Salaulim Dam: The road less travelled in Goa

Did you know that offbeat is the new hot in travel? If the pandemic has taught us anything, it is that life is too short to run after the usual and the familiar. If the virus can come up with new variants every fortnight (it’s starting to look like that anyways), why can’t we also come up with new ways to enjoy travel? Even if the travel is to a very familiar destination…say Goa?

Read more: 10 essential tips for first-time visitors to Goa

Our quest to find something different in Goa led us to a gem of a destination – Salaulim Dam. Yes, believe it or not, beaches and parties are passé now. It is the time for the hinterlands and the nooks and crannies to shine. Enter, Salaulim Dam, an architectural marvel and probably Goa’s largest man-made reservoir.



Salaulim Dam is located just 5 km from Sanguem Town. It lies on the Salaulim River, a tributary of the mighty Zuari River.


Spread over an area of 24 sq km, Salaulim Dam is massive and there’s no doubt that its sheer size is more than capable of holding a visitor’s attention. The thing that people find most attractive about the dam is how this vast expanse of water runs down an outlet, a deep chasm in fact, making it look like something is sucking the water. It’s pretty dramatic!



This is also called the duckbill spillway. During the monsoon season, when the water level rises or when there is an overflow, the excess water goes through a semi-circular outlet, making it look like a sinkhole. This mechanism makes this dam a unique one in India. Mist and a rainbow over this man-made sinkhole makes Salaulim Dam such a beauty.



Located approximately 68 km from Panjim, Salaulim makes for a good day trip. Its location in the hinterlands also make it a very good place to do some quality birdwatching. There’s a botanical garden nearby that you need to visit too. This garden is inspired from the famous Brindavan Gardens in Mysore. Also, both Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary (30 km) and Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary (31.5 km) are nearby.

1. What is the entry fee for Salaulim Dam?
   Salaulim Dam is open from 9 am-6 pm and the entry ticket will cost you INR 20 per person.
2. When is the best time to visit Salaulim Dam?
   Salaulim Dam is best visited during monsoon season, especially August to September.
3. Where is Salaulim Dam located?
   Salaulim Dam is located in Sirga, approximately 5km from Sanguem town.