Riding Through Chandor

The villages in this part of Goa have still retained their character in the face of rapidly changing Goan landscape. Riding through Curtorim, Maina and Chandor is a delightful expereince. The smooth and flat roads cut through fields and villages. Old houses with Portuguese Architecture give a special character to this region. At the age of 350 years, Goa's largest and India's 4th largest house , belonging to Menezes Braganza is the pride of Chandor.....

   Chandor Church

 

  The Front View of Braganza House

The Braganza House

The Malabar Giant Squirrel

The Malabar Giant Squirrel - this beauty is endemic to western ghats. Common, but rarely seen as it hops on the branches high up in the dense canopy.

On my recent visit to Bondla Zoo, I was in for surprise, this squirrel was feeding on the shoots of some creeper very close to the ground, oblivious to the OOhs and aaaahhhs of the visitors just few feet away.

Ride To Karmali Lake

1.2 at the lake
Karmali Lake is birders delight. The lake is situated 10Kms from Goa's capital, Panaji. During the winter more than 20 water bird species land on the lake to feed.

On 29th November I rode to the lake on my 3 months old TREK 1.2 road bike, covering a distance of 23Kms one way from my home town Ponda.

The morning ride was fantastic, I reached the lake at 8.15am and spent an hour listening to the shrill whistles of Lesser Whistling Ducks. Gull Billed Terns swiftly flew in circles close to the water surface. A lone Marsh Harrier Cruised along attempting to catch its breakfast. More species will land by end of December.

I could only spot Purple Moorhens, Bronze Winged Jacana, Pheasant Tailed Jacana, Large Egret, Darter,


Details of the Birds found on the lake Put up by Forest Dept Goa


Purple Moorhen


Bronze Winged Jacana


Lesser Whistling Ducks