Travel Blog - Solo Backpacking in North Goa - 3 days vagator
Solo , Backpacking , Goa , Hostel - do i need say more ????
Enough of flight trips, needed to go via train and witness the much heard about "Konkan Railways" part !!! So booked a Rajdhani from Delhi ( Hazrat Nizzamudin Railway Station) to Goa ( Madagaon) . Rajdhani offers fastest rail connect with an approx of 27 hours journey !
Being a solo girl traveller had me some doubts about travelling alone in train , fortunately i got my seat with a group of young college group , also travelling to Goa ! Talking , eating , playing cards made a 27 hour journey bearable !!! and not to forget, the beautiful scenery once the train gets on Konkan Railways line !! Endless numbers of tunnels , lush green fields made the view worth travelling for ... And just when I saw the water land I knew Goa was near ...
Arriving at Madagaon Railway Station , a new anxiety popped as soon as I realised I need to make way to my hostel that I booked online through Hostel World ( a great site to get amazing deals )http://www.hostelworld.com/ . After much research and reviews I booked Jungle Hostel for next 3 days visit in Vagator .
The ride from the station to the hostel was accompanied by the young group I met on train , as I hitchhiked with them for a ride to my hostel .
Vagator is approx 10km north up of Baga Beach ( the most popular tourist spot) , and about 60km from the railway station and airport. It was my 1st time in Vagator and on my arrival in that area I kind of have mixed thoughts, it was not very populous nor very happening but it was quaint !!! But what I had not imagined how my rest of the 3 days were going to change my perception for this part of Goa.
On my check in at the hostel, I was greeted with more than happy smiles by travellers from across the world, staying at the hostel, who were going to be my family for next 3 days. It was the beginning of a happy trip . For the next 3 days we all ate together , cooked together , washed dishes and clothes , explored hidden areas of vagator, swimming at the sunset, hill climbing to "Chapora fort" (((( See the pic below- The "Dil Chahta Hai" Fort , all Bollywood fans must be aware of this ))) to watch sunset , going to a psy trance party as a result of insomnia due to so much of sharing and travel stories !
Vagator is for the peace lovers! Walk along the rocky beach , climb up the fort , or just get confused at the roads, you sure will love the sanity the place offers . ...
Travellers from around the globe ( USA , UK , Germany, France , India -- I was the only Indian there ) , sharing their stories and their cultures, beautiful breeze, chilled beer, hot pasta ( cooked by us ) , and music !!! What more have I asked for in Rs.500 !!!!
Solo backpacking in Vagator turned out to be my best travel so far, and the day of departure from the hostel to other side of Goa where I had planned to spent rest of the days , made me sad ! So I guess it would be now apt for me to say that - !! It's not the number of days you spend as a traveller ,it's the number of memories you make and how much you grow as a traveller , that make's you a different person . I made memories I can't do justice to by expressing , I made friends for life, I learnt about cultures that no book would have taught, I reckoned the power of simplicity and nature...
So pack you rug sacks, wear your boots, pick up some cash and a book , and get started with the journey of exploration ! For world has more than what you can ever take !!!!!
INFO TIME :
Tariff at Jungle Hostel: Rs. 500 / night in mixed bed dorm room ( 4 to 6 beds) .
Inclusions : Bed ( obviously) , Attached Bathroom ( Hot water supply) , Spacious room , Personal Luggage lockers, Breakfast , Kitchen ( To kill mid night hunger pangs) , A stocked refrigerator in the common room ( Tons of beers !!! ) , wifi connectivity, and not to forget - THE VIEW and the COMPANY of fellow travellers ....
Was it Worth it ??? HELL YES !!!!!!!!
