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Whatever your
opinion one indisputable fact is that Palolem is far from
undiscovered – the sheer number of ramshackle camps protruding
out of what was once almost pristine jungle has turned Palolem
into a kind of tropical Glastonbury with all the associated
good and bad points. In September 2006 the government
destroyed all unlicensed businesses and buildings and, for a
short time afterwards, Palolem was very much down in the
dumps. However it hasn’t taken long for the village to get
back on its feet and Palolem is once again back in the driving
seat and sitting pretty at number one. The following listings
feature hotels and restaurants that were fully licensed and
unaffected by the bulldozers, but be warned that the situation
may change and it is advisable to check ahead.
If Palolem is all too much for you then
further north, and reachable by boat, is pretty Butterfly
Beach, while around the southern headland is a small, rocky
cove called Colomb Bay, with a couple of basic places to stay,
and beyond chat is another fine stretch of sand, Patnem Beach,
with a handful of beach huts and something approaching surf.
Places of Sightseeing in Palolem Beach
About 9 km southeast of Palolem, and a good day trip, is the
rewarding Cotigao Wildife Sanctuary. If you go there expecting
to see some of its larger inhabitants (includingt gaurs,
sambars, leopards and spotted deer) then you’re going to leave
empty handed. Instead keep your eyes peeled for the smaller
creatured – frogs, snakes, insects, and birds are all easy to
see. Early morning is the best time to visit. Cottages are
available at the park entrance.
Boat Tours to see dolphins or to visit tiny Butterfly Beach
are easily available.
How to reach Palolem Beach
Palolem Beach is easily reachable from Margao, Karwar,
Mangalore. The closest train station is Canacona. |
