Condolim Goa

Amongst the most popular beaches in Goa is the Candolim Goa. The Candolim beach in Goa is located quiet close to the Aguada beach. Most of the tourists in Goa prefer going to the Candolim beach owing to its serene and tranquil environment.
Candolim beach in Goa offers some of the best seafood in Goa. The long and straight Candolim beach is also dotted with dunes that offer little shelter. For all those seeking a quiet and relaxing holiday in Goa heading towards the Candolim beach makes an excellent idea. Offering comfortable accommodation at the Candolim Goa are the many hotels and beach resorts.
Amongst the most frequented beach resorts at the Candolim beach in Goa are:
Whispering Palms Beach Resort, Goa: Goa… the confluence of old world charm and the traditional Konkan hospitality. The former Portuguese outpost resplendent with assured sunshine, miles of unadulterated sandy beaches and the thick cover of coconut groves. Nestled amongst this pristine setting is the alluring "Whispering Palms-Goa". Click here to know more about this beach resort in Candolim Goa… Highland Beach Resort, Goa: Welcome to Highland Beach Resort the stately palms with green and golden fronds welcome you. Wayward breezes rustle the fronds and the constant, soft murmur of the sea close by sets the mood for quiet relaxation. A perfect paradise for you to unwind in shut out the cares of a hectic world and recharge your body and mind with fresh energy. Highland Beach Resort is a Jewel of a place for Your Holiday. Click here to know more about this beach resort in Candolim Goa

Vagator and Chapora Beaches

The quieter environs of the Vagator and Chapora beaches are a pleasant change after the lively and activity filled Anjuna Beach. The villages of Vagator and Chapora have lush green landscapes fringed with coconut palms, soft white sands, black lava rocks and a beautiful sea that turns from aquamarine to emerald green with the movement of the sun. The beaches are overlooked by a 500-year-old Portuguese fort and life goes on peacefully and uninterruptedly here.The Vagator beach is the most photographed beach in Goa. Its northern half fronts a bay that curves from the headland to the hillock crowned by the Chapora Fort. Between the headland and the hillock, surf spreads in skirts of white lace and the palms stand far back from the water.
At the tip of the headland are groups of sea-washed rocks popular with honeymooners and others who want to be left alone. To the south of the headland are more outcrops of rocks cupping little pockets of sand and interesting tidal pools. And on the headland you’d find snack stalls, coconut sellers, and persuasive peddlers of trinkets and shells.
Vagator and Chapora have a rich rural life. Chapora is a fishing village that has retained its old ways of life, and have stories galore for those who want to listen to fish tales! The large population of fishermen can be seen in their traditional attire, and colorfully dressed women can be seen haggling for fish on roadsides.Vagator and Chapora beaches are pure and uncorrupted and don’t offer any modern tourist entertainment pastimes or big shopping complexes. But fish, coconuts, bananas, ‘Bebinca, a Goan delicacy made from tender coconuts, candelabras made of exquisite blue china, and artifacts like woven baskets and earthen pots can be found in plenty here. Chapora Fort is the 500 year old Portuguese fort. A must visit on the Chapora beach the Chapora Fort is not to be missed.
There is not too much of choice for staying at Vagator and Chapora, except a few guesthouses, or houses on rent. It is better to book in advance during the peak tourist season, since everything can alreasy be booked by the time you arrive.

Miramar Beach

Miramar, a lovely golden beach of soft sand is surrounded by palm trees and is almost an extention of Panaji, since it lies on the outskirts fo the capital town. It is one of the most popular beaches in Goa and tourists are well warned that it can get crowded here, with people from the town strolling over in he evenings. It was earlier known as the Gaspar Dias beach, and is the best location to watch a sunset if you are staying in Panaji. Panaji is just a fifteen-minute walk along the riverfront avenue called Dayanand Bandodker Marg.
Miramar is an urban beach where the Mandovi River meets the Arabian Sea. It is not safe beach to swim here since there is a strong undercurrent here.


Sinquerim Beach and Aguada Beaches

The Sinquerim Beach is the first tourist beach of North Goa and is also where the famous and best preserved of all Portuguese coastal forts, Fort Aguada is located. The Aguada Bay, which is divided into two parts, the Caranzalem Bay and the Sinquerim Bay is formed by two headlands, Cabo and Aguada. The Aguada Bay is dominated by the battlements of the old fort and tends to be more popular with affluent tourists who avail the facilities offered by the Fort Aguada Hotel Complex that is a luxury establishment.
The Fort of Aguada was built by the Portuguese to control the entry of any enemy into River Mandovi and to protect old Goa from any attack. The fortification skirts the seashore, and its center lies a circular lighthouse tower. The Fort is currently the Central Jail, Goa’s largest prison.
The beach is a good and clean stretch of sand and an ideal place for swimming. The Aguada hotel complex is built around the remnants of the fort with the hotel built on the cliff. However, the complex itself is cut off from the beach since there are no private beaches in India. The hotel has been constructed in three parts, consisting of expensive cottages on the upper reaches of the hillside, the fort jutting out to sea, and a delightful Goan village, with individual cottages. Drawn by the clientele of the hotel, Aguada beach has cafes, and itinerant vendors who sell everything from Kashmiri carpets to massages. The complex also offers and a good range of water sports with two or three water sport companies operating from here.The Aguada Beach lies at the southern end of a very long stretch of beach that extends up to the mouth of the Baga River. Individual segments of this extensive stretch of sand have been given separate names as according to the villages that lie behind them, such as Sinquerim, Candolim, Calangute and Baga.

Dona Paula Beach

The Dona Paula Beach is christened after Dona Paula de Menezes, daughter of a viceroy in colonial India, who threw herself off the cliff, when refused permission to marry a local fisherman, Gaspar Dias. Dona Paula Beach is also referred to as “Lovers’ Paradise.”
The Dona Paula Beach is thronged with tourist fascinated with the myth that Dona Paula is entombed in the Cabo Chapel of the Raj Bhawan and is seen emerging from the moonlit waves wearing only a pearl necklace. Several tourists as well as locals hang around, hoping for a glimpse of the love-lorn girl. Several movies, including Ek Duje Ke Liye have been shot here and contribute to its being a favorite spot.
There are several places of tourist interest situated near the Dona Paula Beach. These include the Reis Mago, one of the oldest churches built in Goa, and the Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary. The church 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.
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.
Two other beaches are also within the proximity of the Dona Paula Beach are the Miramir Beach, which lies 4 km north of Dona Paula, and the Vainguinim Beach, which is situated 1 km west.
The festivals of Janmashtami and the Feast of St. Lawrence are celebrated with enthusiasm on the Dona Paula Beach. In addition, the beach also has a colorful water sports festival in November. The highlights of this festival are the water scooter and cycle races and surfing competitions.There are several shops along the beachside, which sell variety of goods ranging from eatables to clothes. Fishermen-turned-local vendors also sell strsaw 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 jewellery are available at the Indian Arts Emporium in Dona Paula. There are a host of hotels, guesthouses, and beachside huts available at the beach that cater to the budgets of different tourists.

Beach

Colva Beach

Colva is the most popular beach among the Goans with its white powder sands on the shores of the Arabian Sea. Colva is Goa’s longest beach with 20 km of virgin white sands that are fringed with palms and drenched with the sun. The small village of Colva is located in south Goa, 39 km away from Panaji (the old name for Panjim) the capital of the state of Goa. Benaulim is 2 km further ahead of Colva.The Colva Beach is broad and beautiful, and has a stream coursing through it. Sadly, its beauty has made it popular and its popularity has cheapened it: its off-beach shops and restaurants, brightly lit and crowded, give it the feel of a funfair rather than a serene, unwinding beach. This is essentially our domestic tourists’ paddling beach.
The Nossa Senhora de Merces (Our Lady of Mercy) Church in Colva is famous for its annual religious event-Fama of Menino Jesuse (Child Jesus)-since the 17th century. It is one of Goa’s most popular feasts when a big fair is held on the occasion.
Bullfights can be seen at Benaulim from early October to late May. The bullfights are usually held in an old rice field with no fences or barricades just outside a village, to the beat of taped Konkani music.
A walk on the beaches is full of delights. Shimmering silver carpets of bangdde (mackerels) lie drying on the golden sands. Fishermen’s motor trawlers lie anchored in a line offshore. Tourists in colorful dresses throng about and several of them can be seen sunbathing in the glorious sun. Trinket stalls and drink stands on the golden sands make a moonlit evening on the Colva Beach utterly romantic.
The Beach Bonanza fair that is held on successive Sundays from mid-April onwards on the Benaulim beach is a must not miss! Frenzied visitors dance in merriment and other entertainment.There are plenty of resorts and low-budget hotels in and around Colva. Benaulim too has a few hotels. Besides it is possible to rent houses for a longer stay

Visit the All

Calangute Beach

Calangute and Baga lie on the shores of the Arabian Sea of North Goa in India. Calangute is also known as the Queen of Beaches. They are encircled by the villages of Arpora-Nagoa, Saligao and Candolim. Agarvaddo is full of picturesque agors (saltpans), Maddavaddo is full of madd (coconut trees), Dongorpur skirts a bottle-green hillock and Tivaivaddo laces the beach. The gaudds or milkmen ran dairies lived in Gauravaddo. The Calangute Beach is a spotless stretch that is 7 km long.Calangute was the first hippie beach resort in India during the hippie era. And as the hippes faded from the forefront, domestic tourists recognized the potential of the pleasures offered by Calangute and turned it into a paddling, snacking, shopping, picnicking, vacationing beach. Calangute is usually crowded and the small resorts do a thriving business during the holiday season. It is one of the most popular beaches in Goa with a host of facilities to cater to visitors, including beach and water sports. The best attraction here is the beach itself. For a stay on the Calangute beach essentially means feasting on good Goan food, spicy delicacies, lobster prim rolls, and guzzling feni! Kids can be seen building endless castles in the sand, the adults strolling, the young and old alike lazing on the sands, and the hippies reminiscing their hey days.
Calungate 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. Its rainbow hued canvas has welcomed everyone to it always though it became popular across the globe only after the hippies discovered it in the ‘60s.
Some of the places worth visiting near by are the St. Alex Church 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.The Kerkar Art Complex is the one and only of its kind on this beach. It is a popular center for exhibitions of arts and crafts of local artistes. On Thursdays and Fridays, connoisseurs of Indian classical music and dance can be an audience to various concerts.
Calangute Beach and Baga Beach can be visited at any time of the year, though the monsoon months, which bring heavy rains, are best avoided. The period from November to February is the most pleasant for a visit here.

Colva and Benaulim Beaches

Colva is the most popular beach among the Goans with its white powder sands on the shores of the Arabian Sea. Colva is Goa’s longest beach with 20 km of virgin white sands that are fringed with palms and drenched with the sun. The small village of Colva is located in south Goa, 39 km away from Panaji (the old name for Panjim) the capital of the state of Goa. Benaulim is 2 km further ahead of Colva.The Colva Beach is broad and beautiful, and has a stream coursing through it. Sadly, its beauty has made it popular and its popularity has cheapened it: its off-beach shops and restaurants, brightly lit and crowded, give it the feel of a funfair rather than a serene, unwinding beach. This is essentially our domestic tourists’ paddling beach.
The Nossa Senhora de Merces (Our Lady of Mercy) Church in Colva is famous for its annual religious event-Fama of Menino Jesuse (Child Jesus)-since the 17th century. It is one of Goa’s most popular feasts when a big fair is held on the occasion.
Bullfights can be seen at Benaulim from early October to late May. The bullfights are usually held in an old rice field with no fences or barricades just outside a village, to the beat of taped Konkani music.
A walk on the beaches is full of delights. Shimmering silver carpets of bangdde (mackerels) lie drying on the golden sands. Fishermen’s motor trawlers lie anchored in a line offshore. Tourists in colorful dresses throng about and several of them can be seen sunbathing in the glorious sun. Trinket stalls and drink stands on the golden sands make a moonlit evening on the Colva Beach utterly romantic.
The Beach Bonanza fair that is held on successive Sundays from mid-April onwards on the Benaulim beach is a must not miss! Frenzied visitors dance in merriment and other entertainment.
There are plenty of resorts and low-budget hotels in and around Colva. Benaulim too has a few hotels. Besides it is possible to rent houses for a longer stay.