Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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Arambol (Harmal)
Beautiful Arambol, with its craggy cliffs and sweeping beach, first emerged in the 1960s as
a mellow paradise for long-haired long-stayers, and ever since, travellers attracted to the
hippy atmosphere have been drifting up to this blissed-out corner of Goa. As a result, in the
high season the beach and the road leading down to it (known as Glastonbury St) can get
pretty crowded - with huts, people and nonstop stalls selling the usual tourist stuff. If
you're looking for a committed traveller vibe, this is the place to come; if you're seeking
laid-back languidness, you might be better off heading down the coast to Mandrem or
Morjim.
Activities
The cliffs north of Arambol beach are a popular spot for
paragliding
.
Arambol Paragliding School
(
both offer tandem flights in season from around ?1800. Several places also offer
yoga
classes and courses.
Follow the cliff path north of Arambol Beach to pretty
Kalacha Beach
, which meets the
small 'sweetwater' lake, a great spot for swimming.
Himalayan Iyengar Yoga Centre
(
www.hiyogacentre.com
; Madhlo Vaddo; five-day yoga course ?3000; Nov-Mar)
This is the winter retreat
for the popular Dharamsala-based Iyengar yoga centre. Five-day courses (beginning on Fri-
days, orientation every Tuesday), intensive workshops, children's classes, and teacher
training are all available. The centre is a five-minute walk from the beach, off the main
road; look for the big banner. HI also has
huts
(s/d without bathroom ?250/300)
for students.
YOGA
Sleeping
Arambol is well known for its sea-facing, cliff-hugging budget huts - trawl the cliffside to
the north of Arambol's main beach stretch for the best hut options. It's almost impossible to
book in advance: simply turn up early in the day to check who's checking out. The area
