This is the season to visit Goa, when travellers from India and across the world converge on this former Portuguese colony to frolic in the sun and sea. Goa is connected to Mumbai by air, trains, buses and of course, some excellent roads. And if you decide to drive yourself, you could choose between the scenic NH17, or take the quicker NH4 and turn off at Nipani and drive through the Amboli ghats. But there is another route, one practically nobody uses. It is longer, about a 100km more. The roads in many places are broken and rutted. In other places, it’s so narrow that no two vehicles can pass each other without clinking OVRMs. And it takes two to three days to reach Goa via this road, as against the less than 12 hour drive on NH4.
For want of a better name, we call it the Coastal Road to Goa. It follows the coast of Maharashtra right down to Goa. And it involves four ferry crossings on the way. It is a drive that will open your eyes to some of the most spectacular parts of Maharashtra. So, while the destination is Goa, this drive is more about discovering the hidden charms of Maharashtra. The adage ‘the journey is the destination’ is what holds true of this drive. In fact, if you enjoy driving, add this to your list of memorable drives.
So, let’s get some basics straight. You should ideally reserve three days for the drive, if not more. The road conditions may vary from horrible to sublime. While an SUV, like the CR-V we were driving, certainly made it easier to tackle the bad roads, it’s possible to negotiate these stretches even in a small hatchback like the Brio. Although you may have to slow down and proceed very cautiously at some sections. You will find food, accommodation and pumps along the way but it makes sense to stock up whenever you can. And yes, you will get lost and take a few wrong turns, even if you are carrying our driving directions. A map or GPS is not as effective as asking the locals for directions. But getting lost on this route is part of the experience. Who knows, you may discover a new road that you could then share with us. By the way, it helps to understand Marathi when asking for directions. Here’s the most important tip of all, don’t drive after sunset. Not because it’s dangerous, but because you will miss the fantastic scenery you will be driving across.
