GOA BEACHES

Goa Three Main Areas : :-[Goa Beach Tour]

1. MAPUSA
Mapusa, in the northernmost part of Goa, is the state’s main market town. The administrative
capital of Bardez Taluka, Mapusa is 13 km south of Panaji.. The town's name, pronounced `Map-
sa’, after the Konkani words for `measure’ and `fill’, is an indication of its commercial nature.
Besides being a busy market town, Mapusa is conveniently close to some of Goa’s most popular
beaches.

a) Calangute Beach:
About 8 km south from Mapusa, Calangute is Goa's most popular beach, a highly commercialised
but sizzling beach that offers good sunbathing, passable swimming and the most delicious food
along the coast. Though the beach itself is not spectacular, and the coarse golden sand drops
steeply creating an undertow, there is something about Calangute that attracts the Indian tourist
and Western sun-worshipper alike....more...

b) Baga Beach:
A happening beach 10 km west of Mapusa, crescent-shaped Baga is less crowded than Calangute,
but comparatively safer for swimming. Baga has soft white sand and a green backdrop of paddy
fields. Baga is popular for water sports - para sailing, jet skiing, body boarding and surfing, though
the waves aren't good enough for the professional surfers. Another hit with tourists are the dolphin
cruises on a boat out at sea, bringing you within touching distance of these smiling creatures.
Baga's nightlife is more sophisticated than Calangute's, with music, dance and wine. ...more...

c) Anjuna Beach:
The "hip" beach that has lived up to its swinging reputation since the 70s, Anjuna has traditionally
been a rave centre and attracts party goers and backpackers to its famous beach parties,
especially around the Christmas-New Year season. Anjuna's golden sands and tall coconut palms
make the beachfront a pretty hangout place and the sea is safe for swimming. ...more...

d) Small Vagator and Big Vagator Beach:

A little ahead of Anjuna lie the two Vagators - the big and the small Vagators. Both are secluded,
palm fringed, quiet places tucked away in the northernmost tip of Mapusa. Small Vagator is a small
cove - its fine silver sands and rocky sea shore surrounded by black laterite cliffs.The main Vagator
beach (Big Vagator) is overshadowed by the 500 year old Portuguese fortress of Chapora that sits
atop a rocky outcrop.

e) Arambol Beach:
Way off to the north, near the border with Maharashtra, lies Arambol (also called Harmal), pretty
but not overcrowded. Arambol’s stretches of soft white sand would be just what the doctor ordered
for your peace of mind. It is also the paradise for the hippies, as there are regular "trance" parties
and even "full moon" parties. ...more...

Also near the Maharashtra border is Querim Beach (pronounced ‘Keri’) an idyllic beach but with
barely any facilities or supplies available. Equally peaceful and bereft of logistics are Mandrem (just
south of Arambol) and Morgim (Morji), on the Chapora estuary. Mandrem, a lonely stretch of white
sandy beach with a couple of beach shacks, is frequented mostly by tourists who want to get a full
body tan, away from prying eyes of interested locals.

At the foot of Fort Aguada lies the pretty palm-fringed Sinquerim Beach, and near it Candolim
Beach, both popular with tourists.

2. PANAJI:
Panaji, the capital of Goa, is a tiny city that packs in a large punch. The church on the main
square, the Baroque architecture, pretty villas, cobbled streets and interesting buildings give Panaji
a distinctly Portuguese ambience. The city lies along the left bank of the Mandovi River, and close
at hand are a bunch of good beaches, perfect for lolling around and soaking up the sun.

a) Dona Paula Beach:

Dona Paula is a pretty and peaceful beach shaded by palms and casuarinas, 9 km southwest of
Panaji. Dona Paula is quite a hotspot, not only for its beauty but also because of a romantic legend
that gave the beach its name. Dona Paula de Menezes was a viceroy’s daughter who jumped off a
cliff when refused permission to marry a local fisherman. The hapless maiden is said to be
entombed at the nearby Raj Bhawan’s Cabo Chapel.
Dona Paula beach offers water sports facilities, especially water scootering....more...

b) Miramar Beach:
The beach closest to the capital Panaji (3 km), Miramar is conveniently located in the heart of the
state capital which is also why it is rather crowded and often dirty, though you can watch some
spectacular sunsets, as the sun goes down at the confluence of the River Mandovi and the Arabian
Sea....more...

c) Bambolim Beach:
7 km from Panaji along the Panaji-Vasco road to the airport, Bambolim is a minor beach
frequented more by the local populace rather than by tourists. ...more...

d) Caranzalem Beach:
Though not very pretty, Caranzalem (between Miramar and Dona Paula) is quiet and safe for
swimming. It has water scooters and other water sports facilities as there is no undercurrent.

e) Vaniguinim Beach:
The Vaniguinim Beach overlooks the Mormugao Bay but is accessible only from the Cidade de Goa
Hotel.

f) Bogmalo Beach:
Just 4 km from the airport is the small cove at Bogmalo, not easily accessible, and, therefore fairly
empty. Bogmalo lies between Panaji and the port town of Vasco da Gama; it’s good for swimming,
and not too crowded....more...

3. MARGAO :
Margao, the capital of Salcete taluka and the chief town of South Goa, has a decidedly Portuguese
flavour and an old world charm. It’s a vibrant cosmopolis with a migrant populace from
Maharashtra and Karnataka, peppering the existing Konkanese and Portuguese cultures; and this is
also where some of Goa’s top beaches are.

a) Colva Beach:
Colva beach, 6 km from Margao, has a throbbing nightlife but a somewhat downmarket ambience
by day. Colva’s highly commercialised with resort complexes, large holiday crowds, trinket stalls,
discos and restaurants, but a walk of a few hundred metres along the beach in either direction
takes visitors to the quieter, more private spots. If one can get away from the crowded main
beach, Colva is a great place to shack up. There’s good accommodation, great restaurants, the
waterfront is clean and the water’s safe for swimming. ...more...

b) Benaulim Beach:
Benaulim lies right in the centre of Colva, 7 km west of Margao. Benaulim remained a sleepy
hamlet for centuries, then woke up with quite a bang- and is today a popular tourist hotspot with a
crop of luxury resorts, time-share apartments, guesthouses and moderately priced hotels. Dozens
of restaurants and beach shacks dot the seafront, serving authentic Goan seafood besides a variety
of other cuisines. Despite its popularity, Benaulim still has an air of tranquility: the beachfront is
beautiful, with silver sands, shady palm trees and safe waters. ...more...

c) Mobor Beach:
Mobor is the spot where Colva ends and the River Assolna meets the sea, and the site of an
exclusive luxury resort. The beach at Mobor lies in a sheltered cove overlooked by cliffs on one side
- it makes for a picture perfect setting. ...more...

d) Majorda Beach:
Majorda lies 2 km north of Colva, and is a pretty beach dominated by a luxury resort, hotels,
restaurants, shops, boutiques and the best European bakeries in Goa. ...more...

South of Margao lie a host of quieter, more isolated beaches; venture beyond Cape Rama to the
peace and beauty of the beaches at Palolem and Galgibaga- perfect for a day away from the
crowds of bathers flocking around the more touristy beaches.

Nearby Agonda and Rajbag beaches lack shelter from the sun, making them rather isolated and
inconvenient.
 Beaches in Goa
Anjuna Beach ( North Goa ) Arambol Beach (North Goa )
Baga Beach (North Goa) Bambolim Beach (North Goa)

Bogmalo Beach ( North Goa ) Benaulim Beach (South Goa)

Calangute Beach (North Goa) Candolim Beach ( North Goa)

Cavelossim Beach ( South Goa ) Chapora Beach ( North Goa)

Colva Beach ( South Goa) Dona Paula Beach (Center Goa)

Majorda Beach (South Goa) Miramar Beach (South Goa)

Mobor Beach ( South Goa) Palolem Beach (South Goa)

Vagator Beach ( North Goa) Varca Beach (South Goa)

Viva Goa!!
By: cpearl | Jan 26, 2003 04:20 PM

There are scant words that describe this beautiful and intriguing state of India.Her
beauty lies in her beaches and the hearts of the lovely people who live here.

Goa

Liberated in 1961,Goa is one of the youngest states of India.After 450 years of

Portuguese domination,the mark of the western ways remain indelible on the goan
soil.There are many goans who speak Portuguese and Portuguese songs of that period
are still sung today for weddings and other festive occasions.

Goa has endless beaches over-lapping each other at some point.Foreign tourists
converge on these beaches during the summer and spend infinite hours working up a
tan.The language spoken is Konkani though most of the people and shop owners speak
English.

As with many a paradise,Goa too has its shortcomings.The infrastructure is

abominable.One minute you’re driving along a smooth road,the next,you’re in the largest
pothole imaginable.Electricity is inconsistent;I wouldn’t be surprised if candlelight dinners
originated here!Telephones!Graham Bell would have a fit!You may be calling overseas
but that doesn’t stop your phone from being cross-connected with the neighbours!

Beaches

Goa is famous for its beaches for various reasons.Rave parties are the call of the
weekends and sometimes even weekdays!Beer,booze and drugs flows non-stop at
these parties and its common for the police to step in and put all the revelry to a stop.

One of the most famous beaches is the Calangute beach.This beach has been
completely commercialized to cater to the needs and wants of the tourists.In the summer
season,many of the local residents put up little shacks on the beach-front and lease it
out to tourists while others set up temporary restaurants serving traditional goan
food.Baga beach is adjacent to the Calangute beach and one can walk into Baga
without even realizing it!

Vagator beach where one can sit atop the hill and admire the sea and its temperament.
Ozra beach is next to Vagator beach but not as easily accessible.This is also known as
the nude beach as it does have foreign tourists “au naturelle” sun-bathing near the
“Nudity Prohibited” sign!

Anjuna beach is what I call the “hippie beach”.Hundreds of tourists flock here in their
orange hair-dos and pierced body parts.A flea market is held on this beach every
Wednesday and one can get some neat bargains for silver and other assorted stuff.
One of the most beautiful beaches is the Colva Beach in the South of Goa.Its pristine
white sands stretch as far as the eye can see.
Bogmalo beach is another gorgeous beach.A plus point of this beach is that there’s a
five-star hotel on it.
Cities

Panjim or Panaji is the capital of Goa and the seat of political debates.The capital is also
the home of a two designer wear stores by the indigenous designers Wendell Rodrigues
and Savio Jon.

Mapusa is the where one can enjoy the Friday market alongside a whole mixed bag of
people like the fisher folk,the NRI’s,the locals and the tourists.One should beware of
pickpockets at all times!

Margao is a city in the South of Goa.It is quite famous for its shopping options,churches
and some pretty good restaurants.Do pay a visit to “Martins Corner” where you can
enjoy an excellent cuisine.

Vasco is another south Goan port city where the red light area is the hub of activity!The
world famous explorer,Vasco De Gama,first landed in this city and is said to have given
it his name.

Places to go; things to see

There is no limit to the entertainment one can enjoy in Goa.Pubs,discos,flea

markets,dances and shows are perpetual.

Saturday Night Market

This market starts at five in the evening at a beach area called Arpora and goes on till
eleven.Foreigners and Indians alike flock here to buy and sell their wares. Prices are
sky-high but bargaining is acceptable.

Caravela

The floating casino is said to be quite popular with the nouveau riche and the
industrialists.At 9 p.m. sharp,the boat leaves the dock for a lazy cruise down the
Mandovi river. There is non-stop music firstly from a very talented live band of musicians
and then a DJ.The entry is Rs. 3000 per head,which includes a buffet and unlimited
drinks and beverages and cigarettes of all varieties.

Sunset Cruise

The state capital is famous for its cruises along the Mandovi river.The most popular one
is the sunset river cruise.There are many boats/ferries offering this cruise,the most
popular one being the Santa Monica offering a variety of dances and beverages.

Dona Paula

For the incurably romantic,Dona Paula is a must see. Though it has other attractions,the
main feature is the statue of a lovely young lass atop a small hillock close to the
jetty.Folklore tells the tale of a young girl named Paula from a rich Portuguese family
who fell in love with a handsome young fisherman against her fathers wishes.One day,it
is said,the young man went away to sea and never returned.Paula spent the rest of her
days atop a hillock awaiting her loved one to return till one day,she herself turned into
stone.
Old Goa

The Basilica of Bom Jesú lies in this antique city across the Mandovi bridge.Once every
decade,the body of the patron saint of Goa,Saint Francis Xavier,is exposed for
veneration to the public.The feast is on the 3rd of December and people from all over
flock to the Basilica to pray and enjoy the wares put up by the folk in the church grounds.
One can also find the imposing ruins of Saint Augustines church nearby.

Sculpture of Sant Mirabai

Said to be the longest laterite sculpture in India,this statue is carved into the ground and
is around 10kms from the Southern city of Margao.

Also in the south of Goa,is the Shantadurga temple and Shri Bhagvati temples,the latter
said to be more than five hundred years old
.

The culinary delights

Though the staple diet of the goans is rice and fish,pork is also an integral part in the
goan meal.

When in Goa, do not miss the famous sorpotel, vindaloo (both pork dishes),goa
sausages(the first love of every goan),fish reichado(fish stuffed with a red paste of red
chillies & vinegar),mussels and other assorted dishes one should not miss.
For the visitor with the sweet tooth,Goa has many unique sweet dishes to tickle the
palette.Do not miss bebinca(a concoction of egg whites,flour,sugar all baked in
layers),dosh(a supple mix of coconut/gram),dodhol(a divine wobbly gooey layer of
jaggery stirred over a hot flame for hours and hours)and bathika(a mix of
coconut,sugar,cashew seeds baked to a golden consistency that simply melts in your
mouth!).
For an intoxicating evening,try the goan caju feni–a preparation mainly brewed/distilled
from the abundant cashew fruits of Goa.

When to go

Though Goa is the perennial party zone,the monsoons tend to dampen the spirits and
Lent lends sobriety to the gaiety.

The sweltering summer is a season where one must exercise caution as the solar rays
tend to leave ones skin flaking from sunburn.

The best time of the year is the winter i.e. the months from November to February.The
spirit of Christmas is in the air and the gaiety is contagious.The Christmas dance is
packed with fun with live bands belting out top of the pops à la goan style.

Some of the information in my review comes from www.goa-world.net.It is very

informative and gives a lot of handy hints and tips.

Thanks for reading my ramblings on this place I call home.

By Concerned | Jan 26, 2003 04:32 PM
HiYa Pearl...

Very well written review ! I have been to Goa once & fell in love with that place. The few things I
would have added in this review would be the Goa’s inland waters ’’ Ferry boats ’’ , The unique ’’
Scooter Taxis ’’ & The world famous ’’ Goa Carnival ’’

Keep smiling ...

Goa - u- tom !!

Ha Ha Ha

By cpearl | Jan 26, 2003 05:30 PM

Hi Concerned,

Thanks for your comment. You are not going to believe how long this review was!

I had to chop and change becoz of the 8000 characters limit!

Hope other readers will understand!

Cheers!

By zzzzz00 | Jan 26, 2003 06:10 PM

hey cpearl,

Nice article. I have fallen in love with Goa though i have never been there. But, please try to cut
short them from next time, because lots of people(like me) are not a big
’’fan’’ of long articles

:)

By PrashD | Jan 26, 2003 06:52 PM

That was a comprehensive review from you and one should expect no less from a tourist’s point
of view. Infact there should have been additions..but as you say, the 8000 word limit....aargh

One would think that Goa’s success comes from the fact that nearly everthing from the food to
the attractions has become a sort of a trademark and can be related to just at the mention of the
name.... brand marketing of some sort without the effort so to say..

Neat stuff, keep ’em coming!

Prashanth

By haljosgeo | Jan 27, 2003 03:57 PM

I spent my New Year there and would vouch for this place, a must see for everyone on earth. A
long and superb review.

By rajasagar | Jan 27, 2003 09:31 PM

Goa is a dream destination to just laze around and do nothing in particular.

you know, the place goes off into a siesta around noon and doesn’t wake up till about 3 or 3-30
pm !

I had to calm my growling hunger pangs till 3-30 last time I skipped breakfast out there.

Cool review and the right tourist brochure to read for the un-initiated.

Just chill !
Raja
By fatcat | Jan 28, 2003 12:38 AM
Hi Cpearl,

Excellent review. I was just wondering whether those motor-cycle taxis are still plying - those
seem to be a speciality in Goa.

Thanks for a nice read.

Regards
Prasad

By xelavie | Jan 29, 2003 06:19 AM

I got to know Goa only in crossword puzzles where the clue is An Indian State. I didn’t know that
Goa is such a nice place, a tourist spot of sorts.

Cpearl, you really have a way with words particularly when the review is about a place. I think
you’d be a good tourism person.

Keep on writing... Alex

By rekh | Jan 31, 2003 06:20 PM

of an excellent place :) been there last year & my fav beach was Baga beach ! Goa is a superb
place for holidays but too crowded at times. U’ve covered almost everything abt a fab place.
Good work CP :)))

ciao
rek

By cuchillo99 | Feb 03, 2003 09:51 AM

Hey there,

your review brought back warm memories of our trip to Goa. It is indeed a place to relax and let
go.And though drinks are cheaper, that was the last thing on our mind as we toured Goa. The
most memorable beach for me is the Arambal beach, which is quite a distance away from Goa.
But it is great.

Thanx for making me relive my trip to

Goa.

By Santoz | Feb 03, 2003 12:56 PM

Fab rev pearl !
Have been to goa on a number of occ. but could not have managed a better rev !

Sorry am late for the Carnival ;-)

smiles
santosh

By richi | Feb 05, 2003 07:40 PM

You always write nicely.But abot GOA;my favourite place-very nicely written!This promted me 2
go 4 shoot 2 GOA again;Thanx 2 U!

By anirbanc | Feb 11, 2003 04:53 PM

you reminded me of our visit to Goa and the way we had freaked out. I love this place and the
beaches mesmerize me. Thanks for writing such a wonderful review.
Cheers,
Anirban.

By bhatt99 | Mar 11, 2003 12:00 PM

hi pearl
tell me have u been to these places personally??

if yes, than buddy i m sure u ’ve a time of yr. life.

keep writing.

keep Rockin

bhatt

By jonam_t | Mar 20, 2003 07:05 AM

Yes I agree entirely with you that Goa is a fantastic place. I have been ther but once for a week,
and what a week that was!!! Thrilling, Exciting, adventurous, beautiful landscape. Worth going to
again and again.

By Mesquite_Bean | Apr 08, 2003 07:19 AM

You’ve made this place sound like a true paradise. I wanna go there.....TODAY.

By pinks25 | Apr 30, 2003 06:39 PM

you have written an excellent review on goa. I went there last year and thoroughly enjoyed
myself. my best beach in goa is baga beach though I found vagator very picturesque. very well
written.

regards
priya

By ummagumma | Jun 15, 2004 10:55 PM

Hi Pearl,

Great review. Ive been to Goa some 15 times in the last 7 years, & most of those times I used to
stay in Baga. Baga was almost like my second hometown as many of the locals knew me at that
time. The beaches, the friendly people, the sarpotel, vindaloo, the parties, the shacks on the
beach, breakfast at infantaria, nights at Titos, the booze, the flea markets, saturday night bazaar,
the music..........can never forget those moments.

By svjayalakshmi | May 31, 2005 02:47 PM

Hi cpearl,

It was lovely to read ur beautiful & lively review on a beautiful place. I’ve heard a great deal about
Goa & still longing to pay a visit ! Ur bubbly review brought the place into my eyes…… keep
writing,

Cheers
Jaya

By iamsonali | May 31, 2005 07:04 PM

You have covered almost everything about Goa that a visitor needs to know.

When I visited Goa for the first time, some years back, I was amazed by its culture! I wish the
whole of India was like that - open, smiling and welcoming.

Also remember the yummy sausage pao and endless bloody marys on the beach... :)