*Road:**:
By road
Panjim is 585 km from Bombay by road. The drive is a fairly pleasant one, with little traffic and quite attemptable even by visitors to India. It is possible to rent a car with/without a chauffeur from any office of Hertz, Budget and Wheels in Pune or Bombay or Goa. To hire a "self-drive" car, as it is termed, a valid international driving license is required. The highway, by Indian standards, is in good condition and meanders through picturesque Maharashtrian coastal lands and somnolent villages.
At the halfway mark and at around 300 km from Panjim is the small town of Chiplun. It's a good idea to use Chiplun as a night halt to avoid doing the run all in one day. A few kilometres before Chiplun, the Taj hotel group has its rather scenic riverside retreat called the Gateway Lodge, located on a bluff overlooking the flat-bedded, sluggish Vashishti river in the valley below. Its address Gateway Riverview Lodge, Dhamandivi, Khed taluka, Ratnagiri, 415707.
Double rooms run to Rs 2100 per night off season, one meal included. During tourist season, from December till the first week of January, and after March, the tariff is as high as Rs 2,700 per night, without taxes, but meals included. Advance booking is a must during school holiday periods (Christmas, summer and Diwali). The hotel authorities cite strange rules, from time to time, about adding an extra bed in a double room and it is best to enquire in advance about this. The food available in the hotel restaurant is tasty and the rooms are comfortable. Bookings can made by calling the Bombay reservation office at 022-2023355 or in Chiplun call 02356-72233 or 02355-52853. Or in Chiplun fax 02356-72059.
A cheaper alternative to the Gateway Lodge are two hotels located in the industrial town of Lote Parshuram, about 15 kilometres before Chiplun (north of). The rather extraordinary looking Hotel Wakratund, opposite Lote PO, tel # 02356-72017, 72113, 72114 is extremely reasonable. The hotel gardens are dotted with giant, house-sized mythological characters and it has a rather weird facade. See the picture above.
Room availability is not a problem here; the hotel is mammoth size. The tariff for a triple room is Rs 550 per night. The rooms are passable enough for a pit stop and it is possible to drive across to the Taj's Gateway Lodge restaurant for a meal.
However for a little more comfort try the nearby Hotel Pagoda, which offers AC double rooms for Rs 600 per night. Here the rooms are very clean and attractive and the hotel even has an attached swimming pool. It is advisable to make room bookings in advance here too because travellers have reported that the management attempts to foist AC rooms on guests even when non-AC rooms are available.
For more details about driving down to Goa check out Rediff On The NeT's travel feature, The Long and Winding Road.
There are many bus services that connect Bombay with Goa. However travelling to Goa by bus is hardly an alternative as the journey is most uncomfortable. The ride takes 15 hours or much more and the drive is so bumpy that the buses seem to lack shock absorbers. The buses make highway stops at places that lack adequate rest room facilities. Further, loud Hindi video movies are usually shown on these buses, late into the night. But this is by far the most economical way to reach Goa.
Tickets are as cheap as Rs 150. Various types of coaches are available. Seats in luxury coaches, go for Rs 350 or more. The Limouzine buses that depart from Borivali are rather comfortable. Some of the lines have recently introduced sleeper buses that are apparently very popular, where like a train, the bus is sectioned out into sleepers instead of seats.
The Goa buses usually depart late in the afternoon daily from the Metro bus stand, bordering the Azad Maidan. Tickets are available at booths just across the Azad Maidan, opposite St Xavier's College. It is advisable to book a few days in advance and confirm seats, exact point of departure, as well as the bus license plate number.
It is possible to go by an MTDC buses or by private buses to Goa from Pune as well. The MTDC tourist centre, Central Building, Sassoon Hospital Road, tel # 668867, will provide the exact details. Tickets on private buses can be booked through a travel agent.
*Plane:**:
By plane
A 55-minute flight from Bombay's Santa Cruz airport to Goa's Dabolim, which is near the port town of Vasco-da-Gama and 32 km from Panjim. All the major airlines -- Indian Airlines, Jet Airways, NEPC, Sahara -- service this sector. Schedules however change frequently and during the tourist season, especially at peak times, it is extremely difficult to get seats. Booking in advance is highly recommended. Most also have interline agreements with major international air carriers so sector booking can be done from Europe and North America. Goa is also connected by air to New Delhi, Bangalore and Madras, Cochin, Trivandrum and Pune. For exact schedule details check out Rediff Travel's Airlines section.
Many charter flights arrive in Dabolim airport from Britain and Germany. Check with Lufthansa's allied airline, Condor or better still the tour operators listed below.
*Sea:**:
By sea
Panjim is a seven-hour catamaran ride from Bombay's Ferry Wharf near Mazagon Dock. The catamaran docks at the Panjim jetty, located right in town. The service is run by Frank Shipping Ltd and it is a night run to Panjim from Bombay, although now one can do a day trip too. From Panjim the catamarans leave for Bombay in the morning to arrive late evening. At the moment the service is suspended for monsoon and is expected to resume in early October.
The line now offers in-house entertainment -- like live band performances, movies. Schedules change often so confirming the timings early is recommended. For reservations contact Frank Shipping Ltd office located at Ferry Wharf, Mazgaon, tel # 022-3731855, 3738788 in Bombay or in Goa at the Fishery Jetty, near the Panaji post office, tel # 0832-228712, 228713, 228711.
A few cruise lines -- P&O and Royal Caribbean -- touch Goa on their South Asia tours but just for a day or overnight.
*Rail:**:
By rail
Konkan Railways now runs all the way from Bombay to Mangalore.
The last tunnel, near Pernem is complete. Work on this last and very difficult stretch of 600 km has been on since 1992 and had held up the completion of the line which was finally innaugurated on January 26.
Several trains now connect Bombay, Agra, Kerala and New Delhi with Goa
- The KR 0111, Sawantwadi Express departs from Victoria Terminus, Bombay at 2230 hours and arrives in Dadar at 2250 hours. The train departs from Dadar at 2305 hours and arrives in Thane at 2340 hours. It leaves Thane at 2343 hours and arrives in Panvel at 0030 hours. It departs Panvel at 0035 hours and arrives in Sawantwadi at 0850 hours. It will reach Thivim (Mapusa) station at 0912 hours. And Karmali (Old Goa) station at 0932
hours and Madgaon station at 1015 hours.
- The KR 0112 Up departs from Madgaon station at 1825 hours, from Karmali station
at 1905 hours and from Thivim station at 1928, Sawantwadi at 1955 hours. It arrives in Panvel at 0428 hours. It departs from Panvel at 0433 hours and arrives in Thane at 0515 hours. The train then departs from Thane at 0518 hours and arrives in Dadar at 0610 hours. It departs form Dadar at 0615 hours and arrives at Victoria Terminus, Bombay at 0635 hours.
- The Netravati Express -- which once linked Bombay and Cochin via Gulbarga, Guntakal, Erode, Coimbatore -- will now run on the Konkan Railway. And the journey to Kerala will now be reduced by more than 500 km and 10 hours.
The train will run via Thane, Panvel, Ratnagiri, Chiplun, Old Goa, Madgaon, Cancona, Karwar, Kumta, Murdeshwar, Bhatkal, Kundapura, Udipi, Surathkal, Kankanadi (Mangalore), Kasargode, Kangakad, Cheruvathu, Payyanur, Kannapuram, Cannanore, Tellicheri, Badagar, Calicut, Parapungadi, Thirur, Kuttipuram, Shornur, Trichur, Alwaye.
6636 Dn will departs from Kurla, Bombay at 2020 hours and reaches Ernakulum 26 hours later at 14.45. And 6636 Up will depart from Ernakulum at 0445 hours and reaches Kurla at 0535 hours.
The one way fare to Kerala is Rs 312 by sleeper class, Rs 832 by three tier air conditioned class and Rs 1,530 by second air conditioned class. The one way fare to Madgaon, Goa is Rs 208 by sleeper class, Rs 518 by three tier air conditioned and Rs 954 by second air conditioned class.
- The Rajdhani operates twice a week a superfast
express service between New Delhi and
Trivandrum via Vasai Road (outside Bombay) and
Goa from April 2. The routing of the Rajdhani via the
Konkan Railway will decrease the length of the journey by two hours.
The Rajdhani will depart from Delhi Nizamuddin at 1100 hours
on Wednesdays and Thursdays and stop at Kota,
Ratlam Vadodara, Vasai Road-Bombay (0415 hours),
Panvel,
Ratnagiri, Margao-Goa (1310 hours) , Kankandi, Calicut
and Ernakulam before reaching Trivandrum central 42 hours later at 0530
hours.
The Rajdhani will depart from Trivandrum Central at 1930
hours on Fridays and Saturdays and stop at
Ernakulum, Calicut, Kankandi, Margao-Goa (1220 hours),
Ratnagiri, Panvel, Vasai Road-Bombay (2120 hours),
Vadodara, Ratlam and Kota before reaching Delhi Nizamuddin 42 hours
later at 1310 hours.
The fares (approximate):
- Rs 3,200 -- Delhi to Trivandrum by first AC.
- Rs 2,400 -- Delhi to Trivandrum by second AC.
- Rs 1,800 -- Delhi to Trivandrum by third AC.
- Rs 2,100 -- Vasai Road (Bombay) to Madgaon (Goa)
by first AC.
- Rs 1,400 -- Vasai Road (Bombay) to Madgaon (Goa)
by second AC.
- Rs 900 -- Vasai Road (Bombay) to Madgaon (Goa) by
third AC.
- Mangalore-Nizamuddin Mangala Express 2617 Dn/ 2618 Up will now runs on the Konkan Railway via Goa and Agra to Ernakulam.
The journey will be 14 hours shorter and the train will now run via Alwaye, Trichur, Shoranur, Pattambi, Kuttipuram, Tirur, Parpanangadi, Feroke, Calicut, Quilandi, Badagara, Tellicherry, Cannanore, Payangadi, Payyanur, Nileshwar, Kanhangad, Kasargod, Kankanadi, Udupi, Karwar, Madgaon (Goa), Thivim, Kudal, Ratnagiri, Panvel (near Bombay), Kalyan, Igatpuri, Nashik Road, Manmad, Bhusaval, Khandwa, Itarsi, Bhopal, Bina, Jhansi, Gwalior, Agra, Mathura, Faridabad (only in the down direction)
The train will have 17 coaches -- 10 sleeper, one first class, one A C two tier, four general second class and a brake van.
This train will conveniently connect Goa and Kerala as well as Agra and Goa. Tourists can board the express at 1235 hours at Agra and reach Goa at 2105 hours the following day or in the opposite direction board at 0443 hours at Goa and reach Agra at 1215 hours the following day. Or alternately they can board at 2125 hours at Goa and reach Ernakulam at 1230 hours the following day or in the opposite direction board at 1215 hours at Ernakulam and reach Goa at 0433 hours the following day.
- Central Railway has announced that the 6333/6334 Rajkot-Trivandrum-Rajkot Weekly Express, the 6335/6336 Gandhidham-Nagercoil-Gandhidham Weekly Express and the 6337/6338 Rajkot-Cochin-Rajkot Weekly Express will now run on the Konkan Railway.
The journey for each of these trains will be eight to 10 hours shorter.
In effect, it will now be possible to travel from the important towns of Gujarat -- Rajkot, Baroda, Ahmedabad, Surat, Gandhidham -- to Goa directly.
- 6333 Dn Rajkot-Trivandrum Weekly Express will depart from Rajkot on Saturdays at 0700 hours, reach Panvel at 2255 hours and reach Trivandrum at 0500 hours on Mondays. In the reverse direction 6334 Up Trivandrum-Rajkot Weekly Express will depart from Trivandrum at 1410 hours on Wednesdays, reach Panvel at 2015 hours on Thursdays and reach Rajkot at 1415 hours on Thursdays.
- 6335 Dn Gandhidham-Nagercoil Weekly Express will depart from Gandhidham onSundays at 0520 hours, reach Panvel at 2255 hours and reach Nagercoil at 0655 hours on Tuesdays. In the reverse direction 6336 Up Nagercoil-Gandhidham Weekly Express will depart from Nagercoil at 1200 hours on Thursdays, reach Panvel at 2015 hours on Fridays and reach Gandhidham at 1530 hours on Fridays.
- 6337 Dn Rajkot-Cochin Weekly Express will depart from Rajkot on Mondays at 0700 hours, reach Panvel at 2255 hours and reach Cochin at 2345 hours on Tuesdays. In the reverse direction 6338 Up Cochin-Rajkot Weekly Express will depart from Cochin at 1830 hours on Fridays, reach Panvel at 2015 hours on Saturdays and Rajkot at 1415 hours on Saturdays.
Reservations for this train are available at all reservation centres connected to the Bombay passenger reservation
system.
*UK:**:
Major tour operators in the United Kingdom handling Goa
Kuoni Travel, Dorking, Surrey: Packages run from 500 and up.
Thomson, London: Fourteen day packages in 5-star resorts for 850 and up.
Somak, Harrow, Middlesex: Beach holidays from 400.
Cox and Kings, London: Offering seven to 14-day stays for 900 onwards
Distant Dreams, Bromley, Kent: Beach vacations in large resorts for 500 and up.
Sun World, Bromley, Kent: Both budget and luxury including jungle camp interior trips and 7-day stays for 400-500.
Hayes and Jarvis, London: For 400 up.
Inspirations East, Horley, Surrey: Beach holidays for between 300-700 and special interest alternatives like scuba diving, birdwatching, windsurfing.
Charter flights leave from Gatwick, Manchester, Glasgow and Newcastle from Fridays-Sundays. Flying time around 11 hours including a stop in the Gulf.
*USA:**:
Major tour operators in USA handling Goa
Absolute Asia, New York City, New York: Customised tours to Goa
Azure Travel Bureau, New York City, New York: Special independent tours.
Cox and Kings, New York City, New York: Goa as part of southern tour or independent
Rama Tours, Chicago, IL: Individual Goa packages or part of India tour
Mindful Journeys, Santa Monica, CA: Customised tours to Goa.
Mercury Travels,New York City, New York: Individual tours.
Journeywork International, New York City, New York: Individual packages.
Panjim is 585 km from Bombay by road. The drive is a fairly pleasant one, with little traffic and quite attemptable even by visitors to India. It is possible to rent a car with/without a chauffeur from any office of Hertz, Budget and Wheels in Pune or Bombay or Goa. To hire a "self-drive" car, as it is termed, a valid international driving license is required. The highway, by Indian standards, is in good condition and meanders through picturesque Maharashtrian coastal lands and somnolent villages.
