COLVA
Area: Goa
Country: India


Location:
Halfway down the W coast of India, in the S part of the state of Goa. 4 miles W of Margao and its rail station; 24 miles SE of Dabolim airport.

Telephone code from UK:
91 832

Website:
http://www.goacom.com (commercial site)

Position:
On flat coastal lands, in lush countryside with palm groves, plentiful trees, paddy fields and farmland.

Description:
A big, straggling village, Colva is the oldest and largest of S Goa's resorts, located halfway along 15-mile Colva Beach. Despite its age, it has no appealing buildings, except for a white church (Our Lady of Mercy), » mile from the beachside centre. The local economy is based on tourism and a fishing industry, which utilises primitive methods and small motorised craft, ensuring constant activity on a busy, working beach. A strong fishy smell pervades the area at times. Outlying wards are lush and green and dotted with a few colonial-era palacios.

Suitability:
Independent travellers; couples with a yearning for the simple life and able to tolerate standards of accommodation and amenities that are generally lower than those in Europe. Package tourists and business clientele fill large, village-style luxury resorts located generally in the surrounding open lands and near small villages.

Accommodation:
Simple hotels and guesthouses located mainly in the town itself, and mostly catering for the more budget-conscious travellers and domestic travel markets. Upmarket hotels with a good selection of facilities farther N along the beach, particularly around Majorda, which has several luxury 5-star properties.

Shopping:
Dozens of stalls in the village, with an emphasis on colourful cotton textiles (bed covers, lamp shades and cushion covers) and clothing. Musical instruments, jewellery and local curiosities are also peddled on the beach, where vendors are numerous and sometimes persistent. Bookshop and postcard outlets. Surrounding small villages cater mainly for local populations, with small grocery stores and a sprinkling of small tourist-type stalls.

Beach:
A broad, sandy 15-mile stretch inevitably dominated by fishermen and support activities, but which becomes quieter farther from Colva village. The sea is often rough, with breakers. Swimming is possible, but beware of the undertow. Beach-shack-style bars and eateries dot the length.

Entertainments:
Daytime: the quieter lanes in the flat, lush countryside are good for cycling. Some water sports, such as jet-skiing and parasailing. Some larger hotels offer a variety of sports facilities, including golf and tennis. Less for younger children. Nightlife: beach and village bars are occasionally lively and open late; otherwise hotel-based diversions. Hotels offer regular evening entertainments (live music, dancing, karaoke) mainly during high season (October_April). A couple of the larger ones also have casinos and nightclubs.

Eating:
A variety of eateries, and generally of a high standard. Many shack-type eateries and bars along the beach close to the village specialise in fish and seafood dishes; many more simple, cheap, sometimes less appealing establishments in the village centre. Small informal restaurants dot the quieter lanes. A la carte dining available, including Goan, Indian, Continental, S Indian, Italian and vegetarian.

Public-transport:
Regular bus to Margao, with onward connections to Panjim. Train station at Margao _ the only stop in Goa for long-distance railway service. Taxi and motor-rickshaw stands at Colva centre; taxi stands outside larger hotels. Direct bus to Panjim from Colva Junction. Motorcycles and bicycles for hire.

Local-excursions:
Local town of Margao for sights and market (Monday_Friday). Flea market at distant Anjuna (Wednesdays). Sightseeing and shopping in the capital, Panjim. Magnificent Portuguese colonial churches at Old Goa, and palacios in the surrounding wards of S Goa. Historic Hindu and Muslim temples throughout the district of Ponda. Dudhsagar waterfalls. Crocodile Dundee river trip; boat trips to Sao Jorge Island. Dolphin-spotting cruises; Sinbad voyage; spice plantation; jeep safaris. 3-day trips to some of India's main sights; these may cost as much as the package holiday itself. Trips to N Goan beaches, including Anjuna, Baga and Vagator.