ETW Staff– Mumbai
In an initiative to integrate history and heritage with the on-going spiritual fervor of the St Francis Xavier Exposition 2014, the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) has launched an innovative ‘Hop On Hop Off’ tour for tourists and pilgrims visiting Old Goa. The route chalked out for the ‘Hop On Hop Off’ tour covers around seven kilometers in and around Old Goa complex where heritage monuments and churches of historical importance are located. Some of these include Monte Chapel, St Augustine tower, Church of the Miraculous Cross, St Cajetan’s Church.
The Hop On Hop Off vehicles depart from the ticket booking counter at the SFX Secretariat every half hour. A nominal fare of INR50 is charged for those who want to avail this service. According to the GTDC, passengers can spend time at each of the monuments during the ring route tour and Hop On and Off at any location of their choice during the tour.
The GTDC has also announced special boat trips from St. Monica Jetty daily during the exposition. The boat trips are scheduled twice during the day departing at 9. 30 am and 1.30 pm. From Old Goa Jetty, the boats will set sail for St Monica Jetty at 11 am and 3.30 pm. A fare of INR50 is charged for this service as well.
Nilesh Cabral, chairman, GTDC, said, “The objective is to make it the commute to Old Goa easier for tourists and pilgrims. That is why we decided to use the inland waterways. The Hop On Hop Off circuit tours is also another facility introduced by the GTDC for tourists and pilgrims to learn more about Goa’s rich heritage housed at Old Goa.”