Any tourist travelling to Goa has Dona Paula on their list of must see locations. Lying just 5kms from Panaji, the capital city of Goa, Dona Paula is home to the National Institute of Oceanography – India, the Governor’s Palace – Cabo Raj, Goa University and a plethora of beautiful hotels and resorts catering to all strata of tourists. From a sleepy village Dona Paula has been transformed into one of the most popular tourist destinations in Goa, and all the hotels in Panaji list Dona Paula as a must visit location.
Popular folklore says that Dona Paula is named after the daughter of a very affluent Portuguese family who owned swathes of land from today’s Dona Paula, to Caranzalem, another nearby village. Being a big philanthropist, post her tragic death, her village adopted her name to honour her memory.
Dona Paula has a beautiful lookout point atop a cliff on a hilly mound projecting into the Arabian Sea, as also a man-made artificial jetty, that served as a launch point for old-time ferries/boats to transport people to Mormugao – the port city and hub of activity for many a business. New roads and connections have now rendered this jetty redundant, but try telling that to the hobbyist fishermen, who still use this scenic jetty to snag some of the best catch in the area. If you’re an adrenaline junkie, there are a variety of water sports that you can try your hand at. Dona Paula also has small beaches that are dotted with fishermen’s boats/canoes and make for a pretty sight in the day.
The ‘Hawaii beach’ is a small bay that is part of the Dona Paula beach and is rarely frequented by tourists. The O Pescador Resort has direct access to this stunning beach front by virtue of its location. Residents of O Pescador also have the option of sitting on the lawns and kicking back with a beverage to the sound of the waves. With lush green landscaping, large beach frontage and direct access to the shore, this boutique resort will lure you into this love story and have you back for more. Of all the resorts near Panaji and/or luxury hotels near panaji , the O Pescador – An Indy Resort, stands out due to its stunning views and location.
The O Pescador is a 22 room boutique waterfront resort in Dona Paula. The rooms are housed in Mediterranean styled units that are engulfed in lush green landscaping, each with a stunning view of the sea. The Bay View Rooms offer you a front row seat to the bay and the pool as well. Some rooms have a private sun terrace or a balcony sit-out to lie-back relax and find out what the Goans mean by ‘susegaad’. One can discover old Goan charm and hospitality at A Tricana Seaside Bar & Grill at O Pescador with a palette-teasing menu that serves up authentic Indo-Portuguese and local flavours. Awaken your senses to the difference of market fresh seafood, including ingredients from their on-site organic vegetable garden. The full service bar also offers the quintessential Goan cashew Feni experience to complete your escape to paradise.
Apart from from the Dona Paula jetty, there is also the Cabo Raj Niwas (Governor’s Palace) that was built by the Portuguese to protect the Panaji harbour from naval enemies. Since the fort was rarely used in warfare it became the accommodation for the archbishop, and then the British, for a while when they took over for a brief period. Access to the Palace is rarely granted to tourists, but the entrance is on a hill that has a beautiful look out point and is worth the drive.
So for the next trip to Goa, squeeze in a trip to Dona Paula, or even better, stay there with the O Pescador!
