Sometimes known as "Rome of the
East", "Tourist Paradise" and "Pearl of the Orient",
the state of Goa is located
on the western coast of India in the coastal belt
known as Konkan.
The magnificent scenic
beauty and the architectural splendours
of its temples, churches and old houses
have made Goa a firm favourite with
travellers around the world.
But then, Goa is much
more than just beaches and sea. It has a
soul which goes deep into unique
history, rich culture and some of the
prettiest natural scenery that India has
to offer. Much of the real Goa is in its
interiors, both inside its buildings and
in the hinterland away from the coastal
area.
Goa was liberated by the Indian Army from Portuguese
colonisation on December 19, 1961 and became an
Union Territory along with the enclaves of Daman and
Diu. On May 30, 1987 Goa was conferred statehood and
became the 25th state of the Indian Republic.
Having been the meeting point of races, religions
and cultures of East and West over the centuries,
Goa has a multi-hued and distinctive lifestyle quite
different from the rest of India. Hindu and Catholic
communities make up almost the entire population
with minority representation of Muslims and other
religions.
All the communities have mutual respect towards one
another and their secular outlook has given Goa a
long and an unbroken tradition of religious harmony.
The warm and tolerant nature of the Goan people
allows them to celebrate and enjoy the festivals of
various religions such as Ganesh Chaturthi, Diwali,
Christmas, Easter and Eid with equal enthusiasm.
The state of Maharashtra borders Goa
on the north, the state of Karnataka on the south
and east. The vast expanse of the Arabian Sea on the
west forms the magnificent coastline for which Goa
is justly famous.
Panaji (Panjim) is
the state capital located on the banks
of the Mandovi river and Vasco, Margao,
Mapusa and Ponda are the other major
towns. Goa is serviced by an
international/national airport located
at Dabolim near Vasco. An intra-state
and inter-state bus network also plays
an important role in getting locals and
visitors alike in and around Goa.
The vast green expanse
of the Sahyadri mountain range ensures
that Goa has an abundance of water. The
sea and rivers abound in seafood -
prawns, mackerels, sardines, crabs and
lobsters are the most popular with the
locals and the visitors.
Along with English which is widely spoken all over
Goa, Konkani and Marathi are the state languages.
The national language Hindi is also well understood
in most areas around the state.
Goan cuisine is a blend of different influences the
Goans had to endure during the centuries. The staple
food in Goa is fish and rice, both among the Hindus
and the Catholics. Unlike the Christian food the
Hindu Goan food is not strongly influenced by the
Portuguese cuisine.
Since the arrival of
the Hippies in the sixties, Goa has been
a major destination on the itinerary of
international and domestic tourists.
The tourist season in
Goa begins in late September and carries
on through early March. The weather in
these months is usually dry and
pleasantly cool.
DISCOVER GOA!
Watch the video
(best viewed at
100Kbs or higher)
Video supplied courtesy of
The Department of Tourism, Government of Goa
Then the weather gets
fairly hot around May and by end of
June, Goa receives the full blast of the
Indian monsoon with sudden downpours and
tropical thunderstorms. However it is
also during the monsoon that Goa is
probably at its most beautiful, with
greenery sprouting all around.
Besides the natural beauty, the fabulous beaches and
sunshine, travellers to Goa love the laid-back,
peaceful, warm and friendly nature of the Goan
people.
After
all, more than anywhere else on planet earth, this
is a place where people really know how to relax.
