I have been visiting Goa with my family for many years - roughly once in two years to pay obstinances to our Kul Devata (family deity), Shree Navadurga temple at Madkai. During such visits, we would cover some other temples as well as some popular beaches etc. Knowing fully well that Goa tourism is not all about beaches and religious tourism but there are some lesser-known tourist spots in the interior Goa, we decided to explore a couple of such spots on our recent visit to Goa during the Ganesh Festival holidays in September 08-11, 2024. Apart from visiting temples, this time, we decided to cover Mayem Lake which I had heard about it long ago.
The first view of Mayem Lake as we entered the complex. In the background is the boating jetty.
While exploring the route to drive to Mayem Lake from Old Goa on the google map, I notice a place called Harvalem where there is a waterfall as well as Shree Rudreshwar temple and the Harvalem Caves in the vicinity. So, we decided to spend a day in all these places.
After breakfast, we commenced our driving journey from Old Goa. The shortest route is via MDR-20 (Major District Road). However, this route includes a ferry transfer. The other route is via Sanquelim (pronounced as 'Sankeli) which is a longer route by about 10 kms. We took the second route to avoid uncertainty of ferry timing of the first route. We covered 27 kms of distance in about 45 minutes. The road was excellent for driving. The last 4 kms of drive after Dicholi was through the dense forest.
Google map showing the route we followed to visit Mayem Lake-Harvalem Waterfalls-Harvalem Caves and back to Old Goa by the same route.
We entered the lake area through the road leading to GTDC's Mayem Lake View Residency. Although, it is a private property, tourists are allowed to enter up to the Viewing Platform which is just opposite the reception office of Mayem Lake View. My first impression on watching the lake from the Viewing Platform was 'what a pristine place! The lake is surrounded by small hills with dense vegetation. Moreover, the shores of the lake have plants and shrubs which are conducive for migratory birds for nesting. Probably, we would have got to see migratory birds if we had visited the lake early morning.
Mayem Lake is one of the largest freshwater lakes in Goa. After undergoing renovation for many months, the lake was re-opened for tourists sometime in 2019 providing some additional recreational facilities and a Bungee Jumping platform. However, during 2020-21 the lake was virtually closed for tourists due to Covid protocols. It remerged as a tourist spot from 2022 onwards. The Bungee Jumping and the pedal boating activities in the lake have attracted the tourists.
East-West view of Mayem Lake from the bridge connecting Bicholim road with District Road No.22. In the background is Bungee jumping platform.
Mayem Lake with Taleshwar temple in the background. On the right is the bridge connecting Bicholim road.
GTDC's Mayem Lake View cottages in the background.
One of the cottages of GTDC's Lake View Hotel almost touching the water of Mayem Lake.
On the Lake View Hotel's Viewing Platform. In the background is pedal-boating jetty and other recreational places.
Pedal boating jetty, a Cafeteria and places for other recreational activities on the opposite shore of the Mayem Lake.
Harvalem Waterfalls and Rudreshwar Temple Complex
We had visited Mayem Lake in Monsoon which is an off-season for tourists in Goa. Moreover, we were in the midst of Ganesh Festivals. So, the boating and other recreational facilities were closed for 5-days during the festival period. Even Cafeteria - both at the lake shore as well as of GTDC's Mayam Lake View Residency were closed. Only the Bungee Jumping was opened. But we found no other tourists in around Mayem Lake except us. In a way, it was good for us as we spend a very peaceful one-hour quality time, exploring the lake from its three shores.
In our return journey, we took a detour from Sanquelim town (12 kms) to visit Shree Rudreshwar temple and Harvalem Waterfalls in the temple's vicinity. From Harvalem village (pronounced as 'Haravale') road end, it is about 200 steps down to reach Shree Rudreshwar temple complex and the waterfalls. In fact, one can see the waterfalls through the arch of the side entrance to the temple.
Shree Rudreshwar temple has been built on an old temple site with a superb location. It is nestled in the midst of dense forest with a waterfall on the River Harvalem (also called River Kudne) which flows by the side of the temple. Rudreshwar is one of the forms of Lord Shiva and, the deity of Shree Rudreshwar is in the human form in the temple. This temple represents a good amalgam of a serene landscape with spiritual atmosphere.
Shree Rudreshwar temple, Harvalem.
Deity of Shree Rudreshwar in the temple.
Harvalem Waterfalls seen through the side entrance arch of Shree Rudreshwar Temple.
Harvalem Waterfalls can be reached through the side entrance of Shree Rudreshwar temple. There are two ways to watch the waterfalls. First, after climbing a few steps from the temple side, one can step down to reach the base of the waterfall where it merges with the flow of the Haravlem river. Due to vigorous monsoon rains in the last few days, the waterfall is very large and forceful which is risky to be at the base of the fall. The second way is to climb further steps to reach a viewing platform very close to the waterfall. We preferred the second way to the waterfall. The force of the waterfall was such that the sprinkles from the waterfall fell as far as about 50 feet away. We got fully drenched with the sprinkles before we could reach the viewing platform though it was a sunny weather.
Harvalem Waterfalls.
The author on the viewing platform with the background of Harvalem Waterfalls
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On our return journey to Old Goa from Rudreshwar temple, Harvalem Caves was at a distance of less than 500 metres. I had never heard of these caves until this visit to Goa. It is said that the history of these caves dates back to 6th Century BCE. A single laterite rock has been cut into 5 caves of which three caves have Shivlings. Interestingly, these Shivlings are not 'standalone' but are enshrined in pithas. On one of the Shivlings, there are inscriptions in Brahmi script which was in vogue during the reigns of Samrat Ashok and Chandragupta Maurya.
Harvalem Caves.
Shivling with Brahmi inscriptions in one of the Harvalem Caves.
At the end of the journey, we felt great that we visited some lesser-known places in Goa. Despite monsoon season, weather was by and large kind to us. The interior Goa has many less-explored places which I propose to visit in my next trip to Goa.
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