Weekend Getaways Near Goa
Places To Visit Near Goa
The spectacular beaches, fun-filled water sports, and numerous churches - Goa has everything to make your vacation a memorable affair. With its ardent landscapes and umpteen adventure opportunities, it is quite popular among the young crowd. Goa welcomes guests from all across the world. However, there is more to Goa’s charm than just natural beauty. The nightlife of this tiny state is a major tourist attraction.
Popularly known as the “pearl of the East”, Goa offers you a confluence of rich cultural heritage, warm hospitality, and never-ending party nights. Cradled in the coastal belt of Konkan, Goa’s coastline extends over a 100 km. Apart from its vibrant culture and natural scenic offerings, it is also a perfect place to explore the rich Portuguese heritage. The ancient monuments of the state and its grand festival celebrations are the two things that one must witness on a Goa trip. From the magnificent Dudhsagar Falls and popular forts to the Chitra Museum and amazing churches, there is an endless list of places to visit here.
When you are finished exploring Goa, next on your bucket-list should be weekend getaways from Goa. You would be surprised to know about the numerous options you have where you can enjoy the best holidays of your life. From dense forests to unexplored beaches, there is a long list of places to visit near Goa which can promise you a wonderful weekend. Goans also frequent these places often when they want to take a break.
Chorla Ghat
Chorla Ghat
- 22ºC - 24ºC
- 68 Km
- August To October
- Wildlife Family Vacation
Chorla Ghat-The Monsoon Destination
Perched on the north-eastern region of Goa-Karnataka-Maharashtra boundary, Chorla Ghaat is known for its exotic waterfalls. The visitors indulge in activities like bird watching and nature walks. You can also spot several rare species of animals from the Sahyadri ranges in the ghats.
Destination Category: Wildlife, Family vacation
Distance from the city: 68 km
How to reach there: You can cover the distance to Panvel on a bus and the rest of the distance can be covered via road.
Best time to visit: August to October
Major attractions: The Lasni Temb Peak and Twin Vajra Waterfalls
Nersa
Nersa
- 20ºC - 21ºC
- 78 Km
- December To April
- Wildlife Tour Adventure Spot
Nersa-The Forest Paradise
Situated in the forest area of Belgaum district, Nersa is a small hill station in Karnataka. It is cradled amid Mahadai valley and shares its boundary with Goa. Nersa is also known for its rich agriculture and wildlife species. You can find around 950 species of bats in this region.
Destination Category: Wildlife tour, adventure spot
Distance from the city: 78 km
How to reach there: Take a luxury bus or cab from Goa and reach Nersa in 2 hours.
Best time to visit: December to April
Major Attractions: Kapileshwara temple, Varapoha Falls, Belgaum fort, Dandeli wildlife sanctuary
Amboli
Amboli
- 19ºC - 21ºC
- 121 Km
- October To June
- Family Picnic Romantic Holiday
Amboli-Your Peaceful Abode
Amboli is a tiny hamlet in South Maharashtra, which will take you away from the boisterous city life and introduce you to the serenity of Sahyadri Hills. The magnificent waterfalls and traversing valley are some key highlights of this place. This place receives the highest rainfall in Maharashtra and hence, makes for a perfect summer holiday destination.
Destination Category: Family picnic, Romantic holiday
Distance from the main city: 120 km
How to reach there: You can take a taxi from Goa to Amboli, and enjoy a 3 hour long road trip.
Best Time To Visit: October to June.
Major Attractions: Shirgaonkar Point and Madahdevgad Point
Shimoga And Sigandur
Shimoga And Sigandur
- 20ºC - 23ºC
- 304 Km
- October To March
- Scenic Spot Family Destination
Shimoga And Sigandur-Gateway Of Malnad
Situated in the central region of Karnataka, Shimoga has been ruled by several dynasties like Hoysals, Kadambas, and Chalukyas. This region flaunts huge paddy fields and several scenic waterfalls. Shimoga is also a centre for many flourishing industries including alloy and pearlite industry.
Destination Category: Scenic spot, Family destination
Distance from the city: 304 km
How to reach there: By car, you can reach Shimoga in 5hours. Alternatibely, you can reach Vasco station via cab then take a train to Shimoga.
Best time to visit: October to March
Major Attractions: Jog falls, Sharavati river, Kundadri, Kodchadri
Hampi
Hampi
- 23ºC - 27ºC
- 316 Km
- October To March
- Heritage Tour Pilgrim Spot
Hampi- A Land Of Temples
A small village in Karnataka, Hampi is prominently known for the ruined temples that were built during theVijayanagara empire. The village is cradled on the banks of river Tungabhadra in northern Karnataka and has gained a historical significance for its architecture. Hampi is also known as Bhaskara-kshetra, Pampa-kshetra, and Kishikindha-kshetra.
Destination Category: Heritage tour, Pilgrim spot
Distance from the city: 316 km
How to reach there: Take a train till Hospet and a cab from there. One can also take an overnight bus to reach Hampi.
Best time to visit: October to March
Major Attractions: Virupaksha temple, Vittala temple, Hazara Rama temple, Sri Krishna Temple
Agumbe
Agumbe
- 21ºC - 24ºC
- 324 Km
- November To February
- Scenic Spot Romantic Getaway
Agumbe-A Land Of Bio-diversity
Often referred to as Cherrapunji of South, Agumbe is popular for its biodiversity and natural landscapes. It is situated at the top of Someshwara Ghat and witnesses an annual rainfall of 7640 mm. It also houses a huge species of medicinal planta like Myristica, Garcinia, Eugenia, and Ficus.
Destination Category: Scenic spot, Romantic getaway
Distance from the city: 324 km
How to reach there: You can reach from Goa to Agumbe by train or car.
Best time to visit: November to February
Major Attractions: Sunset point, Jogigundi Falls, Gopala Krishna Temple.
Panchgani
Panchgani
- 17ºC - 19ºC
- 379 Km
- September To May
- Family Holiday Scenic Spot
Panchgani-A Breathtaking Beauty
Situated at an altitude of 1305 meters, Panchgani stands as the most sought-after hill station in Maharashtra. This place is bestowed with dense forests, caves, colonial period cottages, and ardent scenic beauty. Panchgani is also a prominent spot for thrilling activities such as horse riding, paragliding, and karting.
Destination Category: Family holiday, scenic spot
Distance from the city: 379 km
How to reach there: You can hire a cab/bus from Goa to Panchgani or cover half the distance to Kudal by train and remaining half by a cab or bus.
Best time to visit: September to May
Major Attractions: Rajouri caves, Wai, Sherbaug, Parsi point
Lavasa
Lavasa
- 20ºC - 21ºC
- 486 Km
- October To February
- Family Holiday
Kudremukh-The Land Of Serenity
Popular for its bio-diversity, Kudermukh is situated in the Chikmagalur district of Karnataka. This place is blessed with verdant forest views, tropical riverbeds, and several orchids. You can also find 5 holy ponds near this place, namely Naga Teertha, Amba Teertha, Rudra Teertha, Vasishtha Teertha, and Varaha Teertha.
Destination Category: Family holiday
Distance from the city: 393 km
How to reach there: You can also take a train to Mulki and then cab to Kudremukh
Best time to visit: October to February
Major Attractions: Kudermukh National Park, Hanuman Gundi Falls, and Kudermukh Peak
Weekend Getaways From Goa
Goa is certainly a paradise for party animals and beach lovers. It is an ideal destination for those who want to enjoy nature and indulge in adventure activities at the same time. However, your Goa trip might be incomplete without exploring the prominent spots located nearby. There are umpteen relaxing weekend getaways from Goa where you can go with family and friends. Go, explore these nearby regions and spice up your weekend stories.
If you are okay with a 5-hours road trip from Goa, there are many places to visit within 300 km from Goa.
Kuduremukha is a nice place where you can enjoy nature and also visit the five holy ponds. Hampi is another destination that will provide you a glimpse of the Vijaynagara empire. You can also visit Panchgani as it is one of the most popular hill stations in this region where you can enjoy adventure activities and natural beauty both. Another option is Agumbe that is popular for its natural landscapes. Last but not the least Shimoga and Sigandur have many waterfalls and is a place of historical relevance.
If you are short of time you can visit places to reach within 100 km from Goa like Nersa that is a forest area known for wildlife species. If you are in the mood for a 2-hours drive then you can visit places to visit within 200 km from Goa. Amboli is one such weekend destination that has beautiful waterfalls and peaceful setting.
So, whether you are a laidback vacationer or an adventure junkie, there are plenty of places to visit near Goa where you can quench your wanderlust. From the best trekking spots to a popular wildlife sanctuary and water sports destination, you can find everything nearby Goa.
More Places to Visit From Goa
Kodagu-Coffee hub of Karnataka
Flaunting the region of Western Ghats, Kodagu is the most sought-after hill station in the state of Karnataka531 km from Goa. Home to a national park and 3 wildlife sanctuaries in its reserve, Kodugu is rich in flora and fauna. Kaveri is the main river in this region, which originates from Talakaveri and adds to the charm of this spot. Best time to visit Kodugu is from October to March.
You can either travel by cab from Goa to Kodagu or cover the half distance till Mangalore via a bus and then take a cab to Kodagu. It will take you around 10 hours to complete this journey. Key attractions of this place are Abbey Falls, Raja’s Seat, and Madikeri Fort.
Lavasa-An Ideal Getaway
A hill station situated at an altitude of 3000 feet, Lavasa is certainly a treat for the eyes. The place boasts a pleasant climate throughout the year. If you love to spend some time in the laps of nature, this is an ideal destination for you located 486 km from Lavasa. You can avail the regular bus service to reach from Goa to Lavasa. The best time to visit this place is from July to March. Major Attractions worth exploring are Temghar Dam and Bamboosa cultural centre where you can know about Bamboo products.
With its young vibe, mixed culture, and impeccable beaches, Goa is truly the best holiday destination in India. Moreover, the surrounding tourist places are like icing on the cake. So, when you are here, don’t forget to grab the chance of visiting these weekend getaways from Goa and create some wonderful memories that you can cherish forever.
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