Siridao is a neighborhood located at the southern end of the city of Panaji. The most fascinating feature is the three stone-carved statues playing musical instruments with a dog.

I had been a bit lazy in the last few days as I discovered my love for swimming, which also slowed down my blog writing. The reason for this was that Ani and I had befriended a new friend, Mohit, who is also Ani’s neighbor. The three of us had been partying and swimming together, and finally, today, we decided to head to the beach to collect seashells and take long walks. Siridao Beach was our destination, and we drove past the winding, serene Goan roads to get there.

The beach has dark gray sand, and there is a large stretch where people can take long, brisk walks. As usual, there was a shack for people to relax, enjoy a beverage or two, and snack on chips and fish.

We began by hunting for shells on the beach. Mohit managed to fill a bag quickly as he swiftly collected shells from the seashore. I got busy capturing shots of the setting sun. I also took pictures of the Jesus of Nazareth Chapel, perched on a hill near the beach. A festival called “Lady Fest” is celebrated here every year, along with Easter. The chapel is very famous, and many visit to pray to Lord Jesus. The beach features coarse sand and rocks, making it a prime spot for shell collectors. There are also fishing boats tied to the shore, used by the local fishing communities. Additionally, there is space for young men to play football, and I saw many enjoying the sport there.

There were some elderly, handicapped men sitting and chatting, while families, including some foreigners, roamed freely along the sandy beach. Mohit took us to the shack, where we all sat down for beer and chips. For me, capturing the sunset was all I wanted.

Siridao Beach

A young local Goan man joined us for a drink and talked about how he had lost his parents and had been wandering around Goa for years. After spending over two hours on the beach, we decided to head home. But the best part of the journey was spotting a live Goan wedding. The bride and groom were all decked up, sitting in a large black Cadillac that looked even grander than a limousine. It was a delightful experience, and I felt a strong urge to cover a live Goan wedding on my blog.

The evening was interwoven with conversations about Mohit and his poker days. Mohit had been in the casino business for years and was also a champion poker player. I picked his brain about gambling, and he taught me some tricks for playing poker. Gambling is a big industry in Goa, and there are many poker players who make their living from it in the famous Goan casinos. “You must have seen the movie Casino, the one with De Niro and Sharon Stone. That’s all about your trade,” I told Mohit. “Ah yes, that’s a great film. But in the casino, the most famous game is roulette,” Mohit informed me. “It’s a vice—gambling is a vice,” I replied.

We all then sat down for dinner and drinks to wind down after our long excursion to one of Goa’s most famous beaches.

To identify the nearest railway station to Kumbh, it depends on which Kumbh Mela location you are referring to, as it rotates among four cities in India: Prayagraj (Allahabad), Haridwar, Nashik, and Ujjain. Here’s a breakdown:

1. Prayagraj (Allahabad):
   • Nearest railway station: Prayagraj Junction (PRYJ)
   • Distance to Kumbh Mela site: Around 6-8 km.

1. Haridwar:
   • Nearest railway station: Haridwar Junction (HW)
   • Distance to Kumbh Mela site: Within the city, about 3-5 km.
2. Nashik:
   • Nearest railway station: Nashik Road Railway Station (NK)
   • Distance to Kumbh Mela site (Trimbakeshwar or Ramkund): Approximately 8-12 km.
3. Ujjain:
   • Nearest railway station: Ujjain Junction (UJN)
   • Distance to Kumbh Mela site: Around 2-5 km.

It has been three days in Goa. The afternoons are spent dining at the Goa Kokum Curry restaurant, deep in the markets of Panaji. My sleep patterns have changed, and the fresh air is doing me wonders. Ani has been concerned about my gut health, so we spent much time looking for health vitamins in the local chemist shops.

After having lunch—a Goan Fish Thali—we stepped out into the open streets, which at this time of the year are red and dusty. My eye fell on a little girl who asked me for food. I offered to give her some money, but she insisted that she only wanted food. She was not begging but genuinely needed help, so I gave her some food we had packed. I’ve always been told that one should perform random acts of kindness, and this was one of them.

Fine Art at Caffe Al Fresco

Our next stop was an art gallery. It was a wonderful experience, and I managed to click photos of Ani posing in his 3D glasses. The café had some fabulous art, with fascinating pictures and even a 3D mural that was truly captivating.

The afternoons here are very hot, so one must ensure they find cooler territory by late afternoon. The Goan air is doing me wonders, so sit back and enjoy the ride.

It has been three days in Goa, and the afternoons are spent dining at the Goa Kokum Curry restaurant deep in the markets of Panaji. My sleep patterns have changed, and the fresh air is doing wonders for me. Ani has been concerned about my gut health, so we spent quite some time looking for health vitamins in the local chemist shops.

After having lunch—a Goan Fish Thali—we stepped out onto the open streets, which, at this time of the year, were red and dusty. My eye fell on a little girl who asked me for food. I offered her some money, but she insisted that she only wanted food. She wasn’t begging but genuinely needed help, and since we had some food packed, I offered it to her. I’ve always been told to perform random acts of kindness, and this was just one of those moments.

Fine Arts and Café Bodega

Our next stop was an art gallery, and it turned out to be a great experience. I managed to click photos of Ani in different poses wearing his 3D glasses. The café there had some fabulous artwork, with fascinating pictures and even a 3D mural that was truly mesmerizing. This was the Sunaparanta Goa Centre for Fine Arts, a non-profit organization that promotes art and literature in Panaji, Goa.

Café Bodega, part of the art center, is operated by Vandana Naik, who runs the place beautifully. Here, you can find exotic breads and granolas, which pair perfectly with a cup of coffee.

The afternoons in Goa are very hot, so it’s essential to find cooler spaces by late afternoon. The Goan air continues to work wonders for me. So, sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride!

If you want to experience the best authentic Goan-style food, you must dine at Kokum Curry. This is the place for authentic Goan cuisine, offering mouthwatering fish curry and prawns. Ani and I decided to visit this food joint for lunch.

The afternoons in Goa are quite hot and humid, and the blazing sun can make you sweat. However, fish curry with rice, accompanied by baby prawns and vegetables, feels light and satisfying on the palate. The restaurant is conveniently located opposite the municipal garden in Panaji. It is dedicated to authentic Saraswat Goan food and was founded by Sapna Sardesai and Prakash Pereira.

Authentic Goan Cuisine

One must also try the Kismur, a type of dry fish salad made from prawns, dry fish, or mackerel. Additionally, the fried mackerel and raw banana chips are must-tries. To drink, the virgin kokum mojito is highly recommended.

I, for one, was thrilled to have the fish curry. It’s light and also good for health. I did find the curry a bit spicy, but the lemonade helped cool my palate. A large plate of the fish thali cost me ₹475, and it was all I needed to feel full and satisfied.

Enjoy the pictures of one of the finest Goan cuisine restaurants in Panaji!

This was exactly what I needed after spending the last two months at my abode in the Valley of Dehradun. I decided to venture towards a very old destination, one that I was very fond of in my younger days. In fact, in my twenties and thirties, I frequented the city of Goa quite often. One needs to take a connecting flight from Dehradun to Delhi and then to Goa. I had already planned the trip with my longtime mate Ani; we had not seen each other for eight years, and I had not visited Goa in over a decade. This was going to be a nostalgic trip and an opportunity to reconnect with my past and my youth, which is now slowly fading away. The flight was comfortable, but the journey was a bit taxing as expected. Ani was there to receive me at the airport in his car. We had booked an apartment in Dona Paula, Goa, which cost us Rs. 5000 per night. We also had a car to move around and enjoy the famous beaches of this part of Goa.

Dona Paula is a tourist neighborhood in the city of Panaji. Known for its lovely quiet beaches, it also offers an exquisite sunset. There’s a haunted story associated with this place. The legend has it that Dona Paula was a pious lady who lived here and fell in love with a fisherman, but they could not marry as her father opposed the match. Finally, Dona jumped from a cliff and committed suicide. The place is also called Lovers’ Paradise, and it is said that the soul of Dona still haunts the area near the cliff from where she jumped.

Dona Paula, Goa

The movie Sigma was also based in Dona Paula, and the film features many shots of the roads and other locations in the city.

The real history of the place says that Dona Paula was a historical figure, and she and her family arrived in Goa from Portugal in 1744. She was a woman of charity who helped the villagers, who, in turn, named the place after her.

Another famous hit film, Ek Duje Ke Liye, was shot on the beaches of Dona Paula and starred Kamal Haasan and Rati Agnihotri in the lead. The film was a super hit. There is a whitewashed statue perched at the jetty, which is also a famous tourist attraction.

I, for one, first tucked into a breakfast of poha and keema pav, along with orange juice. That is how I started my morning. I also went for a long walk and swim to get the juices flowing. But it was the sunrise and the walk around the fishermen’s colony that was most exhilarating, and I managed to catch a glimpse of this part of Goa. Slowly, the feeling of being in a hotter, more humid climate began to sink in, and I realized I definitely needed a cotton t-shirt to get by in this city.

Hi Beloved Readers 

It is with great joy that I inform you that I have been given the Literary Visionary Award 2024 at the Technology. The award will be given to me at the Business Excellence Summits organized by the Business Connect Magazine at the Hyatt Regency on the 21st. of December. The theme of the Summit is AI FOR INDIA.

I am honored to receive this award from this esteemed Magazine. Keep reading my blog anujtikku.com.

Love to All

Anuj Tikku 

This is one of the oldest temples in the city, blending Malayali and Banarasi cultures. It is located next to the weavers’ colony near Bengal Tola Inter College. It is said that the Tilabhandeshvar Shiva Linga grows by a nominal size every year, and this growth has been happening for centuries. I managed to get a glimpse of the large Linga kept in the inner sanctum of the temple.

If you’re lucky, you may also witness the Arti performed by the priest in the inner sanctum of the temple. There are idols of Maa Parvati, Ayyappan, Bhairava, and even Krishna and Hanuman. But at the center of it all is the magical Linga of Tilabhandeshvar Maha Dev. I was fortunate to witness the Arti, where the priest burns a large lamp and takes the flames all around the temple. The aroma of the sandalwood and the musical essence of the Arti fill the air, and one feels intoxicated by the religious nectar. There is chanting of mantras and hymns are sung. You can also walk up to the Nandi bull and whisper your wishes or desires into its ear. It is said that Lord Shiva will hear your wishes if whispered through His vahana, Nandi the bull.

Baba Sri Tilabhandeshvar Maha Dev Mandir: Varanasi

It is said that Mata Sharda also spent some time here in this mandir. This temple dedicated to Lord Shiva was built in the 18th century and is 500 meters from the River Ganges. In fact, one can climb up to the temple, and from the back, you can see the ghats and all the boats and jetties. People can walk down to the ghats, which are a short distance away.

The Linga appeared about 2500 years ago and grows by the size of a sesame seed every year. It is now one and a half feet tall and three feet in diameter. Maha Shivratri, Ayappan Pooja, Navratri, and Nag Panchami are the important festivals celebrated here by the temple’s devotees.

The walls of the temple have marble tablets with ancient verses and mantras inscribed on them. There are also hymns and mantras praising Lord Hanuman in the temple. All in all, it was a very pious and enriching experience for me.

॥ अथ दुर्गाद्वात्रिंशन्नाममाला ॥ दुर्गा दुर्गार्तिशमनी दुर्गापद्विनिवारिणी। दुर्गमच्छेदिनी दुर्गसाधिनी दुर्गनाशिनी॥ दुर्गतोद्धारिणी दुर्गनिहन्त्री दुर्गमापहा। दुर्गमज्ञानदा दुर्गदैत्यलोकदवानला॥ दुर्गमा दुर्गमालोका दुर्गमात्मस्वरूपिणी। दुर्गमार्गप्रदा दुर्गमविद्या दुर्गमाश्रिता॥ दुर्गमज्ञानसंस्थाना दुर्गमध्यानभासिनी। दुर्गमोहा दुर्गमगा दुर्गमार्थस्वरूपिणी॥ दुर्गमासुरसंहन्त्री दुर्गमायुधधारिणी। दुर्गमाङ्गी दुर्गमता दुर्गम्या दुर्गमेश्वरी॥ दुर्गभीमा दुर्गभामा दुर्गभा दुर्गदारिणी। नामावलिमिमां यस्तु दुर्गाया मम मानवः॥ पठेत् सर्वभयान्मुक्तो भविष्यति न संशयः॥

“Jangma” means one who knows Shiva, and “Wadi” means the place of residence. This Math is now a Dharamshala where religious seekers come to stay as they explore the holiest city of India. The Math was built way back in 8 CE and is very old in its architecture and tradition. It is also a library of ancient scriptures and books like the Shankar Purana, the Vedas, and the Upanishads. Religious scholars can buy these books as well. It is a place where the poor can experience true religion and bathe in its wonder and mystical beauty. The rooms are old, but they are clean, and one can spend the night here for less than three hundred rupees.

Jangmawadi Math: Varanasi

The main gate of the Math is painted in grey, gold, yellow, and red. It is very artistic, and one can see it glow from afar. One has to climb a flight of steps to reach the main hall of the Math. Inside the Math are several rooms for guests to stay. The inner entrance has a flight of steps flanked by two grey elephant statues, which look majestic. There were enough people around, some praying to the idol of Lord Hanuman on the left-hand side of the Math. The Math is located on Jangmawadi Road and can be reached by bicycle rickshaw or electric auto.

For a spiritual seeker who wants to take their time and leisurely explore Kashi but has a very tight budget, this is the kind of place to stay. In fact, you get the real flavor of India in Mathas like these, where the masses come to bathe in ancient spirituality.