The North / South Goa Divide
One of the most common assumptions (and mistakes) people make is how they think of Goa as just being the North. Primarily that is because most of the visitors to Goa come from Mumbai which is to the North, therefore people who drive here inevitably hit the North first ! And stay there. And why not – the North carries the traditional image of Goa with its busy nightlife and beaches.
But the South is a world apart.
Canacona is the Southern most district of Goa, and is situated 35km south of Margao, the commercial capital of Goa and 70km from the state capital Panjim (Panaji) and just 15km north of the Karnataka border to the South. The airport is 60km away, but with the current expansion and widening of the National Highway 17 (NH-17) the distance and time will reduce dramatically.
Canacona is home to some of the finest beaches Goa has to offer. The jewel in the crown is Palolem Beach, with its graceful sweeping bay, rocky mountains drifting into the sea and coconut palms lining a beautiful soft white beach. It is often referred to as Paradise Beach by the travel guides who recognise Palolem as the most beautiful yet unspoilt beach in Goa, compared to North Goa which has largely peaked in terms of tourism and development.
Coastal Regulatory Zones (CRZ) means that nearly all the structures on the beach are semi-permanent in nature, so come down every monsoon. The result is – no ugly concrete spoiling the coastline – just beach shacks and coco huts made out of bamboo, wood and cane. The feel is definitely relaxed and natural.
However, Palolem is just one of string of sister beaches which hug this coastline. Next to Palolem is Patnem Beach, an even more relaxed version of the former, which is perfect for honeymooning couples and families. Next along is Rajbag Beach, famously secluded, with the five-star Intercontinental Lalit Goa Resort as its neighbour – here the beach is virtually untouched, save for some luxury sunloungers and vendors selling fruit. Minutes further South is the pristine Galgibag Beach, where the Arabian Sea meets the Talpona River in one of the most stunning pieces of coastline you could ever hope to see. This beach is a conservation area for the famous Olive Ridley turtles, so all development has been banned, including hotels, restaurants, bars etc – save for two beach shacks set back in the forest pines, which serve up low-key but delicious seafood at hardly any cost at all.
Truly, this is paradise. And the fact that Galgibag Beach is uniquely owned by the Forestry Department of Goa (whose sole purpose is environmental conservation and wildlife protection) means it will always stay this way.
Further North is Agonda Beach, with its generous stretch of coast and exclusive boutiques and bijou restaurants. Next up are the beaches at Khola, with a unique freshwater blue lagoon and rocky walks down to the sea. The drive to Khola, through red earth mountains filled with cashew trees heavy with fruit, is breathtakingly spectacular.
Canacona is also home to the Western Ghats (or Sahyadri Hills) – a jungle mountain range stretching over 600kms – containing the world’s third largest biodiversity after the Amazon and Congo. The surrounding area in Palolem is full of wildlife, nature, flora and fauna – so it’s no surprise that Goa’s second largest wildlife sanctuary is situated here at Cotiago, just a few kilometres south of the small town of Chawdi.
The Canacona area is one of the most beautiful, naturally unspoilt areas in the whole of Goa - offering wildlife, stunning scenery, mountains, waterfalls, rivers and of course, some of the best beaches in India - all within easy reach of each other.
The reason we started developing here was because we saw the huge potential of the Canacona area. With its pristine beaches and minimal development, we knew we could create a better alternative to the now over-crowded, over-populated North - a place of stunning natural beauty yet with all the lively character of Palolem Beach’s social scene.
