Enjoy your private moments at South Goa’s Cola Beach
The name ‘Goa’ is pretty much present in every traveller’s head. And in all probability it is significantly high on their travel bucket list. And it is for this very reason that it is difficult to find places for a private holiday in Goa.
However, in spite of the burgeoning tourist population, there are still a lot of places and beaches that are unknown and still retain the pristine and solitary look. Cola beach is one such destination that is tucked between two hills of South Goa.
Cola beach is situated at a short drive from Palolem Beach, the most popular of South Goa’s beaches. In terms of the geographical layout, the Agonda Beach is located north of Palolem and the Cola beach is situated north of Agonda.
The last mile access is through a mud road and then a steep descent onto the beach. The beach with its untouched golden sands greets you as you begin this descent. But, the real specialty of this beach is a small river that joins the sea right in the middle of this beach.
And this is what I call double bonanza or a heady mix of the salt water and the fresh water. The tourists holidaying at Cola beach get to enjoy both these worlds. You can do kayaking or swimming in the small river and if you feel adventurous, you can hit the vast seas.
The beach is safe for swimming. But, even then a couple of lifeguards are always present during the day to prevent any mishaps. The most popular sport here is beach volleyball, which is played right between the river and the sea. One wrong shot and you need to jump into the river to fetch the ball and the other wrong shot can send you into the Arabian Sea.
In terms of accommodation, there are two niche resorts that offer a mix of tented accommodation, log huts, beach facing cottages and river facing cottages. And all this is located under the shade of swaying casuarinas and coconut trees. For food, the resorts dish out the local catch in continental and local cuisine. And, if you feel like partying, the clubs of Palolem Beach and the more famous ones of North Goa are not too far away.
Cola Beach is ideal for spending a private and blissful holiday. Don’t miss the special sunset here or the early morning swims with the dolphins. Overall, it forms a great holiday package.
You’ll notice a few minor differences than you would in the US. For instance, they offer the “Veg Zinger,” a popular sandwich that is entirely made from veggies and NOT chicken. The “Box Master” is also unique, a snack wrap that features a “succulent fillet of Hot ‘n’ Crispy chicken, spicy hash brown, fresh veggies, pepper, mayo & cheese - all wrapped in a warm toasted tortilla.” Then there are special “Krushers” flavoured soft drinks, which according to KFC, come in “More Drool, More Munch. More Slurp. More Lick and More Bite Krushers.” The most notably different menu item entry on the Indian KFC is their “Hot Wings.” The product description proclaims that they are “India’s No. 1 fully masaaledar snack … Chicken wings smitten with lip smacking lemon chilli flavour.” 
Under the “Spicy Delights” page, different variations of their spicy chicken patty are offered in snack wraps, sandwiches and salads that mimic their US counterparts, but that are void entirely of bovine, and which feature elaborate regional veggie toppings and sauces. A quick rundown of their online menu purports that you would be hard pressed to find anything made from beef on the menu whatsoever. In fact, the only variation in sandwiches that can be found is the classic “Filet-O-Fish” sandwich, which is nearly identical to the one offered at US locations. 
Pizza Hut: The pies tell a different story. If you check out the Pizza Hut India website, you’ll notice it has a slightly different interface, but that notably, the pies feature different toppings. There’s no pepperoni advertised, or beef, or bacon, as bovine is considered a sacred animal by many persons in this expanding nation, and many favour chicken dishes over pork, or have religious beliefs that prohibit them from eating pig products. What you will see are eloquently designed and delicious all-vegetable and cheese pizzas – and some with chicken, too – that feature an elaborate culinary concoction of different regional veggies, such as: sweet corn kernels, red peppers, baby corn, tomatoes, jalapenos, tikka, capsicum and red paprika. Overall, this is quite a different variant than the American Pizza Hut counterpart, and something you won’t find on the US menu, either. 
