Goa: A Quick and Handy Travel Guide

Goa: A Quick and Handy Travel Guide

Goa is beautiful destination situated on western coast of India. Though Goa is not strange name for most of us, but most of us do feel it will be costly to travel. Let me tell you whether you are travelling solo, couple or in family Goa has something for all of you and thats too within budget which is pocket friendly.

Goa is basically divided in 2 parts North Goa & South Goa. North Goa is more popular among youth for its night life pubs and Beach side shaks.
South Goa is more peaceful and place for people who is looking for peace & leisure.

Since I am from Mumbai, I will tell you how you can travel Goa in budget. You may add or deduct any component as per your comfort level.

How to travel?
Goa is well connected via rail🚂, Road🚙, Air🛫, Water🛳.
Dabolim Airport is 29 kilometres away from the state’s capital, Panjim. It is well connected by daily flights from Chennai, Mumbai, New Delhi, Hyderabad, Cochin and Bangalore.Goa is one of the most busiest International Airport and has regular flight from all major cities. Flight Tickets to Goa may cost you from ₹1500-₹3000 per person one way.
I would not recommend this as post landing you may end up paying equal or at times more amount for taxi fare to your hotel.

Goa has regular trains from all major cities of India. It ranges from Jan shatabdi to Rajdhani and Humsafar express.
The cheapest train ticket to Goa will cost you about ₹300 (This fare is from Dadar Mumbai to Thivim) there are different trains like Konkan Kanya Rajdhani express etc you may visit irctc.co.in for more info.
Additional info
Konkan railway is one of the scenic railway routes of India. One can see lish greenery and natural water falls during and post monsoon.
If you want to visit North Goa (Candolim, Calangute, Bagha, or Anjuna get down at Thivim,) If you want to go to Panaji get down at Karmali. If you want to visit South Goa get down at Madgaon.

One can simply drive the car to Goa from Mumbai it's about 550 kms. There are 2 routes one is old Mumbai-Goa highway and another is via Kolhapur. There state transportation busses and private opreator buses Opreates on this route. There are a number of public as well as private bus operators in Goa, which offer options for intra-city and inter-city conveyance. KSRTC, MSRTC and KTC are some of the Government undertakings that operate from Panaji, Madgaon and Vasco Da Gama. Private bus operators include the likes of Neeta Tour and Travels, Paulo Travels and Naik Tours and Travels. Goa enjoys daily bus service from important cities like Mumbai and Pune.

Recently there is Cruise ship has been launched for Goa name JALESH. You can find more info on google

Accomodation

Goa has over thousand of hotels, hostels, Home stays. If you are Solo or couple and if you want to explore Goa in budget, you can opt for hostel. Which may be as low as ₹400 per person. But you will get bunk bed. Of you are ready to spend little extra you may find budget hotels starting from ₹1200-₹1500.
For a large family I would recommend to opt for home stays. You can visit Booking.com for more details.
Tip: Beware booking stay via OyO as there are many hotels do not accept reservations via OyO.
Goa has some popular tourist destinations and some non touristy but very beautiful.
In this blog we will be more talking about North Goa.
Some of most popular beaches in North Goa are Sinquerim, Candolim, Calangute, Baga, Vegator ans Anjuna. There are some less popular but beautiful beaches in further north i.e Morjim, Ashweem, Arambol, and Querim.
Apart from beach you can also explore Fort Aguada, and Chopra fort (Seen in Dil Chahta hai movie).
One cab rent Bike, Scooter, Car, SUV, Open Jeep etc. To travel with in Goa. Remember there are no OlA or Uber in Goa. Private taxi service may charge you really high. So it is advisable to rent vehicle. Another tip Goa doesn't have many fuel ⛽ pumps so make sure you have enough fuel before you begin your journey.

Things you can buy from Goa

Goa is known as cashew capital and you will see many shops in Goa selling cashews. There are some brands and there is local quality I am not promoting any just make sure you bargain. If you want to carry liquor back home, tips for you guys. Make sure you know the price of the brand back in ur city. Also if you are travelling back by flight cross check how much you can carry. Last but not least ask for permit from the retailer as it is advisable to have one.

For any additional detail
Feel free to contact me.
Keep travelling
Keep exploring
Regards

nomadic Milind
Nomadicmilind@gmail.com
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THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW BEING SOLOTRAVELER

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW BEING SOLO
TRAVELER

Solo trip is undoubtedly exciting and may also sound adventurous.
As they say "With the great power comes the great responsibility". Like wise one need to understand, one need to be little cautious.
I travel with positive attitude.
Following are tips for Solo travellers
1) Travel light, carry minimal thing you my require. At the end of the day you have to carry them. Avoid carrying precious jewelry and valuable articles. Keep limited cash and don't keep them all at one place. I keep some cash in pocket of each pocket of denim. 

2) Do take care of your belongings like Mobile phone, camera, drones etc. 

3) Please have enough knowledge about place culuture dos and don't s as per specific countries. Eg Azarbaijan and Armenia have dispute for Nagorno-Karabakh if u visit there you can be arrested if you visit azarbaijan. 

4) Do not get in to drugs or any alchoholic substance. 

5) Avoid discussion about Politics, Religion and cultural beliefs simple words Be Roman while in Rome. 

4) Avoid fancy restaurant try local street food. 

5) Avoid plastic carry your water bottle, and if possible small dabba, plate, bowl and mug. Fill water bottle from local home or restaurant. 

6) Carry tissues and Sanitizer even though covid is there or not. 

7) Avoid eating before long travel. Specially oily and fried items. 

8) Tips for vegetarian do carry fruits maggie butter as there are many areasbyou may or may not find desired food.

8) keep wake up alarm if travelling by train 🚂🚋🚃🚋🚃🚋🚃 else you may miss station. 

9) Verify your bookings by calling hotel or hostels as there are issues with oyo and hotel  owners (Personal experience)

10) Do read reviews about hotel and hostel before booking

11) Directly approach hotel or hostel post checking online if they can offer you better rate/ upgrade/ or any other perk like free pick up or discount on food. 

12) Try to travel in general class reservation as remember even of you boook 1st class it will take same time to reach but you will save time.

 
13) Take night train as you will save one night accomodation expenses and will get entire day at your destination. 

14) Avoid roaming in lonely places or late in night except fornthe places specific for night life. 

Last but not least trust your gut feeling,
Keep travelling
Keep exploring
Regards

nomadic Milind
Nomadicmilind@gmail.com
Nomadicmilind.Blogspot.com
https://www.facebook.com/nomadicmilind/
https://www.instagram.com/nomadic_milind/

Read this before visiting Mumbai

Hello Everyone,

I hail from Mumbai, which is also called City of dreams. People from across country migrate to Mumbai. Popular for bollywood and television industry. Situated on western coast of India it is well connected with all major cities of India and overseas.

For Mumbai-
Best mode of travelling- Mumbai has multiple modes of transportation. Cheapest and best would be Local trains. You may opt for local busses, and soon city will get new network of Metro rail.

Main Places to visit-
Nariman point, Mumbai CST station, Gateway of India, Elephanta Caves,

Apart from known touristy places I can suggest you some less explored places
If you love history then one may visit
Vasai fort, Sion fort, Sewri fort, Elephanta caves, Mahakali Caves (Jogeshwri), Madpeshwar caves, Kanheri caves (Dahisar), Ghodbunder fort (Miraroad), South Mumbai is filled with Buildings  which will give you glimpse of Portuguese and British Architecture.

If you love beaches Mumbai has some known  and unexplored beaches some must visit beaches are Juhu Beach, Girgaon Chowpaty, Aksa beach, Gorai beach, and Uttan Beach.

If you are religious then Mumbai has various temple, Mosques, Churches etc

Most famous temple of Mumbai is Siddhivinayak Temple in Dadar, apart from these Maha laxmi temple, Mumba devi temple(Mumbai name has been derived from Mumba- aai mean Mother Mumbai) , Babulnath Shiva Temple, Banganga which is  small lake believed to be as old as Lord rama, Another attraction is Haji ali dargah (which origins to 1431 and is associated with Sayyed Pir Haji Ali Shah Bukhari), Mahim Dargah, Juma Mosque, Mount Mary church(16th century when Jesuit priests from Portugal brought the statue to the current location and constructed a chapel.)

If you love meditation Mumbai has Vipasna center in Gorai Pagoda.

For night life lovers Mumbai has various Night clubs but if you as me must visit one is dome lounge at Intercontinental hotel and Aer  lounge at Four seasons, Worli.

Best food-
Mumbai hub for foodie, Vada Pav, Pav bhaji, Kanda Bhaji, Chat items specially on juhu beach,

Accommodation
Mumbai has hostels and hotels, Backpackers panda and Zostels are to name few. all majore hotel chains have their hotels but if your budget permits Spend one night at Taj Mahal Palace the oldest and one of the most luxurious hotels in India. However we do have budget hotels as per your budget you  can explore more on booking.com

Need any help you can drop email to nomadicmilind@gmail.com
Keep Traveling, Keep Exploring

My First Solo trip

Hello Guys My name is Milind,
I have been travelling since I was 15 yrs old, Since then it is never looking back. I have primarily explored most parts except North east
Apart from india I have done solo trip to Nepal & Bhutan

I am basically a budget traveller, and do not really like to spend more on stay part. I have stayed at hostel, dharamshala, temple, church, gurudwara etc
I majorly prefer to travel via public transport mostly in general class, I feel you will meet most humble people there.

Talking about my first solo trip, I been to place called Pawagarh near Vadodara Gujarat, It's hill station and pilgrimage for hindus. There are few unesco world Heritage Sites such as Ruins of Champaner.My parents were out of station and they left me at my aunt's place,  I told my aunt I am going to my friends place and will stay back. I also filled a water bottle and kept a pair of clothes I boarded train with current ticket which cost me ₹65 in passenger train from Mumbai.
I was excited about going away alone for the first time. I still remember few faces who were taking extra care as I was young.
I saw people sleeping in various positions. Some on seat, some on luggage reck, some beneath seat. 

I got down at vadodara station early in the morning. I was hungry so I had tea with biscuits which I carried along. Those were the days when Internet and smart phones were not there. So I asked local are reached State transport terminal. Took bus ticket at half price as I was carrying my school I'd. I just paid ₹20 for 55 kms.

I reached pawagarh visited temple which is on mountain. one can either trek or can take cable car. I chose to trek. There is lake on top of mountain so I couldn't resist and I jumped in to it. Post visit of the temple. I met this elderly lady who was having hard time managing her belonging. I offered her help. I asked her to go and get darshan. While I will keep eye on her Belongings. While returning, I said I am going down by steps. She paid for my cable car charges.

She asked me more about my self.  I was little anxious, so didn't reveal much, when we got down she invited me to her place for meals, I couldn't deny as I was hungry already. Later I came to know she was well known in locals. As while I was at her place there were many locals touched her feet.Post meals I took her leave. She asked where you will go, I said home.

I roamed around pawagarh, saw monuments and ruins of old village of Champaner.
I came back to base of pawagarh.

I got lift in "Chakada" (It's combination of bike attached with open cart. This is often used in small towns of Gujarat.) Till vadodara city.

It was about six in evening I reached Vadodara station. Had dinner at railway canteen and boarded train back to Mumbai.
I travelled by general class again and this time I slept on the news paper under the seat.
No one knows about this trip till date.

Total cost was approx ₹200

Though I have done many solo trips but this one will always remain special for me. Thank you for your time.