Benaulim or Banavali is a popular beach town of South Goa in Salacete district. It is situated slightly south of Margao, along the coastline of southern Goa. It lies 41 km from Panaji and 2 km from the Colva beach.
Benaulim beach is a very quiet beach. Benaulim beach in Goa starts where Colva beach ends. The best thing about Benaulim beach is that it is still rather undiscovered by domestic tourists even though it is a famous beach for fishing. This beach gets fairly crowded in the evenings and on weekends. Local visitors often frequent this beach; they get off their buses about a kilometer away and pour onto the beach.
One can just laze the day off soaking in the sun. It gives you the pleasure and satisfaction of being in Goa. Benaulim beach is the beach to be, when you just want to relax, relax and relax. Eating joints nearby offer you snacks and drinks as and when preferred and you don't even have to bother about getting up from your comfort zone for such things because there are assistants roaming about through whom you can place the orders and the food or drink is brought to you where you are seated. All you have do is sit and relax.
Apart from the lovely Benaulim beach, there is the Church of St John the Baptist which is situated on a hill beyond the village and is worth a visit. On the arrival of the monsoon, Feast of St John the Baptist (Sao Joao) is celebrated as a thanksgiving. Young men wearing crowns of leaves and fruits tour the area singing for gifts. To commemorate the movement of St John when he was in his mother's womb and visited by Mary, the mother of Jesus, the young men of this village jump in the wells.
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