Goa is roughly divided into two regions, North and South Goa. The state capital Panjim, is right in the middle but is considered part of North Goa.The town of Madusa, 11 km north of Panjim along National Highway 17, is a smaller center for North Goa an a transport hub for most northern beaches; Margoa, 30-km southwest of Panjim, is a hub for the south Goa’s train line from Karnataka passes through Marigao on its way to Vasco da Gama, on the cost, which is near Goa’s airport. The sandy turf you stake on Goa’s beaches, also divided into northern and southern strips, may be the biggest factor in molding your Goa experience, from the type of accommodation you use to the food and drink you consume to the travelers and locals you meet.
Some beaches are strictly five-star resorts, others brim with homey guesthouses, with still others are filled with palm leaf shacks as transient as the backpackers who construct them. In general, beaches farther from Panjim in either direction (especially southwards) are less developed and more sedate.
The southernmost of the northern beaches, resort-filled Fort Aguada, is on the north bank of the River Mandovi, across from Panjim. Near the ruined fort the Taj Group runs a five-star complex, complete with its own beach, and the posh package-tourist atmosphere seeps onto the nearby the beaches of Singuerim and Candolim, popular with aspiring Indian and Western bourgeoisie. For most backpackers Goa’s northern beaches begin farther up the cost, From Calangute all the way to Arambol, 70-km northeast of Panjim, backpacker culture has, over the past 30 years, inscribed the sandy terrain with its exploits. In the 1960s, tsunami of hippies, soul-searchers, and surf-snorkel’s crashed onto the pure sandy stretches of Calangute. They soon expanded a kilometer or two up into nearby Baga, were a steep hill temporarily stopped the party from exploding right into Anjuna, now home to a crazy flea market and a hipp-hip-hoppy rave scene. Calangute and Baga have since become more developed, and backpackers have migrated ever northward in search of beaches more removed from the attentions of other tourists and police. At the pristine beaches of Vagator and Chapora, the Arabian Sea cuts into the coast and forms a weaving river that slice through North Goa. To reach the as-yet-unspoiled beach of Arambol, beyond the river, one must take a ferry from the small town of Siolem to Chopdem northeast of Chapora.
The beaches of South Goa are either highly developed resorts or not-at-all-developed sand sanctuaries, stretching all way to the border with Karnataka and farther on south, The developed beaches begin with the resorts of Majorda, where a mew five-stare palace is scheduled to show its gleaming façade. Slightly south and easily reached from Margo, are Colva and Benaulim, which only see a smidgen of Anjuna’s party scene. South of Benaulim is a 10-km stretch of luxury resorts beach known as Varca and Cavelossim. Farther south is beautiful Palolem.
HOW TO GET THERE
By Air
INDIAN AIRLINES
Jammu City booking office Tel: 542735, 546086
Jammu Airport Tel: 431433, 430449
Srinagar / Jammu Dep 1450 Arr 1525
Jammu / Delhi Dep 1605 Arr 1715
Delhi / Mumbai Dep 1800 Arr 1955
Mumbai / Delhi Dep 0900 Arr 1055
Delhi / Jammu Dep 1140 Arr 1250
Jammu / Srinagar Dep 1330 Arr 1405
JET AIRWAYS
Jammu City booking office Tel: 574312, 574316, 520770
Jammu Airport Tel: 453888, 543999
Delhi / Jammu Dep 1145 Arr 1255
Jammu / Srinagar Dep 1330 Arr 1405
Srinagar / Delhi Dep 1500 Arr 1620
Delhi / Srinagar Dep 1115 Arr 1235
Srinagar / Jammu Dep 1330 Arr 1405
Jammu / Delhi Dep 1440 Arr 1555
By Train
TRAIN CLASS CODES, PRICE LIST AND TIMETABLE (approximate price)
Remember that KONKAN RAILWAY IS THE BEST AND FASTEST, but this time it was not running because of landslides. You need to make reservation on KONKAN at least one month in advance. The train is not running daily.
1A: First AC, 2A: AC Two Tier, FC: First Class, 3A: AC Three Tier, CC: Chair car, SL: Sleeping Class,
Jammu Railway Station
Enquiry Tel: 131, 132, 453027, 453029
Computer Reservation Tel: 431582, 451610, 451835, 451836
Station Manager Tel: 431052
Chief Reservation Tel: 431248
www.indianrailway.com
MUMBAI - GOA
Catamaran (Damania Shipping)
For the moment the catamarans are not operational.
Damania’s Panjim office Tel 0823/22-8711 is opposite the Hotel Mandovi on the Mandovi river.
Open Mon - Fri. 9 AM - 5 PM.
Sun. 10 AM – 6 PM
Damania’s Bombay office is in Colaba. Tel 022/610-2525
The catamaran leaves Bombay from the dock along P.D’Mello Rd,
3 Km North of Victoria Terminus.
The catamarans leave Bombay at 7am and arrive in Panjim at 2 PM
Leave Panjim 3 PM and get “back to Bom” at 10 PM
Price is steeper than bus or train, economy class 925 INR
Business class 1100 INR - One way tickets!
Taxi Bombay - Panaji
It takes 14 hours to drive the 600km, but this can be done over two days.
You’ll have to pay for the taxi’s return trip, so the cost will between 5000 INR and 6000 INR.
Shop around for the taxi that offers you the lowest rate per Km.
LINK TO THE WORLD WIDE WEB
www.excite.com/travel/countries/indian/goa
http://www.infoindia.com/tcgl
http://www.allindia.com/gujtourism
SEASONS IN GOA
Best period in Goa is December till end of March. A lot of Hotel and restaurants close down 31 March.
Low season: 01 Oct to 31 Oct, 16 Mar to 31 May.
Medium season: 01 Nov to 30 Nov, 01 Feb to 15 Mar.
High season: 01 Dec to 20 Dec, 11 Jan to 31 Jan.
Peak 21 Dec to 10 Jan
The hotel want to charge you for Government luxury tax for 15%, remember “Tax Exemption” paper from New Delhi Office.
WHERE TO STAY
NORTH GOA
BAGA BEACH
Baga Hotel
PriceL 550 INR
Breakfast, swimming pool
CALANGUTE
Villa Goesa
Suite Incl ex bed 2000 INR
Swimming pool, VERY GOOD!
Close to the ocean.
Tel: 0832/277535
Fax: 0832/276182
Falcon Resorts
500 INR/Dbl room.
Tel: 0832/277033
Beach Car Park, Calangute
To contact the hotel: alletiders_goa@softhome.net
Oceanstar
E-mail: oceanstar@india.com
CANDOLIM
Albuquerque Holidays Villas
Room 600 INR, Suite 700 INR
5 min to beach, no pool
Tel: 276804, 276805
Fax 277724, 276821
toni@goa1.dot.net.in
Xavier Beach Resort
xavieran@goa1.dot.net.in
WHAT TO DO IN GOA
DOLPHIN trip to COCCO BEACH from Candolim Beach
Arrangements: John “The Boatman”. 800 INR for two.
WHERE TO EAT IN CALANGUTE
Price for four person, breakfast 250-400, lunch 600-1000 and
dinners 700-1500 INR.
Three very good restaurants, O’Pescador, The Pagoda and don’t miss
Le Restaurant Français.