North Goa Beach Guide
Tour Dona Paula, a beach that entices Goa with its resplendedent beauty. Explore Dona, an enticing beach which will indeed be an add a lot of glamor to your tour. The beach is most visited beaches of Goa.
Located 7 kms west of Panaji, the state capital.The hottest tourist spot in Goa, the Dona Paula beach, is situated seven kilometers west of Panaji, the state capital. The Dona Paula beach is named after the Dona Paula de Menzes, daughter of a viceroy ( in colonial India), who jumped off the cliff, when refused permission to marry a local fisherman, Gasper Dias. Thus, the mystery related to this beautiful beach brings tourists from all over the world. It also lures tourists to indulge in water sports, shopping and sun-bathing .The beach also provides a good view of the Mormugao harbor and enthralls everyone who visits this beautiful site.
Getting There
By Air: The Dabolim airport is 29 kms away from Panaji and 36 kms from Anjuna beach.
By Rail: The nearest railway station is at Karmali, which is 15 kms from the beach. Goa connected to all the major parts of India by train.
By Road: Regular bus and taxi services are available for Dona Paula, from Panaji and Mormugao.
Motorcycle taxi is also available as an interesting mode of transport.
Accommodation
There are many hotels, guest houses and beach side huts in Dona Paula catering to the budgets and requirements of different tourists.
Tourist attractions
The National Oceanography:
Established in the year 1960s, the National Oceanography Institute deals with marine biology and all the major branches of coastal and marine oceanography. The major attraction of the institute is its Marine Biology Museum and Taxonomy Reference Center.
The Cabo Raj Niwas:
The Cabo Raj Niwas (the Governor's House) is at distance of half kilometer from the National Oceanography Institute. It has the tomb of Dona Paula de Menezes in the Cabo Chapel. The Raj Bhawan offers an excellent view of the nearby coastline and the Aguada Fort.
Beach activities:
Water sport facilities are the key attraction of this beach. The Dona Paula Sports Club provides water-scooter, cycle, and motorboat rides. Other water sports include windsurfing, parasailing, water-skiing, toboggan ski-biscuit, skibob, sports fishing, snorkeling, harpoon fishing, kayaking, and yachting.
