Trip duration - 4 days
Trip dates - 19th to 23rd April 2013
Trip members - Karthik, Viswa, Karthikeyan, Santhaseelan, Dhanasekaran, Viswa's friends - Vinoth and Siva.
A long awaited tour to Goa !!!
We decided to go by Train from Chennai and return by flight. There is only one direct train from Chennai to Goa - the Vasco-Da-Gama express. This starts from Chennai Central at 14:10 and reaches Vasco by 13:00 next day. We boarded the train and given that the summer was at full swing already, it was terrible in the first stretch until we reached Yeswantpur. But, after this, the night was quite chilly and we had some good sleep. The train goes through Hubli-Dharwar-Castle Rock-Dudhsagar-Madgoan-Vasco. Few of us had some hot idlis and dosas at Hubli. After which, food is not fresh/hot/may not be available.
Day-1
After Castle Rock station, the train goes through some valleys and small hills. The forest is dense and the journey becomes more eventful as the train goes through 19 tunnels ! After the 11th tunnel, one gets through Dudhsagar falls ! Summer - no water ! The train stops for a minute at the Dudhsagar railway station and few got off to have some time there.
Our plan was to spent the day-1 and stay at South Goa and then move to North Goa for the rest of the trip. We decided to go and look for a stay in South Goa on reaching there, but booked cottages at Anjuna-Vagator @ North Goa - Bean Me Up ! One can get decent cottages in Goa at a very affordable price - since tourism is their only livelihood. We chose 'Bean Me Up' based on the TripAdvisor's ratings - got 2-bed rooms at Rs.600 each per night.
On reaching Madgoan, we took a pre-paid taxi to Colva and the driver assisted us to a Rs.800/- budget rooms closest to the Colva beach. We booked rooms at Colmar Resorts on the Colva Beach. This place had 'ok' rooms, swimming pool and best possible access to Colva beach. After Check-in, we spent the rest of the day at the beach and swimming pool. The place also provides decent food - lunch and dinner and south Indian breakfast for affordable costs. Colva beach is long beach with white sands and bubbling with tourists in the evenings. Early mornings and late nights walks were good at the beach.
Day-2
Next day, we booked an Innova for Rs.2,000 to visit Fort Aguada, Candolim beach, Calangute/Baga Beach and drop at our Cottage at Vagator - Bean Me Up ! On the way, the driver (Santhosh - a Goan) gave us lots of information on what all would be worth to do at Goa. He also, took us to a Govt. approved shop, to book tickets for our evening cruise at river Mandovi. The prices for Rs.200 per person for the Cruise. Then we visited Fort Aguada - a old Portuguese fort that hosted one of the oldest Light houses in Asia. The place gave a very good view of the river Mandovi and the Arabian Sea. We spent around an hour there and then went to Candolim Beach.
Candolim Beach is very clean and looks like specially meant for foreigners ! We are unable to site many Indians there; and of course the food and beverages were very costly in this beach. We spent an hour there walking through the waters/sands.
Next destination was Calangute beach -> typical Indian beach - crowded and not so clean beach. But, again, this beach was also a long Sandy beach. The views were good and we rested under trees for some time in this beach. The Baga beach is also on the same stretch - a rocky beach but, we moved on the check-in at our cottage at Anjuna-Vagator. We requested the driver to drop us back at Panjim after check-in and he kindly obliged ! We got dropped at a Udupi hotel near the Cruise point, had some average food and prepare for the cruise.
We had booked for a cruise at 7:30 PM, however, despite any time, if you have a ticket, you can board any Cruise ! We cited the Sunset from the Cruise and then spent rest of the time on the Cruise watching Konkani, Marathi and Portuguese dances and the beauty of Goa. Once back, had some average food, and checked whether we have buses to get back to Anjuna. The last bus had left by then ! A taxi (omni) offered for Rs.500 drive, but we asked for a better price and after waiting for long time to get different taxi, ended up with same driver for Rs.450. Looks like we had the best price given the time and scarcity of taxis !
Day-3
Next day, we decided to get rid of taxis and hired scooters - normally at Colva, they were available for rentals for Rs.175 for 9-6. However, in Anjuna they asked for Rs.300. However, we could bargain and paid Rs.250 for a 24-hour rental. We hired 4 Activas. Next challenge is petrol ! The petrol bunks sell petrol at Rs.54 per litre and always run out of stock. But, every shop on the road sells 1L petrol for Rs.70 ! No wonder what happens - people do not want to waste time for stock in bunks !!! Breakfast @Sita Restaurant - pure veg near to Anjuna petrol bunk.
First destination was Vagator beach - a sandy beach and a secluded one ! We spent close to couple of hours - bathing in the beach. One can view the Chapara fort from the Vagator beach, however the trek from the beach looked strenous ! We drove to the Chapara Fort through the roads and had the climb a little to reach the fort in the hot sun; and it was worth it ! Great and Grand view of the Arabian Sea and could recollect some shooting spots from there !!!
We had lunch at Apna Punjabi - very good Punjabi food. Next destination was ARAMBOL beach. Many localites told this is one awesome beach - 18 kms from Vagator and we decided to drive to this place. Our actual plan was to drive to Lamgua Buddhist caves, but, we skipped it for Arambol beach ! Arambol beach is another white sandy beach - again oozing with foreigners ! The waves were pretty high and strong and we enjoyed another couple of hours in this beach. Returned to the cottages by 8 PM and went around for dinner !
Had an excellent sleep and ready for the final day !
Day-4
Final Morning started with a visit to Anjuna beach - rocky beach - very photos and few of us want to have another bath at a Sandy beach - localites guided us to a sandy beach just before Anjuna and the last Goan wish was satisfied. We headed back to cottage, refreshed, packed and hired a taxi to visit Dona Paula point and drop at Airport/Railway station respectively. At Dona Paula point, there is walk way that stretches into the Arabian sea and one can site the nearby beaches from here.
Some key information
Off-season - one can get best prices for stay and cab. Cost depends on how far one can bargain. Best transportation in Goa - cost-wise as well as comfort-wise => Hire scooters ! Pack less and travel light !
Lots of eateries all around and preparation is done after ordering. No quick food ! One has to be patient to get food. Enquire for some good restaurant nearby and go. Picking random ones (like we did once) may spell bad choice !
No sign boards at all places. Lots of right and left turns; Enquire all the time and then, navigate to make use of time efficiently.
