Ashvem, Goa – one of the many protected areas of India, characterized by beautiful nature, convenient location and friendly locals, not spoiled by huge crowds of tourists. It is really very quiet, quiet and sparsely populated, but this is what attracts travelers who want to relax from the noisy party resorts.
General information
Ashvem is a small village located in the northern part of Goa (India). The population is about a thousand people. The main attributes of the tourist infrastructure appeared only recently, so everything here shines with cleanliness and novelty.
The best time to visit the resort is from November to March, when the water warms up to +28°C, and the air temperature is at least +30°With the day and about +20°C-at night. At the same time, most tourists come here for the New Year and Christmas holidays, which are considered the peak of the tourist season.
Ashvem’s infrastructure
Despite its relatively young age, this resort has a lot to offer for a comfortable stay. So, at the end of 2013, a professional school for surfers and kite surfers was opened in Ashvem. It was followed by several modern supermarkets where you can buy absolutely everything – from fruits and vegetables to various souvenirs or household goods. But the greatest demand is for Indian – made clothing-it is not only beautiful, but also high-quality. They say that such models can not be found even in the legendary markets of North Goa.
There is also Jai Ganesh, a multifunctional currency exchange office equipped with an ATM. There you can also buy a SIM card from one of the mobile operators in India, which will immediately be cut to size. Find a taxi rank in the very center of the village. In the immediate vicinity of it are located “Sea View”, one of the best hotels, and “Arti massage”, a massage center offering various Ayurvedic services.
Those who want to rent a bike can use one of the 2 large sites. The first of them, owned by the Hindu Romio, can be found on the road near the cafe “Koleso”. The second one, opened by the Nigerian Anton, is 50 m from the Sky bar restaurant. There is also a laundry room with very attractive prices – washing one unit will cost 20 cents.
Attractions
There is almost nothing to see in the village – its main pride is Ashvem Beach. However, in nearby Arambol, there are several travel agencies that organize excursions to the main historical sights of India. The most popular trips are to the waterfalls, during which you will have a wonderful opportunity to visit the heart of the jungle, ride elephants, chat with the local sage Baba and make a wonderful photo essay. A tourist bus to the waterfalls departs every morning. As for the surrounding beaches or villages, they can be easily reached by rented bike or scooter. In addition, the surroundings of Ashvem abound with Indian temples, which you can devote more than one day to exploring.
There are almost no evening events at this resort. The only exceptions are a few establishments that sometimes organize quite modest parties by Goan standards. Among the most popular restaurants are Shanti Restaurant, Borsch cocktail bar and Bardo Night club. In this regard, most tourists prefer to either watch the sunset, or walk along La Beach, looking into the cafes or shops located on it. In extreme cases, you can walk to the neighboring beaches – it will take half an hour.
Ashvem Beach in Goa is also often used for field weddings, so while walking along the coast, you can come across a path dotted with rose petals and a wedding arch decorated with exotic flowers.
Beach
Ashvem Beach, which is just over 2 km long, stretches from the conditional border with Mandrem in the north to the conditional border with Morjim in the south. As one of the best wild beaches of Goa in India, it is famous for its picturesque palm groves, the emerald waters of the Arabian Sea and a unique atmosphere that promotes a quiet and peaceful holiday.
The wide coastline is covered with grayish sand, which, as you approach the small shallow river that separates the resort from other settlements, becomes almost black and turns into silt. Ashvem Beach has absolutely no rocks, but there are huge boulders formed from frozen volcanic rocks. Tourists like to look for sea crabs in them and take photos against the background of the sunset.
Its smooth entry into the water, soft sandy bottom and shallow, gradually increasing depth make it a good place for families with children. In addition, during low tide, small puddles of warm water appear on the shore, in which babies like to play.
Another feature of Ashvem beach in Goa is a large amount of free space. This is due to at least 2 factors. Firstly, the bungalows and restaurants here are located at a considerable distance from each other, and secondly, there are practically no cows, dogs, beggars, annoying merchants and representatives of the local beauty industry.
And the Indians themselves, who love to take selfies with Europeans, almost do not come here. What is also important, almost everywhere there is WiFi. But there are no toilets, showers and changing rooms on Ashvem Beach, and the entire infrastructure is rather poorly developed.
If you take a closer look at the photo of Ashvem Beach in Goa, you will notice that the water entertainment sphere in this quiet and sparsely populated resort is represented only by surfing and kiting. Professional instructors are waiting for everyone who wants to take up these sports. You can also go boating and fishing in the open sea.
Umbrellas, sun beds and canopies woven from palm leaves belong to either shakes or beach hotels. But even if you are not going to become a customer of these establishments, you can always hide from the sun in the shade of palm trees and other exotic vegetation. The main thing is not to wander into the thickets of cacti – there are more than enough of them on the beach. The territory of the village is regularly cleaned, and professional rescuers monitor the order and safety of vacationers.
Accommodation
The village of Ashvem in India does not have a large number of places to stay, and those that are available are much more expensive than in other parts of the state. However, the service and living conditions here fully correspond to the announced cost.
You will also find large chain hotels here. The main part of the housing consists of villas, guest houses and cozy hotels with beautiful sea views. It offers clean, spacious rooms with new furniture, equipped bathrooms and snow-white towels. Many have outdoor pools.
There will be no problems with choosing an area to live in – all housing is located on both sides of the central road that runs along the entire coastline. The distance between them is from 100 to 500 meters. Closer are only beach bungalows, which are small houses with a shower, bed and air conditioning. Despite the fact that this option is the most expensive (up to$ 100 per season), such “romantic huts” are being built more and more.
It should also be noted that on the eve of the New Year and Christmas holidays, it is almost impossible to find free housing on Ashvem Beach, so it is better to immediately pay attention to the neighboring villages – Morzhim or Mandrem. There you can find hotels for every taste and budget. Eg:
- the price of a double room in a 3* hotel starts from$ 25 per day,
- 4* — from$55,
- and the rent of a guesthouse will be from$14 to $ 56.
Where to eat?
Ashvem Beach is one of the most expensive resorts in Goa in India, and the main share of expenses is food, because in the absence of any competition, the owners of local establishments set prices at their discretion. And this applies to both beach shakes and fashionable restaurants located in the village itself.
The menu of many establishments is designed for visitors. Traditional Indian dishes, characterized by a huge amount of hot spices, are very few in Ashvem, but European and Mediterranean cuisine is represented by a fairly wide selection. Fish, fried vegetable patties, various seafood dishes, rice pudding with ice cream and other Goan sweets are best prepared here. No less popular are omelet centers, which are a kind of analog of Indian fast food.
The main feature of this village can be called the presence of Russian restaurants, opened by our countrymen many years ago. Seasonalists who miss pancakes and cutlets regularly visit Borsch ,Good Evening or Hello, Andrey to chat with their compatriots and quench their nostalgia. However, lunch or dinner in one of these establishments will cost $ 40-50, not including alcohol and other beverages. As for beach cafes, the prices there are lower, but still much higher than the average price tag in Goa.
Useful tips
Before heading to Ashvem, Goa (India), check out a number of useful tips that will make your vacation even more enjoyable:
- To make your visit to Goa an unforgettable experience, go to the beach in the late evening – the sunsets here are simply unforgettable. And each time-different.
- Despite the fact that this resort is considered one of the most peaceful places on the entire coast, you should not forget about the basic safety rules. So, when leaving a bungalow or hotel room, close the door and windows, do not leave valuables on the windowsills, and keep your money and passports in the safe at the reception. And be sure to turn the key at night – in most cases, thefts are committed from open houses while the owners are asleep.
- For the same reason, you should not walk around the village at night, especially when you are completely alone.
- The Arabian Sea, which washes this part of Goa, has many undercurrents, so swimming further than 200 m from the shore is highly discouraged.
- If you don’t want to attract too much attention from the locals, don’t walk around the streets of Ashwem in just a bathing suit or beach shorts – that’s not the way it works in India.
- There are some sharp rocks in the sea near the Rococo Hotel – swim carefully there.
- Even if you forget to tell the waiter “No spice”, don’t worry – the food at this resort will not be as spicy as in other areas of the state.
- In order to take a taxi, you don’t have to go to the parking lot – you can catch a car right on the main road. However, local drivers charge exorbitant prices, so don’t be afraid to bargain. In addition, you can take a taxi in both directions – it will be much cheaper. Even better, find a good driver in Arambol, get their phone number, and ride with them for the entire vacation.
