Butlee Sinha Dsilva, our lovingly Butlee’s tendency to escape from the house was perhaps the first sign that she had a little adventurer in her. So, we started taking her on short trips. Her first trip was in December 2016, when she rang in the New Year with our family and friends in Igatpuri. Since then, she has travelled with us to Karjat, Murud-Janjira, Panchgani, Nashik, Pune, Alibaug, and even as far as Kolkata (by train), but Goa remains special. Which is why, when she turned 10 last year, we wanted to make it extra special — and what better way to celebrate than with a road trip to Goa!
The first two days were spent on the gorgeous, crowd-free beach of Galgibaga, followed by a few days at the exquisite The Postcard Hideaway, tucked away on the fringes of the Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary. It served two purposes: indulging my inner forest fairy, which is forever craving a little more nature, and finding the perfect setting to celebrate Butlee’s birthday.
The Day of Travel: Dog-On-Board
The car was chosen keeping her and our other pets in mind, and we further accessorised it with an inflatable bed with side cushions for maximum comfort. Her backpack was packed with a set of quick-dry towels, a portable pet feeder, a pouch with all her medicines, pet-grade perfume, and toiletries (we don’t do things halfway; it’s all the way)! Somehow, Butlee understands the whole packing-and-travel-prep ritual. Her demeanour changes — the jumping, the whining, followed by zoomies. All the works.
As a rule, we started at 3:30 am to avoid the Mumbai traffic. Once she was settled into her throne and comfortable, she never once turned back to even steal a glance. She stared straight ahead through the liftgate glass, watching vehicles zoom past and taking in everything else along the way.
Four pit stops, two strong cups of dark roast, and a good 11 hours later, we reached the Goa border on NH66, the highway that would take us to Galgibaga in the extreme south of Goa, where we would cross Karmal Ghat (also known as Karmali Ghat). With steep slopes, sharp winding turns and a gorgeous, dense canopy, this gateway to the Canacona taluka winds through the foothills of the Sahyadris. Butlee was in awe as we drove through this stretch, storing in as many different smells as she could as we rolled down the windows. She took it all in.
Evening had set in by the time we reached the only homestay run by a local family on the Galgibag beach. Planning on an early start the next morning, we retired for the night.
At daybreak, we were greeted by an Indie who resided on the premises. We called him Zimbo. Full of life, he quickly became Butlee’s beach playdate. With no restrictions, only sand and sea beneath their paws, the two ran free. Until Butlee spotted a crab crawling sideways towards her. First, she tilted her head, trying to figure out its protruding eyes. Curious. Only to squeal and follow my spouse the moment it came a little too close!
The entire day was spent hopping between beaches, taking breaks, grabbing a good bite at pet-friendly eateries, and repeating the cycle. We paused as much as we could, knowing we had another scenic drive ahead of us the next day.
Right In The Lap Of Nature, The Stay That Surpassed Expectations
The left turn from Bhatpali bus stop on the Panvel-Kochi-Kanyakumari Highway shifted the scene. Thereon, the drive to the resort in Netravali was divine – under the canopy of coconut fronds, villagers selling the famed GI-tagged Khola chillies that are harvested in the Canacona region, and driving past rustic village homes made of laterite stones and local mud.
The chaos of the city was far behind us; the closer we got to our destination, the louder the cicadas seemed to ring. Butlee’s brown snout was working overtime too — the smell of nature was simply irresistible. Both Butlee and I were longing for this little dose of forest therapy.
The Postcard Hideaway was a relief to sore eyes. As we checked in, the boho-chic interiors welcomed us. Instead of the bright hues of mustard yellow, indigo blue, terracotta orange, pistachio green and rose pink that shade so many of Goa’s heritage buildings, Postcard embraces muted, earthy tones that blend beautifully with nature and its surroundings. Imagine our surprise when we realised we didn’t have to lug along our furry friend’s bedding and food packets. At no extra charge, everything we needed was complimentary!
Built on stilts, the best part was the patio, where we could all sit in silence, immersed in the symphony of nature. Every tiny detail seemed to speak of the meticulous effort that had gone into creating a space that embraced eco-conscious living — from jute waste bins to storage racks made from recycled plastic.
The Postcard balances pet-friendly freedom with thoughtful boundaries. With generous spaces for the pets to roam, certain areas like the restaurant, the pool area, and some guest-heavy zones remain off-limits to ensure comfort for all.
Flavours Rooted in Goan Heritage
For me, food has always been an integral part of travel. Which is why this place stood out for its approach to food, sourcing ingredients from its own backyard — the organic garden — as well as from local producers.
Be it the popular ros omelette, pork vindaloo (which, somehow, always seems to taste different outside Goa), vegetable xacutti (slightly unfamiliar to me, having always eaten chicken xacutti), or chicken cafreal served in the form of tarts, every dish felt deeply rooted in Goan culture. Yet, I found myself craving the Konkan thali, which came with poi (traditional Goan bread), prawn curry, and an assortment of traditional preparations, mostly featuring mussels and other crustaceans.
It was no less than a Goan feast!
Another Wild Corner
After a day of unwinding at The Postcard Hideaway, the next morning was all about taking our baby out. We packed enough to keep us fuelled and headed to Kurdi, often called the ‘Atlantis of Goa’.
Once a thriving village in South Goa’s Sanguem taluka, Kurdi now resurfaces only briefly in April or May, remaining submerged for the rest of the year. After driving through the lush canopy, the stark landscape feels almost surreal — acres of wasteland, shrubs, tree stumps rising from the water, and remnants of old homes, with the ancient Shree Someshwar Temple, dating back to the 10th or 11th century, standing tall among it all.
We let Butlee off her leash and watched her navigate the sharp stones, sniff the lake, and take in the unfamiliar scents. She briefly contemplated stepping into the water, thought better of it, and hopped back. Clearly, it was time to move on!
Our next stop was the Usgalimal petroglyphs, barely 15 minutes away. Believed to be between 20,000 and 30,000 years old, the carvings depict labyrinths, bulls, and human figures. On a sunny day, they are difficult to spot, so we splashed some water over the rocks to bring the engravings to life. It was astonishing to see their ridges survive thousands of years of weather and erosion.
The nearby Kushavati River was just as inviting — shallow, clear, and dotted with smooth pebbles, with bright-green strands of algae visible beneath the surface. I was excited for Butlee to take a dip, but she had other plans. My spouse scooped her up and stepped into the water anyway, only for the slippery riverbed to send both of them scrambling for balance. Butlee, thoroughly unimpressed by the whole affair, walked away the moment her paws touched dry land — followed by two slightly embarrassed humans!
We stopped at the nearby Rivona quarry for a few photographs before heading back to our temporary paradise, while Butlee happily snoozed in the car. It had been a long, tiring day for her, but I knew she had enjoyed every bit of it.
The next morning, as we prepared to drive home, I watched Butlee collect as much scent and sound of everything around. So did I. A smile plastered on my face, I realised how Butlee influenced my travel take. Pausing to take a whiff of the surroundings, listening to the natural acoustics, embracing nature with all the senses, Butlee taught me to surrender myself to the goodness of everything ordinary and discover the extraordinary that hides in plain sight.
TH Recommends:
A walking tour by Soul Travelling is a great way to learn more about Kurdi and the duck-billed Salaulim Dam.