TRIP TO MUMBAI GOA - THE COASTAL ROUTE - Roaming With Roads (2023)

Road trips are fun to explore new places. India encompasses various places in different parts of the country. So, no matter where you live in the country, there is always the option of planning an India road trip.

we made a10 days motorcycle tripfrom Mumbai-Goa-Mumbai along the coastal route through picturesque seaside towns with endless stretches of sea views. Sail over the sea with your vehicle loaded onto a ferry and feel the sea breeze bathing you in salty kisses. The coastal route deserves an experience.

This route is less explored as it takes much longer than the other two popular routes Mumbai Goa Highway (NH66) and Mumbai-Pune-Bangalore Highway (NH4). If you are a traveler and like to hit the road like we do, this tour is for you.

In this article we will guide you along the coastal route and share our experiences that can help you plan this beautiful road trip.

DIA 1 – MUMBAI PARA HARIHARESHWAR

rota– Bombaim~Kashid~Murud Janjira~Agardanda~Dighi~Harihareshwar (222 km)

ferry stop– Agardanda at the port of Dighi. (From 8 am every hour until 9.30 pm)

Our stay on day 1 was in Harihareshwar. You can also plan to end the day at Shrivardhan which is about 20 km before Harihareshwar.

Upon reaching the NH66 just before Karnala there are plenty of breakfast options. We ate at Joshi Wadewale, which serves an authentic Maharashtrian breakfast. Puneri misal is a must try.

Advance to Alibaug via Vadkhal Junction on NH66. From here the coastal route begins. Avoid stopping at Alibag as it can be easily explored on any other day in Mumbai. About 30 km from Alibag and on the way to Murud Janjira isPlaya Kashid. There are many huts with hammocks offering snacks, cold drinks and coconut water. You can relax here for a while.

If you're looking for a more secluded beach, skip Kashid and travel another 15 minutes toNand Gaon beach. A calm and peaceful place with clean water. Good place to relax in the shade of coconut trees. There are not many restaurants here.

We took our first ferry at 1:15 pm from Agardanda Pier. Get off at Dighi Port, situated on the bank of Rajpuri Creek, in 15 minutes. From here, Harihareshwar is 48 km away. Dighi road is under construction but still manageable.

Sadgurú Krupa Khanaval (7350380167)on Dighi road serves home cooked meals at a reasonable price. We have tried vegetarian and non-vegetarian thali. The food was simple and tasty.

Harihareshwar beach is a stretch of calm and serene water with a fresh, unpolluted breeze blowing along the shore. After a long drive this is a perfect place to spend the night. Visit the historic 16th century Harihareshwar Temple located on the coast. It offers a great combination of natural beauty and spiritual enhancement.

DIA 2 – HARIHARESHWAR PARA GANPATIPULE

Ruta -Harihareshwar~Bagmandla~Vesvi~Harnai~Ladghar~Dabhol~Dhopave~Guhagar~Tavsal~Jaigad~Ganpatipule (164 km)

ferry stop-

1. Bagmandla to Vesvi (from 7:30 am every 1 hour)
2. Dabhol to Dhopave (from 6h45 every 45 min)
3. Tavsal to Jaigad (from 6:40 am every 1 hour)

Day 2 is about the ferry crossing. There are 3 ferries to cross. We took the first ferry at 10:30 am. We arrived late because we spent the morning shooting in Harihareshwar.

After a 30-minute drive, you arriveEmbarcadero de Bagmandla. The ferry crosses the Savitri river and drops you at another place called Vesvi in ​​5-10 minutes. It saves almost 30-40 km of travel.

After reaching Vesvi, you need to head towardsDabhol Jettyby the Kelshi~Harnai~Murud~ route. This is a wonderful stretch of inner city roads. There are many places where you would like to stop and enjoy the view and take pictures. Of course it should, since you hit the road to enjoy the ride, right?

We took our second ferry from Dabhol at 3:45 pm. m., which dropped us off in Dhopave in 10 minutes. From here, your next destination isCais of Tavsalwhich is 50 km. And then another 22 kilometers and you reach Ganpatipule.

Here we would like to share a little experience. It was already 4:30 pm when we left for Tavsal. Our concern was whether we would be able to catch the 6:40 pm ferry. Missing it means waiting another hour. The roads were very good, but narrow, with many hairpin bends, and for miles we were the only souls in sight. You can imagine the thrill of riding alone.

It was when we were immersed in our solitude, climbing the ghats, that we found two young cyclists pedaling slowly. I slowed the bike down and quickly struck up a conversation. Cycling from Mumbai, they were also heading to Goa. This was his first bike trip. They were also heading towards the docks. I informed them about ferry times. Cheering them on, I sped up. We wish we could stop and hear your experiences on the road, but we didn't want to miss the ferry.

We arrived at the pier 15 minutes before the scheduled time. There weren't many passengers. We were waiting for the boatman to let us on. And when that happened, I got up to start my bike, and all of a sudden, motorcyclists appeared just before the ferry left. And there we were, stretching and one of them sharing their experiences as the ferry started to move with the wind gently kissing our faces. His story reflected courage and determination. It was a good feeling to meet these inspiring souls.

After a 20-minute ferry ride, we arrive at Jaigad pier. Knowing that we would not meet again, we said goodbye to them and parted ways.

We arrive at Ganpatipule at 8:30 pm.

DIA 3 – GANPATIPULE PARA TARKARLI

Ruta -Ganpatipule~AareWare~Pawas~Devgad~Tarkarli (181 km)

No more ferry crossings. To Malvan, drive along this beautiful stretch with wonderful views of lush vegetation, crystal clear waters of white sandy beaches and colorful ancient temples, each with a unique story to tell.

Before starting the trip, visit the famous 400-year-old buildingGanpatipule Templelocated on the beach. Approximately 1 km from the temple isMuseu Prachin Konkan. This is an open-air museum with sculptures depicting traditional Konkan life and culture. A trip to Ganpatipule without visiting this is incomplete.

After a 30-minute drive, you'll arrive at a combination of two beaches.Area and Goodsthat are next to each other. The snippet is so amazing. Definitely a must stop. There's a certain freedom in finding a little part of the world that belongs just to you, even for a little while.

There are many places on this route where you would like to stop. Visit some cities on the route. Talk to the locals, the fishermen. Konkan people are very helpful and humble.

Other places to explore along the way –Devgad e Kunkeshwar

We arrived in Malvan at 7 pm. Our stay was inGhar Malvankarache (8600381490)– a family home run by a humble family. They have budget rooms that are clean and comfortable. But most of all the food is simply spectacular. I tried Prawns Masala with Malvani Vade. It was simply delicious. Next morning for breakfast aunt Archana served us Ghavane with coconut chutney. Whenever I visit Malvan again I will definitely eat here.

DIA 4 – EXPLORE MALVAN

One day is not enough to explore Malvan. Malvan is the kind of place that makes you want to stay forever if possible, with the waves and the sand, the trees and the stars. But even if you stay here for a day or two, you will take something with you, at least a photo of a unique shell on a fascinating beach.

Take a stroll through the villages when the sunlight seeps through the palm trees. You will pass women sorting dried fish outside their homes. Give them a smile and you're sure to get it back. This small Konkan town has a busy wharf with a tangle of boats and tile-roofed houses, where the smell of wood smoke and fish curry aromas wafts through your memories.

Places you shouldn't miss:Playa Tarkarli,Playa Chiwla,Pueblo Deobagh&Dirija o Sindhudurg

If you like water sports, let yourself godive,dolphin safariand other water activities that take place here.

DIA 5 – TARKARLI para GOA

Ruta -Tarkarli~Vengurla~Shiroda~Goa (109 kms)

It was time to go to GOA. We were excited.

As we walked towards Vengurla, past towering palm trees, around a bend I heard a voice that sounded familiar. I turned around to see it and it was exactly what we didn't expect. There they were: the two cyclists. We were happy to see them again.

We used different means of transport while traveling the roads, but we could connect with each other in the joy of enjoying road trips. Car trips are full of surprises, right? Who knows, maybe we'll even meet in Goa.

Continue cycling 50 km until you reach Vengurla. Take a walk through the village in the shade of verdant plantations of cashew, mango and coconut trees.

About 3 km from the Vengurla market,Playa Sagareshwarhides behind rows of tall casuarinas swaying in the wind. A small temple of Sagareshwara (Lord of the Sea) stands on the beach.

Located at the end of a winding mountain road and about 45 minutes drive from Sagareshwar, it isTo install Playa Shiroda.An untouched and less explored region of Konkan, Shiroda Beach is carpeted with silvery white sands, cool blue waters and gentle sea breezes.

Other places to explore along the way –nivati ​​beach,Playa Redi&Sawantwadi

We arrived in Goa at 4pm. Our stay was in Anjuna, North Goa. After checking into our lodge and freshening up, we'll spend the night on Vagator Beach. If you are a party person; then this is definitely the place for you with rave parties that go late into the night. Somehow we managed to find our little corner of happiness on this crowded beach.

DAY 6, 7 AND 8: GOA, GOA AND JUST GOA

Live!! Finally in Goiás. Yes, the long-awaited fate. You need to plan these 3 days well depending on where you want to stay between North and South Goa. This will again depend on your travel tastes and what you want to experience in Goa. For peace and solitude, and eccentric experiences, head to South Goa.

Soon we will share how we spent our 3 days in Goa:

Day 1– We explored places close to our guesthouse in Anjuna. Total distance traveled 40 km exploring Praia da Baga, Sinquerim Fort, Reis Magos Fort, Fontainhas and Chapora.
You have to try the Fruit Salad with Ice Cream atScarlet Juice Center, Chapora.

day 2– On this day we travel 85 km to South Goa to try kayaking in the backwaters oftail beach. Cola Beach is one of those off-the-beaten-path destinations where the beautiful blue lagoon meets the unstoppable wave of the Arabian Sea.

You can rent a kayak for 30 minutes to navigate the backwater for just 150 rupees.

On the way back to North Goa, if you manage to get there before dark, take the route byvineyard road. Surrounded by palm trees and fields on both sides, end the day watching the magical sunset.

Day 3– An impulsive decision and we headed to the Ribandar pier where a ferry (free) would take us toIlha do Chorão. Once the beaches were done, we wanted to explore something different. It felt like we had escaped to a quiet, peaceful and picturesque town from a different era, with its Portuguese-style mansions and churches. It's also home to the unconventional.Sanctuary Dr. Bird Salim Ali.

Once the island is over, we head straight to Morjim beach for lunch at theSmoked Fish Coffee (8975557019)The family run terrace restaurant serves authentic Goan home cooking. One of the best meals we had in Goa.

We finished our last day of shopping at the Anjuna flea market and then took a walk along Anjuna beach, reminiscing about our trip from day one. This trip was one of the best things we've ever experienced.

Two more days on the road yet…. The journey was not over yet.

DIA 9 – GOA for MURUD (DAPOLI)

Ruta -Goa~Kankavli~Chiplun~Khed~Dapoli~Murud (392 kms)

This has been a long journey for us. I almost did 400 km. We took the NH66, the four-lane Mumbai-Goa highway to Khed and then turned towards Dapoli.

When we stopped at Sangameshwar for lunch, we decided not to stay in any of the roadside hotels, opting to walk a few more kilometers and stay on the beach. It was as if the sea was calling us back to the coastal path. So I called Aviraj Niwas, a homestay inPlaya Murudin Dapoli, where I had stayed before, and immediately booked a room.

The road is in good condition from Goa to Kankavli and you will enjoy driving this four lane road at 60 km/h. After Lanja, the road becomes a two-lane. And you have to be careful because road widening works are underway and there are detours every few meters.

These bumpy roads were exhausting for both of them. But as soon as we got off the highway and took a detour to Dapoli, we felt relief. We roll again along the coastal route. The night sky formed a perfect backdrop for a stroll along the winding road. And then the moon slowly rose and cast its silvery sheen.

DIA 10 – MURUD (DAPOLI) PARA MUMBAI

Ruta -Murud~Dapoli~Mandangad~Tol Phata~Mangaon~Mumbai (250 kms)

Tired but still got up early because we had to go to Murud Beach for the Dolphin Safari. We decided on this at dinner last night while talking to our host. He assured us that dolphins are seen for sure. So we thought we'd take a chance. We saw some of them after a long wait in the middle of the sea. The boatman was kind enough not to let us ashore without seeing the dolphins.

Murud is a small town with a long, picturesque stretch of beach dotted with crab holes and swaying palm trees. It also has many spas located amidst coconut plantations.

Olive Ridley sea turtles have also been seen here.

We looked for a new route for our last day on the road. From the Dapoli market, turn left towardsMandangad. He took us to Mangaon on the NH 66 via the inner village roads.

Coming home after 10 days on the road was a little depressing. I was reminded of one of John Denver's compositions, "Hey, It's Good To Be Back Home Again".

This homecoming was quite different from all the others I've had in my life. Coming home evokes many emotions, and we would return home with fond memories.

– Clemente and Steffe