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Friday, March 18, 2011

Dona Paula


Dona Paula is a former fishing village, in the suburbs of Panaji,Goa. Today , it is one of the most commercialized areas for beach resorts and restaurants of Goa. It is famous for its seaside shopping, sunbathing, water sports and food shacks.It is the meeting point of the Zuari and Mandovi rivers with the Arabian sea.

You get a fantastic view of Marmugao Harbour from here. With the romance and myth attached to it, tourists throng the Dona Paula beach and Jetty in search of the scenic beauty and mystery, besides indulging in water sports.
There are a number of legends behind the alleged Dona Paula Sculpture.One such legend is that Dona was married to Paulo, a lowly fisherman.

He ventured into deep seas for fishing and is said to have never returned. His dutiful wife Dona supposedly waited for him at the jetty, for so many years that she finally turned into stone.

Another one is that Dona and Paulo were lovers belonging to different caste and nationality.With no other option left, they decided to end their lives, by jumping off the cliff.
The Statue on the rock is dedicated to them.

However the truth is that Dona is the title given to married women according to Portuguese customs.

Paula Amaral Antonio de Souto Maior is the lady in debate. She was the daughter of the Portuguese Viceroy of Jaffnapatnam, in Sri Lanka.

She and her family arrived in Goa in 1644 and she married a Fidalgo from Spain - Dom Antonio Souto Maior in 1656.

They were an extremely affluent family and the entire property from the present day Cabo Raj Nivas all the way to Caranzalem belonged to the Souto Maiors. She later passed away on December 16, 1682.
The grave of Dona Paula Amaral Antonio de Souto Maior was found in the transept of the Chapel at the Governor's Palace.

Dona Paula was a woman of charity and is known to have helped the villagers, so after her death, the villagers re-named the village as Dona Paula. Previously the village was called Oddavell.

The alleged statue of 'Dona-Paulo' seen today at the Dona Paula jetty is in reality the sculpture of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Knox. It was a Dutch sculptress, Baroness Yrse Von Leistner who etched the sculpture.

So the next time if you are in Goa , then dont miss the opportunity to visit this romantically scenic place!!

6 comments:

  1. Pulau yang indah sangat cocok untuk tamasya ini kawan

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  2. Goa ? I just wondering. where is that place? What's Island ? thanks

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  3. Wonderfull basilica, greeting from Belgium
    Nice fotos in blog.

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  4. Thank you dear friends for your lovely comments! Keep visiting and let me share more about Goa!

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  5. My visit to Dona Paula ,Goa,India
    http://girishpalkartravel.blogspot.in/2015/08/trip-to-dona-paulagoa.html

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