On Goa’s craggy border with Karnataka lies the Dudhsagar waterfall, one of the offshoots of the Mandovi river as it carves through the Deccan Plateau. The waterfall appears silvery white, earning the name ‘Dudhsagar’, which means ‘sea of milk’ in Hindi. Its lush forest cover and the plunge pool 200 feet below draws trekking enthusiasts and picnickers.
Boca de Vaca
Among the betel nut palms of Kesarval lies a spring of the same name. It is coveted for its medicinal properties, and visitors often bathe in its lake, hoping to find a cure in its clear waters. Boca de Vaca, Goa’s best known spring, lies in the capital city of Panjim. ‘Boca de Vaca’ means ‘mouth of a cow’, alluding to the shape of the spring which gushes sweet, clear water thought to be curative. The picturesque Mayem lake in Bicholim is bound by undulating hills, with cosy cottages lining its rim. Ducks weave trails on the placid surface while tourists delightedly tour its expanse in pedal boats.
Arvalem Falls
The Arvalem waterfall in the neighbouring village of Sanquelim is at its most impressive in October. The Rudreshwar temple located alongside hosts the annual Shivratri Zatra, but the rock cut Arvalem Caves top the must-see list. Archaeologists have traced their origin to the 5th or 6th century AD, but the caves are believed to have harboured the Pandavas, heroes of the epic Mahabharata, during their exile. Even today, it continues to offer pleasant refuge.