Palolem
South Goa

"Palolem in Southern Goa -- A treasure of India"

Want to see one of the most beautiful beaches in India?

Palolem in South Goa is a photogenic paradise surrounded by coconut forests, clear water and a relaxed atmosphere!

Palolem Beach Palolem Beach sunset

In this article you`ll find:



And to make things even more interesting, Hollywood shot the jogging scene on this beach in the movie Bourne Supremacy -- starring Matt Damon!

But even if the white beach is large, it`s packed during the high season. If you`re patient, you can find a quiet spot far south of the beach or far north.

The rumours of charming Palolem have spread fast the last couple of years, so more and more backpackers have travelled to this popular village.

However, if you prefer a quieter Palolem, the best time to visit is October-November. We arrived there early October and almost no backpackers had arrived yet. But around mid-October, the place started to fill up...

Note: As far as I know, there are no street names in this town so I`m going to use either north or south side of the beach. The south side of the beach is when you turn left when entering the beach from the main road.

How to get to Palolem

By air: Dabolim is the airport in Goa that caters international and domestic flights.

By train: Canacona is the nearest train station to Palolem. From central Kerala, for instance Kochi, it takes approximately 15 hours to Canacona. From Mumbai, it takes 11-12 hours.

You can buy tickets online 90 days in advance. Since they're long-distance journeys, I recommend to buy tickets in advance, either at IRCTC or Cleartrip.



bus from mumbai to palolem goa transportation in india backpacking tips asia
The first bus to Palolem, but not the one we ended up with
If you're otherwise traveling within Goa state by train, there's no need to book train tickets. You just show up at the train station and buy a ticket at one of the counters. From Madgaon to Canacona, it only takes 30 minutes by train.

By bus: Buses between Margao (also called Madgaon) and Palolem ply the route. No problem there. For long-distance journeys, for instance Mumbai, there are overnight buses. But frankly, I wouldn't recommend these buses.

Back in October 2007, we booked bus tickets through one of the guesthouses we stayed at. It was a direct bus from Mumbai to Palolem.

We were picked up from the guesthouse, and transferred to a nice bus. But after 20 minutes, we had to switch to another bus, which wasn't the standard we expected (we bought 'VIP'-tickets). The bus was full with mostly locals, which was exciting.

But then comes the ugly part. It was raining that night, and I remember vividly that the driver drove like s*** all the way. He drove so fast that we couldn't feel the ground. I was afraid. I was lying on the top bunk, and was holding on so I wouldn't fall out and squash the Indians who were lying on the floor.

On top of this, there were dozens of cochroaches flying out of the air-con!

For me, I will never take that route again on a bus. I prefer trains thank you.

By taxi: Taxis are far the most convenient and fastest way to get from A to B in Goa. If you're traveling in a group, you don't need to pay that much. For instance; a taxi from Margao to Palolem cost Rs 500-600.

Important places to know about:

  • There's a hospital nearby called Dhavalikar. Phone nr: 0832-2643147, 0832-2643910.
  • They didn't have ATM at the time we were there (October 2007), so we had to take a Rikshwa to the nearest town Chaudi which is 3 km away. Pharmacies and post office are also located in Chaudi.
    Otherwise you can change money at the travel agencies on the Main Rd.
  • There's good internet access in town. Go to travel agencies.
    Price: Rs 60-80 per hour.
  • Rent motorbikes and mopeds on Main Rd. Price: Rs 150-250 per day.




Articles

Where to sleep



palolem huts bungalows accommodation backpacking tips asia

Looking for accommodation?

Here's some useful information on huts, bungalows and family houses in this beautiful town of Southern Goa.

Guest House Goa

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Where to eat and drink



palolem goan food backpacking tips asia

Wondering about the Goan food? And places to grab a drink?

Looking for places to eat in town? Here's some ideas! :-)

India Food

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Activities



palolem beach goa main backpacking tips asia
So, what can you do while you're staying in this hippie town? :-)

Sunbathing and exploring neighboring islands are some of the things you can do.

I will also tell you about the shopping and massage :-)

Click here for more information

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Where do you want to go next?

Heading for Jaipur?

Visiting Kochi in Kerala? Click here for Kochi India

Visiting Mumbai?

Prepare yourself and read this short version of India Culture

Return from Palolem to Backpacking Tips Asia Homepage.





Weather in
Palolem

Train Travel in India

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About Train Travel in India

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How to book train tickets at IRCTC -- Indian Railway

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How to book train tickets at Cleartrip

Learn Hindi

Traveling in India? Learn useful Hindi phrases for free!

Learn Hindi on your iPod

Travel around India

Here are some of the places you have to visit in India:

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Jaipur

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Mumbai

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Facts about India

The Bigger Picture

Learn the social customs of Indian culture, and the history of India -- this knowledge is valuable because it will widen your horizon and understanding of a totally different culture.

Maybe it will even ease the culture shock! ;-)

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India Culture

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India History

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