There's nothing like a walk by the sea, hand in hand with your beloved. But it's even more magical, when it begins to rain…

Ah! The monsoons. 'Tis the season to be in love. For it's one season where everybody's more interested in getting home dry, while you walk around, hand in hand, soaking it all in. The gusts of wind that rustle her hair. The pitter-patter of rain drops around you. The little puddles you feel like splashing about in. And then you wish you could leave the city and just be by yourselves, somewhere, far, far away. Amen!

So pack your bags and head for Orissa. More precisely, to a tiny little seaside hamlet called Gopalpur-On-Sea. Like most of your fellow countrymen, you probably didn't even know that such a place exists. But for those whom Cupid's arrow has struck straight and true, Gopalpur in the rains is the closest you'll ever come to Paradise.

Gopalpur-On-Sea is around 230 kilometers from Bhubaneshwar or 16 kilometers from the town of Behrampur. So, hop into a bus at Bhubaneshwar, enjoy the sylvan countryside as you cruise down to the coast and get set for a surprise. Gopalpur-On-Sea is a small hamlet, which at first sight, looks almost deserted. Which should be perfect, considering that you're here to get away from the rest of the world. But, as you wander around the small market and start looking for a lodge, you'll soon realise that you're not exactly alone.

Gopalpur-On-Sea consists of a few lodges on the beach, one 5-star hotel, a lighthouse and a tiny market. That's it! No pubs. No discos! No flashy restaurants. However, you do have a few miles of pristine unspoilt beach to ramble on. A beach with sand that's as soft as gossamer. A beach that begs you to walk barefoot as the sea breeze caresses you and you hold your loved one just a little closer. And let the magic seep in.

"You'll be able to wake up to the crashing of the waves and go to sleep with the same for a lullaby."

Most of the lodges here are almost on the beach, so insist on a sea facing room. Since the monsoons don't fall in the tourist season, lodge owners will be only too happy to give you a discount. Power shortages here are quite frequent and so a sea facing room will ensure that you stay cool. What's more, you'll be able to wake up to the crashing of the waves and go to sleep with the same for a lullaby. The beach is separated from the town by giant sand dunes overrun with Casuarina trees, making it seem as though there's a mini-forest by the sea. Take a stroll along the beach to the old lighthouse. The view from the top of the lighthouse is simply spectacular. And it's then that the real beauty of Gopalpur-On-Sea hits you.

Miles of golden beach, bordered by a green belt of Casuarinas and palms on the one hand and gentle, bottle green backwaters on the other. Gopalpur-On-Sea has a complex system of backwater canals and villages just off the beach. These brackish canals are covered with a canopy of green, making them the perfect place to spend a lazy afternoon. Ask one of the villagers to give you a ride in a canoe and as the peace and tranquility seeps into your soul, say a silent prayer and hope that this pristine hamlet never gets ruined by the ravages of commercialisation.

From Gopalpur-On-Sea, we move on to the Big G. Goa. A state that's blessed with some of the finest beaches in the country. Including a few even the city slickers in Goa don't know about! Until a few years ago, most of the lodges in the smaller hamlets in Goa closed down for the monsoons. Until tourists realised that Goa in the rains is an experience that's not to be missed. So, unlike Gopalpur-On-Sea, Goa will have a fair amount of tourists in the monsoons. However, there's lots of room for everyone.Goa is simply beautiful in the monsoons. The palms look more green they were in summer, there's the refreshing aroma of damp earth in the air and as the first drops of rain remind you it's the monsoon season, everything seems to be right with the world.
Stay away from the ever popular beaches like Colva, Calangute and Aguada if you want to be on your own and head for smaller, more romantic spots like Arambhol in Northern Goa. Arambhol is actually a large village spread out along the beach. You can take the ferry across an estuary from Chapora village and walk (around two hrs) along the coast into the village. Or you could drive in through thick green Casuarina plantations from Morjim. The beach is simply stunning, with a two kilometer approach road, completely lined with swaying coconut palms, to complete the picture postcard feeling. Like any place by the sea, Arambhol too has a magic of its own n the monsoons. The beach skirts a series of tiny bays, leading to a second bay that's even more secluded and unspoilt. Thankfully, you won't have to watch out for plastic bags, beer bottles and other such debris as you enjoy an evening stroll and watch the sun go down. Together, of course.

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