The Secret Garden
Saligao, north Goa
The Secret Garden is in Saligao, a sleepy village out of the tourist spotlight but within easy reach of many of Goa’s main attractions including the best known beaches, markets and the capital Panjim. Saligao is also not far from one of north Goa’s main junctions, and because it’s also close to the main north-south road it makes travelling up and down Goa a breeze.
How to get there:
Catch a taxi from Dabolim Airport or Thivim railway station. Saligao is close to the NH17 if you’re driving.
By air:
Goa airport aka Dabolim is very well served all year round by domestic flights (Indigo/GoAir, Jet, Air India, SpiceJet), as well as international charter flights during the holiday season.
By train:
Goa’s main station is Madgaon (in Margao) and is well-served by trains coming south from Mumbai and north from Kerala. For Assagao, get off at Madgaon or, even better, at Thivim which is much closer.
Distances & travel times:
airport: 35km / 1hr
railway stations:
Thivim: 15km / 35 mins
Margao: 55km / 1 ½ hours
When to go:
Goa is great at any time of the year, though the Goan holiday season runs from approximately mid-October to mid-April. The monsoon – which can be wonderfully beautiful and dramatic – from June-September will change the nature of your stay as most restaurants and bars, especially in the tourist/coastal belt, will be closed, and the beaches become unsafe for swimming. However, monsoon is a great time to hire a scooter and get out and into the beautiful countryside with your camera.
Getting around:
Scooter or car are the best options, although walking and cycling are good for the village area.