Oct 6, 2024
Re-Imagining Goa.. - The Saligao Saunter gives a unique opportunity to explore a lesser-known side of Goa, uncovering stories that are deeply rooted in Goan society which are often overlooked. Saligao, a village that embodies Goa's rich tapestry of diverse cultures, serves as a perfect example of this wonderful blend. Vaibhav Salgaonkar, the storyteller leading this tour, brings a profound understanding of the culture of Saligao, drawn from his personal experiences. His research skills are exceptional, and he builds a strong rapport with the guests, making each one feel personally connected to it. Vaibhav’s engaging storytelling style with a tint of Humour, combined with his vast knowledge, makes every moment captivating and enjoyable.As a gifted artist, he adds an extra layer of creativity to this experience with his sketchbook and making sketches of the guests making the walk truly memorable. His passion for Goa’s history and culture shines through, making him not just a storyteller but an ambassador for the region. As a Goan I feel If initiatives like this continue, they will not only help dispel stereotypes about Goan society but also contribute to preserving the subtleties of this region for future generations. This is truly a commendable effort.. Keep up the Good Work!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sep 25, 2024
Amazing experience - We had really wonderful walk along with Vaibhav, our storyteller. Without his stories I believe Saligao would be less understood by anyone and it is definitely a must visit village for anyone coming to goa. Had great goan snacks as well in a heritage home that had stories to tell as well.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Aug 25, 2024
Totally worth it - Fun, informative and insightful..
The walk takes you through parts of Saligoa which otherwise one would have not gone to. It’s such a beautiful village
Vaibhav is a great storyteller and very patient..
The tea at MRhouse with Goan delicacies was an icing on the cake
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Aug 22, 2024
Enriching experience - I had a wonderful time with Make it happen at the Saligao Village Saunter. It’s a cultural experience which takes you through the history of Saligao chuch, a heritage home and the Saligao village. It’s an insightful trail and the very talented host Mr. Bu made it all worth it. His sketches were a bonus :)
You should definitely consider doing this if you are planning a trip towards north Goa or Saligao.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Aug 18, 2024
Best experience - It was the best decision to select make it happen for saligoan saunter walk.. Vaibhav is an amazing story teller and we had a lot of informative discussion wherein he walked us pass through the history and heritage .. I would recommend it to everyone I know for sure
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Aug 7, 2024
Wonderful - Going on the walking trail with Vaibhav was very pleasant. He knew a lot about the village, the early settlers, their movements,motives and so on. He had a range in his narrative , from funny little anecdotes to various belief systems of the locals. He told me about the festivals that happen in Goa and was kind to take pauses wherever the need arose.
There was a moment in the trail where it would have been understandable if he wanted me to shoot a video as there was an unexpected celebrity that joined the trail . But what a presence of mind he had, he acknowledged that I was his guest too and mustn't have to become the person who's clicking and that I must have my experience in a wholesome manner as well. These small observations that he would make , made the trail more special.
I wish you do more such trails and that more people get to look at Saligao through your lens.
Again, congratulations to the MakeitHappen team for having designed a trail so beautiful
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Apr 15, 2024
Excellent - The Saligao walk was really nice and peaceful! We went through beautiful palm tree road and hear a lot of local stories. At the end we we were invited to the old Portuguese villa where we can enjoyed tea and the most delicious biscuits 🍪
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mar 24, 2024
Just Indian Things - This walk started in the courtyard of a beautiful Goanese church, with Neo Gothic architecture. Mae de Deus. The storyteller was a fascinating and vibrant young historian Amreen, who incidentally happened to be on her Ramzan fast, and on a very sultry afternoon at that.
The story started with a tale from the Skanda Purana about Lord Parshuram reclaiming the land from the sea.
Story moves on to history where the original settlers of Goa happened to be 96 Gaud Bramhin families from Bengal. And that Konkani language and food habits have actually evolved from Bengali! As we tramped through the beautiful village, we see influences of the Portuguese, in art and architecture. We are hosted for tea at a quaint Portuguese villa by an elderly gentleman and his extremely photogenic cat. We got to know about the feni trade, the Cantonese artifacts, the emigration waves to East Africa and Karachi.
The walk left me with the most surreal feeling that this is the India we live in, a melting pot of so so so many cultures, religions and influences, and so much beauty. I know I sound clichéd, but this walk was a thorough cleanse from the hatred and otherness that we experience in our daily lives now.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mar 15, 2024
An experience too unique - It was a unique and beautiful experience. The history of Goa along with the experience of walking in the narrow lanes, taking in the Flora and Fauna, brilliant narration by Amreen Xec ended with the visit to the house of M R D’Souza now of the Vaz family, trying out savouries and cakes from their bakery in Panjim, just superb
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mar 14, 2024
A Village Tour of Saligao with a Local - I recently went on the Saligao Village Saunter Tour with my parents and tour guide Vaishnavi. It was a very peaceful and relaxing tour, learning more about the village of Saligo where Vaishnavi had grown up. She started off the church and learnt about its history before visiting the graveyard and learning about how the dead are respected and buried. We walked down picturesque paths with paddy fields either side, past little houses painted in beautiful colours before arriving for tea at one of the beautiful period houses. Vaishnavi was charming, interesting and went at a lovely pace.
Review provided by Tripadvisor