Colva – Sernabatim Benaulim Beach in Goa

Colva is located just 6km from Margao, is a busy little town with a multitude of hotels, restaurants and chic stores. It is the typical Indian beach, crowded with families and extremely noisy. The tourist here are mostly Indian too, ones who are here for their honeymoons, families with infants, children running wild on the beach and the grandparents flopped about. One can also find many young men, whooping and screaming and playing volley ball. Colva is the best beach of Goa and is famous for its water sports. I tried parasailing, water scooter ride, banana boat ride also there are speed boat rides and motorboat rides. Depending upon the rides they will cost you the money. It cost me Rs 400 only. And the best time to try the rides is the late afternoon and early evening as one can watch the sun go down while hanging from a parachute attached to a zigzagging speedboat. I still remember my ride it was breathtaking. However what I didn’t like was there are no beach huts in Colva, but there are hotels close to beach. The cheaper option was the Vailankanni Cottages with plain but clean rooms. The road leading to the beach had many restaurants; most of them had live bands and overflowing with patrons. I preferred to eat at the beach shacks. The sea food in Goa was fresh and the Goan fish curry with rice was damn good, I can still taste it.

Colva, Sernabatim and Benaulim are together really a single long stretched beach with three separate entry points. The Taj Exotica is at the southern end of Benaulim and the main stretch of beach has few shacks. I had my lunch at the famous Pedro’s and Johncy’s restaurants. Pedro also organized a boat ride for me. Sernabatim, in the middle is the most quiet of the three. There are no beach shakes, only one tea shop with a Kannadiga making Malabari parottas for breakfast.

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Anjuna Beach the party hub in Goa

Anjuna is a huge beach in Goa as it has South, Middle and the North Anjuna beach. It has many hotels, bars and restaurants. Its flea market began in 1970’s as a place where hippies sell their possessions when they were either broke or leaving for home. However they were banned for several years after the local church ran a campaign against it, it was started again by the Anjuna panchayat as the Anjuna weekly market and is now held on Wednesdays over the several acres of coconut plantations at the southern edge of the beach. The market starts around at noon and people begin to leave after sunset. The best way to avoid traffic for the market is to communicate through boat and in the morning you can also spot a dolphin. The market is full of clothes, accessories, cheese, food outlets etc.

With all those rock in the sea, water sports in Anjuna are limited to its southern end. Paraiso de Goa is a swinging trance bar that open’s till wee hours. It is set on a hillock next to the beach and has a fabulous view. One can enjoy the nightlife here especially the New Year and Christmas eves.

Travel Direction from Mumbai to Goa

Pernem, northern tip of Goa

Pernem at the northern tip of Goa has the imperious Tiracol fort on the northern bank of the Arondem River. Tiracol is just a short 4 km drive into Tiracol from Redi, the last town on the Maharashtra Konkan. Maharashtra ends with a sea fort, a sacred temple and a glorious, secluded beach. I saw the Portuguese heritage welcoming here. From these living chapters of history, Tiracol unveils significant aspects of India’s past, including the turning points like the 15^th of August in 1954 when Goan revolutionaries came to this fort to raise the Indian flag. As we entered the religion at fort Tiracol, which contains a 100 yr old Chapel of St Anthony and a 400 yr old Church of the Holy Trinity.

I could see the beach from the Tiracol fort which lies on the opposite bank of the Arondem, or Tiracol Estuary. Many people were swimming here upon crossing the river on ferry as it is the 3 mile long Querim beach. The beach is remote and beautiful, with just a handful of cold drinks stalls near the ferry point. Dozens of birds inhabit the mangroves along the estuary.

About 12 km further down from Querim are the tree lined Kalacha and Arambol beaches. Arambol’s white beach is lined with palm trees all over and is a great beach to hang out. It boasts a fresh water lagoon right on the shore, just north of Kalacha. We had a bathe here to get rid of the sting of sea salt water. The hippies have discovered this fishing settlement and turned up in large numbers to bask by the lagoon in their bikinis and swim suites. We also took a stroll through the Arambol village, a 10 minutes walk up from the beach, following the road from Arambol Pizzeria that’s lined with beer barrs, fish shacks and restaurants.

And just south of Arambol beach are the unspoilt sands of Mandrem, lined with canoes. The tiny twin beaches of Asvem and Junas at Mandrem, shaded by hills from a corridor along which people were trekking to Arambol along the sand and the cliffs.

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Canacona hidden goa

It is a destination in hidden Goa. Palolem and Agonda beaches and the more deserted Cabo de Rama fort remain the only places in Canacona well on the travel map. In between there are vast unmapped stretches of sand where the only feri sold is home made and the only thing to eat is the simplest fish curry and rice. Then there was a Cotigao wildlife sanctuary in the basin of the Talpona River, in the east of Canacona. We had to book our own transportation to reach all the points in Canacona and quepem.

We went to Chaudi market and tried to had cola but nobody knew about it as these beaches known to backpackers from abroad who have cultivated their own demand and supply chain from the villages are kept hush so that the Indian tourist do not disturb the gora reverie.

Quepem’s Zorint Beach is almost always deserted and further south to Canaguinim the best known of Quepem’s beaches, we stayed in Canaguinim Village where villagers rent out rooms.

Ahead of tiny Nuvem beach raises the cliff of Cabo de Rama, from the top of which saw great views of Quepem and Salcette to the north and the white sand beaches of Canacona to the south. The Cape was named for Lord Ram, who stayed here during his trek towards Lanka.

For fried fish by the sea and feri on tap Agonda and Palolem beaches are the best. We trek down to Agonda Beach past st. Anne church in Agonda village, there are hotels and restaurants. We walk down to the Patnem beach from clomb for some quietness.

The temples of Quepem and Canacona had some most of the pristine locations in forest on the hills here.

And the best thing in the entire journey was the sight of dolphins in Cotigao which is the Goa’s second largest wildlife sanctuary.

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Goa, The Tourist Paradise

Ibiza of India, Goa is the hottest destination for bohemian rivers and the raging sea. Goa offers a seductive atmosphere with a plethora of things to do, at the same time, relax. Swim in the open sea, lounge in the sensuous sun or get high on life. It is the place to be.

Geographically, Goa is a small state in the west coast of India. Surrounded on the coastal side by the Arabian Sea, Goa’s immediate land neighbours are Mumbai and Gujarat. Covering an area of 3702 square kilometers, Goa was liberated from the Portuguese rule in 1961 and went on to become a state in May 1987. Goa is divided into north and south zones with Panjim as the capital.

Goa is the ultimate holiday destination not only for Indians but for foreigners as well because of the cost effective options available in plenty. Popular amongst people from all age groups, you see couple, families and young groups alike thronging here in dozens. And rightly so. Goa is the best place to party, relax, sunbathe, shop and drink!

The golden beaches, the silky sand and the dusky sunset, what more do you need to make your vacation memorable? This with a nice massage on the beach, a nice chill cocktail and a book beside you…spells heaven on earth. Water persons can busy themselves with para sailing, motor boats, banana boating etc.

Off the sea too, there are a good many things to do and see. Goa is the outcome of a rich and cultural heritage because of the Portuguese and Dutch influence. So there are a lot of churches, temples and remains of a thriving culture reminiscent in the architecture. The churches in Old Goa and Panjim have a charm of its own, both for religious significance and beauty. The famous Basilica of Bom Jesus is located 10 km east Panaji is considered as one of the best examples of Baroque architecture in India. An opulent structure, the Basilica incorporates white marble and has beautifully gilded altars decorated with frescoes and inlay work. Other famous churches are the mausoleum of St. Xavier, Se' Cathedral, the Church and Convent of St. Francis of Assisi, Church of Lady of Rosary; Church of St. Augustine are among some other famous Churches and Convents of Goa.
Some of the temples of Goa include Sri Mangesh Temple, Shri Ananta Temple and Shanta Durga temple etc.

If not water surfing or temple/church hopping, indulge in the most sinful activity here…eat. Goa offers the most amazing culinary delights varying from delicious sea food like squid, lobster, prawns and kingfish. Also try the lip smacking desserts and fresh fruit juices available in almost all the shacks. For those high on liquor, Goan wine besides the regular alcohol is a great option.

Goa is flooded with flea markets assorted with clothes, bags, shoes, lamp shades, bags and jewelery from across the globe. Sea shells and beautiful rosaries, crosses and port wine form excellent souvenirs.

Away from the materialistic delights, Goa is secular in the truest sense that religions across all origins live harmonious together. Churches with temples and mosques stand in complete harmony with each other, an example that everyone should follow.

This emerald territory tucked between the sea and land is indeed a very precious jewel of the great land of India.