Goa
Getting Around
Air
Goa's international airport is 29 km from Panjim at Dabolim.
Mumbai-Goa is a 45-minute flight and one has the option to fly on
Indian Airlines or Jet Airways. Regular flights also link Goa with
Delhi, Pune, Cochin, Bangalore and Chennai. Some charter companies
fly into Goa directly from Europe.
Rail
The 760 km long Konkan Railway project between Mangalore (Karnataka)
and Mumbai has given a major boost to train travel to Goa. There are
trains run between Margao and Mangalore and a direct train from
Delhi to Goa. Goa has two main stations at Margao and Vasco da Gama.
Road
There are interstate bus services to Mumbai (16 hrs), Mangalore,
Bangalore, Pune, Londa, Hubli, Hampi and Hospet. Buses of state
roadways corporations of Maharashtra, Karnataka and Goa operate
services out of Kadamba bus stand at Panjim. Private air conditioned
buses to major destinations operate from a separate bus stand near
Madovi bridge.
Getting Around within Goa
Before independence, the many rivers that drain Goa made getting
around a problem. Nowadays, however, thanks to a network of road
bridges life is a lot easier. As elsewhere in India, cars and taxis
can be rented by the hour, or by the kilometre, for excursions.
Bus
Buses are by far the cheapest way to travel in Goa. They are usually
overcrowded, and often seem to follow their own schedule. For short
trips however, they are well recommended. The Goan transport
corporation, Kadamba, runs long-distance services throughout the
state from their main stands at Panjim, Mapusa and Margao. Private
buses, serving everywhere else including the coastal resorts, are
cheap, frequent but slow due to the numerous stops they make en
route.
Car Rental
Self-driven car rental is available in Goa from car companies like
Hertz and Budget, though the option is a little expensive.
Ferry
Ferry's, generally painted blue, provide an essential service,
crossing the coastal backwaters where bridges have not yet been
built. They're also incredibly cheap, and run from dawn to dusk.
The
most frequented river crossings in Goa are Panjim to Betim, across
the Mandovi, Old Goa to Divar Island, Siolim to Chopdem, across the
Chapora River for Arambol and Pernem, Querim to Terekol, over the
Terekol River and Cavelossim, in the far south of Salcete taluka, to
Assolna. Frequent services are available on these routes.
Motorcycle taxis
Goa's unique pillion-passenger motorcycle taxis, are ideal for small
trips to beaches or into town from the resorts. These pillion taxis
are relatively economical and conveneient.
Rented Motorcycles
Renting a motorcycle in Goa gives a lot of freedom but can be
unsafe. Every season, an average of one person a day dies on the
roads; many are tourists on two-wheelers. While renting, ensure that
the lights and brakes are in good shape. Many Goan roads are
pot-holed and unlit, and stray cows and bullock carts can appear
from nowhere.
Rates
vary according to the season, the vehicle, and how long you rent it
for; most owners also insist on a hefty deposit and/or passport as
security. The range of available machines includes a 50cc moped,
fine for buzzing to the beach and back, the popular Enfield Bullet
350cc and the smaller but more reliable Honda Kinetic 100cc / Activa,
which has automatic gears and is a good first-time choice or the
best all-rounder, the Yamaha RX 100cc light, fast, reliable and with
manual gears. Now a days, even bikes by Bajaj like pulsar,
eliminator are available.
Officially,
you need an international driver's licence to rent anything more
powerful than a 25cc moped. Owners and rental companies rarely
enforce this, but some local police use the rule to extract
exorbitant baksheesh from tourists. Always make sure you rent a
vehicle from the right sources and carry the necessary papers. Some
unlicensed operators attempt to rent out machines to unwary
visitors; always make sure you get some evidence of rental and
insurance.
Distances between important places
in Goa are given below.
- Panaji – Bondla : 55 kms.
- Panaji – Calangute : 16 kms.
- Panaji – Cavelossim : 48 kms.
- Panaji – Goa Airport : 29 kms.
- Panaji – Mapusa : 13 kms.
- Panaji – Margao : 33 kms.
- Panaji – Mobor : 50 kms.
- Panaji – Old Goa : 10 kms.
- Panaji – Tiracol : 42 kms.
- Panaj – Vagator : 22 kms.
- Panaji – Varca : 44 kms.
- Panaji – Vasco-da-Gama : 30 kms.
- Margao – Cavelossim : 15 kms.
- Margao – Colva Beach : 6 kms.
- Margao – Goa Airport : 29 kms.
- Margao – Mobor : 17 kms.
- Margao – Varca : 9 kms.
- Vasco-da-Gama – Goa Airport : 3 kms.
- Vasco-da-Gama – Margao : 30 kms.
- Goa Airport – Mobor : 48 kms.
- Dabolim – Varca : 41 kms.
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