Travel ECOnomically in Goa

Let me throw some images your way, all you have to do is guess the place -- beaches, parties, herds of foreign travellers, more parties, cheap and abundant sea food and flea markets – Hint: this is in India.

Goa – Bingo! One of the most popular travel destinations in the world.

Frankly, to spend three days in Goa within a budget of Rs 3000 is “No Big Deal” for anybody. Beach shacks, cheap hotels and even cheaper food name it and you’ll get it in Goa.
With over two lakh visitors every year, tourism is one of the biggest industries in Goa.

No doubt those tourists generate revenue but they also generate garbage, non-degradable waste and pollution… and along with everything that the locals offer they also consume natural resources and energy.

Responsible tourism, that’s exactly what a holiday hotspot like Goa needs , so I was adamant on exploring Goa like I’d never done before.
Beaches 'n' rave parties, off you go from my list! Task No. 1 - To find a place that has “eco-ethics” shall we say?

I made my way to “Kama Ketna” in Agonda. A farm, that along with organic vegetables and herbal plants also breeds agro-tourism.

Rs 300 a night for a tree house all to yourself and a ‘fully equipped’ (Read with all you need if not all you want!) kitchen; Bird song and peace of mind replace the crowds and pollution. Exhale. Just what the shrink ordered!

Next I rumbled and tumbled in a four-wheel drive through a cloud of red dust, across the Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary. Earthly paradise!

Next thing I see is a milky white stream plummeting into a pool of emerald green water.
This is India’s fifth tallest waterfall aptly named Dudhsagar. At 1017 feet, this four tier waterfall is a spectacular natural phenomena. Must see.

Dudhsagar is for the discerning traveller, who’s had enough of the crowded beaches! After a swim in the natural pool it’s a good idea to stop for a quick shower – an elephant shower!

On the edge of the sanctuary is The Jungle Village – a conservation project for Elephants. It's claimed that this is “the only place where you can play with elephants in water”…Hmmm!

Well, let me not comment on that particular claim but the experience was most certainly a first for me and one I won’t forget, ever.

There has always been more to Goa than the cliché images of beaches and palms that make westerners pine for a spot under the sun.

Goan food, Portuguese warrens, temple architecture, jungle walks, life along the Mandovi river and of course, the stunning Western Ghats rising from the coast - offering a wealth of possibilities.
Take your pick but be ECOlogical…its “No Big Deal”! Enjoy.

(Courtesy: The Statesman)