Goa to Girnar Distance: Flight, Train and Road Guide

Goa, the beach state on India's west coast, lies a long way from the holy mountain of Girnar, near Junagadh in Saurashtra, Gujarat, so the journey needs some planning. This guide, from the team behind Somnath Dwarka Tour Package, a unit of Experience My India, covers the Goa to Girnar distance and the reverse, the route options, the travel time and every way to reach the mountain, by flight, train and road.

Goa to Girnar distance and travel time

The Goa to Girnar distance is about 1,359 km by the fastest route and the drive takes around 25 hours by road via NH 66, up the length of the western coast through Maharashtra and Gujarat to Junagadh, at the foot of Girnar. This is a long, cross-country journey of over a day of continuous driving, so very few people drive it in one go. For most travellers, a flight to Rajkot, Diu or Ahmedabad, followed by a road transfer or a train to Junagadh, is a far easier and more comfortable way to reach the mountain than the long drive. Flying, in particular, turns a multi-day journey into a matter of hours, which is why most pilgrims from Goa choose to fly rather than drive the length of the coast.

Goa to Girnar route options

There are three main ways to drive from Goa to Girnar:

The NH 66 and NH 48 routes are the fastest at around 25 to 26 hours, running north up the coast and into Gujarat. Note that the route via NH 66 and NH 48 together is much shorter in distance, at about 1,231 km, but considerably slower at around 31 hours, as it uses the winding coastal road for longer, so the shorter route does not save time. For a road journey the NH 66 or NH 48 route is the standard choice, though flying or the train is easier for most over such a distance.

Girnar to Goa distance

The return journey, the Girnar to Goa distance, is much the same, about 1,316 km in around 25 hours via NH 66. The route options for the reverse direction are:

As on the outward journey, the NH 66 route is the fastest at around 25 hours, while the route via NH 48 and the coast is slower at around 30 hours. This is a long drive in either direction, so the flight and train options are well worth considering over the road for most travellers heading to or from the mountain.

How to travel from Goa to Girnar

Given the long distance, it is worth weighing all the options:

Goa to Girnar by air

Flying is by far the fastest and easiest way to reach Girnar from Goa. Girnar is at Junagadh and the nearest airports are Rajkot, about 100 km away, Diu, about 100 km away and Keshod, about 40 km away, with Ahmedabad, the major hub, about 330 km away. Goa has flights to Ahmedabad in about an hour and a half and flights to Rajkot and, with a connection, to Diu. From whichever airport you land at, a road transfer or a Somnath Dwarka taxi service, completes the journey to Junagadh and the Girnar foothills. Flying to Rajkot or Diu and driving on is the quickest way to reach the mountain from Goa.

Goa to Girnar by train

The train is a good way to travel from Goa towards Girnar for those who prefer rail. The nearest major railhead to Girnar is Junagadh Junction, right in the city at the foot of the mountain and there are connecting train services from Goa towards Junagadh, often via Ahmedabad. Given the distance up the coast, the rail journey is long, often around 30 to 36 hours or more with connections, so it is best suited to those who enjoy train travel and have the time. Comfortable overnight and long-distance services make it manageable and arriving at Junagadh puts you right at the foot of Girnar. For the wider options, see our how to reach Somnath guide, as the Somnath coast is nearby.

Goa to Girnar by road

If you wish to drive, a private car with a driver is the most comfortable way to cover the long distance, though it is best planned as a multi-day journey with overnight halts rather than a single stretch of over 25 hours. The NH 66 or NH 48 route via Maharashtra and Gujarat is the fastest and smoothest, with plentiful fuel stations, dhabas and rest stops along the way. Self-drive is possible but very demanding over such a distance, so most prefer a driver or better still a flight or train. If you do drive, breaking the journey at cities like Pune, Ahmedabad or Rajkot makes it far more pleasant and Experience My India can help arrange the local legs and the onward Girnar climb or sightseeing.

Goa to Girnar by bus

Long-distance buses connect Goa towards Gujarat, though usually with a change, often at Mumbai or Ahmedabad, from where you continue to Junagadh by another bus or a car. The total journey by bus takes around 26 hours or more, so it is a long haul, best on comfortable air-conditioned sleeper services. Buses are the most budget-friendly way to travel, but for such a long journey a flight is far quicker and a train more comfortable, so buses are usually a last choice for reaching Girnar from Goa.

Why travel from Goa to Girnar?

Despite the distance, many pilgrims and travellers from Goa make the journey to Girnar, drawn by the great sacred mountain and the historic city of Junagadh at its foot. Girnar is a holy mountain to both Hindus and Jains, climbed by nearly 9,999 steps or the ropeway to its summit temples, including the Dattatreya temple and ringed each year by the great Lili Parikrama. At its foot, Junagadh offers the ancient Uparkot Fort, the ornate Mahabat Maqbara, the Bhavnath temple and the Ashokan rock edicts. Girnar also sits close to the Somnath temple, about 100 km and a Gir lion safari, so a trip from Goa can combine the mountain with pilgrimage, history and wildlife.

Best time to make the trip

The best time to travel from Goa to Girnar is the cooler season, October to March, when the weather is pleasant for the climb, the ropeway and sightseeing around Junagadh, in line with the best time to visit Gujarat. The summer, April to June, is hot and makes the climb tiring and the monsoon, July to September, brings heavy west-coast rain and slippery steps, so winter is ideal. The great Girnar Parikrama takes place around November, at Kartik Purnima and the Bhavnath Mahashivratri fair in February or March, both special but very busy times. Whenever you travel, flying is the most comfortable option for the long distance.

Tips for the Goa to Girnar journey

A few pointers make the long trip smoother:

• Fly to Rajkot, Diu or Ahmedabad and drive on to Junagadh for the fastest, easiest journey.

• Consider a train to Junagadh Junction, right at the foot of Girnar, if you prefer rail.

• If driving, plan it as a multi-day journey with overnight halts at Pune, Ahmedabad or Rajkot.

• Use the NH 66 or NH 48 route rather than the shorter but slower combined coastal option.

• Combine Girnar with the Somnath temple and a Gir safari, both nearby, for a full Saurashtra trip.

• Visit in the cool season, October to March, for the most comfortable climb and sightseeing.

Goa to Girnar at a glance

Plan your Girnar trip from Goa

Experience My India can plan your Girnar trip from Goa, with flights, transfers and the sightseeing arranged. Plan the climb or ropeway with our Junagadh to Girnar guide, combine Girnar with the Somnath temple and a Gir safari, book Somnath Dwarka hotels and let the Somnath Dwarka tour packages or the wider Gujarat tour packages include Girnar, Junagadh and the region in your itinerary. You can also extend the trip up the coast to Dwarka for a fuller journey.

Related guides

To plan the rest of your Saurashtra trip, these related guides help:

Plan your journey

Experience My India can arrange your Goa to Girnar trip, with flights, transfers and the mountain. Browse more travel guides, message us on WhatsApp or call +91 73006 20809.