[v&v]

As every time we do have a vacation during our kids winter holidays & this time it was planned for Mumbai & Goa. it has been more than 4 years since we had been to Goa. Moreover we can also escape from the Delhi chill. So the itinerary was planned as below :

Delhi - Mumbai - Spend new year with family there. - 3 nights then head to Goa for 3 nights and back via Pune - Indore - Delhi.
The plan was to reach Delhi by 8th for Autoexpo. Hence we decided to start on 29th and reach Mumbai on 30th. 1 day buffer in case of fog. Goa on 2,3,4 and start the return journey on 5th so as to be in Delhi by 7th or 8th.

While in Goa an unavoidable work at Bangalore popped for 6th & 7th, this means my autoexpo plan goes for a toss, so we had to modify our trip as Delhi - Mumbai - Goa - Bangalore. Return via Hyderabad - Nagpur - Jhansi - Gwalior - Agra - Delhi.


Day - 1 Delhi - Ahmadabad - 928 kms, 14 hrs. 2 break

Day - 2 Ahmedabad - Mumbai - 526 kms 9 hrs 2 break

Day - 3,4 - Mumbai

Day - 5 Mumbai - Goa - 656 kms - 13 hrs - 2 break

Day - 6,7 Goa

Day - 8 Goa - Bangalore - 709 kms - 11 hrs - 1 break

Day - 9,10 Bangalore

Day - 11 Bangalore -Hyderabad - Nagapur - 1096 kms - 14 hrs - 3 break

Day - 12 - Nagpur - Jhansi - 650 kms - 12 hrs - 2 break

Day - 13 Jhansi - Gwalior - Agra - Delhi - 440 kms 9 hrs - 1 break



reclamation @ mumbai


worli sea link @ mumbai


Haji Ali @ mumbai


NH17 - Mumbai - Goa highway


Colva Beach @ Goa


Karwar


Karwar - Hubli highway


12 Lane JN Exp way @ Hybd with speed limit of 120 kmph


Pench Tiger Reserve Seoni

[v&v]

Day - 1

We started by 4.15 am. We were apprehensive about fog, were slowed down for 1st 100 kms till around Nimrana with occasional foggy patches. Rest overall progress was fast and uneventful. Breakfast stop at Nasirabad and Lunch after Udaipur. Got a minor jam at Udaipur. Thankfully cleared in 30 minutes.

By 6 pm reached Ahmedabad,chiloda circle , we stayed at hotel surya palace which is 1/2 km before chiloda circle with enough parking and reasonable rates. We got double room for 1350/-

Summary
-----------
Start - 4.15 am
Jaipur - 7.30 am
Nasirabad - 9.45 am
Chittorgarh - 12.20 pm
Udaipur - 1.45 pm
Shalmaji - 04.45 pm
Ahmadabad - 06:10 pm

Total - 930 kms

Road Condition : Delhi - Jaipur - Widening in progress, overall ok.
Jaipur bypass - 2 major diversion at city, rest all after manoharpur is in good condition.
Post Jaipur - Roads are great.

Other remarks : More stay options are now available on SP ring road. One i remember is Sri Sai plaza, which is 15 kms form Chiloda.



Day-2

We resumed our journey by 8 am. Morning was little cold. Enjoyed the 80 kms drive on NE-1. Office traffic was high and after Baroda trucker traffic too was on higher side. Roads are in good shape all the way till Mumbai. Breakfast was at NE-1 exit near reliance pump. Lunch at Hotel Ahura after Vapi and before charoti toll. The food was good. Also at Bharuch toll traffic at both end was smooth, pleasantly surprised. Overall road condition is good condition and reached Malad,Mumbai by 4.30 pm.




Summary
--------
Start - 08.00 am
Baroda - 09:00 am
Baruch - 10:55 am
Surat : 12:00 pm
Vapi : 01:30 pm
Dahisar : 03:30 pm
Malad : 04:30 pm

Total distance : 526 kms

[v&v]

Day 3 & 4 (31 Dec and 1st Jan)

Time well spent with family and friends. On Jan 1st we drove around Worli sea link, Gateway of India on my brother's new Jetta. Never been here after 26/11 in 2008. Walk around the places Colaba and Gate way of India. Now let the camera speak.

My brothers Jetta


Aksa Beach





view from bandra reclamation







Worli Sea Link







Mukesh Ambani-billion $ home - Antilla


Mumbai University

[v&v]

Evening we had dinner from Bade Miyan. Their Chicken Baida roti , Kababs were simbly awesome. After that Fruit cream at Haji Ali Juce Center (Mango, Strawberry) unique i have eaten till now.

Some more photos

Race course @ Mahalaxmi.



Mumbai police HQ


Packed Leopold Cafe





Gateway of India, Taj Hotel









Bade miya Restaurant



Night View of Marine Drive, Mumbai

[v&v]

Day - 5 - Mumbai - Goa (via NH17)



Since we have traveled on NH4 many times, it was decided to take NH17. After some research and inputs form HVK and Khoj, we decided to drive all the way on Pune expressway till the toll gate and after paying Rs 90 toll , immediately taking a U and exit via gate no 2 to Pen connector road. This is again a toll road approx 27 kms and connects at Pen. Advantage one can avoid all major traffic between Panvel till Pen. Road condition and traffic is minimum.

NH17 Highway





We started our journey by 5.40 am from Malad. Took JVLR , Airoli to Express way. Moderate traffic was there till expressway. Post that the progress was quick. We reached Pen by 7.15 am and distance of 115 kms. Took our break fast at Kamat residency at 8:15 which is at 150 kms from Mumbai.

Took at Kamat residency



Somewhere near Khed



NH17 is overall in good shape but single lane with reasonably high truck and opposite traffic progress is slow. Only around 25 km around sawantwadi till Goa border is in bad condition. Goa NH17 is in good condition but undivided and high traffic.

Goa border


Drive is scenic and not to mention tiring too. One has to be constantly agile for slow and opposite traffic. I my opinion NH4 is easier and faster than NH17. We reached Margao , Goa by 06:30 pm.



Hotel Jasmin @ Betalbatim, near salcette, Margao


Summary
----------
Start : 05:40 Am
Panvel : 06:20 Am 70 kms
Expway Toll : 06:40 90 kms
Pen : 07:15 am - 115 kms
Kamat Residency - 08:15 - 150 kms
Mahad : 10 am - 215 kms ( Pala Caves)
Khed : 10:45 - 260 kms
Chiplun : 11:30 - 300 kms
Ratnagiri : 12:45 pm 380 kms
Rajapur : 01:15 pm 440 kms (Lunch Break)
Kankavli : 03:20 pm 490 kms
Sawantwadi : 04:10 pm 545 kms
Goa Border : 04:40 pm 562 kms
Panjim : 05:30 pm 610 kms
Margao, Betalbatim - Hotel Jasmin - 06:30 656 kms

Total Distance : 656 kms. Drive time : 13 hours.

[v&v]

Update on roads in Goa. From Goa border after Sawantwadi is newly laid. Some sections are divided and some are not. After Mapusa all the way till Canacona has very high traffic and progress is very slow. Around Nuvem also the traffic is always very slow. We also visited Vasco & took good 1 hour due to heavy traffic.


We had also visited Goa in 2007 and stayed at Monterio, RGBC, this property is near Baga beach. Had a nice time there. Stayed there for 8 to 9 days. Max time was spent at Calangute and around. Sharing some old memories too.

Saw Beaches Vagator,Anjuna, Calangute,Candolim, Dauna paula,Colva.
Also saw Aguda fort, Panjim city, Caravela cruise & casino.
Basilica of Bom-Jesus,SE Cathedral

Photos of Goa @ 2007

Kids @ 2007


Agauda fort




Stranded Ship if i remember correct it was near Agauda


basilica of bom jesus & se cathedral








Dauna Paula view point


Colva Beach


Caravela Cruise

Originally Posted by v&v

Day - 10 - Nagpur - Jhansi - 650 kms - 12 hrs - 2 break
Day - 11 Jhansi - Gwalior

Nice trip. I will be following this thread to know the present status of Nagpur-Gwalior stretch. In September 2011, my Linea suffered a lot due to underbelly hits in this stretch.

[laluks]

Amazing drive v&v. I guess this visit to Bangalore was a separate visit and not the one when we spoke on the phone. Man you are amazing!

GOA - the place is calling me for a long time and somehow am avoiding the urge :( With this log, I don't know how far I can resit the call

[ranjitp1]

Nice & crisp travelogue till now.Nice pictures as well.Thanks for sharing

[v&v]

Originally Posted by J.Ravi

Nice trip. I will be following this thread to know the present status of Nagpur-Gwalior stretch. In September 2011, my Linea suffered a lot due to underbelly hits in this stretch.

Thanks Ravi, Not much improvement still in bad shape. Nagpur - Gwalior around 250 kms is really bad. I can assume what you have gone through.

Originally Posted by laluks

Amazing drive v&v. I guess this visit to Bangalore was a separate visit and not the one when we spoke on the phone. Man you are amazing!

GOA - the place is calling me for a long time and somehow am avoiding the urge :( With this log, I don't know how far I can resit the call

Thanks Laluks.
Yup this was a separate visit. We spoke late November. Originally it was only till Mumbai. Then got extended to Goa. From there it further got extended to Bangalore

GOA is addictive, do it man it just 700 kms !

Originally Posted by ranjitp1

Nice & crisp travelogue till now.Nice pictures as well.Thanks for sharing

Thanks ranjit.

[v&v]

Day 5, 6, 7 @ Goa

Our stay was at Club Mahindra - Jasminn which is around 5 kms from KT Circle Margao. CM has converted 5 - 6 big bungalow to hotel with all required facilities. Ideal for those who want tranquility and away from city buzz. This property is wll inside a village.





One of the permanent members. Was very friendly







About Betalbatim
Betalbatim is a small Indo-Portuguese village, surrounded by rice fields and is away from city traffic and is very serene. The beach is also at a secluded area and which was around 1.5 kms from our hotel. Colva Beach is around 6-8 kms from here.








OUR LADY OF PILAR CHURCH - ESTD 1635






One more observation about Betalbatim is the high presence of foreign tourists. Among the popular stay here was Nanu's resort & also lots of home stay options too.

About betalbatim beach, we were the only Indian family & rest all were foreigners. More like the entire beach had a Baywatch effect. IMO Betalbatim is a less explored beach and is highly recommended for privacy and neat beach. The sea too is very calm.














This Goa trip - kids demanded no sight seeing only beaches as a result of which our time was spent on the beach and shacks. Morning till 11-12 in Betalbatim and evenings at Colva. All in the agenda was to eat and drink. Also enjoy the fit & beautiful bodies around.

[laluks]

I thought Jasmin was in north GOA, and also to be having only hotel units. How was the place? How near is it to the beach and eateries? CM Varca though good, is very much crowded. Though they have 2 pools, both will be crowded. I have been told they have added one more property in goa.

Colva is a beautiful place to be in the evenings. There is a colourful restaurant - i forgot its name, where we almost spend 5 hours tasting all those fish delicacies

[nitin.rai]

Originally Posted by v&v

Stranded Ship if i remember correct it was near Agauda

Yes this is Fort Aguada beach & I had stayed at the Aguada in 06; this ship has been there since then!
I had driven down from Bangalore and Kamat's is where I too had stopped, nice.

Great trip v&v. Would appreciate a more detailed travelogue, thanks!

[rahul_sinha]

Super stuff v&v. We stayed at Varca property of Club Mahindra, in October and were floored by pristine beauty of Varca beach. I am sure Jasminn offers the same. BTW, thats one big awesome drive. Kudos to you.

[Fauji]

V&V,

Super drive and great account of yur trip to Goa. The stertch of beach beyond Colva towards South goa is fantastic. They are quiet and pristine unlike the beaches in North. Varca used to be our favourite beach when i was posted in Margao for a year in early nineties while in Army.

Yes, Club Mahindra have excellent property on Varca. This time we went to Agonda which was just "out of the world" - pristine, secluded and clear sea. The beauty of Agonda is that no permamanent structures are allowed here and acco is only in tente or tatched huts which are removed in April and rebult in October.