Every year, the Royal Enfield Rider Mania is the most awaited event of all motorcyclists in India. With thousands of participants gathering at Vagator Hilltop, Goa to express their admiration for Motorcycling, it’s undoubtedly the largest celebration across the country.
Although I don’t own a Royal Enfield, I always look forward to attending Rider Mania. It’s an exciting event that brings together riders from all over the country to celebrate their passion for motorcycling.
My wife & I decided to experience Rider Mania 2022 together this time, as I had fond memories of attending the event back in 2018. Since relocating to Belgaum due to the lockdown, it seemed quite simple for us to go on a road trip down to Goa.
To get the best deal, the Early Bird registrations were completed before mid-September with a discounted price of INR 2000 per person.
We made a reservation via Makemytrip at The Hotel Long Bay in Morjim, Goa for our 4-day stay.
Hilltop Vagator was approximately 12 kilometers from our hotel, which made it a daily journey for us. We wanted a cottage near the beach and were willing to ride back and forth every day for 3 days.
We were excited to meet old friends, family members, and our riders from the Road Thrill community.
17th November 2022, Thursday
We were all set to go by 7 am and had fully loaded the luggage on the back of my bike. We then began our journey.
We had planned to take the Anmod Ghats as there was news that the route from the Chorla side was blocked off for some construction.
The highway to Khanapur had been recently upgraded to a 4-lane road. However, we took the detour towards Ramnagar, and we found ourselves on an unfinished dusty road with many turns and deviations.
We reached Ramnagar by 9 am and stopped for breakfast at the roadside Hotel Surabhi, Unfortunately, there weren’t many food options in the tiny village.
After breakfast, I had to rearrange all the luggage on the bike & came across that my boots were torn. Luckily, I had packed an additional pair of shoes with me which saved me from any further hassles.
The highway connecting Ramnagar to the Molem checkpost was recently finished with white-topping, excluding certain stretches.
We had the opportunity to visit the stunning Tambdi Surla Mahadev Temple, said to be the oldest temple in Goa. This 12th Century structure dedicated to Lord Shiva is built in beautiful Kadamba architecture.
This ancient temple of architecture stands in a peaceful environment, with its main entrance facing east to welcome the morning sun and beam light on the statue of its Lord.
The Hindu festival Mahashivaratri is celebrated with the utmost spiritual fervor by the villagers and the pilgrims visiting here.
To keep us hydrated and energized, we had some fresh coconuts and tasty snacks.
Nestled within the boundaries of Bhagwan Mahavir National Park, this place is concealed within the thick foliage. The weather here is typically humid like most regions of Goa, however, you can feel a delightful cool breeze blowing through.
We decided to have our lunch at Hotel Konkani Spice, located by the Molem Checkpost while heading towards Ponda.
We had planned to get to our resort before sunset and took a leisurely lunch break which included fish and chicken dishes.
The roads of Goa were a delight to ride on, with smooth tarmac and cleanliness. The only downside was the sweltering heat during our ride.
As we rode through Ponda towards Panjim, the peak-hour traffic was quite intense.
We made a short stop at a roadside hotel for some chai before crossing the Atal Setu Bridge while on the NH 66 – an incredible engineering piece that happens to be India’s third longest cable-stayed bridge and traversing the iconic Baga and Calangute on our way to Morjim, reaching our resort by 5 pm.
After we arrived at our room, we freshened up and hurriedly went to Morjim beach, I parked my bike on the sand and we headed to a beach shack to view the gorgeous sunset relaxing on the seashore.
After having dinner at Hotel Lakshmi, we went back to our resort and ended the day.
18th November 2022, Friday
We rose early to experience the beauty of a sunrise at the beach and take a refreshing dip in the sea.
A beach at sunrise is a sight to behold. The sound of the waves crashing against the shore, the warmth of the sand, and the sight of morning walkers and children playing in the sand can create a special atmosphere that’s hard to forget. Whether you’re watching from afar or jumping those waves, a day at the beachside can be an unforgettable experience.
We returned to my resort, took a shower, and had a filling breakfast of bread omelet and Maggi before riding out to Querim beach.
Querim beach, also known as Keri beach, is a hidden gem nestled away on the northern coast of Goa. Its secluded nature makes it the perfect destination for hippies and travelers who want to escape the hustle and bustle of city life.
Tiracol river meets the Arabian Sea at a beautiful location, where rocky outcrops provide a stunning backdrop. The beach is peaceful and serene and flocked by those who enjoy sunbathing and taking in the natural beauty of this idyllic setting. With its azure waters, the Tiracol river adds to the charm of this picturesque destination.
My brother Akshay and riders from my extended family Road Thril mentioned the rush and hustle at the registration desk.
An hour’s ride from Querim to Vagator, Akshay found a delicious seafood hotel. Home-Made Goan Fish Curry near Anjuna Police Station. We had lunch at this hotel served authentic home-cooked Goan food, including large-sized prawns and seer fish fry, rice, and fish curry. A tasty delicious tummy full of seafood is what we all crave while in Goa.
After lunch, we walked to the registration desk and got our event wristbands. We took a look inside the event and rode back to the resort for a nap.
There was a series of Live Band performances in the evenings and we didn’t want to miss them. We reached Vagator in the evening, parked my bike at the hostel where Akshay had booked a hostel dorm, and walked to Rider Mania and I noticed my bike key was missing. I probably had forgotten it on my bike, we had to walk back to the hostel parking, lucky that the key was on my bike itself.
At the event, we saw a few retro Royal Enfield models on display, custom bike-painting by local artists, diecast models of existing models, and reading about Royal Enfield history. We also saw the first Royal Enfield bike (replica) and followed by musical performances.
The CEO of Royal Enfield, Mr. Siddarth Lal, unveiled the RE Super Meteor 650. This highly anticipated motorcycle is the latest addition to RE’s impressive lineup and has generated significant buzz among enthusiasts.
19th November 2022, Saturday
After fueling up with a delicious breakfast at our hotel, we hopped on the bike and cruised over to the Hotel Apna Punjab for an exciting Road Thrill Meetup. It was a joyous reunion with our fellow riders from different chapters that we hadn’t seen in a while.
Our next destination was the enchanting Aguada Fort, showcasing stunning Portuguese architecture that dates back to the early 17th century. Its name, Aguada, means water in Portuguese.
It took an hour’s ride to cover this 15 km stretch from Vagator. Being a weekend, we anticipated a large tourist crowd and wisely parked our bikes at the beginning of the parking lot. As we eagerly waited for Akshay, Abhishek & Naveen, we ate some delicious kaccha mango and had lime juice.
Aguada Fort is a historical and architectural marvel that one should not miss when in Goa. It was built by the Portuguese in the 17th century to guard against any possible enemy attacks, especially the Dutch. The fort offers breathtaking views of the Arabian Sea over the shore of Sinquerim beach to be specific and houses a lighthouse that still functions today.
It is a popular tourist spot and a perfect place to spend an evening watching the sunset. Don’t forget to carry your camera and capture some stunning shots of the fort and the surrounding landscape.
We had our lunch at Hotel Kokum Curry, which offered not only mouth-watering seafood but also a splendid ambiance that added to our dining experience.
At the end of the day, we enjoyed live musical performances before heading back to our resort.
20th November 2022, Sunday
Today we had an incredible plan to experience something truly unique in Goa – playing in the snow! That’s right.
We started the day with a delicious breakfast at Hotel Udupi Navratna.
Next, we headed to Snow Park Goa, a unique attraction where we experienced playing in the snow! It was quite a contrast to the warm climate of Goa, located near the very famous Baga & Calangute beaches.
At just INR 500 per ticket, you can enjoy the excitement of playing in the snow along with all the necessary gear and accessories. This includes jackets, snow boots, gloves, and a skull cap to keep you warm and comfortable.
But that’s not all. The best part is that you don’t have to worry about sharing the same gear as others. The snow park ensures that every piece of gear is thoroughly cleaned and sanitized before it’s given to the next person.
We couldn’t resist the temptation to revisit Home-Made Goan Fish Curry for lunch. We indulged in their signature Goan fish curry and savored the delectable prawn fry.
The food was just as delicious as we remembered it from our last visit. If you’re a fan of seafood, this restaurant is a must-visit during your travels to Goa. With its authentic flavors and fresh ingredients, it’s sure to satisfy your taste buds and leave you feeling fully satisfied.
As the day drew to a close, we took a stroll by the beach and were treated to a spectacular sunset. The sky was painted with shades of red and orange creating a breathtaking view.
Finally, we returned to our accommodation and began packing our luggage in preparation for our check-out the next day.
As Rider Mania 2022 was coming to an end, we prepared ourselves for the next day’s journey back to our pavilion. Reflecting on the amazing memories we had made and the strong bond of biking brotherhood that is and always forever, we wished our friends a safe ride and said our goodbyes.
We returned to our comfortable accommodations for a good night’s rest.
21st November 2022, Monday
A trip is made even more special when you have a great host and a team of dedicated staff to take care of you. We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to Vaibhav bhai, the owner of the resort, for being an exceptional host and to his staff for their excellent service and warm hospitality throughout our stay.
On our return ride, we decided to make a pit stop in Sanvordem, Goa to visit my aunt before heading to Belgaum. While passing through the outskirts of Panjim, we enjoyed some refreshing tender coconuts.
As always, Google maps tried to trick us with a reroute that deviated from our planned path. This resulted in us taking some unwanted rounds in the industrial area. Fortunately, a friendly local came to our rescue and guided us through the area’s exit.
By noon, we arrived at my aunt’s place and were greeted with a warm welcome. We spent some quality time with my nephews and enjoyed a delicious lunch prepared by Arundhati Bhabhi.
We returned via Anmod Ghat stopping over for chai and snacks at Hotel Whistling Woods at Ramnagar crossover and made it back to our home by evening.
This was the story of the 700+ km ride from Belgaum – Goa – Belgaum, haha lol !!
Thank you for following along on this adventure with me. Until next time, keep exploring and always remember to travel.
Warm Regards,
Gokool Kini
(Soul Warrior)
PC: Featured image is taken from the Internet
Also visit: My Short Visit to Colva Beach – 2018
For more information on Goa Tourism
