benaulim beach
Location
At the end of the Colva beach, Benaulim is a quiet and pleasant beach. Benaulim lies 40 km away from Panaji, the capital of the Indian state Goa.
Climate
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.
The Beach
According to Hindu mythology, Benaulim is the place where the arrow of Lord Parsurama landed when he created the state of Goa. Known in Sanskrit as Banali, it was changed to Benaulim by the Portuguese. The main attractions on this beach are the dolphin cruises. The beach gets fairly crowded in the evenings and on weekends with local visitors. Benaulim is about 2 km away from Colva and is more peaceful and serene than Colva. The best thing about Benaulim is that it is still rather undiscovered by domestic tourists even though it is a fishing beach.
The Main Attractions of Benaulim Beach
Nossa Senhora de Merces (Our Lady of Mercy) Church
The church is famous for its annual religious eventFama 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.
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.
The Church of St John
The Church of St John the Baptist is situated on a hill beyond the village and worth a visit. The church is a wonderful example of Goan Christian architecture.
