Saturday, April 18, 2009

Goa - The Ideal summer destination



Beaches are the most sought after places in summer season. Here are some wonderful beaches across Goa to beat the heat.
North Goa Beaches :

BETIM : Across the Mandovi River linking Panjim with the north Goa beaches Betim is the fishing and boat-building village. There is a ferry that shuttles to Panjim's old steamer jetty. The village is inundated with traffic during day. Here you will find a small Sikh temple or Gurudwara, whose gleaming white Mogul domes and saffron pennant are visible from opposite shore.

CANDOLIM : Candolim at the far southern end of Calangute beach is a surprisingly sedated resort. Now with the increase in tourism the beach has been slightly transformed, to some for the best, to others for the detriment. To the south of Candolim, along peninsula extends into the sea, bring the seven kilometre white sandy beach to an abrupt end, Aguada Fort, which crowns the rocky flattened top of the headland is the best preserved Portuguese bastion in Goa. On the north side of the fort, a rampart of red-brown laterite juts into the bay to from a jetty between two small sandy coves. This picturesque spot is Sinquerim Beach.

South Goa Beaches :
South Goa is predominantly virgin countryside. The beaches of South Goa are fantastic. Most of the beaches are isolated from anything that might disturb the peace, all you have to do here is enjoy the beaches, wonderful food and hospitality of the locals. The long stretch of beaches are Miramar, Dona Paula, Vainguinim, Bambolim, Vasco da Gama, Bogmalo, Velsao, Cansaulim, Arrosim, Utorda, Majorda, Betalbatim, Colva, Benaulim, Varca, Cavelossim, Mobor, Betul, Cabo DA ram, Agonda, Palolem, Galjibag and Polem.

MIRAMAR : Miramar beach is located south of Panjim with a 2 km of dark sand stretch overlooking Aguada Bay. Though the beach is noisy and less attractive than other places in Goa, if you want a quick escape from Panjim, this is an ideal place. The best time to be there is in the afternoon when you will only find the fishermen fixing their nets and few odd cafes serving the tourist. It would be a waste spending your holiday near this beach. Buses to Miramar ply from the Kadamba bus stand every fifteen minutes.

DONA PAULA : Dona Paula, is 9 km south west of Panjim on the south side of the rocky hammer shaped headland that divides the Zuari and Mandovi estuaries. The views from the top of the peninsula over the Miramar beach and the Mormugao harbor are quite pleasant enough. Another attraction is the old fishing jetty which shuttles across the bay to the Mormugao harbor four times a day, this twenty minute ride is a great fun There are regular buses from Panjim till 9 p.m dropping the passengers at Institute of Oceanography, where you can usually pick up an auto-rickshaws into the town. There are lot of water sport activities in this beach.

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