
It might be better for those who have trouble with hikes to avoid this beach or to just enjoy it from above the cliff which offers brilliant views.
Keep the beach clean. Do not litter. There are very few clean beaches left in Goa as it is.
If beach games and swimming is your thing, Grandmother’s Hole Beach might not be for you.
You must carry your own mat, some food, and beach attire as these might not be easily acquired here.
Conclusion
Grandmother’s Hole Beach is a hidden gem of Goa, we almost feel guilty in sharing it’s secret. We hope you will appreciate the sacrifice. 🙂
Located on the shore of the Ramchandi Beach, Lotus Eco resort is the best 3-star hotel in Konark. The hotel is ideal for leisure tourists since its location on the Konark-Puri Marine Drive Road provides a great view. It is far enough from city life to be absolutely calm and serene and yet close enough to popular tourist spots that one doesn’t have to go out of the way to go sightseeing. The resort itself is filled with trees and has a nice feel to it.
How to Reach: The distance from Puri Railway Station is 28km and from Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar, it is 90 km. The resort is also well connected by road with major cities. You can find it using Google Maps.
Ambiance: As soon as we entered the premise, we saw a vegetable patch and butterflies along with a lotus pond near the reception area of the resort. The entire resort is surrounded by lush greenery and the constructions have a rustic appeal to them. The cottages, in fact, look like log cabins on the ocean side. The villas are spread out with luxurious appeal.
Rooms: The hotel had options for thatched-roof cottages, deluxe cottages as well as villas. We chose to stay in the cottage which had a wooden look on the outside but was well furnished and quite modern from the inside. All the rooms were air-conditioned with a nice rusty look adding to the ambiance.The basic amenities like flat-screen TV, kettle were all available. Nothing special there. Though it is a luxury hotel, it had the appearances of a rural setting. It was quite an experience to see the beachside in the starry night with the wind blowing as we stood in the netted balcony. The bed was not too big but for just the two of us, it was alright. For people traveling with their family or with a kid, it might not be appropriate though. There was not much walking space in the cottage either. Yet to balance that out, they had the balcony. Remember to carry your own toiletries (toothbrush and paste) and slippers.
Food and Amenities:
There were two eateries on the property. The Waterfront Grill Multicuisine restaurant which served authentic Odiya cuisines along with options for Continental and Chinese dishes. Then there was Bay Spirits Seaside Café and bar which we frequently visited more for its view than the snacks and drinks. The thing we loved at the resort was their diverse vegetarian menu and special regards to the chef for delicious meals. But they also had great options for people who want to try out seafood. Our focus remained Odiya dishes since we wanted to devour specialties of the region, but we also ordered Noodles out of habit and they were delicious as well. Noodles are usually a safe choice to order in restaurants if you are unsure about the choices.
Service:
The basic services like housekeeping, laundry, dry cleaning, and room service were all efficient. The hotel even had an in-house Ayurvedic Spa. The spa offers Panchakarma Ayurveda therapies. The hotel also has a fitness center, a children’s park, water sports activities. Barbecues can also be arranged. The guests have private beach access as well. Free parking, car-hire service, tour desk, and 24-hour reception add on to the list of services. Basically, you won’t be missing out on anything. The staff was nice and polite. Room service was quick and efficient. Even the restaurant staff was courteous.
Highlights: There was a dining area by the beach which was the perfect place for us to have dinner with the waves on the beach making serene sounds and the stars creating perfect ambiance with dim light. It would be even better for couples hoping to spend some romantic moments alone. Another thing worth mentioning is the picturesque view of sunrise and sunset from the resort which adds to the overall mesmerizing views.
What to do nearby: Since the hotel is located by the side of the Bay of Bengal, one can go sightseeing. The Konark Wildlife Sanctuary (Balukhand) is also located at a mere 3 km distance from the hotel. The hotel can also arrange water sports for you on demand. We went scuba diving and the experience was inexplicably incredible. Maa Ramachandi Temple is situated 2 km away and so is the beach where the India Surf festival happens. The major tourist attractions in Bhubaneswar which are the Konark Sun Temple and Konark Museum are also at a distance of 8-9 km. All this makes the hotel location suitable for all travelers since major attractions are all located nearby. One can also go for leisurely walks in the premise of the resort itself since the beach is nearby. The best time to take a walk would be evening when the sun is about to set since it creates a magnificent view which is picture-perfect.
Overall verdict: Our stay at Lotus Eco resort was quite uneventful and comfortable which is all one can ask for when on a relaxing holiday. The charges were adequate according to the place and service they provided. Special mention for the good food though. Another great thing was the lack of crowd. Even when we were on the beach or having our dinner in the open, there weren’t many people around to disturb us.
Tips before booking:
1.Book early to get discounted price.
2.You might have to do an early check-in if you require airport transfers or a car for sightseeing around the city. Talk to the hotel management about it and they will arrange it.
3.Places to see nearby include: Kork Beach (2 Kms), Konark Sun Temple (3 Kms), Arkeshwar Temple (4 Kms), Mangulishwar Shiva Temple (3 Kms) and Kork State Museum (4 Kms).
4.Even Jagannath Puri Temple is at a distance of 15-20 km.
5.The parking lot is at a bit of distance from the resort so you will have to walk for ten minutes.
When are you packing your bags? Drop us a note at ghoomophirosisters@gmail.com
Odisha combines many kinds of tourist attractions in itself – the tribal culture, the ancient Hindu temple famous for both their religious importance and art and architecture, sea beaches, Wildlife spots etc.
I had a lot of fun visiting this tribal state and it is impossible to catalog all the fun things one can do here but here is a list of ten things I loved doing most.
1. Temples
Odisha’s popularity as a tourist destination lies with its golden triangle for the most part – Bhubaneshwar, Puri, and Konark. All these three cities are in turn famous for their temples. Thus we start off with these amazing temples
Konark Sun Temple
The Konark Sun temple has been declared UNESCO world heritage site and one of the seven wonders of the world. The temple is built in shape of a huge chariot with twenty-four giant wheels (showing either twenty-four hours of a day or two aspects (Shukla and Krishna Paksha) of twelve months and twelve giant horses. Though much of this temple is now ruins, the reliefs and sculptors of the temple still make it one of the most popular landmarks of Odisha. I couldn’t help feeling proud of the grandeur of Indian architecture when I visited this temple Kama craving on the walls of this temple has got a lot of attention during the British rule and gave me goosebumps.
Jagannath Temple
One of four Dhams of Hinduism, Jagannath Puri, is one of the biggest attractions for religious tourism in India. It is one of the four sacred Dhams of Hinduism. Though the temple was crowded, the architectural beauty and spiritual peace, the visit gave me made it more than worth it. I was at just the perfect time to see the Rath Yatra, an annual festival, though the occasion might have added to the crowd of pilgrims too
Temples of Bhuvaneshwar
Bhubaneshwar (literally ‘king of land’) is the capital of Odisha. Its old name meant ‘temple city’ and it really is the temple city of India. The city is divided into two part – the temple city and the more developed urban parts.
It has been said there are more than a thousand temples in the city. Now that was too many for me but, I wasn’t obviously going to miss the best ones. Lingaraj temple takes the cake of all the temples here – it is third best temple after Konark Sun temple and Jagannath Puri temple. However, there were some other temples that I will recommend if you got the time – Parashurameshvara Temple, Ram Mandir Rajarani temple, Mukteswara temple etc.
3. Sea Beaches
After having too much of humanity at Jagganath temple, I thought a sea beach evening was in order. And a sea beach was available only a few minutes away. The four hundred and sixty kilometers long coastline of Odisha have plenty of beaches to offer and Puri sea beach is one of the busier ones but it also offers all the comforts that come with commercialization.
If you are looking for a more quiet beach, away from commercialization and urban noises, there are a bunch you in Odisha you can try. Some of them are Balramgadhi Beach, the Astranga Beach, the Paradeep Beach, the Pati Sonalpur Beach and Gopalpur sea beach. I can not forget the experience which Astranga beach and Sonalpur, in particular, left me with.
4. Chilika Lake
There are many lakes in Odisha like freshwater Ansupa Lak of Cuttack, Kanjia lake etc but all of them fade away when compared to delights that Chilika lake had to offer. It had dolphins!
Chilika Lake is the largest coastal lagoon of India and, also, the second largest lagoon in the World. It is home to several spices of migratory birds and rare and endangered Irrawaddy Dolphins, Looking at those pretty dolphins here was the best thing I did in all of my Odisha tours.
5. Exploring Wildlife
Orissa is just as much about wildlife as it is about arts, history, and temples. There are several venues to explore for wildlife enthusiasts – National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, Animal reserves, Zoos Wetlands etc. Personally, I loved the Silipal National Park and Bhitarkanika’s wetlands.
Silipal National Park
Located in the Mayurbhanj districtSilipal National Park of Odisha is an elephant reserve. Several Royal Bengal Tigers,Wild Indian elephants, Indian Bison, Chausingha etc find their home in this amazing National Park.
Another thing that I enjoyed extremely is Barehipani Waterfall at Baripada. At about 400 meters, this is the tallest waterfall of Odisha and one of top ten tallest waterfalls in India
Another waterfall, Joranda Falls is located close to it. Khandadhar Falls of Sundagarh is also popular.
Bhitarkanika National Park
Created by river delta of the Brahmani and Baitarani rivers in Bhitarkanika National Park, Bhitarkanika Mangroves is one of the largest Ramsar vegetations in India. It is a mangrove swamp and home to several endangered species like Indian python, Saltwater Crocodile, White Crocodile, King Cobra etc. The sight of White Crocodile gave me goosebumps!
Nandankanan Zoological Park
There is also the Nandan Kanan Zoological Park in Bhubaneshwar. The zoo and botanical garden enshrine rare Asiatic lions, Indian crocodilians, big rock Pythons, White tigers etc. There is an aquarium too and a reptile park which is guarded by Tyrannosaurus Rex.
6. Caves of Khandagiri and Udaigiri
These caves, which are home to an ancient monastery, had some of the most splendid images that I have seen in Odisha outside of Konark Sun Temple and are much older than that belong to golden ancient ages of the country. The scenic beauty from the top of hills is itself splendid. Remember to beware of monkeys and carry your bottles. Start in time to be able to enjoy the sunset from the top of the hill.
7. Dhauli Giri
Visiting Dhauli Giri made me literally feel that I have time traveled to India’s ancient part. The site is historically important, as it is the place where the famous Kalinga war is supposed to have taken place. The war that melted the heart of King Ashoka, making him go all non-violent and Buddhist. The edicts of great Ashoka were the best things for me especially the Shanti Stupa.Among other attractions were Budha statue, Shiva temple, and white peace pagoda.
8.Museums
Odisha boasts of rich history and this history is celebrated in a number of museums here.
Odisha State Museum in the capital holds several treasures – Palm Leaf Inscriptions, paintings done in traditional style etc.
Tribal Research Institute Museum, which is also known as ‘Museum of gives you a chance to observe and study tribal art and artifacts, displayed in its five different parts. These parts are – Personal Adornments in first Hall, Belongings, Arts, Paintings & Photographs in second Hall, Hunting & Fishing Implements & Weapons of Offence and Defense in the third hall, Household Objects and Agricultural Implements in the fourth hall and Dance, Musical Instruments and Dhokra Items in the fifth hall.
If you aren’t old school, when it comes to art, we recommend the Modern Art Gallery which is full of little treasures of modern art.
All the above museums are in Bhubaneshwar. The capital city also has the Regional Museum of Natural History which displays taxidermy of different animals.
9. Hirakund Dam
There are a number of small dams in Odisha. A couple of them provide ready spots for a picnic with family and friends. Hirakund Dam though has a grandeur of its own. I was left awe-struck by its vastness. It stands on Mahanadi river at fifteen kilometers distance from Odisha. The surrounding vegetation combined with vast amounts of water stored in the dam creates a very awesome view.
10. Go Shopping
Bhubaneshwar is one of the first planned cities of India. And its urban half has a lot of awesome shopping points. There is the phrase I market, which is most popular among the middle-class shop alcoholics for its cheap products. You can buy clothes, electronic accessories, makeup products, cosmetics etc here at the cheapest rates. Another market for budget customers would be Station Square. There is also a market specifically for sarees – ‘Saree Mandir’. When shopping in these markets, be prepared to bargain – as the shopkeepers put high prices anticipating that you will bargain. Also, be extra careful with your valuables.
Handicrafts Villages
If you are looking for souvenirs let it be something artistic – Patthachitra paintings or palm leaves carvings or other such handicrafts. Raghurampur, a village just fourteen kilometers drive from Puri is devoted to making the most beautiful handicrafts – from Palm leave inscriptions to Stone and wood carvings to wooden toys. It is definitely worth a visit for every art lover. Shop for something – and spend some time window-shopping the handicrafts on display. Another village Pipli, thirty-eight kilometers from Puri, is devoted to colorful applique work. This can be a good place to get beautiful decorative items, handicrafts, personal accessories etc. We recommend a visit to these villages as it will also give you a chance to look into the village life of the state.
And of course:
Try Street Food
I can not visit a place without trying its street food, it just won’t feel complete. For a foodie, there are delights of seafood available at sea beaches and pure vegetarian cuisine offered at major restaurants. But streets food everywhere is just yummy! And Odisha has several of its own local delights to offer in this regard.
There are several other amazing things that I did there, so many amazing places to see – Sishupalgarh-a ruined fortification, Lalitgiri-a Buddhist complex, Second Mahanadi Rail Bridge to name a few. And of course, you can go shopping as well. There is a flea market in a phrase I, a great place for budget shopping. There is also a saree mandir, market devoted entirely to sarees. I so, so, so wanna talk about them but I had resolved, it was a stupid thing, to go on a word diet and so am limiting myself to merely those ten things.
Imagine a whole resort Island spread over 37 acres of land. Located 8 km off the east coast of Indonesia, Pulau Nikoi is a private island resort with over fifteen beach houses. It is considered as one of the best private islands in the world.
But that isn’t all. The resort is marked as an eco-resort using driftwood as construction material. The double layer roof makes ventilation easy and thus, no need for air conditions. They also use solar energy for all the electrical and heating requirements. The resort Island practices responsible tourism and has even been awarded for it.
Upon our arrival at the island, we were greeted and taken through a tree-shaded path to the check-in area. From there, we were accompanied to our villa which was beautiful and spacious with a bed in the middle and great view of the waters. We weren’t worried about no air conditioning because the cool breeze and the weather make up for it. The room had all the basic amenities along with a great view.
Beach: The soft sandy beaches are perfect for a do-nothing holiday at this resort. Even their bar and dining area have a sand-covered flooring making it exotic. We walked barefoot at times and on others wore our flip-flops because that is the way to truly enjoy the experience. We walked through different trails on the beach or explore parts of the island. Find the perfect spot to swim and just dive in. We also approached the staff who suggested various beach sports like kayaking, snorkeling, paddle boarding, rock climbing and the best part was that the cost was included in your full board charge.
As for food, daily meals were served and the food was delicious. Water and coffee or tea are also offered but you can also opt for alcoholic or other exotic drinks. They inform you in advance about the menu for the next meal. They even have two separate dining areas, one for families with kids and other for adults. Some complimentary snacks and chips are always good to have at the poolside.
Vegetarian Food:
Since Nikoi Island is a private resort, there are no restaurants there and you have to eat the food from their kitchen. But to mention that their food was delicious and of sizeable proportions is a must. The first meal includes a light mix vegetable salad in vinaigrette sauce. That is followed by stir-fried vegetables and rice with a Chinese flavor to it. Then for dessert, we had bread pudding which was sweet and delicious.
For dinner’s main course, we had fried aubergine in red sauce and green curry. They had lots of options for beef and other non-veg items and comparatively fewer options for vegetarian food. But we did end up eating was prepared well. Then there was ice-cream cake for dessert. For the next day, we had Indonesian food platter. What we liked is the staff is very accommodating and you just have to convey your wishes.
We spent three days at the resort and by the time our stay ended, we were reluctant to leave the place. We had gotten so used to the ambiance of the place and the luxury associated with it. Spending your holidays here is the best option if you just want a relaxing time or want to spend some quality time with your partner.
Do try:
Snorkeling on the beach. We spotted corals right away, though there were fewer species of fish there. But it was fun overall with turtles too.
The spa is decently priced and you can get great soothing massages. After all, what a vacation without a good massage?
Highlights: the whole experience itself was wonderful but we’d like to make special mentions to the staff who were always courteous and helpful. We loved the tranquillity of the place since there were no huge crowds, just a bunch of other families. Not that this isn’t the place for you if you are looking for a party or exciting times. But if you want to enjoy quiet peaceful times with little exertion, this is the perfect place for you.
How to get here:
The overall time the journey from Singapore’s Tanah Merah ferry terminal to Nikoi island takes is approximately two and a half hours. There are also regular high-speed ferries that operate between Singapore and Bintan Resorts. This service takes less than 1 hour.
The journey itself is quite easy and comfortable but it took some time to get to the ferry.
