http://www.hindu.com/2005/08/07/stories/2005080701461200.htm
Anil Sastry
Dudhsagar Falls, true to its name, resembles an ocean of milk
PANAJI: To see Nature at its best during the monsoon one has to be in
Goa. Blessed with a charming coastline on its west and the Western
Ghats on its east, it presents a beautiful blend of coastal beauty and
the wilderness.
While the Arabian Sea at the height of its ferocity coupled with the
unabated rain would at times unnerve a newcomer, the cloud-clad thick
evergreen forests on the mountains present a stunning view.
Though deforestation has had its impact on the monsoon, Goa still has a
thick cover of evergreen forests, extending over 50 per cent of its
geographical area. Despite having a belated start, the monsoon here
brought 210 cm of rain till August 5 this year as against the average
annual rainfall of 277 cm.
Depending mainly on tourism, the state has tapped the monsoon
advantage. Almost all hotels and the state-run Tourism Development
Corporation have been offering the `monsoon package' at almost half the
seasonal price.
As a result, most of the popular beaches here were packed with tourists
despite heavy rains, though the Mumbai deluge had an impact on the
inflow this year.
However, the hinterland that offers an altogether different experience
still remains to be exploited.
Many estate owners have started providing lodging and catering
facilities but arrivals have yet to pick up.
To have a taste of the hinterland during the monsoon is to travel by
train between the Madgaon-Londa section.
A number of trains - Goa Express, Amaravati Express, Vasco-Yeshwantpur
bi-weekly express and Vasco-Chennai weekly express pass through this
difficult terrain, offering an unrestricted view of the forests and
mountains at their best to a traveller.
The main attraction would be none other than the stunning Dudhsagar
Falls on the Goa-Karnataka border.
True to its name, Dudhsagar resembles an ocean of milk from top to
bottom.
Said to be the highest waterfalls in the country, Dudhsagar drops from
a height of 600 metres from the Deccan Plateau through a near vertical
cliff to enter the coastal region.
In summer it can be reached by a kutcha road, which becomes unusable
during rains as it is submerged by swollen streams. So trains are the
only option.
Besides, the entire stretch between Kulem (Goa) and Castlerock
(Karnataka) is worth seeing during the monsoon.
While overflowing streams every 100 metres, cloud-clad green mountains
and chill winds greet a traveller, thin layers of cloud embrace him at
times if he is standing at the door of the coach.
-------------------------------
Regards,
carlos
