NOTE : This post is a part of “Travel Goa
under Budget” which is a Goa travelogue providing trip advise and travel plan
to keep your expenses to the minimum so that you can enjoy the beauty of Goa in
a cheap and inexpensive manner but at the same time safe and memorable.
Before going ahead any further with my Goa travel plan I thought
it would be a good idea to post about my journey so far and summarize my
experience in the party capital of our country.
Even before any of my actual travel has actually begin in
Goa it has already treated me with one of the best natural offerings it
provided in the form of the Doodhsagar waterfalls.
This has an enchanting and pristine effect on anyone who
views it and rejuvenates ones energy from top to bottom.
On arriving Goa the very first place I set foot was on the
picturesque Vasco Da Gama or in short Vasco as people over here call it.
The waiting room here in the railway station is neat and
spacious.
The bus terminal is opposite to the Railway station and
therefore is convenient for changing mode of transportation.
Another cool mode of transportation here is the Pilots, no I
don’t mean the airplane pilots but they are on bikes and carry one person as a
pillion rider. They are very convenient for local transport the journey with
them is like a bike ride with your friend.
If you are already with a friend bikes are also available for
hire so that you can be for yourself .
Since Goa is ideal for road trip it wouldn’t be a bad idea
if you hire a motorcycle and roam around entire Goa on bike.
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| View of Marmugao Port Trust from Sada |
And coming back to my adventures in Goa I went to Japanese
Garden which is amongst the iconic location shown in movies (Ek Duje Ke Liye
being the popular).This place has a beach below which could be accessed on foot
through a well laid path. It is primarily for relaxing and being away from the
madding crowd and if next time you are planning a day out with your friend this
place is one you can try where you can spend an entire day.
The next tourist attraction was Sada .It appeared more of an
industrial area rather than a tourist location and also you can witness the
busy ship or the oil carriers in the port at a distance,the port of Marmugao. This
is the prime location for exports of iron ore and Manganese if I am not wrong.
Then I went back to the bus terminal and boarded a bus to
another tourist location: the Bogmola beach.
On my way I saw the Navy Children school and also Dabolim
Airport which is I believe the only airport in Goa.
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| Lighthouse at Aguada |
Bogmola was a nice and calm beach and it was scarcely
populated. I couldn’t compare it to any other beach in Goa as I haven’t visited
any other until then in Goa.
By now I was informed that accommodation in Vasco was a bit
on the higher side and I can get a cheaper or budget rooms in Margao.
So I decided to head back to Margao.
I decided to go by train as the last bus departed from Vasco
at 7:40 pm and also train fare is usually cheaper and inexpensive.
I was very much surprised by the fact that the public
transport in Goa becomes inoperative so early as I was in the belief that they
would be running late in nights as the state hardly sleeps ( This was the
opinion which was framed into my head ……….well don’t like to mention the
sources).
I arrived at Margao and slept in the common waiting room ( I
don’t thing travelers ticket is mandatory here).there is also a General waiting
room for Ladies too. I din’t go hunting for a room as it was close to 1am.
Next day I woke up and took a local bus to Margao bus
terminal as it was bit from the Railway station unlike at Vasco
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| Twin Statues at Miramar |
Took a bus to Panaji the capital of Goa and it will
definitely be among the neatest and cleanest cities I have been so far in my
life. The next place on my list to cover was the Aguada complex which holds the
oldest lighthouse in Asia and also has a beach which could be reached by foot
on the lower fort.
A must visit place on any travelers list if one is planning
a trip to Goa.
I came back to Panaji and delighted myself with a refreshing
Cold Coffee and chiku juice. Stuffs like this are pretty cheap and inexpensive
here.
Then I moved onto Dona Paula: this attraction in Goa has a
legendary love story associated with it and the adjacent site of Cabo Raj Niwas has a tombstone with the fable engraved on
it.
This is amongst one of the most
popular location in Goa and no tourist usually misses it if they have landed in
Goa with a intention to enjoy its beauty.
Later I went to Miramar which was
on the way back to Panaji and had a brief stay here.
This was by far the busiest beach
in Goa that I have seen. The lighthouse at Aguada is also visible from here at
a distance.
My next destination in Goa would
also take me back in time and would introduce me with the history of Goa and
where the Portugese influence is felt to the maximum with a blend of Indian
culture and tradition. Yes you have guessed it right I am talking about Old
Goa.
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| Bascilia of Bom Jesus as seen from the Archaeological Museum |
The two most significant
architectural beauty here are the Bascilia of Bom Jesus which contains the
sacred mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier and the Archaeological Museum.
The museum houses a vast collection
of artifacts and painting belonging to the Portugese era and also stationed
there are statues and deities of some of the most popular Indian God.
This entire complex of the museum
and the chapel is worth spending a whole day.
The lawn and the surroundings are
also well maintained.
Then I headed back to Panaji and then to Margao with a herculean task in
hand to find a safe, inexpensive budget room for accommodation.
Thankfully I found out Vishranti
lodge in the Old station Road near Margao market.
This lodge was decent enough and
suitable only for bachelors. A good value for your money and things would be
pretty smooth and safe if you exercise a bit of caution. Anyways I found the
place reliable and also safe.
The residents also made me feel
comfortable and I don’t think it is a lodge similar to “HOTEL DECENT”
from “Jab We Met”.
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| The Archaeological Museum |
The tariffs are Rs30 per night in the dormitory and Rs 100
for the private room.
Any ways the bathroom is common and there are no charging
points in the room.
Therefore I short I have covered the following tourist
attraction or holiday destinations in Goa so far
- Doodhsagar Waterfall
- Japanese garden and the beach beneath
- Sada
- Marmugao Port Trust
- Bogmola Beach
- Aguada complex
- Panaji city
- Dona Paula
- Raj Niwas
- Miramar
- Archaeological Museum
- Bascilia of Bom Jesus
- A fair bit of Margao city and its market
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