"ᴛʜᴇ ᴠɪʟʟᴀɢᴇ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀʀʀᴏᴡ"

The little green village , Benaulim is a coastal paradise. Its scenic spots, its culture steeped in tradition, its strong local roots and flourishing tourism has made this agrarian village a fine blend of modernity and ancestral living. Ban is the Sanskrit word for ‘arrow’ and Halli the Kannada word for ‘village’. According to the Sahyadrikhanda of the Skanda Purana, Lord Parashurama shot his arrow into the sea and commanded the sea god Varuna recede up to the point where his arrow landed. The arrow is said to have landed at Banahalli. The area was then settled by Goud Saraswat Brahmins from northern India.

Ancient Banahalli was the site of the Katyayani Baneshvar temple dedicated to the Hindu deities Shiva and Parvati. The temple ruins can be still found in the village. The deities were shifted to Aversa in North Canara in the sixteenth century.

The tall type coconut cultivar, 'Banawali Green Round', the landrace of Benaulim, was selected and released as ‘Pratap’ in 1987 for cultivation in coastal Maharashtra by the Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli owing to its superior biological and fruiting characteristics and high yielding nature.

The coastal village of Beanulim is one of the best villages to visit in Goa. The place is a mix of commercial as well as local life. This is a fishing village, where you can still find fisherman carrying forward the age-old tradition of fishing. Interesting stories and legends are associated with the place, whose roots can be traced back to mythology.  Along the coast, one can enjoy and indulge in seafood and there are abundant options to choose from.

Among the many Goa villages, this is also a heritage village, which has an interesting museum that showcases the anthropological heritage of Goa. Goa Chitra is one of the oldest museums in the village, which gives a glimpse of the lifestyle of Goans via the many artifacts, implements and equipment that are on display. A walk through the museum is nothing short of a walk into the past of Goa.

Benaulim has three beaches: The main Benaulim beach is neighboured by Trinity beach to the south and Sernabatim beach to the north. Benaulim beach is popular among the locals and tourists alike. Benaulim beaches are pristine, as they are relatively undeveloped. Due to reduced human movement during the coronavirus lockdown, five adult Olive Ridley turtles washed up on Benaulim beach after decades, in June 2020. The turtles were trapped in fishing nets on the beach and were rescued by Benaulim fisherman Pele and his friends. There is one luxury hotel in Benaulim, Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, Goa. There is a hidden side of Benaulim beach entrance behind the resort.

Benaulim’s main market is located near Maria Hall (which serves as an event hall), a community centre, where most accommodation, restaurants, grocers and chemists are concentrated.

Benaulim is the birthplace of St Joseph Vaz, who was a priest and missionary in Sri Lanka. Benaulim is home to several traditional carpenters, and has long been known as Goa’s ‘village of carpenters’. Contemporary Benaulim is a popular seaside resort, renowned for its beautiful rice fields, balmy weather and golden sand beaches. It also houses Goa’s only Don Bosco Animation Centre. There are two big churches in Benaulim. The Holy Trinity Church in Mazilvaddo is a modern church built over the centuries-old chapel of the Loiola Pereira family. The St John the Baptist Church in Povacao area closer to Colva, is where St Joseph Vaz was baptised.

𝙽𝙴𝚇𝚃 𝙿𝙰𝙶𝙴