Morjim Beach in Goa

morjim beach

The Morjim beach is located in the North Goa, following the Ashwem Beach and the Chapora River. This place is famous as it is a home for the Olive Ridley Turtles, which is an endangered species. It receives frequent visits by tourists, most of which are often from Russia. As a result of this, the Morjim Beach has gained itself the name, “Little Russia”. The name, Morjim in itself is derived from the name of a goddess, “Morzai”. Legends say that the goddess had arrived in the beach riding a peacock, which is called “Mohor” in the native tongue and hence the name Morjim. The sea here is very shallow and flat, making it very easy for people to go swimming. Some popular activities to do on the beach are kite surfing. There are several nightclubs, close to the confluence of Chapora River, and beach shakes which are located further away from the Olive Ridley Turtle sites.

The beach is considered a part of a little village that is also known by the same name, Morjim. It is made up of beautiful houses, bungalows, and villas with the background of palm trees, grooves, ponds, forests and paddy fields. The beautiful place gives off the accurate charm of Goa.

Some quick facts about Morjim Beach

1. The beach at Morjim is located about 28.2 kilometres from Panaji, the capital of the state, and 51 kilometres from the Dabolim International Airport.

2. It is located close to the most popular beaches in the North Goa – Baga, Candolim, Calangute, Anjuna etc.

3. There is an availability of a number of water sports on the Baga beach. Some of them are kayaking, dinghy sailing, water scooters, and boat rides. Kite surfing is the most popular water sport here.

4. Morjim Beach is well known for being the home of the endangered Olive Ridley Sea Turtles.

5. Tourists have a chance to see dolphins from this beach; also, there are several half-day cruises that happen over the Chapora River.

6. The Siolim Fish Market is located here. People find here white and red snapper, mackerel, tuna, lobsters, kingfish, tiger prawns, squids and many more.

7. The Chapora River is also known as the Birders Paradise. You can take a cruise on the Chapora River and take breath-taking pictures of birds like cuckoo, sandpipers, plover, kingfisher and bay-backed shrike.

Best Time to Visit Morjim Beach

The summer here extends from the months of March to early June and it’s very humid. It is in the months between November to February, that the beach has very pleasant weather, along with a little rain, making it one of the best times in the year to visit the beach. The pleasant weather allows you to spend a little more time on the beach and even the shacks remain open longer. It also allows you to have some extra fun by renting a car and going out to visit places near the beach like the Chapora Fort without having to worry about the weather.

How to Reach Morjim Beach

You can easily travel to Morjim Beach by any medium. If you’re going by train, the Vasco da Gama terminus is a bare 52 kilometres from the beach. If you are travelling by road, then the city of Panaji is only 28.2 kilometres from the beach and the Dabolim International Airport is only 52 kilometres away from the beach. It is very easy to reach the Morjim beach, by any means of transport.

Morjim Beach Famous For

1. Olive Ridley Turtles

The Morjim Beach is the home to the endangered Olive Ridley Turtles. These turtles are also sometimes seen in the Agonda and Galgibaga beaches. The nesting location is where the Chapora River meets the sea at the northern end of the beach. This part of the beach is often referred to as the “Tortoise Beach”. The nesting originally used to be in the month of September. But the scientists pointed out that the time has changed to January to April because of the change in the climate.

2. Chapora River Cruise

Chapora River connects to the Arabian sea. The cruises here range from 1 hour long to overnight cruises. Beginning from the Mojrim beach, it takes the tourists to many islands like the Eagle’s Island and Arabo Island. Lunch or snacks are provided to the tourists on the boat, subjected to the duration of the cruise. Beer and soft drinks are also provided.