The Rivona Caves also known as the Pandava caves are situated in the village of Rivona in South Goa at about 5 km northeast of Ponda. They are considered to be dug in the 6th or 7th century by the Buddhist monks.
At the Buddhist caves at Rivona one can see a Pitha, which is carved out of laterite and is believed to have served as the seat of the teacher. The caves are also considered one of the few examples of Buddhist influence visible in Goa today.
The main opening to the caves is next to a small stepped well or tank at the bottom of the rock. This is flanked by a 16th century bas-relief of Hanuman, the Hindu monkey God and leads to the cell on the upper level.
The caves at Rivona are fairly unknown and one may have to ask around a bit to get to the right direction. To get to Rivona however it is quite easy as by road, Rivona is well connected with Quepem and Margao.
The temple of Rudreshwar which is half a km away from the Harvalem caves where the ancient linga of Rudreshwar is venerated is located in the Bicholim Taluka in North Goa.
The Shree Rudreshwar Temple is newly built on the site of an age old ancient site.
The idyllic Harvalem waterfalls is close by. The image of Rudreshwar is facing the waterfall. While leaving the temple of Rudreshwar, one can descend the staircase to look at a majestic waterfall shedding its exuberant silvery showers.
Mahashivaratri is celebrated amongst much gaiety and splendour where in the temple is open to all Hindus, irrespective of caste and creed. However, the temple assumes importance as Hindus perform rites for the dead here.
Set in the midst of charming surroundings, the Harvalem waterfall is a largely popular tourist attraction in Goa.
The rock cut famous Arvalem caves are located very nearby and there is also a Government-established park from where an amazing view of this waterfall is relished.
Goa has a rich 'cave heritage' and when you converse with any villager belonging to the villages such as Harvalem
There are many mythical stories attached to the Arvalem caves and some opinions state that the caves were carved by travelling monks of the Buddhist religion. You can notice an inscription in the temple in the second cave which reads ‘Sambalura-vasi Ravih’ in the Sanskrit language and the characters belong to 7th century old Brahmi language. The caves are also called as Pandava Caves.
This waterfall’s color becomes mud brown due to the monsoon and that time, the flow of water is less. This area has blossoming greenery surrounding it with many fruit bearing trees which add to the loveliness of this scenery. This waterfall is among the most swarming tourist places in Goa. The remarkable charisma of this quiet place with its interesting view of the water moving down into the trail of nature, makes the place a perfect location to refresh the soul.
During winter season, this falls is comparatively drier when compared to the period after the monsoon. So, during winter time, you can set out to the waterfall’s bottom where there is a vast lake.
Famous Places to visit in South Goa Part 2 | दक्षिण गोव्यामध्ये भेट देण्यासाठी ठिकाणे भाग २
The Salaulim Dam is located on the Salaulim River, a tributary of the Zuari River in Goa, India, is an integral component of the Salaulim Irrigation Project which envisages benefits of irrigation and drinking water supply. The dam is a composite earth-cum-masonry dam of 42.7 metres (140 ft) height with a water spread area of 24 km2 (9.3 sq mi).
Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary is located in South Eastern Goa, India. It constitutes one of the vital corridors of the Western Ghats and covers an area of 211.05 km2. Netravali or Neturli is an important tributary of River Zuari, which originates in the sanctuary. Forests mostly consist of moist deciduous vegetation interspersed with evergreen and semi-evergreen habitat. It is adjacent to Dandeli-Anshi Tiger Reserve, Karnataka on the eastern side, Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary, Goa on the southern side and Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary and Mollem National Park on the northern side which in turn forms a contiguous protected area along with Madei Wildlife Sanctuary, Goa and Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary, Karnataka. The Netravali Lake goes by many names, like Budbud, Budbudyachi Tali, and Bubble Lake. Situated in the peaceful and serene village of Netravali the lake is famous for its bubbles. These bubbles rise continuously to the surface in various places in the lake. Strangely enough, they also appear to respond to certain sounds and rise faster if you clap!
The Rivona Caves also known as the Pandava caves are situated in the village of Rivona in South Goa at about 5 km northeast of Ponda. They are considered to be dug in the 6th or 7th century by the Buddhist monks. At the Buddhist caves at Rivona one can see a Pitha, which is carved out of laterite and is believed to have served as the seat of the teacher. The caves are also considered one of the few examples of Buddhist influence visible in Goa today.
Dudhsagar Falls (literally Sea of Milk) is a four-tiered waterfall located on the Mandovi River in the Indian state of Goa. It is 60 km from Panaji by road and is located on the Madgaon-Belagavi rail route about 46 km east of Madgaon and 80 km south of Belgaum. Dudhsagar Falls is amongst India's tallest waterfalls with a height of 310 m (1017 feet) and an average width of 30 metres (100 feet). The falls is located in the Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary and Mollem National Park among the Western Ghats. The waterfall forms the border between Karnataka and Goa states. The area is surrounded by deciduous forests with rich biodiversity. The falls are not particularly spectacular during the dry season but during the monsoon season, however, the falls are fed by rains and form a huge force of water.
Mahadeva Temple, Tambdi Surla is a 12th-century Shaivite temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and an active place of Hindu worship. It is the only structural temple of the Kadamba period to survive the destructive violence of religious intolerance during Muslim and Portuguese occupations of Goan territory. The temple is built in the Kadamba style from basalt, carried across the mountains from the Deccan plateau and carved by craftsmen. It is considered to be the only specimen of Kadamba architecture in basalt stone preserved and available in Goa. The temple survived invasions and the Goa Inquisition due to its remote location in a clearing deep in the forest at the foot of the Western Ghats which surround the site.