Benaulim Beach

Benaulim is a census town in the state of Goa, India. It is the neighbour of Colva village from the north, Margao in the northeast and Varca village from the south. During the Portuguese regime, it was one of the nine comunidades in the region of Salcete. Contemporary Benaulim is a popular seaside resort in South Goa district, renowned for its balmy weather, golden sands, and palm‑fringed beaches. It also houses Goa's only Don Bosco Animation Center. It is the birth place of St. Joseph Vaz who was a priest and missionary in Sri Lanka.There are two popular churches in Benaulim. The Holy Trinity Church is a new church built with modern design while St John The Baptist Church is old church popular for baptising St. Joseph Vaz.There is one luxury hotels in Benaulim, Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, Goa.EtymologyThe village was known as Banahalli or Banawali before the advent of the Portuguese. 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.