Benaulim

The village was known as Banahalli or Banawali (the village of the arrow) 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, Parashurama shot his arrow into the sea and commanded the sea god Varuna recede up to the point where his arrow landed.{{harvnb|Machado|1999|pp=29–34}} The arrow is said to have landed at Banahalli. The area was then settled by Goud Saraswat Brahmins from northern India.{{harvnb|Machado|1999|pp=35–38}}

Ancient Banahalli was the site of the Katyayani Baneshvar temple dedicated to the Hindu deities Shiva and Parvati. The temple ruins can be still found in the village. The deities were shifted to Aversa in North Canara (modern Uttara Kannada district) in the sixteenth century.{{citation needed|date=June 2017}}

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.{{harvnb|Kurien & K. V.|2007|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=2VFYqwA-Mn4C&dq=Pratap+benaulim&pg=PA155 155]}}

Benaulim is located at

{{Coord|15|16|12|N|73|56|5|E|display=inline}}. It has an average elevation of {{convert|1|m|ft|abbr=off}}.

{{Citation

| title = Benaulim, India Page

| website = Falling Rain Genomics, Inc

| url = http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/33/Benaulim.html

| access-date = 28 July 2017

}}

{{Pie chart

| thumb = right

| caption = Religion in Benaulim (2011)

| label1 = Christianity

| value1 = 82.68

| color1 = Blue

| label2 = Hinduism

| value2 = 13.05

| color2 = DarkOrange

| label3 = Islam

| value3 = 3.90

| color3 = DarkGreen

| label4 = Others

| value4 = 0.37

| color4 = Maroon

}}

Benaulim has population of 11,919 of which 5,818 are males and 6,101 are females, as per Census of India 2011. Child population within the age group of 0-6 is 1,235 which is 10.36% of total population. Female sex ratio is 1,049 against the Goa state average of 973. Moreover, the child sex ratio is around 992 compared to the state average of 942.{{harvnb|Chandramouli|2015|loc=#About Benaulim: Overview}}

Literacy is 89.25% higher than the state average of 88.70%. Male literacy is around 92.15% while female literacy rate is 86.51%. Out of the total population, 4,316 were engaged in work or business activity. Of this 3,087 were males while 1,229 were females.{{harvnb|Chandramouli|2015|loc=#Work Profile}}

Benaulim has a predominantly Christian population (82.68%), followed by Hinduism (13.05%) and Islam (3.90%).{{harvnb|Chandramouli|2015|loc=#About Benaulim: Benaulim Religion Data 2011}} Schedule Caste (SC) constitutes 0.99% while Schedule Tribe (ST) were 0.26% of total population.{{harvnb|Chandramouli|2015|loc=#Caste Factor}}

{{Infobox landform

| name = Benaulim beach

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Benaulim has three beaches: The main Benaulim beach is neighboured by Trinity beach to the south and Sernabatim beach to the north.{{harvnb|McCulloch & Stott|2013|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=Hj_-AgAAQBAJ&q=Vaddi+beach+benaulim+goa 113]}} Benaulim beach is popular among the locals and tourists alike.{{Citation

| url = http://www.lonelyplanet.com/india/goa/benaulim/introduction

| title = Introducing Benaulim

| work = Lonely Planet

| access-date = 28 July 2017

| archive-date = 5 September 2016

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160905143914/http://www.lonelyplanet.com/india/goa/benaulim/introduction

| url-status = dead

}} 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.

{{Citation

| url = http://www.moneycontrol.com/news/trends/travel-trends/top-5-water-sports-destinationsindia-1510129.html

| website = Moneycontrol.com

| title = Top 5 water-sports destinations in India

| access-date = 28 July 2017

}}

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|date=August 2023}}

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.

{{Citation

| url = https://www.lonelyplanet.com/india/benaulim/attractions/maria-hall/a/poi-sig/1440132/1315142

| title = Maria Hall—Landmark in Benaulim

| work = Lonely Planet

| access-date = 28 July 2017

}}

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|date=August 2023}}

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

{{Gallery

|footer= Images from Benaulim, Goa, India

|File:Fields of Benaulim .jpg | Fields of Benaulim after St. John the Baptist Church East towards Margao

|File:Fields of Benaulim 2.jpg| Fields of Benaulim after St. John the Baptist Church West towards the Beach

}}

{{reflist}}

• {{Citation

| author-mask = Alan Machado (Prabhu)

| last = Machado

| first = Alan

| year = 1999

| title = Sarasvati's Children: A History of the Mangalorean Christians

| edition = First

| location = Bangalore

| publisher= I.J.A. Publications

| isbn = 81-86778-25-X

}}

• {{Citation

| author-mask = C. Chandramouli

| last = Chandramouli

| first = C.

| date = 2015

| orig-year = 2010–11

| title = Benaulim Population Census 2011

| work = Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India

| publisher = Government of India

| agency = Census Organization of India

| url = http://www.census2011.co.in/data/town/626931-benaulim-goa.html

}}

• {{Citation

| author = Kurien & K. V.

| author-mask = Alice Kurien; Peter K. V.

| year = 2007

| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=2VFYqwA-Mn4C

| title = Commercial Crops Technology

| series = Horticulture Science Series

| volume = 8

| publisher = New India Publishing

| isbn = 978-8189422523

}}

• {{Citation

| author = McCulloch & Stott

| author-mask = Victoria McCulloch; David Stott

| year = 2013

| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=Hj_-AgAAQBAJ

| title = Goa with Mumbai

| magazine = Footprint Focus

| series = Footprint Travel Guides

| edition = 2nd

| publisher = Footprint Handbooks Ltd

| isbn = 9781909268425

}}

{{commons category|Benaulim}}

Category:Cities and towns in South Goa district

Category:Beaches of South Goa district

Category:Beaches of Goa