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Archive for the ‘Goa’ Category

Colva beach is situated about 6 km from Margao City, Goa. It is situated around 40 km from Panaji (Panjim), the capital of Goa, India. The distance of Colva beach from the Benaulim beach where tourists often go to spend some quiet moments is only 2 km. Colva beach of south Goa is the most popular beach in Goa. This picturesque beach is less packed than Anjuna and Calanguate beach. This is the beach where tourists want to only relax, relax and relax. According to popularity, this picturesque beach has the honor of being second after Calanguate beach.

Colva is not one of the traditionally known beaches of Goa. As compared to other popular destinations it is a more recent discovery. But whatever it may be it is 20-km long bliss of virgin white sands, palm fringed,and sun beaches. Undoubtedly, Colva is the most popular beach of Goa. Off lately, the quiet life of Colva has been punctuated by the number of hotels and buildings that have come up here in quick succession of one another. The annual religious event of Fama of Menino Jesuse (Child Jesus) is held at the church in Colva since the 17th century.

Specaility Of Colva Beach

Many choose to go to the Goa Colva beach to experience a change from the crowded Anjuna or Calangute beaches. Colva beach in Goa is one beach which is usually less crowded. There are many shacks lined up along the Colva beach which offers you delicious Goan cuisine to be washed down by innovative cock-tails. Sit in one of those shack, savour the mouth-watering food while looking at the vast sea in front of you.

Though there are eating joints and hotels around Colva, the Colva beach still manages to keep its serenity in tact. Unlike Anjuna or Calangute, Colva beach in Goa gained popularity only lately. Over the years, many hotels and buildings have sprung from nowhere in and around these beaches in Goa. Colva beach is one of those beaches in this small Indian state of Goa that is developing at a very good pace.

Duration : 7 Nights / 8 Days
Destinations : Periyar – Cochin – Goa – Mumbai

Day 01: Periyar

On arrival at Periyar, you will be taken on a tour of the sanctuary. The night will be spent at Periyar.

Day 02: Periyar – Cochin

From Periyar, you will be taken to Kottayam. Tour the backwaters of this paradise on earth. Take a cruise to Alleppey. After disembarking at Alleppey, you will be driven to Cochin.

Day 03: Cochin

Tour the ancient port city of Cochin, famed for its ancient maritime links to civilizations in Europe, Asia and Africa. Visit the Mattancherry Palace, the St. Francis Church and the Synagogue. 7th century rock – cut cave temples dedicated to Lord Shiva are situated a top a hill on the island. With everlasting memories of the day spend night at hotel.

Day 04: Cochin – Goa

In the morning, you will be taken to the Cochin airport, from where you will take a flight to Goa. Overnight at Goa.

Day 05: Goa

Tour this beach paradise. Spend the day at the beach, explore the old churches, visit the ancient monuments at Goa.

Day 06: Goa – Mumbai

Take a flight to Mumbai from Goa. After arriving at Mumbai, you will be taken to a hotel where you can spend the rest of the day relaxing.

Day 07: Mumbai

Tour this busy western metropolis, the financial capital of India. The Elephanta Caves are the highlight of the Mumbai visit. The Kamla Nehru Park and Hanging Gardens are also a must visit.

Day 08: Departure from Mumbai

You will be taken to the Mumbai airport, from where you will board a flight for home

Day 09 – Hospet

Come with us this morning to explore the beautiful world of Hospet. The touristic importance of this lies in its proximity to Hampi, the site of the medieval Vijaynagar empire, (13 kms) is the most evocative of all the ruins in Karnataka.. Overnight at hotel.

Goa the tropical paradise is one of the most happening and visited paradise in India. Goa Tourism is simply irresistible coupled virgin beaches with beckoning tropical palm trees, mesmerizing wildlife parks and sanctuaries, fasinating rich culture and traditions, picturesque waterfalls, scenic sightseeing spots, colourful fairs and festivals and the wonderful accommodation facilities of beach resorts.

Tourism in Goa is adomed with the beguilling charm of the stunning beaches whose beauty and splendor are simply beyond words to describe. Today Goa has become internationally famousdue to its unparallel splendor of the tourism attractions that galore visitors from across the world.

Beaches In Goa

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.

Candolim Beach

Candolim is the best beach, for those who want to spend some time in solitude and insolence,away from the hustle and bustle of modern life, though one cannot expect too much of facilities there. It is the best place to rejuvenate one’s senses by hiring out a beach umbrella and satisfying one’s taste buds with a variety of good food available there. A visit to this beach is very relaxing and very appropriate for practicing, Yoga & Meditation, as it is less crowded and quite peaceful, as compared to Anjuna or Calangute beaches, because there aren’t any resorts all around the beach.

As a part of a 30 km stretch, of beach coastline along the Arabian Sea, that begins at Fort Aguada and ends at Chapora Beach, Candolim is a North Goan beach, which makes it the first beach that can be approached from the city of Panaji.

Baga Beach

Baga Beach is located just 10-km west of Mapusa and extends essentially out of Calangute Beach. It is quaintly located by the Arabian Sea on the west coast of Goa. It is nestled in the rocky, wooded headland. Unlike the very crowded and busy Calangute, Baga has many unperturbed nooks with unspoiled scenic beauty that is more varied than just the plain beach of Calangute. The Beach receives most of its tourist influx from the British package tourists. It has a beautiful retreat house serenely located atop a hill.

Baga beach is quite a hit with western tourists who love its water sports and fishing expeditions. Baga has the best restaurants in Goa. From standard beach shacks to rustling pizzerias and terrace cafes serving real espresso coffee, Baga has all types of foodie destinations.

Dona Paula Beach

Dona Paula is 7-km from Panjim and is different from other Goan beaches in the sense that this is one of the beaches that’s washed by both the Goan sea and the goan rivers. This beach of Goa carries with it an aura of both romance and myth. It is said to be haunted by lost love of Dona Paula de Menezes. Dona Paula Beach is also house to the Governor of Goa, known as Cabo Raj Bhavan.

Besides Dona Paula itself there are Miramir beach, which lies 4-km north of Dona Paula, and the Vainguinim Beach, which is situated 1-km west of the beach side. The National Oceanographic Institute was set up to study the diverse marine biology. The major attraction of the institute is its Marine Biology Museum and Taxonomy Reference Center.

Miramar Beach

Miramar Beach-Lying against the estuary of the river Mandovi,it is just 3 km from Panaji in the north of the state and a km away from Dona Paula. Also known as, Gaspar Dias,it is a lovely golden beach of soft sand,occupied by a thick grove of shady palms, facing the blue Arabian Sea and forming a dense canopy over the area. As the word ‘Miramar’ in Portuguese, means, the viewing of the sea, so one can have a panoramic view of the sea, and the Aguada fort just across the Mandovi River.

The most captivating, view is created ,when this 2 km long coast of fine , soft & silvery sand bed sparkles in the moonlight.It provides the much-desired solitude & isolation, for those who want a few moments of life away from the crazy crowd of the city,as it is not too much crowded.Its good location, peaceful & quiet atmosphere makes it an ideal place.

Colva Beach

Colva is not one of the traditionally known beaches of Goa. As compared to other popular destinations it is a more recent discovery. But whatever it may be it is 20-km long bliss of virgin white sands, palm fringed,and sun beaches. Undoubtedly, Colva is the most popular beach of Goa. Off lately, the quiet life of Colva has been punctuated by the number of hotels and buildings that have come up here in quick succession of one another. The annual religious event of Fama of Menino Jesuse (Child Jesus) is held at the church in Colva since the 17th century.

You can savor a quiet stroll on the silvery sands of the Colva Beach on a moonlit night or a sunbath on the golden sands of Colva on sunny morning. That certainly makes your stay at Colva an utterly romantic experience.

Goa is home to some of the most stunning beaches in the world. A holiday makers paradise Goa’s major charm lies in its sun kissed beaches. The beaches in Goa are an amalgamation of serene beauty, excellent Goan cuisines, flea markets, and swaying palm trees. The coastline of Goa stretches over 125 km and the beaches cover an area of 83 km. The beaches in Goa are a major cause for the tourism of the state. The beaches in Goa are speckled with quaint little beach shacks that serve ice cold mocktails and spicy Goan cuisine.

The innumerable beaches in Goa offer something for everyone, from seafood shacks, to luxury resorts to beach huts, trance parties to tranquility. If you want to be amidst all the din and happenings of the state then the beaches of North Goa are perfectly suitable and in case you want to relax in complete solitude then the beaches of South Goa form the perfect destination for you.

The beaches in South Goa are an ideal destination for honeymoon couples. The beaches in South Goa are less crowded, clean, less commercialized and offer the silence and calm that is sought after by privacy seekers. Most of the resorts in South Goa offer enthralling views of the Arabian Sea and private dining restaurants by the sea shore. The beaches in South Goa are also an ideal place for long cruise rides and fishing.

On the other hand the beaches in North Goa are fully commercialized. Most of the beaches in North Goa offer a range of water sports, fine food and wine, upmarket restaurants, dolphin sightseeing, yoga, tai chi, reiki and ayurvedic massage therapies. Mostly foreign and local tourists are found in the active beaches of North Goa. Foreigners are seen sun bathing for hours on the sandy beaches of north Goa.

North Goa Beaches
The beaches in north Goa stretch over a distance of 30 kilometers. The beautiful beaches are the venues of entertaining parties, carnivals and adventure sports activities. The beaches in North Goa are -

* Arambol

* Morjim

* Chapora

* Vagator

* Anjuna

* Baga,

* Calangute

* Candolim

* Sinquerim

* Bambolim

* Miramar

* Dona Paula

Anjuna, Vagator, Baga, Dona Paula and Bambolim are among the most famous beaches in Goa. They offer a great deal of relaxation and recreation to the tourists.

South Goa beaches
The beaches in South Goa offer tourists relatively quieter and secluded ambience, along with splendid natural beauty. The beaches of south Goa are

* Bogmalo

* Majorda

* Colva

* Benaulim

* Varca

* Cavelossim

* Mobor

* Canaguinim

* Agonda

* Palolem

The golden sands, azure waters and an eternal bliss have always been a cause of enticement for the beach lovers who come to explore the Anjuna Beach from various parts of the world. Just laze and luxuriate at the beach which is solely meant for the purpose of unwinding. This beach occupies a reputed position among the various other beaches of Goa simply because of its unrivalled charm.

Location of the Colva Beach :

Colva beach lies in the south of Goa at the distance of 6 km from the city of Margao. It is the longest beach in Goa. The best time to visit the beach lies between November to February. Colva is a small village which is located in the south of Goa right on the shores of the Arabian Sea and it is at a distance of 39 km from Panaji.

Climate of Colva Beach :

Goa enjoys the pleasant climate throughout the year. The climate basically remains consistent throughout the year. Summers stats from mid March and remains till June. The maximum temperature in summers reaches up to 32.7°C and the minimum temperature is 24°C. Monsoon period in Goa rests from June to September. Winters starts at the end of November and remains till February. The maximum temperature in winters reaches 32.2°C and the minimum temperature is 21°C . There is no drastic rise during the summers and no drastic fall during the winters.

Key Attractions:

On the tour to the Colva Beach the tourists can make a visit to a very simple Church called The Church of Lady of Mercy. The church houses the wonderful statue of Menino Jesuse. It was built in the 17 century and is quite famous for the annual religious festival called ‘Fama of Menino Jesuse’. Tourists can go for the leisure walk to the nearby Colva village. There you can converse with the local fisherman and know about their lifestyle and livelihood. Than you can spend time at The Church of St John, located just 2 km from the beach. Tourists can even enjoy the bull’s fight from 4 pm onwards between the month of October to May. The fight is held in the rice field on the beats of the Konkani music. Other than these do not forget to make a visit to the pristine Benaulim beach near to the Colva beach. Benaulim provides you the completely friendly environment as well as relaxing gateway.

Food :

While on the beach you can try out the exotic sea food. Do not forget to taste the most famous drink of Goa called Feni. It is also known as Fenny. You can either try out the Cashew feni or the coconut feni. Both the drinks are equally delicious. You can even try out the cuisines from the nearby stalls.

How To Reach:

By Air: You can reach Colva beach by the air transport as the nearest airport is Dabolim which is at a distance of 29 km from Panaji and 68 km from Colva.

By Rail: The nearest railway station is Karmali which is at a distance of 11 km from Panaji.

Goa which is rightly regarded as the “Pearl of the East” is a paradise for all nature lovers with its golden beaches and palm fringed beachfront. It is a wonderful retreat for all the nature lovers and tourism in Goa is burgeoning in leaps and bounds. Its Gothic churches, ancient ruins, palm-fringed beaches, coconut groves, ferry rides, and bubbly folk music are some of the things it is characterized by. The solitude hunters are definitely going to make Goa as their stopover in their tour itinerary.

Goa, the beautiful state located on the western coast of India, is blessed with many attractive tourist attractions. That includes, sun kissed beaches, churches, forts, temples, lavish hotel resorts and colonial monuments.

Goa has a long stretch of coastline of about 131 km and you will be enchanted by the beautiful beaches in Goa. A salubrious climate, friendly people, appetizing food, white-washed churches and a fascinating aura of the colonial times lends an unprecedented touch to this small state of western India. Not only the Indian tourists, the Europeans are also beguiled by the natural exquisiteness of this wonderful tropical paradise and drop in to Goa for spending vacations.

The Beaches of Goa

Beaches are the attractions of Goa that are marked as the first one on the tour itinerary of Goa. Calangute Beach, called the Queen of Indian beaches is a stretched for 7 kms. Anjuna, the traditional ramble center, is admired by the back packers. It is a real lively place with many eating joints, restaurants and bars. Baga Beach, a fascinating beach is near Anjuna Beach. Dona Paula Beach 7 kms far from Panaji gives a best opportunity to the tourists for best relaxation and sunbath.

Colva Beach near Margo offers nice accommodation options. Naturally blessed beach are Arambol Beach in the north and Palolem Beach in the south. Other famous beaches include Miramar Beach, Agonda Beach, Mandrem Beach, Morjim Beach, Miramar Beach, Palolem Beach, Siridao Beach, Patnem Beach, Keri Beach, Lemos Beach, Mandrem Beach, Morji Beach, Asvem Beach and many more. The resorts on the Goa Beach Resorts offer all the modern tourist facilities in Goa.

Dona Paula beach is located just about 7-km from Panaji. This place is called the Lovers Paradise in Goa, named after Dona Paula de Menezes. A myth has been attached to this place and 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.

The enticing story is about a girl named Dona Paula de Menzes, after whom the Goa beach has been named. She was the daughter of a viceroy in colonial India, who threw herself off the cliff, when refused permission to marry a local fisherman, Gaspar Dias.

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.

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. Jet Skiing is a very common sport at this beach.

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. Dona Paula is also famous for the Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, where you can spot both migratory and local birds.

Goa Dona Paula beach associated with a romantic myth, is one of the hottest tourist spot in Goa. people flock to the Dona Paula beach not only to enjoy the sun and the sea but also to indulge in water sports on the clear waters. The Dona Paula Beach offers an opportunity to the tourists to have sunbath and buy cheap seaside goods from local vendors.

The beauty of Goa Dona Paula beach has been enhanced by a poky past which has the tourists thronging to this place. history goes that the beach is named after Dona Paula de Menses, daughter of a viceroy (in colonial India) who threw herself off the cliff, when refused permission to marry a local fisherman, Gaspar Dias. The beach has also been the location for many Indian movies. Given this dual attraction, Dona Paula Beach has become popular among the tourist spots in Goa.

Cabo Raj Niwas
Built in 1540 AD opposite Fort Aguada on the south headland of the river Mandovi, the Cabo (the Portuguese word for cape) Palace fortress housed the Franciscan monastery, which later (1594 AD) became the official residence of the Governor of Goa. The beauty, solitude and uniqueness and well-planned features are some of the main attractions of the Cabo. A small Chapel was constructed at the very end of the mansion dedicated to Our virgin lady of The cape (Nossa Senhora do Cabo). It also served as a landmark for the seafarers.

The official reception area consists area consists of a large hall called the Darbar Hall, used at the time of receptions and swearing in ceremonies and other official occasions. The Dining room has a seating capacity of over 30 persons. The living quarters of the Governor and his family are on the same floor. A glossy verandah runs along the entire portion overlooking the Mandovi Bay and the Arabian Sea giving one a feeling of being on a ship’s deck.

Mormugao Fort
It is situated at the extreme northwestern point of Salsete and guard the entrance to the port. Located just north of Vasco Da Gama city and just south of Mormugao Port, this is the closest fort to Goa’s airport. Primarily, Mormugao was generalized to be the capital of the Portuguese empire, hence the fort was erected and in 1703 the viceroy moved into the town. The fortress is about 10 km in circumference and boasts of possessing some ancient articles like 20 bulwarks, three magazines, five prisons, a chapel and quarters for the guard. There were two beautiful fountains. The Fonte de Malabar kept the royal arms and was said to bob up from a gold mine and the Fonte de Santo Ignacio which had a more modest beginning in a sulphur mine.

Tiracol Fort
The fort has in its courtyard the century old Church of St. Anthony. The church is opened only on special occasions and has a classical late Goan facade. The church is full of light and dominates an elegant look. Cross the court and walk up the narrow stone stairs, through short passages into split level rooms, which follow the shapes of headland: old furniture, superb views over the river Tiracol and the beaches and are the main attractions of the fort. Fort Therekol in “Goa” now runs as a hotel called Fort Tiracol. The rooms within the church have been converted into beautiful massive rooms with multi-cuisine bar and restaurant. All rooms are equipped with modern facilities.onstituent of Goan history, and being one of the most important India forts it is also very popular with those indulging in historical travel activities of Goa.