Bombay to Goa - A Must-Do Road Trip

Fun, food and feni! When vacation plans are tossed around, few Mumbaikars can resist the lure of Goa. For those who’ve only wistfully watched Bollywood versions, the Bombay-to-Goa road trip ought to rank among the best of its kind in India.

When to Go

From mid-December to end January, the world beats a path to Goa’s beaches; if this is your chosen time, make advance plans for accommodation. Tourist traffic touches smaller peaks in October-December and February-middle June. For the rest of the year, you can drive down on a whim. Goa in the monsoons is cheap, emptied of tourists and enchantingly green; driving down however, presents challenges.

Gearing Up

NH 17, the west coast interstate highway is among India’s best (expect some bad patches during and after the monsoon), so all your trusty vehicle needs beforehand is basic servicing. Double check your brakes, since you’ll be travelling through the Ghats and negotiating plenty of bendy bits. Are the lights and indicators in order? Don’t forget your toolkit should you need to change a wheel. A little TLC for your car in the form of rubber matting will save it from the undesirable effects of salt water and sand in Goa.

Off and Away

The trip takes between 11 and 15 hours, depending on how many pit stops you make. The 500-odd kilometres virtually fly – mostly a delightfully scenic drive, with paddy fields, coconut palms and areca nut plantations zipping past your window.

Ideally, start around 6.00 am or earlier to skip heavy morning traffic. Mumbai to Panvel is a signal free zip over flyovers. After Panvel, NH17 to Goa is your typical two-lane highway; it’s in fairly good shape, but watch out for treacherous corners. Early morning, this is a pleasant stretch, lined on both sides with forest. If you’re a birdwatcher, you may not be able to resist stopping off at Karnala Bird Sanctuary, home to over 150 species – Drongos, Paradise flycatchers, Red-vented bulbuls and more. You’ll probably zip uncaringly past Pen, little knowing this was historically an important port city and is now a major centre for making the huge Ganesh idols worshipped during Ganeshotsav.

Chiplun in Ratnagiri District is a popular halfway halt for most Bombay-Goa travellers. The Western Ghats are soon upon you, affording magnificent views below of the marshy tracts around the Vashishti River. Exhilarating as the ghats are, stay attentive and use your car horn liberally.

Ratnagiri is mango country; if yours is a summer trip, you’ll want to look out for mango-sellers en route offering Ratnagiri Alphonsos at throwaway prices. Past Talera, NH17 enters Sindhudurg District. On to Sawantwadi, a final stretch of the ghats and soon, you’re at the Goa border. From here, the road narrows; at night, massive trucks flash blinding beams into your eyes. An hour out of Sawantwadi, it’s journey’s end at Panaji and a welcome night’s rest.

Caution

Slow down near villages where there’s plenty of non-motorised traffic. Pay heed to accident signs. Look for speed breakers while approaching and leaving bridges across rivers.

The good news is that this route is being four-laned. Until then, enjoy NH 17 with care, bullock carts et al!