Palolem Beach

Palolem is a beach in South Goa, India.

Sunset at Palolem

Sunset at Palolem

Stone sculpture on top of the Palolem Island by Jacek Tylicki

Location

Palolem Beach is at 15°00′32″N 74°01′22″E, within 2 kilometres from the market town of Chaudi in the south Goan taluka of Canacona, which is about one hour's drive from the coastal town of Karwar in Karnataka and about 40 minutes from Margao (Main city in South Goa).

Other neighbouring beaches in South Goa include: Agonda beach & Cola beach. http://palolembestbeachofindia.blogspot.in/

The beach

The beach is largely unspoiled and is inhabited by both local fishermen and by foreign tourists who live in shacks along the shore or in the main village itself. It is about one mile (approximately 1.61 km) long and is crescent-shaped - one can view the whole beach from either end. Both ends of the beach consist of rocks jutting out into the sea. The depth of the sea increases gradually, it being shallowest at the northern ends of the beach, making it safe for average swimmers, and the currents are not fast.

The beach is featured as the Indian residence of Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) in the film The Bourne Supremacy (2004). The initial footage in the movie gives a good idea of the natural beauty of the beach - the distinctive tree covered rocks at one end (known locally as Monkey Island - to which tours are run) and beach shacks.

At the top of the island adjoining Palolem beach there is a stone sculpture created by an American Conceptual and Land art artist Jacek Tylicki called "Give if you can - Take if you have to" also called "the Money stone". It became a pilgrimage destination. At the low tide it is a tough jungle walk and a guide is recommended. People can leave or take money at will at the Money stone.

http://palolembestbeachofindia.blogspot.in/

Travel

Closest airport is Dabolim Airport which is about 67 km away. Madgaon railway station is at a distance of 43 km. There are regular buses from Madgaon Bus Terminal .

Speciality

In the early 1980's, Palolem was not that well known, except a few hippies who began coming to palolem island and staying there for months. However, over the years things changed, and nowadays you can see Palolem as one of the most beautiful beaches of whole Goa though it becomes overcrowded last years. Palolem is flooded with a mix of nationalities, with its unique culture of beach cottage accommodation, which is gaining more and more popular. These cottages are right on the beach, face the sea, and have gained so much popularity that even people from India started visiting this place. Accomodation is very cheap and basic, and can't be booked online in most cases. Besides Palolem beach, you will find Colom Beach and Patnem which are hardly at a distance of 1 km from each other. The Thai style beach shacks on the beach front are typically taken down during the monsoon season and re-erected when the dry season starts.

External links

• 'Before Sunrise Before Sunset, Travelogue in Lounge, 30-05-2009, by Arjun Razdan
• 'Find all resorts and hotels in Palolem Goa.
• 'Palolem.net Guide
• 'Cola Beach Resort.
• 'Art Resort Goa Palolem.
• 'Parvati Beach Huts Palolem.
• 'Green Park Beach Huts in Palolem.
• An independent guide to Palolem, Canacona, Goa and the surrounding area.
• Photos of Palolem.Text in Russian
• Palolem village: huts and cottages, local shops and services, bars and restaurants, luxurious beach (5 spherical panoramas 360°).

http://palolembestbeachofindia.blogspot.in/