Dona Paula Beach in Goa

Dona Paula is a former village, and tourist destination, in the suburbs of Panaji, Goa, India. It is today home to the National Institute of Oceanography, and just alongside it lie the Goa University

and the International Centre Goa. It is also home to a number of hotels, small and large, and the luxury Cidade de Goa is situated in the area.
 

 History

 

 

 

The place is named after Paula Amaral Antonio de Souto Maior, a historical figure in Portuguese India. She was the daughter of the Portuguese Viceroy of Jaffnapatnam, in Sri Lanka. She and her family arrived in Goa in 1644 and she married a Fidalgo from Spain in 1656. Her husband was Dom Antonio Souto Maior. They were an extremely affluent family, and the entire property from the present day Cabo Raj Nivas all the way to Caranzalem belonged to the Souto Maiors. She died on December 16, 1682.
Dona Paula was a woman of charity and is known to have helped the villagers and worked a lot for their betterment, so after her death, the villagers decided to re-name the village as Dona Paula. Initially the village was called Oddavell.
According to a local myth, Dona Paula entombed in the Cabo Chapel, the residence of the Governor of Goa and is supposed to be seen emerging from the moonlit waves wearing only a pearl necklace. Several tourists as well as locals guided by this myth visit the beach for a glimpse of Dona Paula. The Cabo Raj Bhavan is situated at a scenic spot of Dona Paula. It is also home of a historic British war-graves cemetery. After the end of Portuguese rule in Goa in 1961, Dona Paula became a fashionable residential area and address.
Location Seven kilometers west of the Indian state of Goa’s capital Panajim (Panaji), Dona Paula Beach is nestled on the southern side of the rocky hammer-shaped headlands that divide the Zuari and Mandovi estuaries. Providing a good view of the Mormugao harbor, this beach is fringed by palm trees and casuarina groves. The proximity of the beach to the capital city makes it a popular tourist sight.
 Another legend says that punished for captivating Francisco de Tavora- the Count of Alvor with her charm, the Viceroy's daughter was pushed off a cliff to drown in the waters below. Her irrepressible spirit still continues to haunt every visitor with legends of her lovers. She is even supposed to have been seen emerging from moonlit waves wearing only a pearl necklace.  Dona Paula Bay is where two of Goa's famous rivers meet the Arabian sea. Named after Dona Paula de Menezes, it's also called the Lovers Paradise.

About The Beach

 

 

Dona Paula Beach is one of the most romantic beaches in the beach capital of India – Goa. This romantic beach is popularly known as the “Lovers Paradise” which is named after Dona Paula de Menezes. Dona Paula was the daughter of a viceroy in colonial India. She wanted to marry a local fisherman, Gaspar but when her father did not give permission to marry the fisherman, she threw herself of the cliff.
 The beach is named after Dona Paula de Menzes, daughter of a viceroy (in colonial India), who threw herself off the cliff, when refused permission to marry a local fisherman, Gaspar Dias. The myth says that Dona Paula is entombed in the Cabo Chapel of the Raj Bhawan and is supposed to be seen emerging from the moonlit waves wearing only a pearl necklace. With the romance and myth attached to it—haunted by Dona Paula de Menzes—tourists throng the Dona Paula Beach not only in search of the deceased beloved, but also to indulge in water sports on the clear waters.
The Dona Paula Beach offers an opportunity to the tourists to have a sunbath and buy cheap seaside goods from local vendors.


            Swaying palm trees and stunning ambience filled with the fragrance of romance and love make it really a Lovers Paradise. Endowed with romance and myth, Dona Paula Beach is not only for famous for its romantic and exotic ambience but also for water sports. Water sport facilities are the major attraction of the beach. This lovely beach offers opportunity to the tourists to have a sunbath and purchase cheap seaside goods from local vendors.
This beach has also been the location for many Indian movies, the most famous being Ek Duje Ke Liye. Given this dual attraction, Dona Paula Beach has become a popular tourist spot. Two other beaches are also within the proximity of the Dona Paula Beach. These are the Miramar beach, which lies 4 km north of Dona Paula, and the Vainguinim Beach, which is situated 1 km west.

Climate Condition

Climate The climate is equable and moist throughout the year. While it is pleasant and temperate from October to May it is rainy from June to September. Temperature variations throughout the year are mild. May is the warmest month with a temperature of around 30°C and January is coolest with a mean daily temperature of 25°C. Due to its proximity of the sea, the territory is generally humid and even during the summer months humidity is generally above 60 percent.

Festival In Dona Paula

 Dona Paula Beach, Goa is also known for its feast and festivals. Particularly, Festivals of Janmashtami (the birthday of Lord Krishna) and the feast of St. Lawrence are celebrated here with great zeal and enthusiasm. In the month of November, colorful water sports festival is organized at the beach of Dona Paula, Goa which is must visit to tourists. The highlights of this festival are the water scooter and cycle races and surfing competitions. 

 

Things To Do

Water Sports and Other Activities

 

 

 Tranquil and blue, Dona Paula unravels the ultimate in aquatic sport and fun. The Dona Paula Sports Club at Dona Paula offers some of the best water sports facilities to the sports enthusiasts including Water-scooter rides, Motor-boat rides, etc

Water Sports The most important attraction of this beach is the water sport facilities available here. . Other water sports include windsurfing, parasailing, water-skiing, toboggan ski-biscuit, skibob, sports fishing, snorkeling, harpoon fishing, kayaking, and yachting. Dona Paula Beach offers a very good view of the Marmagoa Harbor. At Dona Paula Beach, Goa one can enjoy water scootering. It is one of the best places in Goa for water scootering, water-skiing, wind surfing, parasailing, skibob, snorkeling, sports fishing, harpoon fishing, kayaking and motorboat rides.Jet Skiing is a very common sport at this beach.

Sight Seeing

 

 

 National Oceanography Institute

National Oceanography Institute Set up in the 1960s, the National Oceanography Institute delves not only upon marine biology, but incorporates almost all the major branches of coastal and marine oceanography. The major attraction of the institute is its Marine Biology Museum and Taxonomy Reference Center.

Cabo Raj Niwas

The Cabo Raj Niwas (the Governor’s House) is half a kilometer away from the National Oceanography Institute. It houses the tomb of Dona Paula de Menzes in the Cabo Chapel. The Raj Bhawan offers an excellent view of the nearby coastline and the Aguada Fort.

Magos Church 

Approximately 10 km from the beach is one of the oldest churches built in Goa, the Reis Magos Church.

It is dedicated to the three Magi (the wise men of the East)—Gaspar, Melchior, and Balthazar who, according to a legend, were guided by a star to Bethlehem to greet the newborn Jesus. This church was once the residence of all dignitaries and a mission center of the Franciscan order.

Marmagao Harbour

The place where two of Goa's famous rivers meet the Arabian Sea is the bay of Dona Paula with a very good view of the Marmagao Harbour. 7-km from Panjim, situated on the south side of the, hammer-shaped headland that divides the Zuari and Mandovi, is a Fishing Village. This is a spot to sunbathe and relax
 

Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary

 

The Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary is situated on the western tip of the island of Choro, along the Mandovi River, about 9 km from Dona Paula Beach. Spread over 2 sq km, this sanctuary is a mangrove forest. Local and migratory birds are found here all through the year. However, permission of the Chief Wildlife Warden is required for visitors.

Shopping

  Shopping at Dona Paula is one of the most exotic activities. Dona Paula where  There are several shops along the beachside, which sell variety of goods ranging from eatables to clothes. Fishermen-turned-local vendors also sell straw hats, lace handkerchiefs, and spices in these shops. Feni and port wine—the two Goan liquor specialties—are a must buy and local liquor is easily available. Indian handicrafts and jewelry are available at the Indian Arts Emporium in Dona Paula

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What To Eat

 

 

There are also many eating joints and restaurants at Dona Paula which offers mouth-watering Goan CuisineThere are a number of multicuisine restaurants that specialize in seafood, Goan cuisine and grill vegetarian dishes. There are also many places to shop for books, trendy clothes and other souvenirs. They are offered by Shacks which are placed all alongside the beach. Deck-chairs and umbrellas are free. The food is tasty, delicious, varied and not so expensive. Fresh cool drinks are also offered here everywhere. 

The coastline is nearly full of beach shacks that offer food as well. For better cuisine you can choose from numerous (tourist) restaurants that are found from the main roads. Food is somewhat expensive by Indian standards, but cheap by Western ones.

Besides the fun for food there are several restaurants that offer excellent seafood though the continental dishes are also available. There are many eating joints in the hotels.

How To Reach

By Air The nearest airport is at Dabolim, which is 29 km away from Panaji and 36 km from Anjuna.

By Rail Goa is connected with Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Mangalore, and Thiruvananthapuram by train. The nearest railway station is at Karmali, which is 15 km from the beach.

By Road The Dona Paula Beach is well connected by road. Seven kilometers from the capital city, regular bus and taxi services are easily available. The Kadamba Transport Corporation (Government of Goa Undertaking), and Maharashtra and Karnataka State Road Transport Corporations operate buses from and to Goa.

Local Transport Bus, taxi, auto-rickshaw, and motorcycle services are the available means of local conveyance in the area. A bus or motorcycle-taxi from Panajim or the ferry service from Mormugao can be availed of to reach the beach. In fact, buses to Dona Paula leave every fifteen minutes from Panajim's Kadamba stand.

An interesting mode of conveyance in Goa is the motorcycle taxi. Unique to this state, these “taxis” carry only one passenger. However motorcycles can also be hired for personal use, on the basis of financial guarantee.

Where To Stay

  There are a host of hotels, guesthouses, and beachside huts available at the beach that cater to the budgets of different tourists. Offering a host of hotels, resorts and beach side huts the Dona Paula Beach boasts of a number of accommodation options. There is ample shelter for the budget tourists too in the form of houses that may be rented in the village.

Cavelossim Beach Goa

Cavelossim is a census town in South Goa district in the state of Goa, India.

The town hosts a well known beach at the southernmost tip of the Salcete beach stretch that starts from Majorda in the north to Cavelossim in the south. The Sal river flows into the Arabian Sea at the south of this town.

This town was the original above of goddess Shri Shantadurga located at Kawlem, which is one of the largest temples in the state. The idol was taken from Cavelossim to Kawlem in Ponda taluka(Antruz Mhal) during the Portuguese inquisition of Goa. Chattrapati Shahu donated money to rebuild the temple at Kawlem, as a part of donations to rebuild various temples to deities that were moved during the inquisition.Nestled between Arabian Sea and River Sal, Cavelossim Beach is one of the topmost visited beaches in Goa. It is, in fact, the most beautiful as well. Cavelossim Beach along with Varca Beach is situated south of Benaulim. The beach is, indeed, the last settlement in Salceta (southwest).Beach features: Long and wide strip. The sand is very light, almost white. It is also very soft and fine. Here and there you can find sticky black lava rocks. From the East side the beach is surrounded by beautiful palm trees and casuarinas vegetation. The water here is warm and very clean. Pitfalls on the sea floor are rare. Christmas and New Year are the most important festivals which are celebrated with full swing through the Goa.

 

 

 Location: India, Goa state, South Goa, Salcette district, Cavelossim locality. The Cavelossim Beach is situated on the original peculiar peninsula formed by the passage of the River Sal, which flows into the Arabian Sea, between Varca Beach (7 km) in the north and Mobor Beach (3 km) in the south. The distance between the beach and Goa capital Panaji (or Panjim) is 50 km.Cavelossim one of the last major settlements in southwest Salcete is situated 11 km south of Colva.

Goa Cavelossim beach is filled with soft white sands and doted with black lava rocks at certain places. This beach is much bigger and cleaner and quieter than most of the famous beaches in Goa because of which it manages to attract many tourists, There are several beach shacks offering a variety of Goan dishes and seafood at reasonable price.

 

 

 

 

About The Beach 

 

 

 

Cavelossim Beach is situated between Sal river and Arabian Sea. It is one of the most beautiful beaches in GoaCavelossim Beach Goa offers pristine beauty to its visitors. Incredible weather and magnificent views coupled with traditional Goan delicacies are sure to make your trip to Goa a memorable one.Throughout the year the climate is very pleasant.The best time to visit the amazing Cavelossim beach comprises the months of November to March.

 

 It is surrounded by black lava rocks, which are the major attractions of the area. Moreover, the beach is the quietest of all. Thereby, honeymooners and other travelers would love to explore the sights of this beach in its serenity.The tourists can enjoy sun bathing on the beach. Dolphon trips and sunset cruises are among the other attractions at the Cavelossim Beach of Goa.

 

   Cavelossim Beach is ideal for shell collecting, strolling, or indulging in more active pursuits like renting a kayak or catamaran.Several activities are also part of traveling to this Cavelossim Beach in Goa. Tourists can enjoy Dolphin trips, sun bathing and sunset cruises on this beach. One can also enjoy viewing the paddy fields and spectacular views of River Sal. Also,. 

 

This beach is perfect for both intrepid explorer and casual traveler. Ideal for a romantic getaway, the place is also noted for its wonderful nightlife. Goans enjoy going out and it is not unusual to find families out for a night of merriment. In certain areas, almost every third house has a bar-cum-restaurant. The nightlife of Goa is an essential part of an average Goan's life.

Things To Do

 

Nature Seeing

Cavelossim Beach in Goa presents a kaleidoscopic view  of the river Sal, the paddy fields and soft sandy beach. The beach seems to be the best destination for enjoying the serenity of nature.Near the mouth of the river Sal one can see a lot of men collecting oysters, mussels and clams from the river silt during the low tide.

 

Water Sports and Other Activities

Different types of water sports. Fishing. Boat cruises. Watching dolphins.  Entertainment and informative tours and excursions around Goa. Some places offer water sports on the Sal River as well as a fishing trip in the sea, dolphin viewing or bird-watching.One can also try go karting near the seashore. Swimming zones are marked and are carefully supervised by lifeguards. There are facilities for Dolphin watching at Betty's Place as well as boat trips for Dolphin watching up river Sal

 

 Shopping

 

 Besides, the beach offers attractive shopping opportunities for the tourists. Shopping in Cavelossim Beach includes a wide array of Indian crafts and gift items. Tourists coming to the beach carry the crafts as souvenirs to their native land.  It is a great destination for shoppers. You can buy a wide variety of Indian handicrafts, local gifts items and artifacts from local shops. You can gift these as souvenirs to your relatives and friends.

 

Night Life

Goan night life is much better than the nightlife of any other big metro city of India. The nightlife here was started by the hippies who came here during the 70's. Since then, the nightlife in Goa has steadily increased and has gained much fame now.

 

 

 

Sight Seeing

 

 

Church of Cavelossim: The Church of Cavelossim dedicated to The Santa Cruz or Holy Cross, is not too complicated in its design, yet has a charm surrounding it. It has a simple and clean facade, and is almost a mixture of its parent church designs.

 

Margao: Margao, nestled on the banks of the River Sal, is considered the commercial and cultural capital of the state. It is the second largest city in Goa and the administrative headquarters of South Goa. Being amongst the oldest recorded towns in Goa, it gives an opportunity to peep into the history of the state. It has some of the most famous churches and is renowned for the huge Portuguese style mansions.

 

Mobor, 5 km (3 miles) south of Colva, is an idyllic spot, with its backdrop of hills and the pretty fishing village of Betul nestling near the Sal River. 

 

Goa Cabo De Rama:The Leela Beach Resort is located here. Cabo da Rama ("Cape Rama") the promontory just south of Betul,  Not far from Agonda beach is Cabo de Rama, untouched by most of the visitors in this region. The atmosphere of the fort creates a sense of history and drama that very few would fail to appreciate. The fort is named after Rama, hero of the Hindu epic Ramayana. According to the local legends, Rama stayed here with his wife Sita during the period of 12 year exile.. It has the ruins of a Hindu fortress that fell to the Portuguese in 1763.

 

Naval Aviation Museum, Dabolim: The Naval Aviation Museum showcases the history of Indian Naval Aviation, various aircrafts, weapons, sensors, safety equipment, rare photographs depicting Goa's liberation and artifacts. A multimedia games section is an added attraction. The museum is situated in the picturesque backdrop of the Bogmalo beach.

What to Eat and Drink 

 

 

There are numerous beach shacks offering a variety of Goan dishes and seafood at reasonable prices. There are several food joints around Dona Sylvia where you can get entire package of good food, good drink, and a pleasant service at quite reasonable rates

There are a number of multicuisine restaurants that specialize in seafood, Goan cuisine and grill vegetarian dishes. There are also many places to shop for books, trendy clothes and other souvenirs. They are offered by Shacks which are placed all alongside the beach. Deck-chairs and umbrellas are free. The food is tasty, delicious, varied and not so expensive. Fresh cool drinks are also offered here everywhere.

 

How to reach

Tourists willing to come to Cavelossim Beach can take a flight to Dabolim airport and thereafter take other road transports to reach the beach. People willing to come to beach by railways can reach Cavelossim through Margao Railway Station.   By Bus Buses in Goa are operated by the Kadamba Transport Corporation and also by other Private Operators at regular intervals, connecting all places in Goa.  By Train The new coastal Konkan Railway route makes Goa more easily and quickly accessible from Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Cochin & Thiruvananthapuram. Nearest railway station is Margao Railway Station. By Bus Goa is connected with Mumbai, Bangalore, Kochi, Delhi and Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) by Indian Airlines and other private airlines. The nearest airport is Dabolim International Airport.   Where To Stay   Travelers are free to travel to Cavelossim Beach of Goa throughout the year. However, the time between November and March is the best time of the year. You would get a number of top accommodations near the Cavelossim Beach. There are beach resorts, luxury hotels as well as economic hotels. Some of these include Holiday Inn Resort, Resort Dona, Sylvia, Leela Palace and Royal Resorts haathi Mahal. Even transportation would be comfortable as the beach is connected to all major places in the city. Moreover, the beach possesses a number of luxury hotels and beach resorts. The tourists coming to the Cavelossim Beach at Goa can find accommodations in these hotels and resorts and make their stay at the beach  a memorable experience. Besides the luxury hotels, the beach also possesses a number of budget hotels. Furthermore, the beach is well connected with all the major locations.                               A favourite with Indian celebrities, Cavelossim has an enchanting 2 km (1.3 mile) stretch of sand. It also has a golf course, luxury resorts and excellent seafood restaurants, such as the Seaways Bar. The ornate Church of the Holy Cross, is situated in a pretty square.

Carmona Beach Goa

The Carmona beach is situated in the Salcete district of South Goa. It is a beautiful beach that is very clean and is one of the most magnificient Beaches in Goa. Carmona village is located along the road in parallel to the 26 km beach of South Goa. Only the road signs will tell you that you are in Carmona. The villages follow one another along this long beach, and unless you pay attention to the road signs, it's not easy to know in which village you are. So, pay attention to them. If you come from the north, you'll see the sign above on your right indicating the beach. If you come from Cavelossim-Mobor, the road will be of course on your left. Then, it's simple, you just go straight for about 2 km, and you reach the place below.Carmona Beach is the name of a small part of South Goa sea coastline washed by warm waters of Arabian Sea. The resort has got its name from the name of the nearby village. The place is also known as Zalor Beach. The neighboring beaches are Fatrade and Varca Beaches in the north and Cavelossim Beach resort in the south. All of these great, fantastical resorts belong to Salcette municipal region (Salcette taluk), which is located in South Goa district.

 

 

Carmona Zalor beach is really one of the most beautiful and peaceful spot amongst the beaches in Goa, being in the same time not in an isolated place. Margao, the main south town is only a few kilometers away. When you are on this part of this wonderful 26 km (16 miles) beach of South Goa, there's no beach road access before Mobor Cavelossim, almost 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) south.x

 

 

About The Beach

 

 

 

 

 

Carmona beach is one of the beaches of South Goa in the Salcete region of Goa. This beautiful beach that is covered with white sand is considered as one of the most beautiful beaches in South Goa. The beach in Carmona follows the same pattern to those of its counterparts, the Varca and the Cavelossim beaches. There are various kinds of entertainment and hotel accommodations at the beach besides the seafood that is very much characteristic feature of Goan cuisine.

Carmona Beach is a very beautiful, magical place, very pure and one of the most pleasant resorts in Goa. It is very similar to its neighbors – two famous comfortable Beaches of Cavelossim and Varca: a wide beach strip covered with fine and smooth sand of a very light color, warm sea waters, high level of security, quiet and calm places for having a relaxing rest. 

 

It is the beach that is very clean and one of the most magnificent beaches in Goa. The beach is very beautiful and follows the same pattern to those of its counterparts, the Varca and the Cavellossim beaches. The Carmona beach offers various kinds of Entertainment and hotel accommodations besides the seafood that is very much characteristic feature of Goan cuisine.
Just like Varca, Carmona is well connected with road and air. There is quite a lot of tourist occupancy also during the peak seasons.

 

What to do

 

 

 

Swimming

Carmona beach is considered to be safe for swimming but you should not go into the water deeper than the waist as it could be dangerous no matter how well you can swim.

 

Water Sports

 There also many water sports organizers available at this beach who provide water sports facilities to those who are interested. Water sports such as jet skiing, parasailing and many more are available at Carmona beach.

 At the Carmona beach there are also various stalls selling pav bhaji, chat, coconut water, sun hats and hawkers indulging in various oil massages for foreign tourists.

 

Beach Parties

 Besides this, one can witness a lot of beach parties during Christmas and especially during the onset of the New Year at all these beaches, at North as well as South Goa.

 Sun Bath

The Carmona beach is very beautiful, very clean . All beaches in India are public beaches. Private enterprise has, however, responded well to the needs of visitors: there are beach umbrellas and chairs and tourists happily broiling themselves in the Goan sun.

Sightseeing

The Carmona Village itself is located relatively far from the beach, in the west, very close to Sal River. The main attraction of this region is Catholic Church which is visited by dozens of people on Sundays.

  There is a famous church in Carmona known as the church of Nossa Senhora de Socorro, or Our Lady of Help that is prominently located at the center of the Village. Its interior and exterior design is exceptional and contrasts with the other church designs. 

 

Fishing

Carmona Zalor, as almost all the beaches of Goa, is a fishing place, and you can see the fishermen active either morning, evening or at night.

 

 

Night life

Carmona beach is a hotspot for nightlife lovers in Goa. Numerous parties for various events and reasons keep happening at Carmona beach Goa.

 

 

 What To Eat and Drink

 

There are numerous shacks and restaurants lined up at this beach. These shacks are the favorite place of all beach lovers as they offer all kinds of international cuisines, fresh sea food and Goan Cuisine in their menu. They also have a great variety of drinks that will be quite refreshing at Carmona beach.You can also find many food stalls who provide the tourists with local foods and snacks.

 

Tourists can choose which way of rest do they want: they can do sports and various activities or simply relax under the tender sun laying on the beach. Shacks and shops, which you can find plenty of at the beach, offer their clients numerous services and sell amazingly tasty dishes (mostly made of fresh seafood) from International and traditional Goa cuisine for not so much high prices. You can taste here some traditional local dishes like pav bhaji, for example, or try some coconut water, buy a hat or enjoy fantastical relaxing massage with different aromatic oils usage. 

All the shacks in Carmona beach provide their customers with beds on the beach for sun bathing and for those who do not want to sun bath then they use beach umbrellas.

 

 

How to reach Carmona beach –

 

 

 in order to get to Carmona beach you can hire a taxi or an auto rickshaw from any place in Goa as Carmona beach is well connected to the other parts of Goa with road

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Best time to visit Carmona beach is during the peak tourist season which starts in the month of October and ends by Mid March.

 

 

Where To Stay

 There's a bar restaurant open all year round on the left of the parking place.
    Many buildings have raised since a few years ago in Carmona, and not of the best taste, unfortunately. But in spite of that it is still a very peaceful place. These buildings are for the most part, empty for the moment.
There's a complex that exists for quite a long time: it's J.M.C, the Jose Menino Colonia, a group of first floor houses belonging to private owners or to rent, just a minute away from the beach. They have a medium size swimming pool, open all year round, where anybody can come for a small fee. Very useful during monsoon, when the sea is too rough to swim.

Candolium Beach Goa

Candolim Beach is one of those beaches whew one can want to spend some time of their life in solitude and peaceful ambience. Away from hustle and bustle of modern life this beach is an idyllic destination for relax, relax and relax. Less packed, less crowed than other beaches like Anjuna beach or Calanguate beach, this beach offers a perfect place for practicing, Yoga and Meditation. Going for Candolim beach offers pleasure and satisfaction. The peaceful ambience of this beach is its one of major attractions.

Candolim beach is located at 14 km from north of Panaji (Panjim) – the capital of Goa, India. The part of long stretch of beach coastline along the blue water Arabian Sea, Candolim Beach begins at the Aguada Fort and ends at Chapora Fort.  It is one of the longest beaches in the state and is located in the Bardez taluka.

 

 

 

 

About The Beach

 

 

The white sandy Candolim beach naturally beautified by the scrub-covered dunes draws a lot of tourists these days. Candolim beach offers various water-sports activities-right from parasailing to water-skiing, wind surfing and so on. Fishing is an activity for those who love peaceful and quiet environment. 

 

This beach comes as an ideal beach for those who are slowly getting tired of the crowded beaches of Calangute or Anjuna. Though tourists quite often frequent this beach, you can still find some quiet places for yourself. If you want to try your hand at fishing, you are welcome to do so too. Some hotels at this beach offer yoga and meditation session which will give any tourist a sense of relief from all the stress and fatigue that he has been trying to run away from by being in Goa. 

 The beach in itself is very calm and peaceful, at times tourists come here from Rajneesh Ashram in Pune to take a break. What adds to the scenic beauty of the sand and sea are the scrub covered dunes at the back of the beach quite popular with tourists.

 

 Special beach excursions are also arranged in Candolim beach wherein a tourist is taken right to the core of the sea from where he can capture some memorable sunsets. Candolim's nightlife is very calm, giving a break from the chaos and commotion of other beaches.

 

The main road that is the Candolim Calangute road is packed with shops and restaurants, but the beach front is rather free of any commercial activity apart from some water activities. Though the beach is close to bustling Calangute beach, life is rather laid back at Candolim. Even the village isn't very clustered, its quite spread out so there isn't any centre to it as such. The area around the beach can be termed as resort free as there aren't any resorts there. However, the beach has quite a number of inns at reasonable prices with good facilities.

Another interesting feature about the Candolim beach is the ship River Princess, which has been stuck at the shores of the beach since 2000.

 

 History

 

During the late 16th century, Candolim became the first village to be entirely converted to Christianity in Bardez by the Franciscans. The present Christian identity of its villagers dates back to the conversion of Santu Sinay (Shenoy), a ganvkar (Konkani: freeholder) who belonged to the nobility of his people.

Santu Sinay (1577–1640), was the son of Naru Sinay; who had earlier migrated from Loutolim, Salcette, and established himself in Candolim, where he purchased the fifth vangodd (clan) of the comunidade on 13 August 1604. Naru Sinay died after 1624, and was survived by his wife, four sons—Jeronimo de Souza, Manoel de Souza, Santu Sinay, and Christovão d'Andrade, and one daughter, Quiteria de Souza. Santu Sinay was converted along with the rest of his family at the age of 8, and subsequently took the name of Salvador Pinto. His godfather was Fr. Manoel Pinto, a Franciscan rector of the Church of Our Lady of Hope of Candolim and the seminary of Reis Magos. He was brought up in the seminary of Reis Magos, where he developed a great devotion to St. Francis Xavier. Salvador Pinto was tutored by two Franciscan priests, Fr. Pinto and Fr. Simão de Nazareth; who succeeded the former as rector of Candolim parish. Salvador Pinto worked zealously to spread Christianity in the village.Fr. de Nazareth held great influence with the Viceroys and in recognition of Salvador Pinto's tremendous work in converting the village, obtained for him many life grants and concessions which are still held by his descendants. Fr. de Nazareth, as representative of Fr. Miguel de S. Bonaventura—Custodian and General Commissioner of East Indies and Diogo Dias, syndic of St. Francis and procurator of His Holiness—granted two perpetual graves in the Candolim Church, to Salvador Pinto and his father-in-law António Pereira in the transept, in front of the altar of Bom Jesus, and also to his wife and mother-in-law, Maria and Catharina Pereira in the transept; her grave located between those of two parishioners, Pedro Sequeira and Francisco de Souza.

Candolim was the focal point of the anti-Portuguese revolt of 1787, also called the "Conspiracy of the Pintos", because it was spearheaded by priests belonging to the village's Pinto (Shenoy) clan.

 

Things to do

 Sports, Yoga and Other activities

 

 

 

 

The Candolim beach is a place where one can indulge oneself in various beach activities like yoga & meditation, fishing, windsurfing, water sports, water skiing, swimming, sunbath and others. There are also many eating joints on the beachside of Candolim beach where on can enjoy mouth-watering Goan cuisine.

This beach offers a variety of sports activites, right from parasailing to water-sking. There are special guides to help you through these daring water sports activites.

 

Boating Excursion

 Besides the main attraction at the beach is the special boating excursion especially during the evenings which offers you beautiful views of the sunset…you can really feel the sun touching its all-glory orange and then slowly sinking into the sea. This excursion is definitely worth a try.

 

Sightseeing

 

 

 Apart from the beaches that are dotted with swaying palm trees and the vast expanse of the sea, there are also many churches and temples that are reflective of superlative architectural skills and all of them are great tourist attractions.

 

Aguada Fort is the greatest attraction of Candolim Beach .The fort was built by the Portuguese way back in 1912 for fortification against the Dutch and the Maratha invaders

 There are many luxurious hotels, villas, restaurants, resorts and guest houses around this magnificient fort. There is also Calanguate beach nearby the Candolim beach which is also worth visiting.

 Along with the fort the church, lighthouse and the garrison of the Aguada Jail have also been a part of tourist attractions. The northern side of the fort has two beaches, one of them is Calangute and the other one is Condolim. It is one of the most visited spots in Goa. There are many resorts, villas and guest houses around this fort.

 Night Life

  Candolim, Goa is the place to be in to spend the evenings in the best possible manner. you must check out the makeshift bars and restaurants made from wood and palm leaves on the beachside.

Food

There are a lot of makeshift bars and restaurants made from wood and palm leaves on the beachside. Tourists can stop at a small taverna (bar) for a drink of feni - a locally brewed drink made from cashew or coconut.

What To Eat and Drink

Besides the fun for food there are several restaurants that offer excellent seafood though the continental dishes are also available. There are many eating joints in the hotels. Hands down, the best restaurant in Candolim is After 7. Great selection of food and wine (mainly European) served in a beautiful garden. Great service, very romantic. The chap that owns the place ‘Leo’, super friendly, and very passionate about his restaurant. Opp Pedro Martina Resort, 1/274b, Gaura Vaddo. Just opened, sister restaurant to After 7, also run by Leo called Posh. Do a great American style brunch. Eggs Benedict, 10/10, best cup of coffee I had in India. Can’t comment on the dinner menu, but it looked great. Opp Nerul Panchayat. You should try this lovely restaurant called BOM SUCESSO in Candolim. A multicusine the food is great.You should try their Seafood and meat platters and their Tiger Prawns. Good entertainment- live music, karaoke, magic show, big screen etc.With a sound proof music room now the music goes on even after 10 pm. For good North Indian food and succulent kebabs in pleasant surroundings try Floyd's on the main road just south of the junction to Mapusa. It's a small place with a warm and friendly atmosphere and is very popular. Coconut Inn, a bit further south and just off the main road (signposted from the junction) is housed in the garden of an old Goan house and serves good food in a relaxing environment at very reasonable prices. Service is friendly and attentive and there is live Portuguese / Goan music on Tuesday evenings. How to Reach       The attention-grabbing Candolim beach is well connected with the rest of the places. To arrive here Dabolim Airport provides best connectivity throw air with other parts of the country. Goa is also linked by train with some of major cities of the country, such as; Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Trivandrum. The captivating Candolim beach is also easily accessible by road. There are plenty of buses which run within Goa.    Travel by Airway: There have only one Airport in Goa located at Dabolim about 46 km away from the Candolim Beach. It is an international airport and the international flights from the country of Qatar, Dubai, Sharjah, Kuwait, Britain, Germany, Netherlands, Russia, and the major cities of India are available here. After reaching to the airport you can easily reach to Candolim Beach with a four wheeler car. Travel by Roadway: Candolim beach is directly connected to Panaji (12 km away) Bus Station. There have lots of government (Kadamba Transport Corporation, KTC) and private bus operator from Panaji bus station to Candolim Town. You can also hire a private Taxi to reach here. You can also reach from Mapusa to Candolim Beach by a bus with in 15 minutes normal. Local travels are provided with the automobiles of Bus, motorcycle, taxis and auto-rickshaws. Travel by Railway: Nearest rail station of Candolim Beach located at Thivim (Thivim Railway Station) about 17 km away. It takes around 25 minutes to reach at Candolim Beach from the Station. Other important railway stations are located little away at Margao and Vasco Da Gama.  Where to stay There are many hotels and guesthouses at beach which offer you a luxurious stay but they might come as slightly expensive if you are in Goa on a shoestring budget. So it is a better idea to stay at guesthouses near some other beaches.  This beach has got a lot of inns with real good facilities. Candolim beach has also many hotels and resorts which offer extravagant stay. But it is better to stay in guest-houses since they are too expensive.

Casablanca Goa Hotel Casablanca Beach Resorts, nestled amidst swaying palm trees, is situated just 100 meters from the caressing sands of Candolim Beach and the sandy beaches of the Arabian Sea. The hotel is well connected by road from the major cities like Panjim and Mapusa.

 

 Dona Alcina Goa Hotel Dona Alcina Resort is situated along the famous Candolim beach. The hotel is located 45 km from the Dabolim airport, 15 km from the Tivim railway station and 18 km Panaji.

 

Lemon Tree Resort Hotel Lemon Tree, located on the Candolim Beach in North Goa, stretches from the main road right up to the beach front. The hotel has been designed to evoke the poetry, history and romance of 15th century Portugal.

Marquis Goa
Hotel Marquis Beach Resort, located on Candolim beach, is set on four acres of landscaped garden. The hotel is located 2 km from the Calangute beach, 4 km from the Baga beach and 12 km from the capital of Goa, Panjim. Hotel Marquis Beach Resort has an excellent location on the North coast.

Nizmar Goa
Hotel Nizmar Resort is located just 500 meters from the renowned Calangute Beach. The hotel is located 50 km from the Margao railway station, 23 km from the Tivim railway station, 16 km from Panaji and 0.5 km from the Calangute Beach. The hotel has an air-conditioned 2500 sq. ft.

Victor Exotica Hotel Victor Exotica Beach Resort was launched in December 1999. It is located in the heart of the tourism belt of North Goa. The famous Candolim Beach is just a 5 minutes walk from the hotel. The resort is specially designed for the entire family.

 

Calangute Beach Goa

Calangute beach is also called the 'Queen of Beaches' because the beauty you find here cannot be found elsewhere. Under the shade of palm trees, bathes the Queen of Beaches - Calangute.

Calangute beach seems to be a distortion of the local vernacular word-'Koli-gutti', which means land of fishermen. Some people connect it with Kalyangutti (village of art) or Konvallo-ghott (strong pit of the coconut tree) because the village is full of coconut trees.
 

 

About The Beach

 

Calangute is a town on the northern coast of Goa. Calangute is well connected to other parts of Goa by road, and the roads are in fairly good condition.

Calangute situated at about 15 km from the capital city Panjim is the one of the most popular holiday destinations in Goa. It is usually crowded as it has a host of facilities to cater to the visitors.

Calangute is well known due to its beautiful golden sanded beach which is also known as the Queen of Beaches. November to February is the most pleasant time to visit the Goa Calangute beach. It is amongst the most popular beaches of Goa and it's capacity is large enough to accommodate the huge numbers of high-season visitors.

Excellent accommodation facilites are available in the Calangute village of North Goa India, particularly at the tourist resorts and cottages. There are also a number of hotels and restaurants scattered all over the place. It has also become a good investment plan to buy properties in Goa.

Calangute is the perfect tourist haven, completed with shacks and stalls under the shade of palm trees selling everything from fried prawns and beer, to trinkets made of seashells.

One of the places worth visiting nearby is the St. Alex Church. As the vast traffic on the CHOGM road reaches the village, the Church of St Alex greets with its two towers and a magnificent dome gracing the façade. The inside of the church is a display of the line and beauty of its architectural style and ornate altars. In 1996, Calangute celebrated the fourth centenary of its parish church.

Calangute's nightlife is surprisingly tame and provides a nice break from the wild parties at Anjuna. All but a handful of the bars wind up by 10.00 pm. One notable exception is Tito's at the Baga end of the beach, which stays open until after midnight in the off-season and into the small hours of the morning in late December and January.

 

 

 

Things to do

 

 

Odyssey Tours

Odyssey Tours has a luxury yacht with a license to carry 27 passengers on deck, plus 4 crew members, including a captain and engineer (so you can’t rent the yacht and drive it yourself). They offer half-day dolphin-spotting cruises for about affortable cost per person, including lunch; reservations are necessary. The yacht leaves from Brittona, where it has its own jetty. In the afternoon, it’s available for private charter groups also.

Relaxation

Relax at the beach. The beach reaches from Candolim to Baga. Known also as the Queen of Beaches, although is rather crowded nowadays. Unfortunately it has also been reported to be a place where women risk to be harrassed. The sand is quite full of beds for sunbathing. These are free at least if you buy something from the beach shack, but expect a lot of salesmen. Beggars are not common.

Water Sports

If you go from the center of the town to the beach, you will find a massive amount of water sports operators; they are cheap and fun but their safety is very doubtful due to the large number of jetskis operating in the breaking waves. At this part of the beach there are no beach shacks.

Jolly ride on Bike

Hire a bike or scooty for  day and roam around other nearby beaches like Baga, Candolim, Anjuna. You can also ride straight upto Aguada Fort. Make sure to fill your vehicle's tank before you start off the journey. Fuels are sold by many roadside shop

Sports & the Outdoors

Sports & the Outdoors on the BeachHop aboard a dolphin-or-crocodile-spotting tour, which winds past thick mangroves along the Zuari and Mandovi rivers, or take a ride on a banana boat.

 

 

Shopping

 

 

The road from the town to the beach is lined with Kashmiri-run handicraft boutiques and Tibetan stalls selling Himalayan curios and jewellery. The quality of the goods - mainly Rajasthani, Gujarati and Karnatakan textiles - is generally high. Haggle hard and don't be afraid to walk away from a heavy sales pitch - the same stuff crops up every Wednesday at Anjuna's flea market.

 

Nightlife & Entertainment At Calangute

 

  Calangute's nightlife is surprisingly tamed and provide a nice break from the wild parties at Anjuna. All but a handful of the bars wind up by 10.00 pm. One notable exception is Tito's at the Baga end of the beach, which stays open until after midnight in the off-season and into the small hours in late December and January.

The other places that consistently stay open through the night at Calangute are a couple of hippy hang-outs in the woods to the south of the beach road. Pete's Bar, a perennial favourite next door to Angela P. Fernandes, is generally the liveliest, offering affordable drinks, backgammon sets and relentless reggae. Further afield, Bob's Inn, between Calangute and Candolim beaches, is another popular bar.

 

Sightseeing

 

 

• Church of St Alex - Apart form the beach, there is the Church of St Alex which is a must-see. Church of St Alex, with its two towers and a magnificent dome displays the beauty of the architectural style and ornate altars. In 1996, Calangute celebrated the fourth centenary of its parish church.
• Kerkar Art Complex, Located at close proximity is the Kerkar Art Gallery, displaying the paintings and sculptures of various talented, upcoming artists of Goa. The Kerkar Art Complex in this Indian State of Goa is quite special and is the one and only of its kind on this beach. It is The gallery also hosts a night of Indian music and dance, once every week.
  
  Dr Subodh Kerkar has two galleries, one for his permanent collection, and the other housing the works of Indian and foreign artists.

What to Eat and drink

 

 

 

 

The coastline is nearly full of beach shacks that offer food as well. For better cuisine you can choose from numerous (tourist) restaurants that are found from the main roads. Food is somewhat expensive by Indian standards, but cheap by Western ones .

• Oriental - A family run Thai-European Restaurant. Expect authentic Royal Thai and selected European Cuisine – specialized in tenderloin fillet steaks - better "Little Chateaubriands" -. Location: Calangute Holiday Street, behind Kerkar Art Complex, befor Little Italy.(Former Roma)
• Tibetan Kitchen - Great place for Chinese & Tibetan dishes, very authentic and good environment though you need to walk from main road for about 20 meters through a small lane.
• Mirabai Goan Village,  The best! Authentic Goan food, excellent sea food, charming knowledgeable owner.
• Souza Lobo - Its on the beach, you won't miss it. King Fish and Seafood are excellent.
• After Seven, on the border of Candolim-Calangute. . Started by Leo, who speaks 4 languages and has travelled the world with the reputed Taj Group of Hotels, this restaurant has been around for 9 years. The restaurant was formerly known as After Eight Restaurant, till Nestle decided that the restaurant was so good that it would prove competition to their mints, asked Leo to change the name, which he did in 2005.
• Electric Cats - An wonderful place for authentic seafood & cocktails.
• Temptation Shack, Calangute Beach. Friendly and welcoming shack serving excellent food with great service. Take them up on the offer of a barbecue and try the tiger prawns and calamare - amazing.
• Xavier's Beach Cafe, Midway Between Calangute and Baga Beach. This is one of the shacks that are present between Baga and Calangute. Outstanding behaviour and reasonable rates compared to the ambience! reasonable as per Goan standards.

How to Reach

This beach is a mere thirty minutes bus ride up the coast from the capital, Panaji and is about ten minutes from Mapusa. There are frequent buses to Panaji and Mapusa from Calangute. Most buses from Panaji terminate at Calangute and a few trudge further on up to Baga. Mapusa is 8 km away from Calangute.

The nearest airport is at Dabolim, which is 29 km away from Panaji. The nearest railway station is at Karmali 11 km away from Panaji. Panaji is just half an hour's drive away from Calangute. Private transportation facilities - deluxe, semi-deluxe and ordinary - are also available offering a smooth and hassle free vacations in Goa.

By train

The nearest railway station is at Thivim, and taxi from there takes about 20 minutes . Other railway stations are at Margao and Vasco.

By bus

Frequent state buses go to and from other parts of Goa, but if you're traveling a longer distance, you need to change buses (for example, from the airport you should need three buses to get to Calangute). A bus from Panaji costs depending on the route the bus takes.

By taxi

Prepaid taxi from the outside counter on the airport , while discussing the price directly with the driver should result into cheaper price.

Get around

Calangute is a quite small area, and you can easily walk your way through it. Two-wheelers and cars are naturally available for hire, and getting a taxi or an auto rickshaw is easy.

Where To Stay

Calangute beach offers lot of choices when it comes to accommodation. From resorts & star hotels to budget rooms, you will find everything here. Those planning a longer vacation in Goa should look out for houses that are usually let out.

Take any road going towards the beach from the main road and find a bunch of places to sleep as you approach the beach. If you choose a smaller road you're likely to find cheaper places. Taxi drivers will be happy to take you to a place run by their friends / people who pay commission, but you need be very strict with your price limit as they tend to take you to a more expensive place.

• Hotel Seagull, Holiday Street,  Sea Gull is a lovely 3-Star hotel near the border of Calangute towards Candolim, very close to Calangute Beach. It has a lively restaurant which is extremely popular and well known for many years. Live music is another highlight of Hotel Seagull.
• Hotel Villa Theresa (Hotel Villa Theresa Calangute Goa),. Villa Theresa is a family run hotel situated at Umta Vaddo, close to Calangute beach, just about a 2-minute walk from the shore in a peaceful pocket of Calangute and away from the noise of the busy village.
• Ondas Do Mar Beach Resort, This hotel is a few minutes' walk from the beach. It has 2 swimming pools and has two campuses. It has friendly owners, it's very clean and cozy, and they have a restaurant where you can get great meals.
• [www.gabrielguesthousegoa.com gabriels guest house goa] (gabriels guest house goa), gaura vaddo,calangute,goa (near kamat holiday homes,opposite tarcar wine shop.). gabriel guest house is a family run hotel very close to Calangute beach,located in a quiet area, with a peaceful atmosphere.
• Dias Holiday Homes, The Lagoon (1.5 km from Calangute beach.), Fully furnished apartments ,car parking and swimming pool available on rent (daily/monthly/yearly).