Alive is Awesome–Experiences in Goa

I have always said that Goa is not a destination , but an experience . It is a state of mind . I almost make an annual pilgrimage to Goa and I have had my share of “alive is awesome “ experiences, which have been both touristy and offbeat.
1. Going bananas in Goa
Water scooter, para sailing, banana boats – Goa has been THE destination for water sports in India. It is not just the adventure activities, but there is something about the skies and the seas on this coast. I remember my first para sailing experience . I felt a strange sensation in the stomach as I was lifted above the shores and I took in the aerial view of the sea.

The ships looked dwarfed, the people seemed like Lilliputans. There was a sense of freedom as the winds would hit my face and blow me away. I held on to the ropes rather tightly and within seconds it seemed to be all over.  The water scooter has always been a perennial favourite, but trying the banana boat was rather an exhilarating experince . We would be thrown into the water several times and each time, I would come bobbing up to the shore grinning ear to ear

2. Crossing rivers and forests
They say the best views of the Dudhsagar Falls can be seen from the train which slows down as the milky white cascade deafens your ears and fills your vision . However, I believe that the journey is the destination. Driving to the falls was in itself an adventure . The jeep took us through the dense jungles of the Mollem National Park , where we crossed two full bodied rivers with no bridges or roads built on them. And while we drove on the bumpy almost non existent mud roads ,the jeep suddenly veered into a detour as we saw a board, that said “ Devil’s Canyon. “ We encountered a turbulent river flowing in a deep gorge with various rock faces staring right at us . The silence was eerie . There was not even a monkey around .

We continued our journey until we reached the waterfalls. And the setting looked out of the world though. A dense forest hemmed in with rocks while little streams and rivulets flowed around them . Tiny wooden bridges sprouted in the middle of nowhere . The trails led me towards one of the most spectacular water falls that I had ever seen in India. A railway line cut in the middle of the cascading waters as the roar of the falls silenced that of the moving train. This is where the Mandovi plunges to the depths , from a height of 600 metres, forming a milky cascade on the Karnataka –Goa border. The entire scene was a dramatic riot of colours. Bare bodied men and women were swimming around in a massive pool of blue green waters formed by the creamy white foam. We jumped in, letting the waters soothe us after our rather adventurous journey.

3.Birding in Zuari
There is nothing more mystical and beautiful than watching dawn break on a river bed. We drove through the dense forests at 4 am and watched the silhouettes of mountains give us company on our journey. As the winds gently caressed the waters, forming ripples, the river came alive and so did we. It was the wee hours of the morning, but I had never felt so awake before in my life. The birds perched on the nets left behind by the fishermen, as the boatman took us on a cruise on the river . The golden light of the sun stroked the river and we basked in the morning glow. As we sighted rare species of birds , I realized that you do not always have to experience high energy activities to get a sense of adventure. In that beautiful morning,watching a vibrant black capped kingfisher, showing off its shiny purple coat, I experienced one of those rare “alive is awesome” experiences

The force of the cascades - Feeling Alive is Awesome

There can be no other feeling more wonderful than dipping your feet in cold , running water and feeling the spray on your face as the cascades knock you down with force . Try bathing in a waterfall , when the rocks are slippery and the water almost lures you to a different world. There is nothing more exciting and energising in life .  You throw your hands in gay abandon and let yourself be purged by the milky white waters rushing through the cliffs in mountains and descending downwards to join a wayward river.

My earliest memory is a bath in the Courtrallam Falls, often referred to as the Spa of South India. With the Western Ghats bordering it, the mist of Agasthiyamalai in the background, the waters of Courtrallam is formed through several rivers that have their source up in the hills and they bring down with them medicinal properties. There are nine waterfalls in all here, but the three main ones are the Old Coutrallam, the Five Falls and the Main Falls. I was barely a child when I went to Courtallam as our native village is down South in Tirunelveli, barely an hour away .

During my recent visit, I drove down to another beautiful falls, called Manimuthar, an absolutely stunning scenic spot, lost to man . A few monkeys and some locals join me as I let the waters rejuvenate me .

Waterfalls either come with a fancy name or they do not have a name at all. In Kodaikanal, the tourists are familiar with Silver Cascade, but deep inside the mountains is a fall that has taken the world of advertising by storm. This waterfall was one of the earliest to be branded and we walked through rain and hail to experience the force of the cascades.

Recently I visited Goa and saw an entirely different side to the beach country. Goa is not just a destination – it is a state of mind. I travelled into the deep forests in Goa and hiked around and came upon this cascade of waters. Not all waterfalls are famous or have a name, but sometimes its the experience that you remember. We spotted snakes and birds and listened to the hooves of gaurs who thumped around the rocks as they left. In Mollem, we crossed two rivers and a wildlife sanctuary and climbed up rocks to see the milky white Dudhsagar Falls , but that will soon be another post.

One of the most gorgeous waterfalls  down South is the Athirampally Falls bordering Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The mist, the spray, the foam, the rainforests, the mountains in the background – Athirampally is absolutely gorgeous as she takes a fall into the valley below. We hiked up and crossed the border and saw the Vazhachal Falls gently tumbling down the rocks.

And finally the Chitrakoot Waterfalls in Chhattisgarh. Now, this is an experience I can never forget. The fury of the cascading waters was echoing in our ears as we woke up to see the massive waterfalls greet us from our rooms.

We took a boat and went right below the massive waterfalls and let ourselves be completely drenched . The spray hit us, the foam blinded us and the sound was absolutely deafening, but what an experience ! Something that needs to be soaked in.

More alive is awesome experiences include Shimsha in Karnataka ( I am yet to visit Jog), the Corbett Falls up north and of course, the Hogenakkal Falls in Tamil Nadu . 

Where would you like to be this Monday ?

The mystery tour sponsored by Nokia has just ended and I am back home finally , but I wish i was at the Dudhsagar waterfalls, which I had visited over the weekend as part of the tour.