This Goa Liberation Day, Explore These Offbeat Places In The Sunny State

With Sandy beaches, estuaries, and promontories, Goa being one of the smallest states of India wasn’t always a free state. Let’s dive into Indian history in order to know a little more about Goa's liberation. Even though India gained independence from the British Empire in 1947, Portugal kept a few exclaves on the Indian subcontinent, the districts of Goa, Daman and Diu, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli, together known as the State of India. After 450 years of misery and slavery under Portuguese colonial control, the Indian Armed Forces launched Operation Vijay, a strategic military operation that effectively freed Goa in 1961 and it marked a major milestone in Goa’s Liberation history.
As a result, Goa Liberation Day is annually marked on December 19th. You can witness cultural activities, ceremonies and military parades honouring the freedom fighters and soldiers who battled for the freedom of Goa throughout the state.

Here is a list of five places that you can visit in Goa

Mystic Woods by the Butterfly Conservatory of Goa

Spread over 4000 square metres, it is a butterfly sanctuary and garden made to take a stroll and soak in nature's beauty. Flowering Trees and plants that attract butterflies have been planted all over the conservatory. Although the conservatory was a barren hill for a few years, the efforts of Yashodhan and Jyoti Heblekar have converted it into a serene forest where at any point in time you can observe up to 25 varieties of butterflies. The Heblekars also have a beautiful house next to this hill and the house’s top can be used as a garden where you can sit and admire the lush green forest hill and butterflies from a distance.

Entry fees is Rs 100/- per person

Archaeological Museum  

Here, you can find a remarkable collection of artefacts from Goa's prehistoric and late medieval Portuguese periods. Situated on the rear side of the Convent and church of St, Francis of Assisi, the museum was formerly an old Franciscan monastery. It was established in 1964 by the Archaeological Survey of India, but it wasn't until 1984 that it received its official recognition. If you are interested in coins, statues, sculptures made of wood and ivory, paintings, portraits, maps, inscriptions, masonry, and pottery, it’s a must-visit place for you.

The museum stays closed on Fridays.

Arambol Beach

Not all beaches have the Bohemian Vibe that you will find at Arambol Beach. It also offers thrilling adventures through water sports. You can enjoy Parasailing, Paragliding, Surfing, Banana Boat ride, Bumper ride, Jet skiing and many more activities. And once you’re done with your day, enjoy the sunset parties or barbeque events. If you are a party freak, you can spend your evenings at ‘Twice In Nature’ or ‘Coco Loco Club’ where you can enjoy juggling fire dance and live music gigs. Arambol also offers Yoga and Reiki long & short-span courses that fit perfectly in your Goa trip plan.

Basilica of Bom Jesus

Declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and translated literally to ‘Holy Jesus’ this is the only church in Old Goa that is in a good condition even after 400 years. Inside of the Basilica is made of a beautiful marble mosaic with precious stones, giving it a dignified appearance. The church has the image embellished with St. Ignatius Loyola protecting an infant Jesus embellished which runs from the floor to the ceiling. The Basilica of Bom Jesus is over 408 years old and you can visit it any day as it is open every day of the week.

Dudhsagar Waterfalls

For people who are into adventures, trekking to the waterfall can be a fun and exciting activity to do. Although there are in total 4 different routes to reach the waterfall, one of the most popular treks to the waterfall starts from Kuveshi Village. You can also hire a jeep safari to the waterfall. A folktale that is associated with this waterfall is that this place was one of the favourite places of a beautiful princess. And after her bath, he would often drink sweetened milk from a jug made of gold. One day while taking a bath, she saw a handsome prince looking at her while she was drinking the milk. To hide her modesty, she poured the milk from her jug which formed a white curtain in front of her. As per the folklore, the sugared milk that the princess poured down still flows down the mountains in honour of her virtues. In order to stay near the waterfall, you can book the forest guesthouse that is run by the Karnataka Tourism Development Corporation.