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Assuming you´ve never been on Indian railways, then suggest you catch a sleeper train. Recall the one I did being about 13 hours which is nice as its not too long but gives you enough of a sense of the experience.
For beaches, broadly speaking the northern beaches have more of a party focus and cling onto past glories from their hippie and trance eras, while the southern beaches are quieter and better looking.
If we rent a car, how much it will take? any idea. We are only 2 person, but we will not mind to share car with others.
Any more suggestion regarding beaches in terms of relax and party.
Driving, depends where your setting off from, (as it can easily take 3-4 hrs to clear Mumbai), and which route. For views, you have to take NH17, down through the western Ghatts, maybe overnight in Mahabaleshwar, if you don't want to drive too long. For speed, NH4 is quicker but boring.
Your choice.
UB.
buses take way too long and the road journey is unbearable, the roads are horrendous that is based on my personal experience, things might be different now... perhaps someone else can provide a updated insight. There are also luxury busliners... similar to eurolines/greyhound... these will cost you 600 to 800 Inrs... much better but still i wouldnt do it.
trains are the cheapest and the best way of getting from mumbai to Goa... there is a train that leaves in the evening around 10ish as pirate said... and it arrives in panjim at about 8-9ish am, and there is another train that leaves mumbai in the morning and reaches goa late at night. If you want a good night sleep and prep yourself for goa then take the night train and book 3tier A/C... no views but 6-7hrs of sleep.
If you want the en route views of ghats, tunnels, forests, villages rice paddies etc... then take the morning train from mumbai and book 2nd class sleeper... one can take a nap ... but depends on person to person.
car option would cost you handsomely... will be slightly above the flight costs.
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4
As already said "the best way" is context dependent....Assuming you´ve never been on Indian railways, then suggest you catch a sleeper train. Recall the one I did being about 13 hours which is nice as its not too long but gives you enough of a sense of the experience.
For beaches, broadly speaking the northern beaches have more of a party focus and cling onto past glories from their hippie and trance eras, while the southern beaches are quieter and better looking.
7
Thanks to all of you for provide wonderful suggestions. Airplane will fastest, but costly for us. I can define best way in terms of side scene/natural beauty of nature. I just wanted to know which mode of journey can give me the best view? By road or By train?If we rent a car, how much it will take? any idea. We are only 2 person, but we will not mind to share car with others.
Any more suggestion regarding beaches in terms of relax and party.
9
@8..not all trains are sleepers, you can take the day train (about 6 am), and have a day full of wonderful views, but not in AC classes, as windows are blacked out.Driving, depends where your setting off from, (as it can easily take 3-4 hrs to clear Mumbai), and which route. For views, you have to take NH17, down through the western Ghatts, maybe overnight in Mahabaleshwar, if you don't want to drive too long. For speed, NH4 is quicker but boring.
Your choice.
UB.
13
Take a Volvo bus in the evening at 7PM to reach Panjim in 12 Hrs. You can book on line with www.neetabus.in or www.goibibo.com for this. If you are landing in the afternoon or by 5PM it will be possible to catch up the bus from pick up point on Western Express Highway in Andheri-E., just 2.5Km from TII of Airport. You can book train tickets as well on cleartrip or makemytrip and select the trains from www.railinfo.com14
the flight from mumbai to goa will cost anywhere between 4000 to 7000 Inrs... now that the fuel prices go up regularly on weekly basis... check three weeks before you need to fly. yatra.com or makemytrip.com... check for indigo, goair, kingfisher etc... they are supposedly the budget airliners.buses take way too long and the road journey is unbearable, the roads are horrendous that is based on my personal experience, things might be different now... perhaps someone else can provide a updated insight. There are also luxury busliners... similar to eurolines/greyhound... these will cost you 600 to 800 Inrs... much better but still i wouldnt do it.
trains are the cheapest and the best way of getting from mumbai to Goa... there is a train that leaves in the evening around 10ish as pirate said... and it arrives in panjim at about 8-9ish am, and there is another train that leaves mumbai in the morning and reaches goa late at night. If you want a good night sleep and prep yourself for goa then take the night train and book 3tier A/C... no views but 6-7hrs of sleep.
If you want the en route views of ghats, tunnels, forests, villages rice paddies etc... then take the morning train from mumbai and book 2nd class sleeper... one can take a nap ... but depends on person to person.
- carry a lightweight sleeping bag for trains... although in 3tier a/c they provide blankets, bedsheets and pillows... i still sleep in my own sleeping bag on top of all these... just concerned about hygiene. The 2nd class sleep provides nothing ... all you get is a old school... laminate type plastic covering on foam beds... quiet uncomfortable to sit/sleep on... a sleeping bag would be a welcome asset in this case.
car option would cost you handsomely... will be slightly above the flight costs.
