Beaches in Goa » Dauna Paula Beach

If you are planning to tour Goa, then Dona Paula beach is one beach you should not miss out. Goa Dona Paula is very famous for two things: an enticing spooky past and the water sports at the beach.

The enticing story is about a girl named Dona Paula de Menzes, after whom the Goa beach has been named. She was the daughter of a viceroy in colonial India, who threw herself off the cliff, when refused permission to marry a local fisherman, Gaspar Dias.

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. This story attracts many tourists and they come here just to experience the sweet pain of love, making Goa Dona Paula a favourite tourist spot.

Goa Dona Paula offers the tourists a wide choice of water sports ranging from water-scooter to cycle to motorboat rides. Other water sports include windsurfing, parasailing, water-skiing, toboggan ski-biscuit, skibob, sports fishing, snorkelling, harpoon fishing, kayaking, and yachting.

You can tour around Goa Dona Paula and visit the interesting National Oceanography Institute that provides a world of information on marine biology.

Besides all these, Goa Dona Paula is famous for the Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, where you can spot both migratory and local birds.

At the place where two of Goa's famous rivers meet the Arabian Sea is the secluded bay of Dona Paula with a fine view of the Marmagao Harbour. 7-km from Panjim, nestled on the south side of the rocky, hammer-shaped headland that divides the Zuari and Mandovi estuaries, this former fishing village is nowadays a commercialized resort. This is an idyllic spot to relax and sunbathe. Water scootering facilities are also available over here

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