A holiday in Goa, India
I recently went to Goa and Mumbai for a Holiday. I decided about this trip just 2-3 weeks earlier when I received a promotional email from spicejet airlines that offered a free ticket for person traveling with you. So, I took advantage of this opportunity and planned a holiday to Goa and Mumbai.
Day 1
We (2 people) traveled from Jammu to Delhi and Delhi to Goa and while returning we traveled from Goa to Mumbai, Stayed there for two days one night and then back from Mumbai to Jammu. The Air Fare for this whole trip was Rs. 16742 only. You can find Cheap flights to goa over internet easily.
In Goa Airport as soon as we disembarked from the aircraft, we felt the scorching heat on our face and could feel the humidity in palms of our hands. Even the suitcase was sweating ! 
As we were coming from Jammu Kashmir, so it was un-usual climate for us.
Soon, we hired a taxi from Airport to our Hotel at Panjim, Goa. I had booked a double room in my all time favorite Ginger Hotel through Yatra.com. Ginger is about 25 Kms from Airport and an AC taxi (Maruti SX4) costed Rs 750 only.
We reached Hotel in 45 minutes at around 7:00 PM and checking into hotel was quite easy and quick. The room as usual was just perfect. Not very Luxurious but still had every thing that matters. In short, its worth Rs1900 per night.
As we were very tired due to 9-10 hours of air travel, so we decided to stay in hotel for rest of the day.
Day 2:
We had a quick breakfast buffet at the coffeeshop in Ginger (Rs 125 per person), booked an AC cab for visit to North Goa (For Beach sight seen) @ Rs 1200 per day (8 hours/80Kms)
The beachs we visited were Miramar Beach, Dona Paula, Candolim , Calangute and Bagha. While each has its own beauty but I liked Bagha Beach the best. We watched dolphins in Dona Paula beach, Walked on sand in Candolim beach. But we had real fun only at Calangute and Bagha beaches. The crowd here was very cool. Some were drinking & dacing, some were playing cricket, some couples were enjoying taking bath together and some like me were walking on sand with slippers in their hands !
The sea tides/waves on these beaches were quite high and they were making gushing sound. While others were enjoying playing with these high tides, I was little skeptical initially but soon I decided to jump in and that is when real fun started !
Soon, we had a ride on water motor bike and finally took bath in the sea and enjoyed playing with tides of sea.
We were to visit 3 more beaches after this but we decided to spend rest of the evening on this beach only and then we had 2 large Vodka with sea food and returned to hotel.
Day3;
On Day 3 We were to visit South Goa and in the end we were to go to Taj Exoica where my friend had invited us for dinner. But unfortunately, we could not wake up untill 12:30 in the afternoon as were quite tired due to last day’s sportive trip to North Goa’s beaches. So, we decided not to go to South Goa and rather go shopping in Panjim market that was near by.
Panjim market is near by Ginger Hotel and so, we decided to go on foot. But to our surprise, we noticed that almost every shop was closed in the afternoon. Then after inquiring from a local boy, we came to know that every shop in Goa remains closed between 1:00PM to 4:00 PM everyday ! Oh my.. So, we ruined the whole day! We did not go to South Goa for sight seen and we could not shop as well as shops open only in the evening. But fortunately, there was one place to seein Panjim market and it was cruises and casinos on Mandovi river which is located at the banks of Panjim Market. So, We enjoyed few moments there and then decided to go ahead with our trip to atleast some important churches and temples of South Goa.
So, we hired and AC Wagnar and visited Basilica of Bom Jesus, Near by Museum and then Sri Manguesh Temple.
basilica of bom jesusBasilica of Bom Jesus is best known for housing the tomb of St. Francis Xavier, the Jesuit missionary to India and Sri Manguesh temple at is the most prominent among Goan temples… You will enjoy visiting these places if you like seeing forts etc.
Day4: On Day 4 we were to leave for Mumbai but we decided to do some shopping early in the morning. So, this time we reached market at 10:00 Am and it was already very crowded. We bought some cashew nuts, silver jewelery and some garments and then we left for the airport.
We reached Mumbai at 4:30PM and the weather was quite pleasant. We stayed at YWCA International, Colaba Mumbai. As its was quite close to gateway of india, so we decided to walk to the gateway and we really enjoyed the evening walk. Later, my friend (living in mumbai) came to see me with his wife and we left for Chopati, Marine Drive and Gateway of India Again. This time we enjoyed every thing that was available at Chopati. Be it bhelpuri, GoleGappe/ pani patasa, rabri, khoya kulfi or golla. It was real fun and I enjoyed meeting an old friend and his wife as well.
Day5.
On Day 5, we visited Heera Panna Mall in Mumbai and did shopping for almost 3 hours. This Mall is more like Delhi’s Palika Bazaar and the prices that shopkeeper quote at first are too high and you can bargain the cost to almost half. For example, I bought a Wrangler jeans with MRP 1650 for Rs 800 only ! So, if you visit this place, make sure you bargain hard!
Later we visited, Hanging garden, Mandir etc etc and next day we came back to Jammu…..
I hope you enjoyed the description of this trip !