Shantadurga Temple and Velus Bridge at Valpoi.
Valpoi is ideally a trekker’s paradise and a place to cut off from the grind of a busy life amidst the serene greenery. As a place it has still yet to develop generally and hence i would not recommend it if the above two reasons do not fit into your purpose of going there.
However for those on the Temple route, as many visitors to the state do come to visit the famous temples, then a visit to the Shantadurga Temple at Advoi may be worth a mention. The directions are best located on Google maps as there is hardly any signage. The locals will be able to point out the direction, no doubt, that is if one sees them in this sparsely inhabited part of Valpoi. Goddess Shantadurga is worshiped in all of Goa and often in form of an anthill.
Another well known landmark in Valpoi is the Velus bridge that was built during the Portuguese era and built in the 1930s. It connects Valpoi to its other villages. Standing on the narrow gauge bridge on top of the bridge one will find nothing to rave about. However its architecture was a marvel of those days and the arch of the bridge is the real attraction here can be admired only from below the bridge. Again there is no access to go below and take a look at its single arch. A request to the resident there allowed me access to go below the bridge and actually take a look at the arch. I think taking a boat ride in its waters would have been better in hindsight to marvel at the arch which was an engineering marvel of its time in this part of the world.
On my itinerary was also the Nanuz Fort, but the access to that fort is blocked with huge vegetation and access to it is only for the bravehearted. I was dissuaded to even try as the local man residing within its habitable vicinity informed me that the fort lies in ruins and there are plans from the government to renovate it. But that is in the cards and will take sometime.
A day trip to Valpoi will suffice just to get a feel of the place. And one could take the trip at least to see the hinterlands of Goa. Then you would have truly visited the real Goa.
