Beaches of Goa

The Beaches of Goa are no doubt the best among the Beaches in India. Just Scroll down to know more about the umpteen choices available in Goa to enjoy the Goa Beaches. The fact is beyond doubt that the Beaches of Goa are paradise on earth in real sense.
Goa has a strikingly beautiful coast, with beautiful golden beaches, where clear stretches of sand extend for miles. With rocky crags, rippling rivers and lots of sun sand and sea, Goa is a holiday destination where you can have a carefree vacation. Made famous as a haunt of the hippies during the 1960's, Goa still retains the bohemian flavor of a place where a laidback lifestyle is the norm. With beach parties, flea markets, and water sports galore, for the adventurous and quiet getaways with pristine beaches for the seeker of solitude, the beaches of Goa offer a vacation you'll remember forever. Come to Anjuna, Dona Paula, Calangute, Benaulim and many more of the beautiful beaches of Goa.Know more about some of the famous beaches in Goa-

Anjuna Beach
It is 18 kms from Panaji and is a popular beach adjacent to Chapora Fort. Anjuna beach is popular with the younger generation. No Doubt, Beach Anjuna is one of the best beach in Goa. Nearby Anjuna beach there is magnificent Albuquerque Mansion built in 1920 that is flanked by octagonal towers and attractive Mangalore tiled roofs. This is also known as 'Goa Freak capital of the World'.

Arambol Beach
It is 50 kms from Panaji and is a unique beach in the North Goa. The beach is both rocky and sandy and at the same time much sought after. It is 16-km-long sea beach. Arambol Beach has a sweet water pond right on the shore. The beach has adequate body surfing and there are several attractive bays at walkable distance. Arambol beach in Goa, India, can be a sheer delight if a person is looking for just the sea, himself and tranquillity.

Agonda Beach
It is 37 kms from Marmagoa. The beach is small, picturesque and secluded; and is much sought after for its serenity.

Baga Beach
Baga Beach is a small yet perfect beach located between its two equally famous cousins, Colva on one side and Calangute on the other. It is a serene place to enjoy some private moments if you don't like the hustle and bustle of Colva or Calangute beaches. The beach is ideal for fishing with international tourists marinating in the sun and domestic visitors paddling the boat. The beach mesmerizes the tourists with its brown sand and palm groves which come fairly close to the water's edge. On one side of beach is the Baga River offering a pleasant diversion for children and water lovers. The meeting point of the river and the sea is bordered by a group of black rocks against which the sea crashes in dramatic explosions of spray.

Bogmalo Beach
In Bogmalo, the Oberoi's manage the restaurant of Trade Wings. The building stands right on the seashore. As the waves lash the parapets of the open-air restaurant, the drone of the restless Arabian Sea lulls to sleep even the most insomniac. Beyond are mysterious little islands, shipwrecks in the silt and, plenty of pleasant eateries around the hotel, each one of them claiming to be Osibisa's favorite.

Benaulim Beach
Benaulim is a quiet and pleasant beach lying at the end of Colva beach. The Benaulim beach is still undiscovered by the domestic tourists which further adds to its charm. Being a fishing beach, it gets fairly crowded in the evenings and on weekends. The Church of St John the Baptist is situated on a hill beyond the village and is worth a visit. On the arrival of the monsoon, Feast of St John the Baptist (Sao Joao) is celebrated as a thanksgiving on the beach. Young men wearing crowns of leaves and fruits tour the area singing for gifts.

Candolim Beach
Candolim is the best beach if you want solitary moments from the hustle and bustle of Aguada beach though not offering too much of facilities. There is delicious and quality food complemented by long and straight beach backed by scrub-covered dunes with little shelter.

Cavelossim Beach
The soft white sands, the black lava rocks, beaches south of Benaulim where you explore the Cavelossim Beach. This beach is more clean and quiet than most of the famous beaches of Goa. There are numerous beach shacks offering a variety of Goan dishes and seafood at reliable rates. There are several food joints around Dona Sylvia where you can get entire package of good food, liquor and beverages, nice service, and a pleasant service at quite reasonable rates. In addition to it, there are facilities for Dolphin watching at Betty's Place as well as boat trips for Dolphin watching at River Sal.

Calangute Beach
It is 16 kms from the capital city Panaji and is the most popular holiday resort in Goa. It is also known as "The Queen of Beaches" and consists of excellent accommodation facilities at the tourist resorts and cottages. It is on the shores of the Arabian Sea of North Goa. The name of the beach is a distortion of the local vernacular word, 'Koli-gutti', which means the 'land of fishermen'. Some connect it with 'Kalyan-gutti', the 'village of art' or 'Konvallo-ghott', the 'strong pit of the coconut tree' as the village nearby is full of coconut trees. It is believed that with the Portuguese invasion, it got distorted to Calangute. Once upon a time Calangute was the most haunted beach all hippies during Christmas celebration when psychedelic hell broke loose. The best time of the year to visit this beach is between the months of September and March.

Colva Beach
It is 6 kms from Marmagoa. Colva is one of the most popular beaches in South Goa. This beach is the pride of 'Salcete' and the only rival to Calangute by its scenic splendour. In Colva sand, sea and sky blend in enchanting natural harmony. It consists of excellent accommodation facilities at the tourist cottages. It is evening and weekend days destination for the natives. While driving to Colva from Marmagoa you pass through the large Church of Our Lady of Mercy, Nossa Senhora das Merces, built in 1630 and re-built in the 18th century. It is at heart of the longest unbroken stretch of beach in Goa from Marmagoa to Cabo de Rama. Colva is pleasant and convenient place to stay giving an opportunity to swim safely.

Dona Paula Beach
It is 7 km from the state capital Panaji. Dona Paula Beach is an idyllic picturesque spot and gives a fine view of the Zuari River and Marmagoa Harbour. This is an idyllic spot to relax and sunbathe Water scootering facility is very popular at this beach. The beach is near the rocky point between the Mandovi and the Zuari. At the Dona Paula Bay, two of Goa's famous rivers meet the Arabian Sea. The beach is named after Dona Paula de Menezes and is also called the 'Lovers Paradise' due to a myth attached to the place. Cabo Raj Bhavan, the official residence of the Governor of Goa is situated on the westernmost tip of Dona Paula.

Majorda Beach
From Bogmalo to down south, there is Majorda beach bellying the Majorda Beach Resort. Majorda is the village where the Jesuits, fond as they were of the good things of life, discovered the best Goan toddy (sap from the coconut palm), which they used to leaven the bread. Naturally, then, Majorda is the place where the Goans were first trained in the delicate art of baking European breads. Threfore, the Majordans are still Goa's best bakers. As per the Goan version of Ramayana, the Lord Rama was abducted as a child and brought up at Majorda. Later, in pursuit of Sita, he camped at Cabo de Rama-a headland further south-where the stretch of developed beaches ends.

Miramar Beach
It is 3 kms from Panaji. Miramar is a golden beach of soft sand girdled with palm trees facing the Arabian Sea and is nearest beach from Panaji. It is one of the most popular beaches in Goa. To watch the sunset from Panaji this beach is the best location, only fifteen minute' walk along the Dayanand Bandodker Marg riverfront avenue. The beach is an urban beach where the Mandovi River meets the Arabian Sea. It is not a safe beach to swim because of the strong undercurrent.

Palolem Beach
It is also 37 kms from Marmagoa. The beach is situated at west of Chaudi. It is one of the most enchanting beaches, but at the same time relatively deserted. It is situated in the backdrop of Western ghats. It has 1.5 km crescent shaped beach and lies on the southern coastline of Goa amidst outstanding natural beauty. It is fast emerging as a popular spot for day-trippers from Colva and Calangute beach.

Vagator Beach
The soft white sands, the black lava rocks, the coconut palms, the lush green landscape, nature playing its own tunes, and the sea turning from aquamarine to emerald green-Vagator overlooked by the 500-year-old Portuguese fort, leaves each visitor dumbstruck. Also, the world-famous Anjuna Beach lies to the south of Vagator. Vagator beach if still rich with rural life. So a large number of fishermen in their traditional attire can be observed on the beach. Anyone patient enough to listen to the numerous stories of the sea can explore their stock of stories.