Down the Konkan
NH 66 runs south from Ratnagiri through Lanja and Rajapur, past the hills, rivers and red laterite plateaus of Sindhudurg through Kankavli, Kudal and Sawantwadi, and crosses into Goa near Patradevi. At about 220 km to Panaji, it's a full day's drive for a loaded truck, with bends and river crossings. Ask for a dedicated vehicle and agree whether delivery will be the same evening or the next morning.
Road works and the monsoon
Parts of NH 66 through the Konkan have been under widening for years, with diversions and slow stretches, and from about June to September the coast gets some of the heaviest rain in India, with flooded rivers and occasional landslides. If you must move then, ask for waterproof wrapping, a covered vehicle and a back-up date, and ask the mover about the current state of the road.
November to February is usually the most comfortable window.
Crossing into Goa
Goa is a separate state, and vehicles are checked at the border. Household goods don't usually face trouble, but the mover should carry the packing list, the invoice and your details. If you're settling in Goa, update your vehicle and address documents as required; our guide to moving to Goa covers what's different about living there.
Leaving Ratnagiri
Many Ratnagiri homes are on narrow, steep hill lanes, so a smaller vehicle may shuttle goods to the truck. Older Konkan houses with lofts, swings and copper vessels need careful handling. Mango boxes travel better in your own car.
Arriving in Goa
The highway enters north Goa through Pernem and Mapusa, with Porvorim and Panaji across the Mandovi a short drive further. Margao, Vasco and south Goa are another hour or more. Many Goan homes are in villages on narrow lanes or in apartment complexes with their own rules, and old Portuguese-era houses can have tight stairs. Tell the mover the exact address and how close a truck can get.
Ganeshotsav and festival dates
Ganesh Chaturthi is the biggest festival on both sides of the border, with huge numbers of people travelling home to the Konkan and Goa, and roads and crews are very busy. Shigmo, Diwali, Christmas and the New Year tourist season also fill Goa's roads. Choose a date clear of these if you can.
Packing for a long, damp drive
Ask for wooden furniture to be dried and wrapped in blankets before plastic goes on, mattresses covered, electronics packed in padded cartons with silica gel if available, and heavy cartons loaded low and tied for the bends. Keep documents, jewellery and medicines in your own bag.
Jobs, retirement and transfers
Many moves on this route are families following jobs in Goa's tourism, mining-belt or pharmaceutical industries, or retirees choosing Goa. If an employer is paying, ask what documents they need; every mover we work with provides a GST invoice.
Settling in
Find out how water and power backup work in the new home, keep good ventilation for the monsoon, and book internet as soon as you have the address. Konkani is Goa's main language, and Marathi, Hindi and English are widely spoken.