A sleepy town called Chandor in Goa

For most people Goa is a holiday destination, a place of endless booze and partying, fresh seafood, expensive restaurants and weekend getaways. Not for Konkanis, though. As a child, I hated the fact that visits to Goa were mostly restricted to visiting the Mangeshi Mutt (temple), with an occasional trip to the beach and I longed for all those touristy things that other people did :)

As I grew older, I began to see that a lot exists beyond both these things. A vast part of Goa is unexplored, untouched by the madness that tourists bring with them. Take Chandor, for instance,  a charming village in South Goa. It is a small village that can be explored on foot. In the monsoons, this place is too beautiful for words. Luckily, we had a friend who lives there to show us around.

On the way to Chandor, amid stretches of forests, you will see typical Goan houses. The houses have covered porches that face the street, and invariably you will see someone sitting there, reading a newspaper or just gazing outside. The roads are deserted most of the time, an occasional bike or cycle on it. Susegaad indeed. The houses have beautiful wide windows,with designs that are an amalgam of Portuguese and Indian motifs.

In the center of Chandor village is the church. Across the road from the church, the Bragança house is worth visiting. It is a colonial mansion, originally built as a single complex, but now it has been divided into two separate houses with a common entrance. It is not uncommon to find a film shoot in progress here! This is a huge house, complete with a large ballroom, exquisite furniture, chandeliers, bric-a-brac from around the world and valuable antiques.

But the highlight of my trip was a small bakery from where the locals get Pav. Goa has the best pav and baked bread in India. In the markets of Goa, you will find a vendor on a cycle or a moped, a toot of a horn announcing his presence. Undo Pao, Katri Pao ( shaped like a scissor), Poi Bhakari, and a coconut flavoured one that I don't know the name of. Do try Poi Bhakari in your next visit - It is heavenly.