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Anjuna Beach
Anjuna beach finds equal favor amongst all kinds of crowds, be it a group of
overlanders, monks, defiant ex-hippies, artists, seers, researchers or just
someone looking for a place to rejuvenate. The place has life and enthusiasm
written in its air. The all night long beach parties, the Christmas to New
Year frenzy or the swanky full moon parties, Anjuna is always up for it. On
a day trip to Anjuna you can savor the best delights at the famous flea
market or the shopping hangout off the beach or else you can enjoy the easy
strolls on a moonlit night on the cool silvery sands.
8-km west of Mapusa, Anjuna is one of the most popular beaches in Goa. The
sea is calm so you can enjoy swimming or enjoy the allure of sunset from any
of the beach resorts’ balcony. Enjoy the funky music and loud beach parties
that are a fixture of Anjuna. For the gourmets Anjuna offers the best of
western seafood. You can choose from amongst any of the beachfront or
village hotels. All of them are equally simple and serve equally delighting
food and chilled beer.
The best bets are the semi open-air, thatched palm leaf affairs,
specializing in fish and western food. The beach also offers fresh fruit
buys such as watermelons, pineapples and locally grown coconuts.
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Beaches
Baga Beach
A Charming Combination Of Land And Sea Baga, 10-km west of Mapusa, is
basically an extension of Calangute; even the locals are unable to decide
where ends and the other begin. Lying in the lee of a rocky, wooded
headland, the only difference between this far northern end of the beach and
its more congested centre is that the scenery here is marginally more varied
and picturesque.
A small river flows into the sea at the top of the village, below a broad
spur of soft white sand, from where a dirt track strikes across an expanse
of paddy fields towards Anjuna. The old red tiled fishers houses behind the
dunes have long been swamped by gaudily lit bars, Tandoori terrace
restaurants and handicraft shops, but one doesn't feel quite so hemmed in as
at Calangute.
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Beaches
Benaulim Beach
According to Hindu mythology Goa was created when the sage Shri Parasurama,
Lord Vishnu's sixth incarnation, fired an arrow into the sea from the top of
the Western Ghats and ordered the waters to recede. The spot where the shaft
fell to earth, known in Sanskrit as "Banali" and later corrupted by the
Portuguese to Benaulim, lies in the centre of Colva Beach, 7-km west of
Margao.
A Sleepy Village
Only a decade ago, this fishing and rice-farming village, scattered around
the coconut groves and paddy fields between the main Colva-Mobor Road and
the dunes, had barely made it onto the backpackers map. Now, the shady lane
leading through it is studded with guesthouses and souvenir stalls while the
paddy fields on the outskirts are gradually disappearing under a rash of
gigantic luxury resorts and time-share apartment blocks. For the time being,
however, this remains a peaceful and welcoming place to unwind.
Either side of the sand blown beachfront, the gently shelving sands shimmer
away almost to the horizon, litered with photogenic wooden fishing boats
that provide welcome shade if the walk from the palm trees to the sea gets
too much. Hawkers, itinerant masseurs and fruit wallahs appear from time to
time, but one can easily escape them by heading south towards neighbouring
Varca, where tourism has thus far made little impact.
Moreover, the sea is safe for swimming, being generally jellyfish-free,
while the village itself boasts a few serviceable bars and restaurants,
several telephone booths and a couple of stores.
How To Get There
By Road :
Buses from Margao, Colva, Varca, Cavelossim and Mobor roll through Benaulim
every thirty minutes, dropping passengers at the Maria Hall crossroads.
By Air :
International and domestic
flights can be booked or reconfirmed at meeting point travel, in the centre
of the village, which also does deluxe bus, train and catamaran ticketing
for cities elsewhere in India.
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Beaches
Bogmalo Beach
Immediately south of the airport, the Mormugao peninsula's sun parched
central plateau tumbles to a flat-bottomed valley lined with coconut trees
and redbrick huts. The sandy beach at the end of the cove would be even more
picturesque were it not for the monstrous multi-storey edifice perched above
it. Until Oberoi erected a huge five star hotel here, Bogmalo was just
another small fishing village, hemmed in by a pair of palm fringed headlands
at the northern end of Colva bay.
A Former Fishing Village, Today's Tourist Hangout The village is still
present at Bogmalo, complete with a tiny-whitewashed Chapel and gangs of
hogs nosing through the rubbish, but its environs have been transformed.
Pricey caf?bars blaring Western music have crept up the beach, while the
clearing below the hotel is prowled by assiduous Kashmiri handicraft
vendors.
Even so, compared with Calangute Or Colva, Bogmalo is still a small-scale
resort. As long as one hasn't come to Goa to get away from it all or party
all night, then one'll find Bogmalo congenial enough. The beach is clean and
not too crowded, the water reasonably safe for swimming, and there are
plenty of places to eat, drink and shop. If, on the other hand, one is
looking for somewhere not yet, on the package tourist map, one'll be better
off further south, at the far end of Colva Beach or beyond.
How To Get There
By Road : Bogmalo can be reached by bus or taxi
from Vasco da Gama, 8-km northwest. It's also near enough to the airport for
a last minute dip before catching a plane.
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Beaches
Colva Beach
A hot season retreat for Margao's moneyed middle classes since long before
Independence, Colva is the oldest and largest of South Goa's resorts. Its
leafy outlying 'Vaddos', or wards are pleasant enough, dotted with colonial
style villas and ramshackle fishing huts. The beachfront is a collection of
concrete hotels, souvenir stalls and fly blown snack bars strewn around a
central roundabout.
Each afternoon, busloads of visitors from out of state mill around here
after a paddle on the crowded foreshore, pestered by postcard wallahs and
the little urchins whose families camp on the outskirts. If, however, one
wants to steer clear of this central market area, and stick to the cleaner,
greener outskirts, Colva can be a pleasant and convenient place to stay for
a while. Swimming is relatively safe while the sand, at least away from the
beachfront, is spotless and scattered with beautiful shells.
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Beaches
Vagator Beach
Barely a couple of kilometres of cliff tops and parched grassland separate
Anjuna from the southern fringes of its nearest neighbour, Vagator. A
desultory collection of ramshackle farmhouses and picturesque old Portuguese
bungalows scattered around a network of leafy lanes, the village is entered
at the east via a branch off the Mapusa Road, which passes a few small
guesthouses and restaurants before running down to the sea.
Dominated by the red ramparts of Chapora Fort, Vagator's broad white sandy
beach - Big Vagator Beach also known, as "Little Vagator" is undeniably
beautiful, just like a picture postcard.
For better, then, to head to the next cove south. Backed by a steep wall of
crumbling palm-fringed laterite, Ozran Vagator beach is more secluded and
much less accessible than either of its neighbours. To get there, walk ten
minutes from Big Vagator, or drive to the end of the lane off the main
Chapora-Anjuna Road, from where a footpath drops sharply down to a wide
stretch of level white sand.
At this southern end of the beach, a row of makeshift cafes provides shade
and sustenance for a predominantly Israeli crowd. Like Anjuna, Vagator is a
relaxed, comparatively undeveloped resort that appeals, in the main, to
budget travellers with time on their hands. Accommodation is limited,
however, and visitors frequently find themselves travelling to and from Baga
every day to find a suitable place to stay.
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Beaches
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.
The official residence of the Governor of Goa, Known as Cabo Raj Bhavan is
situated on the westernmost tip of Dona Paula. Along the road leading to
this place lies the ruins of the small military cemetery the British built
at their brief occupation of the Cabo, to deter the French from invading Goa.
A Love Story
Named after Dona Paula de Menezes, this place is called the Lovers Paradise
due to a myth that has been attached to this place. According one legend the
Viceroy's daughter after facing objections from her family about her love
affair with a poor fisherman jumped of the cliff.
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.
Water Sports
Tranquil and blue, Dona Paula unravel the ultimate in aquatic sport and
fun.Dona Paula Sports Club, Dona Paula offers some of the best water sports
facilities to the sports enthusiasts including Water-scooter rides,
Motor-boat rides, etc.
How To Get There
By Road :
Take a bus or motorcycle-taxi
from Panjim or the ferry service from Marmagao. Buses to Miramar & Dona
Paula leave every fifteen minutes from Panjim's Kadamba Bus Stand. One can
also pick them up from the steamer jetty, and at various points along the
waterfront.
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Beaches
Miramar Beach
On the way to Dona Paula, 1-km ahead of the confluence of the Arabian Sea
and Mandvi River, under the palm shade, is "Gasper Dias" or Miramar Beach
and is just 3-km away from the capital city of Panjim.
In Portuguese language 'Miramar' stand for viewing the sea. Situated on a
good location for evening walks, the coast is spread upto 2-km, having a
fine silvery sand bed. From here one has an excellent view of the Aguada
fort just across the Mandovi River.
Location
3-km From Panjim, North Goa.
Best Time
November To March. |
