In the times gone by, when transport was scarce and village produce could not regularly move to urban hubs like Mapusa, Panaji, Margao, weekly markets were the most looked forward to events.
Every populous rural hub had a weekday allotted to it. Mapusa had its Friday market, Calangute had a market day of its own; Saturday. Siolim, a stunning riverside village in North Goa, a short distance from Mapusa, had a market day too; Wednesday. Back then, villagers used to haul their farm products like freshly slaughtered meat to the market, local eggs, rice and condiment and gather in groups near the Siolim football ground and haggle and bargain with customers until sundown.
While supermarkets and generic urban markets have now diminished the charm of these weekly markets, some like the markets at Mapusa and to some extent Siolim still thrive, thanks to consistent patronage from the villagers.
But for those living close to Vagator, Marna, Sodiem, Assagao, Anjuna, a visit to the weekly Wednesday market at Siolim may yet spring a surprise or two.
Items you could look out for are locally grown chillies, spices, brown rice, local eggs, sausages, fresh vegetables, etc.
Weekly market on Wednesday
Siolim, near the football ground
Morning to early evening
Mollem National Park
Strategically located in a protected area in Sanguem taluka, Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary and Mollem National Park is 57 kms away from Panaji.along National Highway 4A. Originally the area was known as Mollem Game Sanctuary but in 1969 it came to be known as Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary and in 1978 was notified as Mollem National PARK. The sanctuary hosts the community of nomadic buffalo herders known as the Dhangar. The sanctuary contains pristine vegetation like the evergreen, semi-evergreen and deciduous forests. The evergreen forests are mostly seen along the river bank. While walking by you will see several perennial water sources, which serves to be a major plus point for wildlife. The national park showcases a variety of birds like fairy bluebird, wagtails, drongo, great Indian hornbill to name a few. Not only do you get to see a variety of wildlife but the park is also surrounded by 722 species of flowering plants. Jungle safaris are a major attraction of the park. The park is also known for its trekking trails. The Tambdi Surla Temple, Devil’s Crayon, Sunset Point and Tambdi Water Falls are some of the other attractions of the park. Forest guest house run by Karnataka Tourism Development Corporation is the closest that one can stay near Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary and Mollem National Park. The entry fee for an adult is Rs20 with additional charges if you carry a camera along. The sanctuary is a must visit for a wildlife photography enthusiast.
