Dona Paula, Coastal village in North Goa district, India.
Dona Paula is a village on the Goan coast where the Mandovi and Zuari rivers flow into the Arabian Sea, forming a natural harbor. The settlement sits close to Panaji and offers views of the water meeting point where the rivers end.
The settlement was originally called Oddavell until 1744, when it took the name of a woman who arrived in Goa and married a Spanish nobleman. This moment marked a turning point in the place's story and shaped its identity ever since.
The village carries the name of Dona Paula Amaral Antonia de Souto Maior, a woman whose story from the 1700s remains part of local memory and identity. Her legacy is reflected in the monuments and in how people speak about this place.
The village can be reached by car or bus from various places in Goa, and the nearest airport is about a half hour drive away. A railway station is also nearby, offering different ways to reach this spot.
A white stone stands at the ferry jetty bearing the Wheel of Ashoka, an important Indian symbol. This statue connects past to present in a way that often catches visitors' attention as they explore the waterfront.
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