If you drove in from the southern state of Karnataka
and wanted to discover the nearest, reasonably well-known
Goan beach, the chances are that you. d be directed to Palolem.
It. s a beach of white sand facing a blue bay between two
headlands. The little wooded islands on the northern headland are
interesting, and if you. re interested, try to persuade one of
the fishermen to ferry you across. They do offer to take you out
to spot dolphins. Tourists have at last discovered Palolem and so
there are a few shacks selling seafood snacks, souvenirs, and
clothes of the shapeless, bright, informal kind. Panaji, the capital,
is more than 70 km away.Palolem has the dis advantage of being remote
converted into its advantage that not all tourist visiting Goa come
there. Reaching there is a bit of nightmare if you are not driving.
Else reach Cancon/Madgaon and take a local bus/taxi as per your appetite.
Palolem is quite, not so secluded yet not crowded. Has amazing coco huts -
huts made on stilts of coconut tree trunks with lovely music and food
provided by shacks, one of which is surprisingly called Draupadi - for
some reason.The bay always has calm waters and one can swim into the ocean
for a long distance without facing big waves and high seas. Accomodation
is ordinary with ordinary AC and non-AC rooms. Very basic and room service
is missing in most hotels. So please take a word of caution for those who
need these facilites, and surely we Palolem lovers will aprreciate if more
people keep away from there. Traveller with too small kids must watch out
coz room service is amiss and so is facility of making mikl etc available
round the clock. It is best you have your own transport or hire a bike to
visit near by beaches and twons. People who are hard core vegetarians will
have limietd options there but just 3 kms away is town of Cancona and there
you get Udipi style food thru the day.The white sand beach of Goa Palolem
beach in an arc is picture perfect. The village located nearby has several
cafes and souvenir stalls catering to day-trippers and vacationers who
arrive in groups for the sightseeing tours of the beaches. Despite the
commercialisation, Palolem remains a traditional village.