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 India, it was one of the nine communidades in Salcete. Benaulim is the birthplace of 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'.
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.
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.
Benaulim has a predominantly Christian population (82.68%), followed by Hinduism (13.05%) and Islam (3.90%). Schedule Caste (SC) constitutes 0.99% while Schedule Tribe (ST) were 0.26% of total population.
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.
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.
There is one luxury hotel in Benaulim, Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, Goa. There is a hidden side of Benaulim beach entrance behind the resort.
St Joseph Vaz
(1651–1711): missionary Catholic priest who worked in Ceylon (modern day Sri Lanka) and Kanara (coastal Karnataka).
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Prof. Froilano de Mello, MD
(1887–1955): Luso-Indian microbiologist, medical scientist, academic, author and an independent MP in the Portuguese Parliament.
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