Mangelim village at Goa Border

The Charming quaint village Mangelim

This village is a remote village at the Goa-Maharashtra-Karnataka border. About 75 km from Panaji northwards. We had traveled by bike and takes a good 2 hours to reach the actual village. In fact we had come to visit a waterfall ("Dabdaba" in local language) which was supposed to possess miraculous properties. That was the initial motivation.   

 We proceeded along the road which takes us to Belgaum (Not Anmod Ghat side) and there is a kaccha road (mud road) just before entering Karnataka which leads us to this village.


On the way there's an old fort in ruins. The identity of this structure could not be properly ascertained because of thick growth and bushes that have taken over the fort structure. There are lots of leeches in this area but its an excellent trekking spot for nature lovers. In fact you'll find leeches hanging all along the bushes everywhere.

 

My first feeling after stepping in this village was that it was unspoiled by human intervention and far from modern society. It gave me a feeling of being ancient. Even the trees were covered with moss. feeling after stepping in this village was that it was unspoiled by human intervention and far from modern society. It gave me a feeling of being ancient. Even the trees were covered with moss. The village was mostly green and yellow flowers were abundant. 

There are just about a dozen families or so residing in this village. Obviously, medical and sanitation facilities are far from adequate. Schooling is miles away. and farming is the only occupation. We saw paddy fields and also sugarcane fields. 

Migration to cities in search of bread and butter leads some of the daring youth to look towards the nearby cities. However within their village the only way to commute is to use your feet. 

  I thought that the wildlife here could be commendable since at one point we saw a pack of jackals. They were looking beautiful. we saw them from far in misty conditions, but make no mistake they were jackals. Unfortunately we couldn't  capture them on camera. Damn. We did interact briefly with the locals before starting out for the waterfall. From far we could see the falls and also hear the roar. This waterfall emerges only during the rainy season and dries up as summer approaches. The approach was however very very slippery possibly due to the algae and we had some disastrous falls wherein i sustained a 2-inch cut and finally we had to turn back. Even walking along the sides was not possible. I recalled that this was the same kind of situation one encounters as you approach Dudhsagar Waterfalls during the monsoons if u trek to the falls from the colem railway station.