Exploring India 2009 – Panaji (Panjim), Goa

me 0 comments Backpacking, India

Oct 01

Finally I am on my own again and it feels good. The sense of freedom is exhilarating. The vast and mysterious land is ready for me to explore and the fun part is I don’t really know what to expect. I began my solo journey in Panaji in Northern Goa. The midnight train from Manipal took around 8 hours and 30 minutes to reach this rustic town. Normally, travelers associate Goa with beach party similar to Phuket in Thailand or Boracay in Philippines. However, Panaji is not such place. It is more of a heritage place than a party place. Even though Panaji is a great place to find accommodation and food, the main attraction for me is in a nearby town call Old Goa. It is listed as World Heritage by UNESCO. The old churches built by the Portuguese are so enormous that it makes those built in Malacca looks puny. Even though I am not a history or a religious person, I can’t help myself to learn more about the story behind these historical places such as the tomb of St Francis Xavier. Did you know he was once buried in St. Paul’s church in Malacca? Before I knew it, I have already spent one full day hoping from one church to another. I also explored Panaji town before I continued my journey to Mumbai. The town is quite modern and it can be easily covered by foot or local buses.

Depart from: Udupi
Arrive at: Karmali
Transportation: Train (class 3A)
Departure time: 12.02am
Arrival time: 8.30am
Travel time: 8 hours 28 minutes
Distance: 390km
Transport cost: Rs. 480
Accomodation: Hotel Republik
Room cost per night: Rs. 250