Page 513 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - India

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u Colva Bogmalo Beach, 20 km (12
miles) northwest of Colva, is a
South Goa district (Salcete taluka). popular venue for wind-surfing.
6 km (4 miles) W of Margao. @
n GTDC Colva Residency, (0832) 278 Tourism has spilled over from
8047. _ Fama de Menino Jesus (Oct). Colva to the quiet fishing village
of Benaulim, 2 km (1 mile)
Colva’s proximity to Margao south, whose roads are lined
makes it an ideal summer retreat with small guesthouses,
for Margao’s residents. It is one restaurants and bars. Varca
of South Goa’s oldest and most Beach, 5 km (3 miles) further
developed beach resorts, and south, has many plush hotels,
its 25-km (16-mile) long sandy as well as a parish church
beach, from the Mormugao with an imposing façade.
peninsula in the north to Mobor
in the south, is the longest A thatch-roofed beach shack,
uninterrupted stretch in the state. i Cavelossim Palolem Beach
Today, Colva draws vast South Goa district (Salcete taluka).
numbers of visitors, who spend 15 km (9 miles) S of Margao. @ o Palolem
the day enjoying the lively South Goa district (Salcete taluka).
atmosphere of its many beach A favourite with Indian 37 km (23 miles) S of Margao. @
shacks, set high on stilts and celebrities, Cavelossim has
backed by shady palms. These an enchanting 2-km (1-mile) Famous for its spectacular
serve delicious grilled lobster stretch of sand. It also has a sunsets, this bay is enclosed
and other seafood specialities. golf course, luxury resorts and by a rocky outcrop at one end,
Numerous top-end and excellent seafood restaurants, and Canacona Island, a good
mid-range hotels stand on the such as the Seaways Bar. The campsite, at the other. Palolem’s
main beach road, ornate Church of remote location, away from the
while the southern the Holy Cross, crowded beaches of central
extremities have is situated in a Goa, makes it an ideal for a
more pristine pretty square. quiet holiday. Among its
stretches. Fisherfolk attractions are the boat rides
haul in their catch Environs offered by fishermen, who take
on the beachfront, Mobor, 5 km visitors out to sea for dolphin-
which also plays A cheerful waiter, Mobor (3 miles) south watching trips.
host to full-moon of Colva, is an
rave parties. idyllic spot, with its backdrop Environs
Standing a short distance from of hills and the pretty fishing Southern Goa is for the most
the sea, Colva’s Church of Our village of Betul nestling near part isolated and unspoilt by
Lady of Mercy, built in 1630, has the Sal river. The Leela Beach tourism. Agonda, 7 km (4 miles)
an attractive Baroque interior and Resort is located here. Cabo north of Palolem, is even quieter
houses the famous statue of da Rama (“Cape Rama”), the than its neighbour. Galgibaga,
Menino (baby) Jesus, holding pro montory just south of 8 km (5 miles) south of Palolem,
an orb and a flag, revered for its Betul, is named after Rama, has a beautiful stretch of virgin
miraculous healing powers. hero of the Ramayana, who sand, shaded by eucalyptus trees
supposedly hid here during rather than palms. The remote
Environs his 14-year exile (see p31). Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary,
Majorda, 7 km (4 miles) north It has the ruins of a Hindu 18 km (11 miles) west of
of Colva, has a wide beach fortress that fell to the Palolem, is worth visiting
dotted with luxury hotels. Portuguese in 1763. for its tranquil beauty.

Visitors cycling on the sands at Colva, Goa’s longest beach

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