This beach of Goa carries with it an aura of both romance and myth - haunted by Dona Paula de Menezes; tourists throng the Dona Paula beach not only in search of the deceased beloved, but also to indulge in water sports on the clear waters. The Dona Paula Beach offers an opportunity to the tourists to have a sunbath and enjoy water scootering and motar boat rides.
The Dona Paula beach is popularly known as the "Lovers Paradise" due to a myth that has been attached to this place. According to one legend the Viceroy's daughter after facing objections from her family about her love affair with a poor fisherman, jumped of the cliff.
Another legend says that punished for captivating Francisco de Tavora, the Count of Alvor with her charm the Viceroy's daughter was pushed off a cliff to drown in the waters below. Her irrepressible spirit still continues to haunt every visitor with legends of her lovers. She is even supposed to have been seen emerging from moonlit waves wearing only a pearl necklace.
The most important attraction of this beach is the water sport facilities available here. The Dona Paula Sports Club offers 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 yatching.
How to Get There:
By Air
The nearest airport is at Dabolim, which is 29 km away from Panaji and 36 km from Anjuna.
By Rail
Goa is connected with Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Mangalore, and Thiruvananthapuram
by train. The nearest railway station is at Karmali, which is 15 km from
the beach.
By Road
The Dona Paula Beach is well connected by road. Seven kilometers from the
capital city, regular bus and taxi services are easily available. The Kadamba
Transport Corporation (Government of Goa Undertaking), and Maharashtra
and Karnataka State Road Transport Corporations operate buses from and
to Goa.
Local Transport
Bus, taxi, auto-rickshaw, and motorcycle services are the available means
of local conveyance in the area. A bus or motorcycle-taxi from Panajim
or the ferry service from Mormugao can be availed of to reach the beach.
In fact, buses to Dona Paula leave every fifteen minutes from Panajim's
Kadamba stand.
An interesting mode of conveyance in Goa is the motorcycle taxi. Unique to this state, these “taxis” carry only one passenger. However motorcycles can also be hired for personal use, on the basis of financial guarantee.
Accomodation:
There are a host of hotels, guesthouses, and beachside huts available at the beach that cater to the budgets of different tourists.Places to Visit:
Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary:
The Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary is situated on the western tip of the island of Choro, along the Mandovi River, about 9-km from Dona Paula beach. Spread over 2-sq-kms, this sanctuary is a mangrove forest. Local and migratory birds are found here throughout the year, making it a bird watcher's paradise.The main attractions near Dona Paula Beach are Reis Magos Church and the Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary. Approximately 10 km from the beach is one of the oldest churches built in Goa, the Reis Magos Church.