8 Days 2187KM Ride Part-3 : Goa

Route  :  Sirsi - Karwar - Goa
Distance Covered : 270 KM
Trip Dates : Aug 17 2015; 3:30 AM - 9:30 AM

Bike : Thunderbird 350
Riders : Me & Srikanth

             Goa...for the first time I am going to the one of the best tourist spot in India. We don't want to waste time by reaching late and struck in city traffic, so decided to start by 3 AM and reach before 8 AM. Started at 3:30 AM lazily after checkout process and going slowly in the pitch dark. Roads are very narrow with sharp curves and no street lights, became a nightmare to cross 60 speed. Still 120 KM to reach NH-17, which became very hard part of ride. Entire stretch is ruled by heavy trucks, all corners are with full of patches and overtaking those long trucks became a impossible. It took nearly 3 Hrs to ride 120 KM and finally reached NH-17.

             We were thinking NH means surely a double road with 4 or 6 lane, but we are complete wrong. Till Goa, entire road is single road, overtaking is little difficult but road condition is good. Time is 6:30 AM yet no Sunrise, it seems late sunrise and late sunset in Goa. Till now I was riding the bull, so now its Srikanth turn and I am relaxing on saddle. From Karwar on-words, road became more scenic with beach views and lush green with misty hills. As we are getting closer to south Goa, roads became very narrow and we see residential building very next to the NH-17. As we going deeper into city, traffic getting worse and I took the handle. One or two places we went wrong routes due to the false maps and wasted 10 to 15 mins. Finally at 9:30 AM, reached the Cocos resort near Vagator Beach. 

GOA local on Aug-17th, 19th and 20th details covered in below.
Aug-18th Dudhsagar ride covered in Part-4.

Aug-17th: Anjuna beach - Vagator beach - Chapora port- Candolim beach - Baga beach

               Check-in process went smoothly and relaxed for some time after a hot shower. After 1 Hr of rest, we decided to roam nearby beaches and finish brunch. First we went to Anjuna beach, which is just 10 mins ride (5 KM). We got stunned because we thought Goa would be like :

                    Full of desi/foreign tourists

                    Clear blue water 

                    coconut trees on beach side..etc...

                    mostly cloudy with short rains 

but due to Off-season, nothing happening. Anjuna beach is definitely one of the famous beach but nothing to see and enjoy. with in 10 mins we reached Vagator beach. Here also same situation, water is so dirty. Anyhow No swimming allowed due to rainy season(waives are too high).  At least to entertain us, there is some Hindi film bikini scene shooting happening. we spent some time there and returned back to resort after having brunch.

            Chapora port also 5 mins ride from resort, planned to go for sunset. Its really best scenic with background trees and beach, (nothing there to see in the port only ruin walls). sunset is still a long wait at 6 PM also, so we decided to go to Candolim beach. Trekking up and down is little hard, best time to go is early morning or evening when no Sun. 

Chapora port ruins in background:

             After reaching Candolim beach, now we felt little Goa beach effect. Water is mostly clean, full rush with tourists, shacks and short length dresses... That's what called as Goa. Enjoyed the atmosphere around 1 Hr and moved to famous Baga beach. Now I see, more clubs, resorts...on the way..the real Goa culture. Stayed in Baga till 9 PM and left for resort, had dinner on the way.

Aug-19th: Aguada port - Churches in old goa - Dona paula beach

              Aguada port is beautifully covered with green gross, one of the most tourist attraction spot and many good locations for photography also. Next to the port Helipad is there, we did not go there, but  heard worth a visit while helicopter landing. Morning 9 AM also we were sweating too much, not a good time to visit under SUN. After Aguada port, straight away reached old Goa churches at 11 AM.

Aguada port light house:

                 As long as we are inside the church, its cool; but outside weather is too hot. We spent lot of time to cover the 3 churches till 2 PM. Churches are really master class built, paintings, wide halls and designs are well taken care from centuries.

Beautiful paintings on church walls:

               Afternoon visited Dona paula, its different compared to all other beaches, its having sand beach as well view point. Most people go to view point, near by "water scooter" games also available. We can sit and enjoy the sea from top view. Must visit this in the evening time.

Dona paula from view point:

Aug-20th: carabzalem beach - Miramar beach - chorao island - baga beach

                       We planned to go for Island boat ride, we inquired many boating counters, but no positive response due to off-season. Only the boating trip happening is just a boat ride on the Mandovi river for 1 Hr which cost around 300/-. All the boating counters are on the bank of Mandovi river from Miramar beach to main Bridge. Nearby the main bridge Govt boating also available. In season time, we must book in advance.

Mandovi river casino ship and local trip boats:

              While checking for boating counters, we covered carabzalem beach and Miramar beach. carabzalem beach is mainly for fishing and fish stalls, good thing is we can take our bike inside the water and have fun (Hope no police stops us if we are in safe distance). Other than that we can't stay for long, its full of fish smell. Next is Miramar beach, one of the good beach with full rush. There is a park/garden at the entrance of beach, which is another attraction of it and best part is we can sit under tree shades next to the bank.

                Since No island boating, decided to go to Chorao island for Dr.Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary. Free ferry service available to the people at different places on Mandovi river. Cars also allowed to use the ferry service, because only one bridge on Mandovi river to commute between Panjim and south goa.

Ferry service on Mandovi river:

              We crossed the River with ferry service and reached Bird Sanctuary, but folks in counter said currently no birds to visit and they suggested us to visit the peddle boating in a lake (11 Km away). we thought of give a try as we don't have anything else to do. After a long ride in the narrow roads inside the island, we found it closed. Nothing happening today and we though of going back and take rest. when we checked for return route, we stunned because we are close to Resort if we go in opposite route than which we came through. thank god, we escaped all the traffic and reached resort early after a heavy Lunch on the way.

            Evening full time spent in Baga beach. Earlier we came through Tito's road and never walked to the other end of the beach, but today luckily we came through other end and enjoyed the view of Baga River merging with Sea. As today is the last day in Goa, we spent more time in beach atmosphere till 9 PM and left for the day.

     Baga River joining with sea:

 



Random pics in Goa:

Aguada port entrance:

Aguada port side view:

sea view from Aguada port:

Beautiful gardens between churches:

Beautiful house views near churches:

Inside the churches:

Golden Gods:

Glittering Crystals:

Ohhhh so large:

Nice view of some house and church:

Nice carvings on top of House entrance:

great View from Dona paula:

Taj hotels view from Dona paula:

Evening walk in Vagator beach (that's not me someone):

Chapora port outside beach view:

Chapora port side wall:

another great view from Chapora port rear side:

Read Dudhsagar disappointed ride in Part-4.

8 Days 2187KM Ride Part-2 : Jog falls, Sirsi

Route  :  Shimoga - sagar - Jog falls - siddapur -  Sirsi
Distance Covered : 231 KM
Trip Dates : Aug 16 2015; 6 AM - 7 PM

Bike : Thunderbird 350
Riders : Me & Srikanth

            After 12+ Hr of great sleep, we both gained full energy for the big day. Check-out done at 6 AM and mounted saddle bag. Roads are complete empty unlike yesterday, and we swiftly moving on lush greenery. Shimoga to Jog falls route is best scenic greenery route till now I traveled in my life. Its not a ghat route, so you can enjoy the scenery at its peek than the looking for the next ghat curve. (murudeswar to jog falls is also same scenic route but a Ghat road, so we can enjoy the riding as well nature). 

Shimoga- jog falls Route map:

Beautiful roads:

magnificent view:

         Took multiple halts for photo session on the roads and reached jog falls at 10 AM. Entrance fee is 5/- and bike parking fee is 10/-. We parked the bike with saddle bag on it only as view points are next to the parking, so we decided to leave the bag with bike only and we are keep on checking the baggage in middle. Steps are closed to go down to the bottom of falls due to rainy season. (It seems there is cloak room available near hanging bridge.)

       There are multiple falls, but mainly 3 are huge and next to each. Lot of mist/falls spray is covering the falls and getting cleared after 15 mins or so. we have to wait for so long to take clear pictures. View point is like, we are on top of one hill edge and falls are on opposite hill, valley between hills is filled with forest trees. So great to see them from top view it self, it will be so wonderful if we go down through steps and see from bottom of hill. 

        Might jog falls:

      There is a small power plant next to the hanging bridge, just 2 mins walks and witnessed many other falls.  Around 12 PM, we had lunch at hotel near to the parking, nothing is there to eat actaully, we had idly and vada. While having lunch, it rained for first time in the trip. Cramster saddle bag water resistance holding very good, no water leaked in heavy rain also. Around 12:30 PM, we have left the falls and started to Linganamakki dam which is 12 km away. Route is little difficult to find but after few inquiries finally reached, but it is closed for visitors. 

       we have lot of time to go for sirsi, so thought of visiting Rani & Raja falls on the way to Sirsi. Rani falls is just nearby to the jog falls and its like standing on the top of another small falls, but nothing to see than a different view of jog falls. Raja falls road is complete mud road(half rim deep), we decided not to spoil the bike, so we said bye bye to falls and moved on Sirsi road.

Jog falls - Sirsi route:

At 3:30 PM, reached Sirsi, Inquired for good hotel, and checked-in at one good hotel for 500/-. Dumped our luggage and left for Sahasralinga, which is 20 KM away from city. Again this route also through hill terrain. Reached Sahasralinga by 4:30 PM. 

         Sahasralinga is Constructed by the King Sadashivaraya of Sirsi in the 17th century in fulfillment of a vow made to the Lord Shiva in return for being blessed with a son. 1000 lingas carved out of stones in a small river called Shalmala. Since it is rainy season, water flow is high, not many lings are visible, best time to visit is Shivaratri. Some people are enjoying the swim, water is crystal clear. (no parking/entree  fee at Sahasralinga)

             Next to parking there is a huge hanging bridge  across the river, must to visit it. We can cross the bridge by bike also, many people crossing on bikes, but it will be difficult in rush time. At 5:30 PM, we started back to Hotel. Marikamba Temple is the another famous inside the Sirsi, we missed to visit it but had a quick glance from outside while coming from jogfalls, looks really beautiful from outside.

Lingas in the Shalmala river:

Priest doing poojas here:

Another lingam and nandi:

Shalmala River in western ghats:

Hanging bridge:

           We had snacks, coconut and then left to the Hotel. We are so tired and no mood for dinner, as we had heavy snaks and we just slept at 9 PM. Next day is GOA, so we decided to start by 3AM.

Read Part-3 for Goa ride!