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Goa, one of the hottest tourist destinations in India, has an international reputation for its sandy beaches. Dona Paula Beach is one of the sought after beaches in Goa. Two famous rivers of Goa meet the Arabian Sea at Dona Paula Bay. Besides the beaches and the sun, a lot of water sports are organized on the clear sea, for the entertainment of the tourists. There are also several shops along the beachside. The haunting romantic myth associated with the place makes it even more alluring a tourist spot. The beach is often termed as the Lover's Paradise, as well.
The myth associated with Dona Paula Beach has it that, the beach is named after the daughter of a Viceroy of India during its colonial past, Dona Paula de Mendez. She gave away her life by jumping off a cliff on being denied the permission to marry her lover Gasper Dias, a local fisherman. She was buried in Cabo Chapel of the Raj Bhavan. The folklores have it that she can still be sighted emerging out of the waves in moonlit nights, wearing only a pearl necklace. This story of poignant, unfulfilled love, draw many couples and other tourists to the beach.
Dona Paula Beach is located 7 km away from the state capital, Panaji. The beach infringed by palm trees and casuarinas, provides an excellent view of Mormugao harbor. The temperatures are more or less steady in Dona Paula with the warmest temperatures in May around 300C and the coolest month of January experiencing a mean temperature of 250C. The climate is generally warm and humid in the summers. The climate is pleasant and rather mild during October to February. The monsoons fall from June to September.
The other places to visit while in Dona Paula are the National Oceanography Institute, the Cabo Raj Bhawan, Reis Magos Church and Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary. The National Oceanography Institute is a renowned institute of oceanography in India. It also houses a Marine Biology Museum. Cabo Raj Niwas is the Governor's house and offers an excellent view of the Aguada Fort and the seashore, nearby. The Cabo Chapel in Raj Bhawan holds the tomb of Dona Paula de Mendez. Reis Magos Church, dedicated to the Three Magi in the Bible- Gasper, Melchoir and Balthazar is one of the oldest of the churches in Goa. Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary is a mangrove and shelter for many local and migratory birds.
Dona Paula Beach is famous for the Dona Paula Sports Club, which avails the tourists with water scooter and motorboat rides. The tourists can also indulge in many other water sports like parasailing, windsurfing, water-skiing, sports fishing, snorkeling, harpoon fishing, toboggan ski-biscuit, kayaking, yachting and skibob. The tourists are also seen thronging the innumerable shops along the beach, selling different things like clothes, spices, lace hankies and straw hats. There are also many eateries along the beachside. Indian jewelry and handicrafts can be bought from the Arts Emporium. The Goan specialties in liquor - port wine and feni- are also easily available.
With the alluring romantic folklores associated with it, Dona Paula Beach is a beautiful tourist haunt, famous for water sports.
To know more about Beaches of Goa go to:
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