Location:
7-km From Panaji, North Goa
Nearby Attractions: Marmagao Harbour
Water Sports: Water Scootering
Popularly Known As:The Lover's Paradise
DONA
PAULA BEACH (Introduction)
This
place is called the Lovers Paradise, named after
Dona Paula de Menezes. Water sport facilities are the key
attraction of this beach. It offers an opportunity to the tourists
to have a sunbath and buy cheap seaside goods from local vendors.
Festivals of Janmashtami (Lord Krishna’s Birthday) and the Feast
of St. Lawrence are particular to the Dona Paula Beach.
In addition, the beach also has a colorful water sports festival
in November.
It
is named after Dona Paula de Menzes, daughter of a viceroy (in
colonial India), who threw herself off the cliff, when refused
permission to marry a local fisherman, Gaspar Dias. With the
romance and myth attached to it—haunted by Dona Paula de Menzes—tourists
throng the Dona Paula Beach. The myth says that
Dona Paula is entombed in the Cabo Chapel of the Raj Bhawan and is
supposed to be seen emerging from the moonlit waves wearing only a
pearl necklace.
Located
just about 7-km From Panaji, North Goa city is the the Lover's
Paradise, Dona Paula Beach. The nearby tourist
attraction is Marmagoa Harbour. Water scootering is the best thing
to do at this place.
The
place where two of Goa's famous rivers meet the Arabian Sea is the
bay of Dona Paula with a very good view of the Marmagao
Harbour. 7-km from Panjim, situated on the south side of
the, hammer-shaped headland that divides the Zuari and Mandovi, is
this fishing village which is a commercial resort. This is a spot
to sunbathe and relax. Water scootering is a very common sport at
this beach.
The
residence of the Governor of Goa, which is known as Cabo Raj
Bhavan is situated here on the westernmost side of Dona
Paula. Along the roadside which leads to this place lies
the remains of the military cemetery built by the British at their
brief occupation of the Cabo, to stop France from invading Goa.
ABOUT
LOVERS PARADISE :
This
place is called the Lovers Paradise, due to a myth attached to
this place. It is said that the Viceroy's daughter after
objections from her family regarding her love affair with a poor
fisherman jumped off the Cliff.
WATER
SCOOTERING :
Dona Paula
is very famous for sea sport and fun. Dona Paula Sports Club, has
some of the best water sports facilities to the sports lovers
including Water-scootering, Motor-boating, etc.
HOW
TO REACH THERE :
A bus or
motorcycle-taxi from Panjim or the service by ferry from Marmagao
is the best way to reach this place. One can get Buses to Miramar
& Dona Paula at regular intervals from Panjim's Kadamba Bus
Stand.