GRAND MEMORIES OF GOA

A TOUR TO GOA FROM 9TH TO 13TH NOV 2006

During the month of October last year, I visited some of the important tourist places in North India. Fortunately, one such small tour was planned by Ravi during his short visit to India from 5th to 21st November 2006.

Initially our idea was to go on a conducted tour organized by I.T.D.C. to Goa. Unfortunately, to our bad luck there was no accommodation available till January 2007.
However, on enquiry with the K.S.T.D.C, we were told that they have a five day tour package to Goa, Jog falls and Gokarna. As the fare was reasonable with accommodation, and also the Bus was very comfortable we accepted their offer and purchased the tickets. The total cost of the tickets were about 5,000/- We reserved our accommodation for our journey from 9th to 13th November.

As per their schedule, we left Bangalore by KSDC Bus from Badami house on the evening of 9th November 2006 at 9.30.pm and reached Sagar by about 5.45.am.the next day Friday 10th November 2006.. . We were put up in a Hotel in Sagar for a short stay for bath & refreshment. Later at about 7.am we had our breakfast in an adjoining restaurant. After our breakfast we boarded the Bus at 7.30.am towards the next destination Jogfalls. We reached Jogfalls by about 8.am. Unfortunately, to our bad luck there was no water in the falls. During good season it is really worth seeing the falls. However,we took some snaps nearby for our album. After half an hour stay at Jog falls, we left for Gokarna, which is 3 hrs journey from Jog falls.

At about 12.00 noon we reached Gokarna, the famous temple of Lord Shiva. This temple has its own temple history. This temple, we were told is very ancient temple and people from all corners of the country do visit this place for its historical significance..

Although, the temple is very ancient and has its own history, it is very pertinent to mention here that the temple is not being maintained properly. There is any order in the temple sanctorum. The temple priests literally covered the deity as if it is their personal property. There are more number of priests inside the temple who never bothered about the real rituals in the temple rather than making money for themselves. This has really pained me much. I went to this temple with lot of enthusiasm. But, when I saw the reality inside the temple, I was taken a back. There is no proper order inside the temple. I purchased a seva ticket for the puja. Nobody bothered to do proper puja. With all devotion to the Lord Shiva I make this statement. Everybody wants to make easy buck in one way or the other..

By about 12.30.pm we left Gokarna for our next destination Goa. On the midway to Goa we had our lunch at Kamat Hotel in Ankola . The food served was very good so also the ambience .The Hotel atmosphere was really good. After our Lunch we left for Colva beach in Goa, This was the first beach we saw in Goa .When we reached this beach, it was about 5.pm. This place was very nice to look at and after seeing the sun set etc,


we left for Goa Tourism Hotel where our accommodation was arranged. It was 8.45.pm when we reached the hotel. At the restaurant we had our dinner by about 9.30.pm. After having a good bath at 10.pm we retired for the day.
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The next day 11th November 06 by about 7.30.am we left for our site seeing. Initially, we visited the Dona Paula Beech and took some snaps. We also saw the Dona Paula suicide point and also the statue. The entire area is maintained very well. Goa as a whole is a tourist destination place.The roads, parks are really fine. It is the beaches here that has attracted many tourist across the world .After Dona Pula beach we had our breakfast at Hotel Ruchi in Goa by about 8.30.am. After breakfast we reached Aguada beach by about 10.30.am and it is here we traveled in a motor boat.(motor crusine) During our journey in the boat some good snaps were taken. It was really an excitement to travel in a motor boat . The boat passed through one end to another end and during our boat journey we also saw many DOLFINS . The entire area in this beach was really fantastic.After our boat journey . I had an occasion to sit on a motor boat and Ravi took two snaps.

After our visit to Aquada beach., our bus proceeded towards Aquada Fort . It was around 12.15.pm. Later after visiting the fort, we proceeded towards Anjuna beach. Here Ravi entered the water. HE enjoyed the dip. We were dam tired and hungry and boarded our bus which stopped near a Hotel Sher-e Punjab for our lunch. Here we got a shock . The food supplied to us was not up to the mark although the charges were very high. At about 3.15 pm we reached VAGATUR BEACH after making a round we reached CALANGUTE BEACH by about 4.30.pm. Here both myself and Ravi had a dip in the beach. It was really a good experience. Being a Saturday there was a mad rush of people from every corner of India.

At about 6.45.pm we reached Mondavi river . Here we purchased tickets for a dance/disco at the Cruise. After dance and music the cruise went round Mondovi river. We totally enjoyed the cruise journey. Here also I noticed lots of people in the cruise to watch the disco.Here Ravi took some good snaps. Later we reached Hotel Sanyog by about 9.15.pm and had our dinner. By about 10.pm reached our Hotel.

The next day 12.11.06. we were ready by 7.am and proceeded towards St.Xavier church, which is an old church in Goa. Here also we took some snaps. We also had an opportunity to walk in the nearby garden and also an old church. By about 9.am we reached Hotel Ruchi where we had our morning breakfast. Later by our 10.30.am we visited Mangeshwar temple and Shanti durga temple at 11.am. After this temple visit , we boarded our bus for our next destination. On the way we had our lunch around 1.30.pm It was around 4.15.pm we reached Ankola and had our tea in Hotel Kamat. By 4.45.pm we started our journey to Bangalore. The journey by and large was very good but for good hotels. It is a pity that there are no good hotels on this belt except some Kamat group of hotels.

The entire journey was really fine. We were accommodated at Goa tourism development Corporation Hotel. for two nights and as a whole Goa is a good city. Some of the areas are neatly maintained. I feel except the breaches, there is no other tourist attraction. People here are mostly non-vegetarians because of the availability of Sea foods.

To me the tour to Goa was really a memorable one..

I also wish that all my friends and relatives do visit Goa once in a life time.