The first time I saw Arvalem waterfall was 2003, the year our business set foot in Goa. The waterfall was close to our business associate Shabir's home at Sanquelim. Shabir had taken us to Arvalem caves and then Arvalem waterfall, both places are on the same road off Sanquelim-Ponda road.
Arvalem waterfall is a result of Cudnem river diving off a 50 meters cliff. The mouth of the gorge at the waterfall is about 7 meters wide. During and just after a good rainy season, the roar of Arvalem waterfall can be heard half a kilometer away. Between 2003 and 2005, I must've visited this waterfall two or three times. Once it was during the peak of monsoon, the waterfall was like a ferocious monster.
Sept 1, 2023
This trip to Goa was planned in the last week of September on Srinu's arrival at our place. We got accommodation at a resort near Assonora in North Goa. On Shabir's advice we skipped Dharwad-Ramnagar-Goa highway and took Dharwad-Belagavi-Chorla-Goa highway. On entering Chorla ghat road, the memories of 2003-05 came alive. I'd travelled Chorla ghats on a bike, a bus, and number of times by car; traveled during day and night; during clear and rainy days. With all the variables, one thing was constant- the road on Karnataka side was pathetic and the road on Goan side was always like new. This trip, the road on Karnataka side was bad but not as bad as in 20 years ago.
The first major town we touch in Goa is Sanquelim. As we approached the town, more memories came alive... the restaurants we ate at, the shops we visited, a glimpse of the town bus-stand, etc. Sanquelim had grown over the years, one of the main junctions had traffic lights and medians. Despite the changes, the town had retained its charm. I had no difficulty in locating the road leading to the historical caves and waterfall.
We decided to see the waterfall first and stop at the caves on the way back. We left our car at the parking place just outside the waterfall-temple complex gates and went by foot. The path goes past Rudreshwar Mandir and then a staircase runs parallel to the stream. One needs to be careful on the steps since they are slippery in the rainy season. Here it is, the marvelous Harvalem waterfall.
The waters of Cudnem river after the falls. The steps seen on the left is the temple's bathing ghat. During one of the previous visits, the water level of this river was at least four feet more than the present.
Barely half hour outside the airconditioned car, the warm & humid Goan weather had hit Pushpa. She decided to rest while I took a few pictures.
The stubby columns in waters are flow controllers, I think they reduce turbulence. Also there's a cross-over along those columns. Anyone wanting to cross the stream could go there. To my knowledge, crossing the stream with this flow is not advisable. May be when the water level is much lower.
This Rudreshwar Mandir, a temple dedicated to a form of Shiva. I had been inside the temple during an earlier visit.
This is the rear view of the grand temple. Goan temple structures are different, most of them have an open hall attached to the temple. The sloped roof portion is the temple, the dome is right over the sanctum. The extension in the front is an open hall which is used for cultural events. Most temples in Goa and Western ghats are in the same format, only the size and design will vary. Two other major temples of Sanquelim are Radha-Krishna Mandir and Dattatreya Mandir.
That's Pushpa, and Srinu our friend from Hyderabad. A fine mist rises from the waterfall keeping the surroundings moist. 2023 rainy season has been poor, probably received just 30 to 40% rainfall compared to last year. If the rains were better, this waterfall would've been a different sight with a heavy spray covering the entire space.
I really wish to see this waterfall again after a good rainy season. So praying for good rains in the future years. From here we go to Arvalem caves, also called as Pandava caves by local people.
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