8 201 Goa CycleGoa trip – by HILLS AND TRAILS AND by HILLS Mumbai Every now and then, new trends emerge in travel. They not only tell you what people want, but also what people are missing, in their daily lives. Some take cycling trips with friends, while others opt for organised cycling tours. So why do cycling trips have such great appeal? The hippies of the 60s and 70s probably traversed the same route before pitching for months in the sandy stretches of India’s favourite beach destination, Goa. Only difference would be the way they travelled and the way we would be grinding the hard way, but the feeling would surely be equally cathartic! We believe that HILLS AND TRAILS 3 / 8, Chandrashekhar Society, bicycling as a lifestyle choice represents a significant Swami Nityanand Marg, Andheri (E), departure from a more established automobile centred Mumbai – 4000069, Maharashtra, India. lifestyle. The bicycle tours are always fun filled adventure. It is PH: +91 22 26840175 / 9869065211 / a fun way to exercise and be exposed to culture at the same 9820233295 / 9969036175 time. They are both challenging and interesting and also [email protected] infuse the spirit of adventure in people. Website: http://hillsandtrails.in ABOUT MUMBAI TO GOA CYCLE TRIP: Every now and then, new trends emerge in travel. They not only tell you what people want, but also what people are missing, in their daily lives. Some take cycling trips with friends, while others opt for organised cycling tours. So why do cycling trips have such great appeal? The hippies of the 60s and 70s probably traversed the same route before pitching for months in the sandy stretches of India’s favourite beach destination, Goa. Only difference would be the way they travelled and the way we would be grinding the hard way, but the feeling would surely be equally cathartic! We believe that bicycling as a lifestyle choice represents a significant departure from a more established automobile centred lifestyle. The bicycle tours are always fun filled adventure. It is a fun way to exercise and be exposed to culture at the same time. They are both challenging and interesting and also infuse the spirit of adventure in people. In this cycling tour, we would start from Gateway Of India, Mumbai and would go past sun-washed beaches of coastal Maharashtra, unassuming villages and thickly green hillsides before finally landing in Goa. The trip is designed to take you through the vibrant coastal side trails, rich in enthralling landscapes, local interaction, cultural experiences, monuments and temples and a distinct array of food. Besides seeing the real Maharashtra or real India at close quarters, we would also encounter a multitude of challenges, making this is a memorable trip for all those who are young at heart. “When you are cycling, the slow pace allows you to notice much more, like the change in vegetation from mango trees in Ratnagiri to coconut trees in Goa or the mud houses of Maharashtra versus the colourful churches in Goa.” – One Cycling Enthusiast. We would be starting our adventure from Gateway Of India by boarding the ferry which would take us across the Arabian Sea to Mandawa Jetty. From here on day one we would cycle up to Murud, a laid back beach destination, via beach town of Kashid. The next day we would cycle past the formidable Fort Janjira, near Murud. We would also halt to have glimpses of the fort. (Time permitting) Today our destination would be Harihareshwar. On the way we would go through the famous Gold Ganesh Temple town of Diveagar. After Shrivardhan, we would be entering the Ratnagiri district. After taking blessings from the famous Harihareshwar Temple we would paddle on to the next destination of Karde Beach, near Dapoli. After Karde and after crossing few creeks our next stop would be Velneshwar Beach. The road from Velneshwar Beach onwards is really breathtaking up to Malvan. Today our night halt would be at Pawas via the famous Ganpatipule Temple and Ratnagiri. Ahead of Pawas we would halt at the temple town of Kunkeshwar on the beach. Then we would move ahead to Vengurla on the borders of Maharashtra and Goa via Malvan, Tarkarli & Devbag. The next day would take us into Goa and we would reach our destination of Aronda Beach in Northern Goa. “MUMBAI TO GOA” CYCLE TRIP: DAY 01: STARTING FROM GATEWAY OF INDIA TO MURUD (67 KMS ON CYCLE) (Around 6 to 7 hours of cycling) We all would assemble at the famous Gateway Of India very early morning to catch the ferry for Mandawa Jetty. After a very refreshing 1 ½ hours sail on the misty Arabian Sea we would reach Mandawa Jetty. Here we would give away our baggage to our pick up vehicle. We would hit the road from here. After about 28 Kms cycling we would reach the capital town of Raigad district, Alibag. We would have our lunch on the way and move towards Kashid, which is around 24 Kms. via Revdanda. The first day isn’t too hilly and difficult so we could concentrate on the great views of paddy fields, green countryside, mild hillocks at a distance and pristine beaches. The beach town of Murud is one of the most unassuming and relaxing destinations off Mumbai with wonderfully clean and untouched beaches. Overnight in a guesthouse. (B, L, D…) DAY 02: STARTING FROM MURUD TO HARIHARESHWAR (82 KMS ON CYCLE) (Around 9 to 10 hours of cycling) Today, we would ride along the breezy Konkan coastline to our next destination, Harihareshwar. After breakfast we would cycle up to the famous and formidable Janjira Fort. (Time permitting) The route would be mostly flat, flanked by the sea on one side. The weather along the coast could be a little humid. After Murud we would cycle past Rajapuri up to Agardanda and then we would cross the creek by ferry to Dighi. Then we would cycle to temple town of Harihareshwar via Shrivardhan. At Diveagar one can visit Ganesh temple which has the Ganesh idol made of gold. (Time permitting) At Harihareshwar we would stay in a simple guesthouse. Overnight in a guesthouse. (B, L, D…) DAY 03: FROM HARIHARESHWAR TO KARDE BEACH NEAR DAPOLI (55 KMS) (Around 5 ½ to 6 ½ hours of cycling) After taking blessings from the temple in Harihareshwar, we would move ahead and immediately at Bagmandala would cross a creek by ferry to reach Vesavi. After Vesavi we would paddle past Kelshi to Anjarle, where would halt for lunch. After some rest we would reach the fishing port town of Harnai. Harnai is a fishing village and the most spectacular scene here is when hundreds of bright colourful boats come in with the catch in the evening. Then we would cycle up to the small beach town of Karde near Dapoli. Overnight stay in a guesthouse. (B, L, D…) DAY 04: FROM KARDE TO VELNESHWAR (68 KMS) (Around 7 to 8 hours of cycling) Immediately after Dapoli we would cycle to the port of Dabhol. At Dabhol jetty we would board a ferry for Veldur. It would be a short distance from here to Guhagar. After lunch at Guhagar we would paddle to the beach village of Velneshwar near Hedavi. Velneshwar boasts of a very serene and beautiful beach along with famous temple on the beach. Overnight stay in a guesthouse. (B, L, D…) DAY 05: FROM VELNESHWAR TO PAWAS (80 KMS) (Around 8 to 9 hours of cycling) Today we would start early and cycle up to Tavsal. We would have our breakfast on the jetty and then cross the creek by ferry to Jaigad. Then we would cycle to the famous temple town of Ganpatipule. After visiting the temple and spending some time in the temple complex we would have lunch. After lunch we would cycle along the coast on beautiful road of Aare Ware to Ratnagiri. As we cycle on paths of Ratnagiri, we would notice how fertile the area is; Mango orchards, rice fields, coconut and cashew stands make the topography lush green and therapeutic. We would cross Ratnagiri town and move towards Bhatye beach and then climb to the plateau which would take us to small but very quite village of Pawas. Overnight stay in a guesthouse. (B, L, D…) DAY 06: FROM PAWAS TO KUNKESHWAR (91 KMS) (Around 10 to 11 hours of cycling) This would be a long day but mostly the terrain would be flat, though slightly desolate. We would have our breakfast at Adivare and then move ahead. Coconut palms, fishing villages and sections along the coast would keep us company till we reach Ambolgad. We would have lunch on the way and reach the temple town of Kunkeshwar at the end of the day. We would stay very close to the temple on the beach. Overnight stay in a guesthouse. (B, L, D…) DAY 07: FROM KUNKESHWAR TO VENGURLA (91 KMS) (Around 10 to 11 hours of cycling) This stretch from Kunkeshwar to Vengurla would also be a long one. We would hit the road early on this day and have breakfast at Achara. We would reach Malvan in short time from here. Malvan is very famous for its coastal cuisine and natural beauty, as it sits on the edge of the Arabian Sea. We would move ahead to Devbag to have lunch. After lunch we would board a ferry to reach Bhogave Beach. Then it would be a small distance to cover to Parule. Then the road would be very pleasant till Vengurla. Overnight in a guesthouse. (B, L, D…) DAY 08: FROM VENGURLA TO ARONDA BEACH, GOA.