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.
