Goa Sightseeing for Tourists

Goa Sightseeing

 

Great News! Goa Tourism recently launched for the first time Hop On Hop Off Goa Sightseeing Bus. HOHO bus has always been the best way to See the places in Goa and world over

We had the fortune to take the ride of these buses and hence today we are sharing our first hand experience of Goa Tour with these buses.

Basic Information about the buses 

There are 2 types of buses single decker and double decker.

Both the buses have open section to enjoy the open view experience. See the images below.

The buses come with WiFi, GPS, Audio Video Entertainment System

Places Covered:

The HOHO Goa bus covere 19 + tourist spots namely: Miramar Beach, Basilica of Bom Jesus, Se Cathederal, Dona Paula, Science Museum, Goa Museum, ASI Museum, Arch of Viceroy, Panjim Church, markets, Kala Academy, River Cruise Point, Casino Point, Mandovi River drive pass ....

Pick Up Points:

We found that the service can be accessed from HOHO Goa, Patto Plaza, Panjim.

Address: Shop No. 4, Kamat Towers, Near Bank of India, Patto Plaza, Patto, Panjim, Goa 403001

Hours:

Open today · 8AM–6:30PM

Phone: 074474 73495
We were staying at Calangute and we were 4 of us, it took us 35 minutes to reach to the pick up point. Advice: Take a bus from Calangute bus stand to Panjim bus stand. It will be economical as well. Costed us less than Rs 100 or you can hire a 2-wheeler @ Rs 150/day Other Pick up points are : Mirmar Circle, Dona Paula Circle, Paryatan Bhavan all can be easily accessed . Timings: We started our tour at 9 am , buses are also available at every 45 minutes. It would be better to start early to get maximum time for sightseeing. Goa Tour: A double decker bus came to pick us up from the starting point. We sat on the open top enjoying the panoramic view of Goa, the view of the Mandovi River was simply mind-blowing. See the pic below. Open View form Bus of Mandovi river There were around 20 tourists with us and we were all simply awed by the overwhelming view of Goa. Loved the Hop On Hop Off Concept! We got down at 6 places of our choice and spent time to our heart's content. Thanks to the Hop On Hop Off Concept. The buses works like metro available at each tourist spot every 45 minutes. If you like to visit a place, Hop Off and explore the place, to go to the next point simply take the next bus and go to the next point. Keep your ticket handy all the time Miramar Beach We got down at Miramar beach and spent 45 minutes which was enough to visit the place.
Dona Paula
Next we got down at Dona Paula a famous tourist spot famous for its photogenic view and various films shot here like Singham. Basilica of Bom Jesus This is one place, we all wanted to get down as it is one of the 38 Unesco World Heritage Site in India. The tomb of St. Francis can be seen here.The church is huge and is worth a visit. ASI Museum Just opposite of Basilica of Bom Jesus is the Grand ASI Museum, housing hundreds of Painting, sculptures, items depicting Portugal history in Goa.

Panjim Church

The church  is one of the main churches of Panjim, Goa and is famous for its grand architecture and building. The church has witnessed many movies shot here. It was very peaceful inside and we liked the overall feel of the place.

River Cruise Point:

Next we took a drop at River Cruise Point around 5:30 pm . Everyone told me to experience this once in Goa, so we did and it was marvelous. 

Casino Point: 

It was something we had to visit for the sake of experience, as we have never been to any Casino and nor we ever gambled before. ( nor we intended to!)  But, yes the experience of Sitting in a Huge Cruise Boat with a Casino inside was an amazing experience. There are 2 prominent Casinos - Casino Royale and Deltin.

The whole day tour went beyond our expectations and wildest imagination. We highly recommend it.

You can check out their site : http://hohogoa.com and ticket price is very very cheap , Rs 300 only!

Also Read How, Where, When Questions about HOHO Goa Answered

2019 Republic Day Tickets - Where & How?

*Tickets for the India Republic Day Parade are on sale from 13 Jan to 25 Jan.

Scroll down to check out the sale outlets. *Source: PIB, 2016

26th January is a very special day for all Indians. This year we will celebrate 70 th Republic day of India. Every Year on this day most of us glue ourselves in front of the Television watching live telecast featured on Delhi Doordarshan.  

Did you know: Now you can watch live telecast of republic day on Delhi Doordarshan You Tube Channel.  Click to Tweet


Click the link in case you are interested to watch 2019 telecast.

For some time, I have been wondering if I could witness 70th Republic Day of India Live at Vijay Chowk for real! (enough of TV watching..yaar) 

Witnessing the parade and the Colorful Procession (Jhankis)  for real would be a real treat and an experience of a lifetime!

 
So the BIG Question, from where to buy the Tickets? And if the tickets are actually available or not? To find answers read on.

Republic day Tickets are available from 10th to 25th January. Click to Tweet

1. India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) Travel Counters 

 Offices are located at  Ashok and Janpath Hotels. Open only on Working days, so you better get them on or before 25th Jan. 

2. All Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation (DTTDC) counters

At a Stones throw distance from Delhi Tourism's Sightseeing HOHO Bus Office  is Coffee Home at Baba kharak Singh Marg. Besides that you can find it at Dilli Haat -INA and Pitampura. 

3. Departmental Counters at South & North Block Entrance

It  happens to be adjacent to President House, near Vijay Chowk. 

4. At Jantar Mantar Entrance 

It is  just next to ticket counter of Jantar mantar monument 

5. At Outer Circle of India Gate, near Shanjahan Road 

you would be able to figure out the ticket stalls with white painted iron counters. 

6. Parliament house reception Office 

Tickets are available between 11am and 4pm. Satuday, Sunday and Holidays Closed.  

7. Government of India Tourist Office

Centrally located just opposite to Janpath Market, Connaught
Place. Closed on Sunday. 

Hon'ble  Prime Minister of India with U.S President Barack Obama

Ticket Price for 2019

I am not sure of the Ticket Price for 2019, as per Press Information Bureau, Government of India 2016 release, prices are as follows:

The price of tickets for the Republic Day Parade on 26th January 2019 will be Rs. 500/- for reserved seats and Rs 100/-, Rs. 50/- and Rs. 20/- for unreserved seats. The tickets for the Beating Retreat Ceremony (Full Dress Rehearsal) on 28th January 2019 will be in the category of Rs.50/- and Rs.20/- respectively and will not have reserved seats.  

Note: Aadhaar Card, Voter ID Card or government-issued identity card must be presented in order to purchase tickets.

Beating Retreat Ceremony

 
Three days after republic day Beating Retreat Ceremony is organized in the afternoon on January 29 each year. Tickets are also available for this event at the above outlets. 

Thanks to Sharell Cook of goindia, and Dolly Sharma of HOHO Delhi for helping me write this post.  

Latest Update:  


1) Republic Day 2018 will be celebrated with leaders of all ten Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries:

1.Brunei Darussalam,
2.Cambodia,
3.Indonesia,
4.Laos,
5.Malaysia,
6.Myanmar,
7.Philippines,
8.Singapore,
9Thailand, and
10.Vietnam (Source: Free Press Journal)

2) Since 2017 The NSG, an elite counter-terror force raised in 1984, has been participating parade this year and have the famed Black Cat Commandos marching in the parade. (Source: HT) 

2) Modi's demonetisation initiative to feature on during Republic Day parade. (Source: One India) 

3) Delhi will have a tableau at the 68th Republic Day parade this January and its theme would be 'education'. Delhi is among 15 states which will have a tableau during the parade. (Source: PTI News)

4) Did you know as many as 34 aircrafts of the IAF will perform various manoeuvres during the Republic Day celebrations. There will be 19 fighters, 11 helicopters and four transport aircrafts enthralling the public this year. The airbases from where these aircrafts will fly are Hindan, Jotpur, Nal and Jaipur. (Source: Business-Standard )

Did you find the information helpful. Do you have any question to ask?  Please feel free to put across suggestions or queries in the comment section below.

Author:  Surojit Ghosh