Canacona's Bhagwati plateau may soon be gone forever

Arti Das

NEED TO KNOW

Plateaus are biodiversity hotspots. Here are glimpses of the Bhagwati plateau, of which the Communidade of Loliem-Polem, Canacona, intends to grant over 700 acres to set up a film city and wind solar hybrid park.

Canacona | Bhagwati plateau | South Goa | Photo: Arti Das

BHAGWATI TEMPLE

Locals believe that a goddess resides at the Bhagwati Temple, located on the Bhagwati plateau, owing to the serene surroundings. Devotees trek all the way up to the plateau so as to visit this temple.

Canacona | Bhagwati plateau | South Goa | Bhagwati temple | Photo: Arti Das

GODDESS BHAGWATI

Goddess Bhagwati is said to be the protector of this plateau and its people.

Canacona | Bhagwati plateau | South Goa | Bhagwati temple | Goddess Bhagwati | Photo: Arti Das

TIGER WORSHIP

The tiger is also worshipped at Bhagwati temple as a secondary deity, indicating that the region is a tiger habitat.

Canacona | Bhagwati plateau | South Goa | Bhagwati temple | tiger | Photo: Arti Das

WATER, WATER

The presence of a water tank in the vicinity of the temple makes it evident that such plateaus are reservoirs of fresh water bodies.

Canacona | Bhagwati plateau | South Goa | water | Photo: Arti Das

FULL BLOOM

In the months of September and October, the Bhagwati plateau is in full bloom following a heavy monsoon shower.

Canacona | Bhagwati plateau | South Goa | vegetation | flowers | Photo: Arti Das

PLATEAU PLANT

Utricularia malabarica is a species which is endemic to the laterite plateaus of the Western Ghats. This species will be gone forever if we destroy our plateaus.

Canacona | Bhagwati plateau | South Goa | Utricularia malabarica | vegetation | Photo: Arti Das

WHAT'S THIS?!

A new plant species, Eriocaulon goaense, was recently discovered in shallow seasonal ponds on the plateau during the monsoons.

Canacona | Bhagwati plateau | South Goa | Eriocaulon goaense | Photo: Arti Das

BLEAK WINTER

During the winter, the plateau, wears a completely different look and is blanketed in dry grass.

Canacona | Bhagwati plateau | South Goa | winter | Photo: Arti Das

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