Colva in South Goa and Calangute in North Goa are two beaches with the highest footfall in Goa. Each borders the beaches of Benaulim and Baga, respectively, which accommodate the spillover.
Of the two beaches, Colva is deemed far safer for a swim. However, Calangute’s swimming is fraught with gory tales and subconscious fears attributed to the number of drowning cases in the past.
Colva, in comparison to Calangute, is still marked with green patches, which could be because the dunes have acted as barriers to indiscriminate construction.
Once frequented by foreigners, Colva is now home to domestic tourists and remains a medicinal bathing spot for locals who throng the beach in the evening.
“We make it a point to come every weekend for the sunset and every day for a month during summer. I remember doing it as a child, and now come along with my grandchildren,” says Marianita, as she supervises her grandkids snacking on the shore.
Like Marianita, there are the Laximis and Zubeidas for whom a visit to Colva is a break from routine household chores. The elderly sit and chat, the middle-aged look after their kids and the teens disappear to explore.
With the monsoon withdrawing, Colva is chock-a-block with activity. As the sun begins to set, the lights glowing from restaurants and street lights lend Colva a vibrant energy.
Apart from a luxury resort, the beach has been able to draw investment in a few restaurants from the middle class and a number of domestic tourists trying to explore the paradise that is Goa through buses.
There is not much nightlife in Colva apart from the in-house entertainment provided by hotels. Many staying around the beach drive to the north to party.
“Colva gets busy in the evening when the locals start coming. It’s quiet in the morning, and the beach is pretty empty during the day,” says Arun, as he sips his coffee in a restaurant.
“This is a nice place to plan one’s holiday. The city is close and the ride to North Goa is pleasant,” he adds.
The beach is bereft of food vans, but a restaurant at the entrance is the place to go to for a pleasant bite of chicken cafreal. To some foodies, the cafreal may not taste like the original, but, the marinade is good enough for a second helping.
“We are a family-run restaurant. Chicken is our speciality, though we have expanded our menu to cater to the needs of the many tourists living around Colva,” discloses Sam, as he wraps the takeaway order.
Once known to have many restaurants with Goan kitchens, tastes seem to have changed with original Goan food difficult to find in most eateries along the beach. There is more of Chinese and continental with spaghetti.
“Chinese food cooks faster and can be shared amongst many,” confesses Imran.
Indian men in groups of four to six, couples on honeymoon and families from different states of India find Colva safe because, unlike Calangute, the vibe in Colva is chill.