The Complete Guide To Mumbai to Goa Road Trip

All travel enthusiasts have heard that Goa is a very desirable destination, and this land of beaches is less than 600 kilometres to Mumbai, by road. A road trip from Mumbai to Goa is very special because the journey itself is as important as the destination, with its views of the mesmerizing beauty and amazing magnificence of the Western Ghats. It is one of the best road trips in India that one must experience at least once!

Let us take you on a trip through two beautiful routes for a road trip from Mumbai to Goa and back, and tell you a bit about what you can see along the way..

Best Time to Visit

December and January are considered the best and busiest months for Goa and a trip can’t be planned at that time without prior reservations and advance planning. If you are averse to being a part of large crowds, you may plan your visit between February and June or between October and December.

The monsoon season brings a lull to Goa and actually leaves the beaches empty and brings the prices also down. But the road between Mumbai and Goa may pose a challenge to you in the rains, so it’s all really a matter of anticipation, planning and preparing.

How to Get There

By Flight

There are many flights that depart from the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport to Goa’s Dabolim Airport daily.

By Train

You can take the Madgaon Express from the CST Railway Station or the LT Double Decker Train from the Lokmanya Tilak Junction in Kurla.

By Road

The most enjoyable way to get to Goa from Mumbai is by road. There are many routes to take, you can pick the one that is most convenient to you.

Route Options

These are the best routes to take on a road trip to Goa from Mumbai:-

Route 1: NH 48 Route

Route Map: Panvel-Lonavala-Kamshet-Khandala-Satara-Kolhapur-Sankeshwar-Belgaum-Khanapur-Mollem

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Popular Places to Visit On A Mumbai to Goa Road Trip (The NH 48 Route)

• Karnala Bird Sanctuary:  Karnala Bird Sanctuary is a fantastic place to see different species of birds and explore nature.
• Lohagad Fort: Visit this ancient fort, take stunning picture of the gorgeous landscapes around and browse through historic fort walls and moats.
• Drive Through Khandala: Popular points in Khandala are Duke’s Nose, Tiger’s Leap and Amrutanjan Point.
• Kaas Pathar Plateau: The plateau has around 850 different species of flowers, including orchids and carnivorous plants.
• Kolhapur: Kolhapur is famous for its statue of Tara Rani and Babasaheb Ambedkar and during Dusshera, the Maybach car of its rulers.
• Belgaum: Notable places to see in Belgaum are the Ramtirth, Dudhsagar and Gokak waterfalls, Siddheshwar and Kapileshwar (South Kashi) temples.
• Enjoy a Safari at the Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary: Visit this place to explore wildlife and nature. Most tourists who visit Bhagwan Mahaveer also trek to the famous Dudhsagar Falls.

 

Route 2: Bengaluru-Mumbai-Pune Highway Route

Route Map: Bengaluru-Mumbai-Pune Highway-SH92-NH66-SH72-SH58-NH48-NH7

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Popular Places to Visit On A Mumbai to Goa Road Trip (Bengaluru-Mumbai-Pune Highway Route)

• Durshet: Visit the Sarasgad and Sudhagad Forts in Durshet. There’s also plenty of adventure sports such as rappelling, trekking and river crossing to enjoy in Durshet.
• Indapur: Those interested in sightseeing and history can visit a couple of historic site that are the pride of the Maratha empire.
• Mahad: It is popular with tourists and trekkers. Mahad also contains the Gandharphale caves, that were believed to be built in one night by the Pandavas of Mahabharata.
• Chiplun: You will find the Hermitage dedicated to Shri Swami Samarth known as the Akkalkot Swami Mutt at Chiplun.

Safety Measures

The roads from Mumbai to Goa for most of the year are pretty safe. However, you would want to avoid driving in the monsoon because of landslides you’ll come across on the way.

Make sure your vehicle is in prime condition before the journey, check the brakes and get the vehicle serviced a few days before you plan to drive down from Mumbai to Goa

Get enough rest before the journey, you would also want to make a few stops along the way as the journey is quite a long one.

Carry enough water for the way and some home food for the way. If you are comfortable with eating outside food, you can skip carrying home food.