DONA PAULA BEACH (Introduction)

This place is called the Lovers Paradise, named after Dona Paula de Menzes. 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 colourful 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 Lover's Paradise, Dona Paula Beach. The nearby tourist attraction is Mormugoa 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 Mormugao Harbour. 7-km from Panjim, situated on the south side of the, hammer-shaped headland that divides the Zuari and Mandovi, is the 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 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 Mormugao 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.