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Morjim and Arambol Beach
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Morjim Beach
Crossing the bridge to Chopdem, you can head east to
Morjim Beach, an exposed strip of empty sand with a
handful of low-key beach shacks at the southern end and
several places to stay at the northern end. Stretching
down to the Chapora River, the sandy beaches of Morjim,
are some of the least disturbed and most beautiful in
the state. The waters at Morjim suffer heavily from
river run-off pollution year-round. Rare olive ridley
turtles nest at southern end of Morjim Beach from
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September to
February, so this is a protected area, which, in theory at
least, means no development and no rubbish. There are bamboo
and palm-thatch huts, an up market tent camp and a few beach
shacks but essentially it’s a quiet place to do nothing.
Morjim is one of the very few beaches where sitting on the
sand doesn’t attract hordes of hawkers, dogs and onlookers,
but the water does suffer from a bit of river run-off
pollution and can-not ever be described as crystal clear.
Mandrem Beach
The Mandrem is the finest beach in Goa. The Mandrem Beach is
one huge palm backed ribbon of clean and uncluttered sand. It
is one of the Goa’s undiscovered gems. It is good for midrange
travelers looking to kick back and do absolutely nothing.
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Arambol Beach
The
most northernly of Goa’s developed beaches, Arambol
beach has an attractive rocky headland, a long strip of
sand and a chilled-out, but increasingly busy, scene
with music bars and some good restaurants. It attracts
backpackers and gracefully ageing hippies. It has some
of the cheapest accommodation in Goa and lots of long
timers. |
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Shoved aside by the consumer age, the hippy
‘60s needed somewhere to hide; San Francisco wouldn’t do,
Carnby Street couldn’t cope and the Marrakesh Express was
suddenly cancelled in a cost-saving exercise. Eventually
reaching Arambol’s sickle of sand and rash of beautiful, rocky
bays the ‘60s knew it has finally found its never-never land.
Ever since then travelers, attracted by the hippy atmosphere,
have been drifting up to this blissed-out corner of Goa,
setting up camp and, in some cases, never leaving again. In
turn, a mushrooming (probably magic) industry of low-key
accommodation and facilities has sprung up to cater to these
visitors and in the high season, the beach and the road
leading down to it gets pretty crowded. For the moment the
flower power guys and girls hold the supper hand, buy with all
the beaches to the south full up, Arambol is starting to turn
developer's hands sweaty with excitement and it can’t be long
until the sweet ’60s are forced off in search of the next
Kathmandu.
Activities in Arambol Beach
From November to March, it is possible to take boat trips to
go fishing and dolphin spotting. Some extreme sports have
taken off in a big way in Arambol with plenty of people
offering paragliding and kite-surfing lessons. About 2 kms.
south of Arambol is the Himalayan Iyengar Yoga Centre, which
runs hatha yoga courses on the beach between November and
March. This is also the winter centre of the Dharamshala
school. Arambol Music Academy offers lessons in classical
Indian singing and tabla playing.
How to reach Morjim and Arambol Beach
Arambol Beach, Mandrem Beach and Morjim Beach are only at a
short distance away from Mapusa. |
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