Dona Paula beach is located at a distance of 7 km from Panjim and popularly called the lovers’ paradise in Goa. The name of the beach has been kept after the then Viceroy’s daughter Dona Paula de Menezes who was believed to be madly in love with a fisherman. Her insane love for the fisherman drove her to jump off the cliff when the Viceroy refused to strike a marriage alliance between the two.
Dona Paula, the then Viceroy of Goa Dona Paula de Menezes’s daughter, in honour of her tragic love story. She is believed to have fallen in love with a local fisherman but was denied marriage by the Viceroy. This led to her jumping from a cliff which is flanked by and named as Dona Paula.
Dona Paula Beach is also the meeting point between the Zuari and Mandovi Rivers and is beautified by fronds of palm trees breaking the silvery shimmer of the beach sand. The beach is popular for the host of water sports. Dona Paula is also popular as a shooting site. The most prominent Bollywood films shot here are Ek Duje ke Liye and Singham.
Every year thousands of tourists come here to get a share of their enjoyment and the story attached to it also makes it an interesting place to visit. Cuddled in the southern portion of the peninsula, the beach also has its significance because this is where two prominent rivers Zuari and Mandovi meet the Arabian Sea. The beach offers exceptional views of the palm trees and Mormugao Harbor. The view of the mound promises a serene relaxation.
The elegant coastline presents a silver burnish especially when the sun begins to set. Dona Paula also has some attractive goodies on display in the bustling marketplace outside the beach. You will get a host of charming products like straw hats, feni, hair accessories and much more. The prime attraction of the beach is the pumping water sport adventure activities and the wonderful sea-food joints situated near the beach. So if you choose to lounge in the sun or decide to try your hand with the sports, you are sure to have a wonderful time here.
Best Time To Visit
The climate is moist throughout the year but it is relatively pleasant in the months between November and February. June and September should be avoided because it rains during this period. Temperature varies but the changes are very minute.
January is the coolest month and May is the hottest month with average temperatures around 25 degrees and 30 degrees respectively. Due to propinquity to the sea, the humidity is extremely high in the summer months which goes up to 60%.
Travellers’ Tip before visiting Dona Paula Beach
To enjoy and make the most of your time at any place, one must follow all the tips that we are sharing so that your journey is without any hassles-
- Always have a backpack with you when you are at the beach.
- Ensure that you have a separate bag to put all your trash because this will help the beach keep clean and hygienic.
- A bag for wet clothes seems reasonable because you might not want to get your belongings wet.
- Watch the weather before planning on taking the water adventure trips.
- Always carry extra water to keep yourself hydrated.
- Do your homework before coming to the beach about water sports and other activities that you can opt for here.
