Goa - The Land of Silvery Sands, Golden Sun & the Exciting Western Ghats with a splendid panorama of hills; Sandy beaches; Refreshing waterfalls; Beautiful landscapes; Breath taking groves of palm trees; Sun kissed waterways; Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary & Dudhsagar falls!!!
Goa is the hilly trek of Western Ghats that provides trekking trails as steep & difficult as the Himalayan climbs - expeditions organized by Goa State Branch of YHAI in collaboration with Sports Authority of Goa & Directorate of Sports n Youth Affairs... The trekking route offers the same thrills & excitement as in any mountain with some additional attractions like Bus ride & Rail journey in the Western Ghats...
I was supposed to go for the first batch of the year 2014 on 15th Dec., but my railway tickets got auto cancelled & I had to make tatkal from Delhi to Karmali (nearest station of Goa) for 15th Dec. to join 2nd batch on 16th Dec... It was my first visit to Goa, so I was very excited to visit this place :)
Base camp : Goa
Trek Route : Mobor Beach > Benaulim Beach >> Velsao Beach >> Collem (by train) > Dudhsagar >> Kuveshi >> Anmod > Tambdi Surla (base camp by bus)
Altitude ~ 104 m [342 ft]
Best time to visit : Throughout the year but preferably November to February
Weather : Summer : 25°C to 35°C / Winter : 17°C to 32°C
16th Dec. 2014 - Reporting at the base camp
1st day - In the morning, I reached to the base camp - Sports
Authority Ground, Campal, Panaji located on the banks of the river Mandovi...
Huge ground with multiple tents for trekkers, bikers, sailors &
families!!! There was indoor stadium & the swimming pool adjoining to
our camp, where we could take a bath - also there were public conveniences
setup in our camp... overall good facilities... 
After reaching to the base camp, I had Tea & breakfast.
I got a tent where I kept my luggage & got freshened up & by the time of
lunch, other group mates came... We were 6 girls in our group... In the
afternoon after taking rest, me & one of my new friend went to the
market for some shopping... Had delicious chat items - panipuri!!! By the time of
dinner we came back to our camp... Then we had introduction to other group mates &
camp fire... Enjoyable day altogether!!!17th Dec. 2014 - Rock Climbing & Rappelling, Acclimatization, Orientation
2nd day - Started at 5 am with Tea & the we had to do artificial Rock Climbing n Rappelling after morning exercise... It was real fun as I
never did Climbing n Rappelling before...
Then there was a high-profile ceremony with Mr. Laxmikant Parsekar - honourable CM of Goa, Mr. Manoj Joshi - APC Chairman of
YHAI, field directors & other camp leaders...
I was very excited to meet the CM!!! Surprised
to see that CM is so simple!!!
Then we had to flag off to first batch for their
next camp!!! After that we went for acclimatization walk on the
beaches... Started from the Miramar beach - enjoyable walk over the sand in the sea
shore of the beaches - till Dona Paula... also had good shopping :) Then came back to
our camp by the lunch time... Afternoon we had orientation by our field director Mr.
Chauhan, to get familiar with Goa's Cultural history, followed by instructions
we needed to follow in the coming days...
Then in the evening there was a snakes (live)
session to get knowledge of different types of snakes to avoid unpleasant circumstances
by these wild animals... As for 3 days we had to trek in the deep forests... After
dinner we had camp fire where we all trekkers, sailors, bikers n families came
together & enjoyed different kind of activities like Singing, Dancing, few
activities by kids... Lots of fun :)
3rd day - Time to move for next camp by walking over
the sand in the beaches!!! Feeling itself was so exciting!!! Initially from our
camp we got transferred by bus to Mobor Beach - started walking as our actual
trek began from Mobor beach to Benaulim Beach... On the way we saw different
types of shells, fishes - (star fish), few other
water creatures... totally different world!!! just walking n walking... Only Sand n Water everywhere... Amazing experience :)
Finally reached in the afternoon... Had welcome
drink, then tea n snacks as per the schedule!!! In the evening we went to see
the Beautiful sunset on the sea shore... Played a lot in the sea - simply Awesome!!!
19th Dec. 2014 - Benaulim to Velsao Beach [10 kms]
19th Dec. 2014 - Benaulim to Velsao Beach [10 kms]
4th day - Started walking from Benaulim Beach to Velsao
Beach - southern coast of Goa... By the time we reach to our camp we all got
very tired as temperature of the day was high... But when we reached to the
camp, couldn't believe this is our camp!!! it was like "Bhoot Bangla"
near Railway track... Live experience apart from the movies - but with all of the group mates it was Joyful experience :)20th Dec. 2014 - Collem to Dudhsagar [10 kms] / Velsao to Collem by train
Finally we reached to Dudhsagar camp - Beautiful camp site!!! Very neat & clean tents arranged in the circle surrounded by long
n dense trees with natural air... One side there was a Railway track which is at the higher altitude from our camp site... Unbelievable view!!! Delicious food!!! Wonderful & Natural
arrangements for water... One of the bestest camp site :)
21st Dec. 2014 - Dudhsagar to Kuveshi Via Dudhsagar waterfalls [8 kms]
6th day - Next day we started from Dudhsagar camp for our
next camp Kuveshi via Dudhsagar water falls, which is a four-tiered waterfall
located in the Western Ghats of south Goa & a part of Dudhsagar is located
inside the Bhagwan Mahaveer Wild Life Sanctuary in Collem...By capturing so many good memories from this Beautiful place, we started climbing up through the Mountains, covered with natural forest... Then walking on the Railway track through tunnels while train is passing... Again climbing up & walking through forests - It was like exploring the new world!!! Out of the world experience :)
When we reached to Kuveshi & saw our camp site
it was like a small village, created specially for us!!! Very beautiful, neat & clean, very spacious with lawn, surrounded by coconut trees n greenery all
over... one more Dream like view!!! Awesome place :)
After having welcome drink, Tea & snacks we
all girls went to enjoy the water stream... freshened up there & came back to our
camp before Sunset... then had Soup - dinner, followed by Camp fire with bournvita
- Unforgettable moments :)
22nd Dec. 2014 - Kuveshi to Anmod [14 kms]
7th day - We started for our next camp Anmod, in Karnataka
where we reached by crossing forests... Crossing through deep n dense forests
from one state to the another!!! Everywhere there were arrow markings to cross the
forest... Never before experience!!!
But on the way to our camp, at so many points it
was very scary!!! Fear of wild insects & animals, thorny plants, crossing
through digs covered by dried leaves, where one can fall down easily... So did
we fell down at so many points in these densed forest :( still it was a fun, walking in the forest with all my group mates :)
At last we reached to our last camp any how... All
were very tired & this was the place where we got charging points after a long time :) So
everybody was busy to charge their mobile phones... In the evening we went to explore nearby place...
23rd Dec. 2014 - Anmod to Tambdi Surla [12 kms] then to base camp by bus
8th day - And it comes our last day of trekking where we had to
walk till Tambdi Surla... This day was very tiring as we had been walking for
almost
5 days continuously... most of the time under direct sunlight which made
us
more tiring... Then finally we saw motorable road suddenly after
crossing
forests & villages... Feeling was like, "Thank god!!! we've
reached!!!" Also bus from YHAI was waiting for
us
to drop us to the base camp :)
At this place we visited Mahadev Temple, which
is a 12th-century Shaivite temple of the Lord Mahadeva & an active place of
Hindu worship... It is notable as the oldest temple in Goa...
Finally we reached to our base camp with wonderful
feeling that we all have completed this trek Successfully!!! We got our Certificates for the completion of this trek & after some time I left the camp... I went with one of my group mate till Mumbai by taking current ticket as I had to reach to Nasik next day morning... All in all very nice experience with one of the best group :)
I must appreciate YHAI, the way they organized
this trek!!! This is one of the trek where one can get variety of experiences
like Walking over the beaches - Crossing through the water streams - Walking over Railway track n through tunnels - Walking through
deep n dense forests - Climbing up the hills & what not!!! Traveling to
other camps by Bus & Train... Simply Awesome Experience - INCREDIBLE!!!
Special Thanks to Nrupesh for sharing pics :)
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