Colva Beach - Goa - कालवा बाच

Co-ordinates 15.276092, 73.913741 State Goa Nearby Stations Margao Nearby Places Madgoan Wikipedia Link

More Images

It is one of the most popular beaches in Goa, stretching 20 km along the coast. The beach itself is magnificent with beautiful white sand. Colva beach is the pride of Salcete and the only rival to Calangute by its scenic spendour. Here, sand, sea and sky blend in enchanting natural harmony unspoilt by men. Has good accommodation facilities, particularly at the tourist cottages. With the white powder sands on the shores of the Arabian Sea, Colva is the most popular beach among the Goans. Among the best beaches, Colva is Goa's longest beach with 20 km of virgin white sands, palm fringed and sun drenched.

Colva Beach in Goa is one of the numerous beaches of this state. This beach is wonderful holiday destination of Goa. The beach is ornamented by the dense coconut and palm trees. Here the beach is golden in color. From the Colva Beach in Goa the sea looks marvelous. During your visit to this beach of Goa you can enjoy wonderful natural beauty. The beach can give the most tranquil vacation. In this beach you can do various things. You can just sit on the sandy beach and enjoy the calm and quiet sea. The sunset or sunrise can be a unique sight from the Colva Beach. This beach is not very crowded so you can have a quiet holiday. In Colva Beach there are numbers of local food stalls and snacks bar. So, while sitting at the beach you can relish the fresh Goan cuisine along with cocktails and local drinks. The hotels near Colva Beach offer comfortable staying facilities.

This is the most important beach in the south circuit equipped with all modern amenities like air-conditioned resort complexes, tourist cottages, discos, seashell artefact stalls, refreshment stalls, eateries, guest houses, expanding the village enormously.

Situated at the Konkan coast, Goa is a magnificent state for holiday tour. Beaches are the most delightful part of this small state. As this place was the colony of the Portuguese you can find a deep rooted past reflected in the ancient architectures and monuments. Along with scenic view these historical sites are the tourist attractions of Goa.

History Of Popularity

Unlike Anjuna or Calangute, Colva Beach gained popularity only lately. It was little disturbed and life moved on quietly. But those are the things of the past. Over the years, many hotels and buildings have sprung from nowhere. It is developing at a good pace.

Fairs And Festivals

The Beach Bonanza fair is held on successive Sundays from mid-April onwards, where frenzy visitors in merriment participate in live music, dance, and other entertainment.

Fama of Menino Jesuse (Child Jesus)

Celebrated on the third Monday of October every year, Fama of Menino Jesuse is among the most popular festivals of Goa. The festivities start at eight in the morning to extend until nine in the evening. On the fama day, the miraculous image of Infant Jesus is specially brought down from the left side altar of the church, for public veneration and umao (kissing). The priest hurriedly passes by a long and virtually unending queue of devotees touching the statue to their eager lips.

Tradition And Dress Code

The east and the west, the twain does meet in Goa. Both Christmas and Diwali are celebrated with equal fervor. Fish curry and rice take a place alongside chouricos (Portuguese for sausages) on the dining table. Nudity is against the local norms and traditions. Indulging or encouraging nudity on the beaches would be a nuisance and a source of embarrassment for the local inhabitants.

Colva still has the Portuguese influence. Goan gents on vacation can be seen attired in suits, and their delicate women wearing stockings. Otherwise, the Western tourists are seen in colorful or skimpy beachwear and bikinis.

Shopping

As far as big shopping complexes or markets are concerned, Colva Beach still has to develop. But there are a lot of trinket shops and drink stalls on the beach where one can buy artifacts, antiques and gifts for friends waiting back at home. Open-air eateries serving seafood and Portuguese dishes are in abundance on the shore.

Key Attractions

Nossa Senhora de Merces (Our Lady of Mercy) Church

The church is famous for its annual religious event-Fama of Menino Jesuse (Child Jesus)-since the 17th century. The predominantly Catholic community celebrates it on the third Monday of October every year. It is one of Goa's most popular feasts and a big fair is held on the occasion.

On the Beach

While taking a stroll on the Colva Beach, silver carpets of bangdde (mackerels) can be viewed shimmering on the golden sands for drying. Fishermen's motor trawlers can be seen anchored in a line offshore.

Tourists-Indian and foreigners, as well as locals-can be seen in colorful dresses, coming either for a walk or 'for a change of air'. Many tourists can be seen having a sunbath on the golden sands. The trinket stalls and the drink stands on the golden sands under the moonlight make the evening on the Colva Beach.

The Bull Fight

From early October to late May, from 4 pm onwards, one can see the bull fights at Benaulim. On the beat of taped Konkani music, the bullfights are usually held in an old rice field with no fences or barricades just outside a village.

Security Precautions

Swimming is dangerous at most of the beaches because of the strong undercurrents. Consulting the lifeguards is a must before venturing out into the waters.

Do's And Don'ts

Drug trafficking is against the Indian law. Anyone found in breach of the law could be awarded a lifetime imprisonment.

Goa has a consistent climate through the year with just meager fluctuations in the temperature. December and January might require light woolens. April and May are warm. The period from June to October brings heavy rain, almost up to 400 cm. The temperature during the summers ranges from 24°C to 32.7°C and during the winters it ranges from 21.3°C to 32.2°C.

Colva is a small village in south Goa on the shores of the Arabian Sea. It lies 39 km away from Panaji (the old name for Panjim) the capital of the Indian state of Goa. Two km further ahead from Colva is Benaulim.
The beach is situated 3 kilometers away from the Margao city. To reach Colva Beach you can get down at the Margao railway station. Other than this, numerous buses run from various places of Goa to Colva beach.

How To Reach

By Air

The nearest airport is at Dabolim, which is 29 km away from Panaji and 68 km from Colva.

By Rail

The nearest railway station is at Karmali, 11 km away from Panaji. Panaji is 39 km away from Colva.

By Road

There are frequent buses from Colva running to and from Margao (also Madgaon; 6 km away) from where one can take a bus to Panaji, which is 33 km further ahead.

Accommodation

There are plenty of resorts and low-budget hotels in and around Colva. Benaulim too has a few hotels. Besides it is possible to rent houses for a longer stay.

About 2 km away from Colva is the Benaulim, which is more peaceful and serene than Colva. Benaulim provides an escape to see nature in its full bounty with meager tourists, yet to disturb its peace. One can still see the old Portuguese houses.
Colva is a small village in south Goa on the shores of the Arabian Sea. It lies 39 km away from Panaji, capital of the Indian state of Goa. 2 km further ahead from Colva is Benaulim.
With 20 km of virgin white sands, palm fringed, and sun drenched beaches, Colva is the most loved beach of Goans. Colva, unlike Anjuna or Calangute, gained popularity only lately. It was little disturbed and life moved on quietly.