MUMBAI TO GOA JAN 2012

MUMBAI TO GOA 

Total Distance :     561 Km                   Total fuel consumed : 86 litres

Total Time taken :14 hrs                       Average Speed :        48 Kmh

Route : Mumbai >> Pen >> Khed >> Chiplun >> Hathkhamba >> Rajapur >> Kankavli >> Sawantwadi  

            (0520)     (0700)     (1100)                       (1320)                                   (1630)           (1730)    

            Mapusa >> Baga 

           (1845)      (1930)

1. This was one trip that i looked forward too and wanted to do so or a long long time . A few holidays from work and a willing friend made it all possible. We decided that we would be doing by car and i did a fair amount of research as to which route would we be taking . There were two options , Option I comprised of scenic beauty but perilous journey on the NH17 while Option II comprised of the safety of the Expressway without the scenic beauty. After much deliberations we decided that the onward journey would be performed by NH17 while the return journey would be by NH4 . A point of clarification NH17 is the old Mumbai to Goa route , and is a single road for both incoming as well as outbound traffic while the NH4 is the newly built expressway.

2. We started in the morning at 0520 hours in order to beat the morning traffic of Mumbai as well as get a good progress made till breakfast. We actually made good progress till Panvel where we kind of were a bit lost owing to the diversion from the road on account of the construction activity in progress. Hence as a word of caution look at the signposts carefully on reaching Panvel so that one does not waste time . Pen was reached by around 7 in the morning and we made a break at "Vithal Kamath" a restaurant which comes on the right side soon after Pen. 

3. The road condition is very good after Pen and with light traffic one can make a very good progress. Again one word of caution the entire stretch of road is twisting and turning all the while so concentration on the road is the Key Word out here . Let the co-passengers enjoy the scenic beauty that is all around especially between Pen and Khed. Do make it a point to stop @ "Vasisthi Darshan" which comes before 15 km of Chiplun. It offers a spectacular view of the two rivers Vasisthi and Jabmundi merging and then meandering.You will find a guy called Vishwas who has set up a local stall selling refreshments who will also brush u up with the local folklore of the area.

4. We reached Hathkhamba by around 1300 hours and decided to have lunch @ Hotel Alankar which was right on the highway itself. A nice place where you could eat good hot meal. After the lunch we were good to go and the car too had a fair amount of rest by then. Sawantwadi was reached by around 1730 hours and we could almost smell Goa beckoning  and urging us on . The Goa Maharastra border is soon after Sawantwadi  and one can identify the same by the usual police chowki  that one comes across when crossing state borders. Do ensure that you are carrying all the requisite papers right up to the current PUC to be on the safe side. 

5. We reached Mapusa and then Baga by around 1930 hours . Finding the guesthouse took time for we weren't used to the madness that surrounds the Baga-Calugute stretch of road. The guest house was actually amazing called Rani's Bar and Nina's Restaurant.

6. One thing about Goa is that approach it with an open heart and one will like all that it has to offer. The accommodation was gr8 considering the cost of 1400 for an AC room that opened up to a nice lawn and which  ended on to a road that led right up to the Baga beach some hundreds of metres ahead. I really loved the whole atmosphere .

7. We had two full days @ Goa so we decided to make the best use of each and every moment. So prioritised what we wanted to do and it came down to only one main thing and that was laze at the beach and let the atmosphere take you in . So the first day we hit three beaches - The queen of all of them " Calungute" , then Anjuna and finally Vagator.

8. There is amazing water sports available at Calungute , so i suggest that one should give it a try , right from Jet-sking to para sailing to banana rides , everything is available . The Para sailing costs 300 per person and it is a fixed price , rest all including the speedboats can be negotiated. There is also a 800 per person package available which includes banana ride, para sailing and jet sking. 

9. Calungute has numerous shacks right on the beach front which offer one the chance to just laze with a drink in the hand . Though the beach is very crowded yet this is what i wanted to see and i loved every second of it . There are also numerous tatoo shops wherein one can get a tattoo made up . 

10. Anjuna is what i personally liked amongst all the three beaches and it had amazing shacks which offered leisure time coupled with drinks and food to soothe oneself and let the mind meander about as you sit overlooking the shimmering sea with a chilled out Goan trance playing in the background. 

11. Calungute , Anjuna and Vagator are situated within 15 km of each other and are a part of North Goa beaches. In case one does not have a private vehicle all one has to do is hire the mind boggling array of two wheelers and four wheelers right from the Scooty to the Royal Enfield to the latest SUV on a daily basis . Price haggling is the norm in Goa and one is expected to do it , so guys put ur inhibition aside and indulge in it wholeheartedly.

12. The next day we also visited Fort Aguda which was 7 km from Baga.It was a nice fort and offered a nice view of the Mandovi river. Thereafter we cruised around Panjim.The roads in Panjm especially in the night on the beachfront promenade are amazing with the Santa Monica sunset cruises starting from there. Then there is also the "Casino Royale" Casino which is a floating casino in case anyone wishes to try their luck.We freaked out @nights on lonely roads and brightly lit joints.

NH17

KHED ENROUTE

KHED - CHIPLUN

VASISTHI DARSHAN

@ VASISTHI DARSHAN

SAWANTWADI

TIME FOR INDULGING

@ CALUNGUTE

ANJUNA

GOA & RAGGAE

TIMELESS

SHIMMER

VAGATOR

FOR THE PLATTER

FLOATING CASINO

@ AGUADA

MEANDERING THOUGHTS

WATERSPORTS @ CALUNGUTE

SOUZA LOBA

13. All the days barring the breakfast we indulged in trying out goan delicacies that were being offered in the numerous shacks. An average meal comprising of two dish rice , two dishes of sea food with bacardi breezer would cost around 800/- . Breakfast was @ the place we were staying.By sea food though i am not a sea food lover yet i indulged in squids, crabs, prawns,king fish and came back fully satisfied with the experience.

14. For the nightlife i would recommend CLUB CABANA near to Anjuna with a cover charge of 1000 for a couple and it had drinks on the house. An amazing club situated right on top of a hill overlooking Anjuna beach it played some gr8 tracks open right upto 6 am in the morning.

15. For the return trip we chose the NH4 for which one has to head back to Sawantwadi and then take a right turn to reach Amboli and thereafter head towards Ajra and then Kolhapur where one meets the NH4 which takes you to Pune and then Lonavla and then Mumbai.

16,  Route :  Baga >> Sawantwadi>> Amboli >> Ajra >> Nipani >> Kolhapur >> Satara >> Pune >> 

                   (0900)      (1015)            (1100)      (1200)    (1245)       (1330)          (1600)     (1730)  

                   Lonavla >> Mumbai .

                    (1815)        (1945)

17. Few landmarks @Goa 

     Eatouts :         @ Baga : Saffaron Resturant ( dinner including sea food for three and wine bottle inclusive    1900/- )

                                  Danny's Resturant (  dinner for three1500/-)

                            @ Anjuna : Guru resturant ( lunch inclusive of sea food and drinks for three 800/-)

                                      Sound of the waves ( lunch inclusive of sea food and drinks or three 950/-)

                            @ Calungute : Brittos'  ( gr8 pastries )

                                         Souza Loba ( oldest resturant in Calungute with amazing sea food and ambience .

                                         dinner including drinks comes to around 3000/- for three . Advance reservation 

                                         recommended) 

   Contacts : Nani & Rani Guest House@ Baga ( 0832 2276313 / 09226387931) 

                    Evershine Guest House@ Anjuna   ( 09822120811)

                    Laguna Anjuna Resort @ Anjuna ( 0832 2274131 )

                    Souza Lobo @ Calungute ( 0832 2281234 )