Healing power of Dudhsagar Falls: How nature boosts wellbeing

Having savoured the beaches in Goa umpteen times, I wanted to cherish this popular destination from a different perspective recently. I wanted to explore the hidden gems of this state sitting pretty between Maharashtra and Karnataka. And Dudhsagar Falls topped my list. Located on the Mandovi river, 60 km from Panjim, the capital of Goa, towards the Karnataka border, this 4-tier majestic waterfall is known as the ‘Sea of milk’ or ‘Tambdi Surla’ in local parlance. As the water cascades, it looks like foamy milk, giving the waterfall its popular name.

It is India’s highest waterfalls, located on the Belgaum – Vasco Da Gama rail route. If you are fortunate enough to travel by train on this route, you will witness the enchanting waterfalls in its full glory, a sight to be remembered for the ages.

I decided to travel to Dudhsagar falls during the monsoon and found it at its gurgling best. There are many natural pools at the bottom of the fall and there is no way one can resist taking a dip in the cold, clear water that reflects the serenity of the surrounding hills. In fact, it is said that taking a dip in the waterfalls helps in getting rid of many physical ailments and skin diseases. The water which drips down the stones and rocks contains sulphur in abundance, which is known to be beneficial for skin.

Apart from physical health, visiting this pristine gift of nature, wrapped in tranquillity, is sure to escalate one’s mental wellbeing.  It is a captivating journey and a picture perfect waterfall that awaits one and all.

Trek to Dudhsagar

The mountains of the Western Ghats are a sight to behold during monsoons. In fact, calling them heavenly would be an understatement. There is a 11 km long trek known as the Dudhsagar trek trail that leads to the falls. Earlier, people would get down at the station and follow the railway track but it has now been banned considering the safety of the trekkers.

Since I was already on a nature trail of Goa – visiting the hidden gems of this internationally loved destination – I reached Collem and hired a jeep which took me to the base of the fall. I was mesmerized by the dense forest cover all around. The arduous jeep ride was an adventure in itself as it crossed the water swept stony pathways leading up to the gate of Dudhsagar.

From here, a trek of about a kilometer led me to the wooden bridges. I snaked my way through rain drenched foliage and clouds hovering around – and soon found myself staring at the most powerful waterfalls of India.

Dive in, let your stress vanish

I felt a sense of relief, as if a huge burden was eased off my chest, standing and enjoying the panoramic view of the greens offset by the whiteness of plummeting water and descending clouds. Having trekked here right after a draining and stressful project at work, I could feel my accumulated stress vanishing, my frayed nerves calming down. I sat down on one of the rocks to absorb the ‘view and vibe’ of the place.

A little later, we were given life jackets in case we wanted to swim in the natural pool at the base of the fall. Even if one did not know swimming, with life jackets, we could float and have the most surreal experience in the lap of nature. Fortunately, being a swimmer, I dived in and had a once in a lifetime experience of swimming in this gorgeous fishbowl teeming with colourful fishes. My fatigue was gone and I was completely rejuvenated.

For the rest of the trip, there was a constant smile on my face, replacing the usual frown I wore from  my urban lifestyle. It is rightly said that when one is in a happy frame of mind, they tend to show delight and affection towards others too. I was astonished to find myself splashing water on strangers and vice versa. Nobody seemed to mind, rather the joie de vivre was completely infectious under this epitome of beauty and charisma of nature.

Oneness with nature

Who would want to budge from this unique gem of nature? I spent almost half a day here and was feeling totally refreshed, but it was time to head back.

In a place as beautiful as the Dudhsagar Falls, one feels aligned with nature and realizes what a mere speck in this hugely gifted and diverse world one is. Truly, the breathtakingly beautiful Dudhsagar waterfalls infused in me a new spirit and enthusiasm to look at the world with a new perspective. Visiting this gigantic waterfall was a one-of-a-kind experience – and I felt rejuvenated and energized to take on life again.