Welcome to Colva Chronicles, your go-to guide for unlocking the treasures of Colva, Goa! Dive into our blog to discover thrilling activities, tantalizing cuisine, and savvy transportation tips in this vibrant coastal paradise. Let the adventure begin!
Colva is a coastal village in South Goa. The white sand of Colva Beach stretches for about 2.5 km. Colva is a very famous tourist destination because of its beaches, budget hotels, beach shacks, street food, and nightlife.
On weekends, locals from all the nearby cities visit this spot to enjoy the water sports and to relax and see the sunset from the beaches. The beaches in Colva are very famous for swimming as they are shallow and they don’t have rocky outcrops.
Safeguards constantly monitor the beaches and flag the swimming area with various colours accordingly. Colva has something to offer to all the tourists ranging from history lovers to adventure seekers.
Things to do in Colva:
1. Visit Dudhsagar Waterfalls, Colva:
Dudhsagar literally means the “Sea of Milk”. Dudhsagar waterfall is one of the tallest falls in India. This is a great spot for photographers and trekking lovers. Dudhsagar waterfalls are located on the Mandovi River in Sanguem taluka in Goa.
The lush green Western Ghat that surrounds the Dudhsagar waterfalls adds beauty to it. The best time to visit this is between October and March. You can reach this spot either by hiring a personal car or by booking a jeep.
Beware of the monkeys at the entrance of the fall, where the jeep will drop you.
2. Visit Agonda Beach, Colva:
It is a perfect beach for those who want to take a break from the city chaos. This pristine beach stretches for about two miles. Here, you will find lots of shacks and huts.
Authorities prohibit hawkers on this beach, creating a calmer and more relaxing atmosphere.Apart from relaxing, there is a lot to do on this beach. You can swim, eat at the stalls, and go shopping, you will find lots of usual stalls selling clothes and accessories nearby.
Boat trips are also available to Butterfly Beach and Honeymoon Beach. The best period to visit here is from late October to late March.
3. Visit Lady of Merces Church:
Lady of Merces Church is also known as Nossa Senhora de Merces and is located at the entry of Colva. The main attraction of the church is the infant Jesus statue. Locals of Colva believe that the infant Jesus grants the wishes of childless couples.
Our Lady of Mercy Church celebrates the annual Fama Festival on the 3rd Monday of October every year. The miracle statue is kept for public veneration and taken out from the triple-locked vault only during the famous “Fama de Menino” fest.
This church opens at 7 in the morning and closes at 8 in the evening.
4. Visit Sernabatim Beach:
Sernabatim Beach is about 1.2 km long and is a part of the 26.5 km sandy shoreline from Hollant Beach in the south of Vasco da Gama to the Sal River. Sernabatim is much cleaner and quieter than other beaches.
Like Agonda Beach, Sernaatim Beach does not have big hotels or vendors near the beach, making it a perfect place to relax and enjoy the beauty of nature.
Sernabatim Beach has soft golden sand that gently slopes into the sea.
This beach is very famous among tourists and locals for swimming as there are no rocky outcrops in the water, waves are slow, and the water is shallow.
You can enjoy the sunset here and watch the birds flocking on the water to catch the fish. If you are lucky then you can also get a chance to see the dolphin. The best time to visit this beach is from November to February.
5. St. John the Baptist Church:
St. John the Baptist Church is the proof of the existence of Christianity in Thane since the 16th century. This Church is one of the oldest churches in Colva and is 500 years old. This church is surrounded by Masuda Lake which makes this spot picturesque.
The walls of the church have exquisite carvings and paintings depicting the different phases in the life of Jesus Christ. This church attracts a large number of tourists and locals during the occasions of Christmas and Easter.
On weekdays this church opens from 5:30 – 8:00 in the morning and then from 6:00 – 8:00 in the evening. On Sundays, the timings are from 5:30 am to 11:00 am and then from 4:30 pm to 7:30 pm.
Food to try in Colva:
1. Goan Fish Curry:
This dish is the staple diet of every Goan. Locally this dish is known as Xitti Kodi. This dish is loaded with various spices along with coconut.
This dish has a tangy flavour because of the mango added to it. The main ingredients of this dish are pomfret and raw mango. Goan Fish Curry is served with rice.
2. Goan Pork Vindaloo:
‘Vin’ comes from the word vinegar and ‘ahlo’ means garlic in Portuguese. This dish contains pork, onion, chilies, garlic vinegar, and other spices. The gravy is prepared using chilies and other ingredients and is then mixed with meat and vinegar.
This mixture is stored overnight. The next day this dish is fried using onion and other herbs. Locals believe that the older the dish gets, the better it tastes as the meat gets marinated properly and absorbs the flavor.
How to reach:
1. By flight:
International Airport and Dabolim Airport are the nearest airports to Colva. After reaching Goa or Dabolim you can take a taxi, town car, or drive a car rental to reach the city center or your hotel.
The city center is about 23 km away and it will take 30 minutes to reach from Goa International Airport. The distance between Dabolim airport and Colva is 68 km.
2. By train:
The nearest railway stations are in Margaon and Karmali. You can reach Margaon and Karmali by train and then you can hire a taxi or cab to reach Colva. Colva Beach is about 7 km away from Margaon Railway Station.
Some popular trains from Mumbai to Mrgaon are the Konkan Kanya Express, The Mandovi Express, The Matsyagandha Express, and the Janshatabdi.
3. By bus:
You will find plenty of buses available from Madgaon bus station and Vasco da Gama to reach Colva. Buses are also available from other cities of India like Mumbai, Pune, and Bangalore.
The most popular travel companies are Neeta and Paulo. From the nearby cities you have to first take a bus to Margaon and from Margaon, you have to hire a taxi to reach Colva.
How to get around in Colva:
There are multiple options to get around Colva and nearby places. You can rent a bike or car, take a bus, ride a ferry, and opt for a motorcycle taxi. Hiring bikes is the best way to get around in Colva and in the whole Goa.
You can go wherever you want to go and it will not cost you much. Take care of the traffic rules as it may lead you into trouble just because you are a foreigner. You can get a bike for one day in just 200-350 INR.
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