Dona Paula -Goa - India

Dona Paula is situated around 6 kilometers from Miramar Beach. The place is named after the viceroys heath broken daughter Dona Paula who hurled herself from the nearby cliff. Although, there are many variations to this story. One legend is that she was the lady in waiting of the Portuguese Governor General’s wife and in course of the time the Governor fell victim o her beauty and charms. When the Governors wife learnt of this adulterous realtion she went wild with rage. She had Dona paula stand on the rocky cliff and pushed her into the sea. Her tombstone epigraph in the transept of the heritage cabo chapel in cabo raj niwas authenticates her, its inscribed Dona Paula died on December 21, 1682 and was buried in the Cabo Chapel. Dona Paula was the daughter of Amaral de Menezes. On January 31, 1656 she married Dom Antonio Souto Maior and came to be knows as Dona Paula Menezes e Souto Maior. She performed many acts of charity. The village of oddavel came to be known Dona Paula after  her death in 1682. The twin sculptures of a man and a woman on the rocks at Dona Paula are not of of dona paula. These sculptures are the creation of an artist, A German baroness named Yrsa Von Leistner in memory of Mr. and Ms. Robert Knox, a US senator whose will was posthumously honoured by his brother. They were instaled as late as 1969. It’s is mostly mistaken as that of Dona Paula and her lover.

Dona Paula another popular tourist destination of Panaji which is part of South Goa in India. Dona Paula is actually located on the beautiful and famous sea stretch which spans from Panjim, Miramar. And Dona Paula is a of-course a very famous area frequented by tourists. During the tourist season Dona Paula transforms into a crowded stretch which is otherwise a calm beautiful place during monsoons.

Dona Paula is also home to a number of hotels of different types and the luxury hotels is situated in the area.

The idyllic rocky tourist attraction lies at the spot where the Mandovi and the Zuari river meet and confluences with the Arabian Sea at a distance of 1 Km from this point. When we visited Dona Paula, it was almost empty.

If you plan to visit during main season, you may not find parking for your vehicles, so keep a closer look at parking place nearby or on the way. Parking zone is located in such a way that if you don't get appropriate parking, you have to go back & find out a space which may eat lot of time to just get out of the parking zone.

             Dona Paula beach is situated around 6 kilometers from Miramar Beach in Panjim

At Dona Paula we have the National Institute of Oceanography and just alongside it lie the Goa University and the International Centre Goa.

This place is named after the viceroy's daughter Dona Paula who hurled herself from the nearby cliff. As usual, there are multiple versions of the story and it's hard to conclude that which one is authentic. One part say that she was the lady in waiting of the Portuguese Governor general's wife and in course of the time the Governor fell victim of her beauty and charms. When the Governors wife learnt of this adulterous relation she went wild with rage. She had Dona paula stand on the rocky cliff and pushed her into the sea.

This twin sculptures of a man and a woman on the rocks at Dona Paula are not of of dona paula. These sculptures are the creation of an artist, A german baroness named Yrsa Von Leistner in memory of Mr. and Ms. Robert Knox, a US senator whose will was posthumously honoured by his brother. They were installed in late 60s.

Dona Paula has various resorts around it, although it was basically a fishing village earlier. Water sports are carried out here during tourist season. Dona Paula is a very famous place & Cabo Raj Niwas is around the corner. The fort is equipped with several cannons which has a chapel in the fortress. The place has a large garden and a little beach. On one side of the access road is the 'British Cemetery & these days Cabo Raj Niwas is the residence of the Governor of Goa.

A large part of the famous Hindi movie Ek Dooje Ke Liye was shot here, popularizing the place further. An action sequence from Rohit Shetty's movie Singham was shot here.

The Dona Paula beach is located like a nest on the south side of the rocky , hammer shaped head land that divides the zuari and Mandovi rivers.

How To Reach

By Air: The nearest airport is Dabolium which is 29kms from Panaji and 36kms from Anjuna. One can reach Dona Paula by taxi or bus .

By Train: The nearest railway station is Karmali which is 15kms from the beach. As Goa is well connected by every where one can reach easily through railways.

By Road: The Dona Paula is well connected from all the regions as it is just 7kms from the capital city from there one can reach by bus, taxi, etc.

Where To Stay

There are a host of hotels, guesthouses, and beach side huts available at the beach that cater to the budgets of different tourists. Offering a host of hotels, resorts and beach side huts the Dona Paula Beach boasts of a number of accommodation options. There is ample shelter for the budget tourists too in the form of houses that may be rented in the village.

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