Beach

Colva Beach

Colva is the most popular beach among the Goans with its white powder sands on the shores of the Arabian Sea. Colva is Goa’s longest beach with 20 km of virgin white sands that are fringed with palms and drenched with the sun. The small village of Colva is located in south Goa, 39 km away from Panaji (the old name for Panjim) the capital of the state of Goa. Benaulim is 2 km further ahead of Colva.The Colva Beach is broad and beautiful, and has a stream coursing through it. Sadly, its beauty has made it popular and its popularity has cheapened it: its off-beach shops and restaurants, brightly lit and crowded, give it the feel of a funfair rather than a serene, unwinding beach. This is essentially our domestic tourists’ paddling beach.
The Nossa Senhora de Merces (Our Lady of Mercy) Church in Colva is famous for its annual religious event-Fama of Menino Jesuse (Child Jesus)-since the 17th century. It is one of Goa’s most popular feasts when a big fair is held on the occasion.
Bullfights can be seen at Benaulim from early October to late May. The bullfights are usually held in an old rice field with no fences or barricades just outside a village, to the beat of taped Konkani music.
A walk on the beaches is full of delights. Shimmering silver carpets of bangdde (mackerels) lie drying on the golden sands. Fishermen’s motor trawlers lie anchored in a line offshore. Tourists in colorful dresses throng about and several of them can be seen sunbathing in the glorious sun. Trinket stalls and drink stands on the golden sands make a moonlit evening on the Colva Beach utterly romantic.
The Beach Bonanza fair that is held on successive Sundays from mid-April onwards on the Benaulim beach is a must not miss! Frenzied visitors dance in merriment and other entertainment.There are plenty of resorts and low-budget hotels in and around Colva. Benaulim too has a few hotels. Besides it is possible to rent houses for a longer stay