Benaulim

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Benaulim
Village
20191211 Benaulim 4885.jpg
Benaulim beach in 2019
Etymology: Village of the arrow
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Benaulim
Location in Goa, India
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Benaulim
Benaulim (India)
Coordinates: 15°15′N73°55′E / 15.25°N 73.92°E / 15.25; 73.92
CountryIndia
State Goa
District South Goa
Sub-district Salcete
Elevation
1 m (3 ft)
Population
 (2011) [1]
  Total
11,919
Demonym Bannalemcar
Languages
  Official Konkani
Time zone UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN
403 716
Vehicle registration GA-08

Benaulim (Bannalem) is a village in the state of Goa, India. Located in Salcete taluka of South Goa district, it neighbours Colva village to the north, Margao in the northeast and Varca village to the south. During Portuguese rule, it was one of the nine communidades in Salcete. Benaulim is the birthplace of St. Joseph Vaz, who was a priest and missionary in Ceylon. Benaulim is home to several traditional carpenters, and has long been known as Goa's 'village of carpenters'.

Contents

There are two 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. In 2016, Benaulim hosted the 8th BRICS Summit.

History

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 morphological and fruiting characteristics and high yielding nature. [2]

Geography

Benaulim is located at 15°16′12″N73°56′5″E / 15.27000°N 73.93472°E / 15.27000; 73.93472 . It has an average elevation of 1 metre (3.3 feet). [3]

Demographics

Religion in Benaulim (2011) [4]
  1. Christianity (82.68%)
  2. Hinduism (13.05%)
  3. Islam (3.9%)
  4. Others (0.37%)

Tourist attractions

Benaulim beach
Beach
Benaulim

Benaulim has three beaches: The main Benaulim beach is neighboured by Trinity beach to the south and Sernabatim beach to the north. [7] Benaulim beach is popular among the locals and tourists alike. [8] Apart from sunbathing and swimming, there are also options of parasailing, jet skiing, boat riding and wind surfing. Benaulim beaches are pristine, as they are relatively undeveloped. [9] 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.[ citation needed ]

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. [10]

There is one luxury hotel in Benaulim, Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, Goa. There is a hidden side of Benaulim beach entrance behind the resort.[ citation needed ]

Government and politics

Benaulim is part of Benaulim (Goa Assembly constituency) and South Goa (Lok Sabha constituency).

Notable people

Joze-Vaz.jpg St Joseph Vaz [11] (16511711): missionary Catholic priest who worked in Ceylon (modern day Sri Lanka) [12] and Canara (coastal Karnataka). [13]
Prof. Froilano de Mello, MD [14] (18871955): Luso-Indian microbiologist, medical scientist, academic, author and an independent MP in the Portuguese Parliament. [15]

Citations

  1. 1 2 3 Chandramouli 2015 , #About Benaulim: Overview
  2. Kurien & K. V. 2007 , p.  155
  3. "Benaulim, India Page", Falling Rain Genomics, Inc, retrieved 28 July 2017
  4. 1 2 Chandramouli 2015 , #About Benaulim: Benaulim Religion Data 2011
  5. Chandramouli 2015 , #Work Profile
  6. Chandramouli 2015 , #Caste Factor
  7. McCulloch & Stott 2013 , p.  113
  8. "Introducing Benaulim", Lonely Planet , archived from the original on 5 September 2016, retrieved 28 July 2017
  9. "Top 5 water-sports destinations in India", Moneycontrol.com , retrieved 28 July 2017
  10. "Maria HallLandmark in Benaulim", Lonely Planet , retrieved 28 July 2017
  11. "Goan-born Joseph Vaz granted sainthood by Pope Francis in Sri Lanka", The First Post , 14 January 2015, retrieved 28 July 2017
  12. Fr Romualdo Robin Rodrigues (16 January 2015), "21 facts about St Joseph Vaz", O Heraldo , retrieved 28 July 2017
  13. "Feast of St Joseph Vaz", The Navhind Times , 17 January 2017, retrieved 28 July 2017
  14. Nandkumar M Kamat (27 September 2015), "Froilano De Melo: Pioneer of Indian medical mycology", The Navhind Times , retrieved 28 July 2017
  15. Dr Jose Colaco; Alfredo de Mello, John J D'Souza (ed.), "Professor Froilano de Mello, MD (18871955): A Short Biography of His Life and Achievements", Goacom.com, Goacom Biography Series, archived from the original on 28 January 2012, retrieved 28 July 2017

References