Showing posts with label goa. Show all posts
Showing posts with label goa. Show all posts

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Vintage Car Museum

Ashvek Vintage World is a Vintage Car Museum situated in Nuvem, Salcete, Goa. It is Goa's first and only vintage car museum that showcases over a dozen vintage cars sourced from Goa or neighboring areas like Kholapur, Belgam and Sawantwadi.

Situated on the Panaji – Madgaon highway, the Ashvek Vintage World museum was set up by Pradeep Naik to spread awareness about vintage cars amongst the youth. It takes up restoration and preservation of vintage cars and some of the cars restored here are in excellent working condition and can be hired out for weddings, movie shoots or simply for joy rides.

At the Vintage Car museum one can see models such as the Chevrolet Fleet master that was popular in the 1930's America as Mafia staff car, Mercedes Benz 170 of 1939 vintage which was actually used in the movie Sea Wolves Morris Van Essex (1924), Ford V8, Peugeot 301, Austin 1928 and the Morris 8.

The museum also displays the Vidal Tempo of 1936 sourced from the Maharaja of Sawantwadi that is one of the most interesting one built as command car of the Nazi army. It is the car with two engines - the only in the world and is also the world's first four wheel drive.

The Ashvek Vintage World is also a pioneer in organizing vintage car rallies in Goa. The money sourced from restoration and preservation is reinvested in maintaining new and existing cars. The museum is open all days from 9am to 6pm except for Sundays.

Madei Wildlife Sanctuary

The Madei Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in the Sattari takula in North Goa. It is spread over an area of 208 sq km and is a link between the Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary and the Sawantwadi forests in Maharashtra and the Netravali wildlife sanctuary in Eastern Goa.

The Madei Wildlife Sanctuary together with the Netravali wildlife sanctuary cover an area of 420 sq. km. The sanctuary supports a rich variety of wildlife and covers much of the north-eastern portions of Goa. It is also known to be a bird watcher's paradise where one can see a lot of species of birds.

The Mhadei wildlife sanctuary is also famous for its semi green and evergreen forests. The area has been notified as protected for wildlife. The sanctuary is also well known in Goa as a tigress and a cub were spotted here. A lot of other wildlife can also be seen here.

Carambolim Lake in Goa

The Carambolim Lake is situated approx 2 kms southeast of Old Goa in the Tiswadi taluka. It is excellent place of birding in Goa that supports a large population of herbivorous birds.

Built to facilitate irrigation of the nearby fields, the Carambolim lake is a man made freshwater lake that is situated within walking distance from the Karmali Railway Station. It is a famous bird watching spot in Goa where one can see a lot of species of migratory birds as well as a lot of waterbirds.

Due to the rich ecology at the lake at Carambolim, one can see birds such as waterfowls, egrets, jacanas, moorhens, herons, pintails, open-billed storks, lesser whistling teals, shovelers, garganeys and coots.

The Carambolim Lake is indeed a bird-watcher's paradise where one can see some exotic, migratory birds, which have been flocking here for hundreds of years. One can also see paddy fields, trees and woodland in the area that makes the place very picturesque.

Selaulim Dam

The Selaulim dam lies on the Selaulim river at about 5 km from the Sanguem town. it is Goa's biggest man-made water storage source that is also a favourite picnic spot for locals.

During the monsoons, the misty outlook of the western ghats against the backdrop of the dam is truly breathtaking. One can spend hours here in its scenic beauty.

For accommodation, an irrigation department rest house and a private resort are located nearby. The tourist department cottages lie unused and there is also a restaurant located in Chinchant.

To get to the Selaulim dam one can enjoy a 35 km picturesque drive from Margao. Once you cross Curchorem and reach Sanguem, the dam lies on Selaulim river.

Amthane Dam

The dam supplies raw water to the nearby Sanquelim water treatment plant. It is not a big one but has a scenic view of the catchment and Sahyadri range beyond from the mouth of the dam.

The Amthane dam can be visited by taking the left side of the fork from the Assonora bridge, instead of driving to Bicholim. For accommodation here one can get an eco resort in Sal that offers food and stay.

Other places to visit include the Tilari dam which is about 20 km from Dodamarg in Maharashtra. The river Chapora also flows nearby.

Anjunem Dam

The Anjunem Dam is located on the Sanquelim-Belgaum highway in Chorla ghat at about 10 km from the Sanquelim town. It is one of the most idyllic places to enjoy the mystic charm and greenery around.

The dam lies in a sylvan valley formed by the proximity of another peak, Morlemgad to its south-east and below one of Goa's highest peaks, Vagheri hill.

For accommodation, there is a foret department rest house at Keri and an irrigation department rest house above the dam. There is also a private eco resort in Chorla ghat.

The ambience at the Anjunem dam is so enchanting that visitors return to the spot every monsoon or even during other seasons.

alorna fort

The fort had four guns and in the year 1746, the fort was captured by Marquis of Castello Novo (later known as Marquis of Alorna) from the Bhonsles. The possession however was short lived.

In 1781, the fort was again captured by Dom Frederico Guilherme de Souza. It was used to defend against the Maratha attacks from the north.

The fort is presently in a dilapidated condition. It is however a beautiful site to explore as it is perched on the banks of the river Chapora as it flows peacefully towards Colvale.