Goa Beaches
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Anjuna Beach |
 This
is the most visited and the party beach of Goa. This was a trading port
for the Arabs during the 10th and 12th centuries and was known as Hanjuman
which meant Chamber of Commerce. It is one the best places for souvenirs.
But, one has to bargain with the vendors to strike a good deal. Anjuna
attracts a weird and wonderful collection of over monks, defiant
ex-hippies, gentle lunatics, artists, artisans, seers, searchers,
sybarites and itinerant expatriates who normally wouldn't be seen out of
the organic confines of their health-food emporia in San Francisco or
London.As of its pleasant climate, Anjuna can be visited at any time of the year.
However, tourists should beware the heavy rainfall between June and
October. The period from November to February is the best time to visit
Anjuna. |
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Arambol Beach |
 The
16-km-long sea beach along with the Goa border is Arambol with its fresh
water lagoon. A unique beach in the North Goa, it is both rocky and
sandy, beach and much sought after by foreign tourists. The sand is soft
and white, there are cottages on the red laterite slopes, rocks in some
places, a freshwater pond, and the approach road is lined with shacks
offering souvenirs and clothes. The main beach has adequate bodysurfing
and there are several attractive bays a short walk to the north. Beyond an
idyllic, rocky-bottomed cove, the trail emerges to a board strip of soft
white sand hemmed in on both sides by steep cliffs. |
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Benaulim Beach |
 Benaulim, is relatively
undiscovered by domestic tourists even though it is a fishing beach.
However, it gets fairly crowded during weekends and evenings with local
visitors who get off buses about a kilometer away and pour onto the beach.
The breaking wave height here is half a meter and the slope is 1 in 30 in
September. Named as a Benaulim by the portuguese, lies
in the center of Colva Beach, 7 km west of Margao. this is said to be
place where the arrow of Lord Parshurama landed, when he created the
state of goa. Dolphin cruises are the main attractions on this beach.
Benaulim has a spectacular expanse of a picturesque coastline flanked by
the thousand of Palm trees. As this place is like a large fishing joint
tourists can easily become gourmets and try out various culinary delights
of the seafood. |
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Colva Beach |
 Colva is on the northern end of this long,
continuous strip of coastline. Its broad and beautiful has a stream
coursing through it and is backed by palms. Colva is Goa’s longest beach
with 20 km of virgin white sands that are fringed with palms and drenched
with the sun. Colva beach is 6kms. from Margao. It is the pride of Salcete
and the only rival to Calangute in scenic splendor. Here sea, sand and sky
blend in enchanting natural harmony, weaving their magic spell on the
visitors. Colva is one of the most popular beaches in South Goa. Colva
stretches sun-drenched, palm fringed and virtually deserted for km after
km. Colva is at heart of the longest unbroken stretch of beach (25 kms) in
Goa from Mormagao peninsular in the north to Cabo de Rama in the south.
Colva is the oldest and largest - of south Goa's resorts. |
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Calungute Beach |
 Calangute was the first hippie beach resort
at the height of the Flower Children era. The successors to these dropouts
have moved on as domestic tourist moved in and converted Calangute into a
paddling, snacking, shopping, picnicking, vacationing beach. Calangute
'Queen of beaches' is 16 kms from Panaji (capital of Goa) is the 7 kms.
long Calangute lie on the shores of the Arabian Sea of North Goa in India.
It is encircled by Arpora-Nagoa, Saligao and Candolim, in the Bardez
taluka, and is just 15 km from Panaji, the capital of the state of Goa.
Being a popular holiday resort, the small houses amidst the coconut groves
behind the beach are always in constant demand. |
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Dona Paula
Beach |
 At the place where two of Goa's
famous rivers meet the Arabian Sea is the secluded bay of Dona Paula with
a fine view of the Marmagao Harbour. 7-km from Panjim, nestled on the
south side of the rocky, hammer-shaped headland that divides the Zuari and
Mandovi estuaries, this former fishing village is nowadays a
commercialized resort. This is an idyllic spot to relax and sunbathe.
Water scootering facilities are also available over here. Conventions could not be breached in those distant
days and so she leapt into the sea and to her death. As of its pleasant
climate, Dona Paula can be visited at any time of the year. However,
tourists should beware the heavy rainfall between June and October. The
best time of the year to visit this area is between September and March.
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Miramar
Beach |
 Panaji’s beach, Miramar or Gaspar Dias, is 3
km from the city center and spreads beyond a small forest of casuarinas.
This is a popular beach with joggers, strollers, children, and careful
paddlers. However, it is not considered safe for swimmers. Miramar is a
lovely golden beach of soft sand girdled with palm trees - is almost part
of Panaji. It is one of the most popular beaches, popular with joggers,
strollers, children, and careful paddlers. If you wish to watch the sunset
from Panaji then the best location would be this beach, which is fifteen
minutes' walk along the riverfront avenue called Dayanand Bandodker Marg.
Miramar is an urban beach where the Mandovi River meets the Arabian Sea. |
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Palolem Beach |
 Palolem is probably Goa's most beautiful and
idyllic beach and it has 1.5 km crescent shaped beach. The beach lies on
the southern coastline of Goa amidst outstanding natural beauty. The
sweeping crescent of white sand is fringed by a shady rim of coconut palms
and the whole beach is hemmed in at either end by rocky crags. It is fast
emerging as a popular spot for day-trippers from Colva and Calangute, many
travelers drift down from the northern beaches to spend days, weeks or
even months chilling out here; there is very little development and it's
extremely laid-back. |
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Vegator Beach |
| Vagator which is one of the most beautiful of
the soft white sand beaches that Goa is famous for. Whenever you see a
picture of a beach typically dotted with palm trees and sea green water
with people in water clothes and having fun in water, you will see all
this and much more in the Vagator beach. This beach is just like one out
of a picture postcard. The inhabited area around this beach is lush green,
dotted with coconut palms, friendly farmhouses and pictorial Portuguese
bungalows. On the north-west corner of the city are the remains of the
Chapora fort. The fort is well preserved and offers some splendid views
from its ramparts. A ten minute walk south of the Big Vagator is Ozran,
also known as 'Little Vagator'. |
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