Goa at a Glance

Area : 3,702 km Sq.

Capital : Panji

Population : 1,340,000

Boundaries : East and South - Karnataka, West - Arebian Sea, North - Maharastra, and Terkhol River ;

Airport : Dabolim

Languages : Konkani, Marathi, Portugues, English

Currency : Indian Rupee (Rs)

Temprature : Max. 33ºC, Min. 24ºC

Rainfall : 300 cms (approx.)

About Goa :

It's a shame Goa comes burdened with a reputation for louche living, because there's so much more to it than sun, sand and psychedelia. The allure of Goa is that it remains quite distinct from the rest of India and is small enough to be grasped and explored in a way that other Indian states are not.

Goa has enjoyed a prominent place in the travellers' lexicon since the heady days of the 1960s, but the (in)famous hippies have now been replaced by backpackers, Indian visitors and package tourists on two-week jaunts from Europe. The locals are relaxed and friendly, and skirts outnumber saris.

History of Goa :

The beginnings of a Goan independence movement were felt as early as the late 19th century, but began in earnest when the Portuguese monarchy collapsed in 1910. The new Portuguese elite, however, were as determinedly imperialist as their predecessors and countenanced no internal dissent or external Indian approaches until Indian PM Jawaharlal Nehru finally ordered an invasion on 17 December 1961, meeting little resistance despite the exhortations of the Portuguese dictatorship under Salazar.

Goa has, since independence, struggled to define its role within India on its own terms. Initial moves to assimilate the region into neighbouring states and to drop Konkani as the official regional language were resisted. Instead, in May 1987, Goa became India's 25th state and Konkani was recognised as one of the country's official languages.

Places to see at Goa :

St Cathedral Church : One of Goa's important institutions, Goa's famous and magnificent churches are largely a legacy of Portuguese colonization Church building was one of the main occupations of the early Portuguese and in fact one of Vasco da Gama's main missions for finding the sea route to India was to "seek Christians and spices". Christianity was forced upon with religious fervor by the Portuguese during the period of the "Inquisition" with wide scale destruction of temples and this continued till the official end of the "Inquisition" in Goa in 1812. Most of Goa's churches were built on the very site of former temples. The confiscated lands of the temples were handed over to the church and the communidades. In fact, the first Hindu temple allowed to be constructed by the Portuguese in 300 years was in 1818 at Panaji. With a significant population of Goans being Christians for many generations today, the Church is an important factor in Goa's social , cultural and religious life. For example, the contribution of the Church to education in Goa is immense. Today the churches are all part of the Archdiocese of Goa and function with its help, many are also protected sites.The architecture of Goa's churches has undergone notable changes with the passage of time and the fashion of the era that they were built in.The church architecture can be broadly broken down to the following periods.

Anjuna Flea Market : Once just a backpacker and hippy hangout selling kaftans and chillums the Anjuna Flea Market is now more commercial with a broad range of goods on sale. Traders from all over India come to sell their wares: Lamani women from Karnataka dressed in their traditional garb sell colourful, elaborately woven clothes, Kashmiri stalls display silver and papier mache boxes and Tibetans preside over orderly rows of sundry Himalayan curios. Even if not planning to haggle for anything the market is a great place to watch the world go by and mingle with bands of musicians, snake charmers, beggars and the inevitable juggling hippies. The market takes place every Wednesday.

Panaji : For most Panaji is simply a busy bus terminal, however it is worth spending a few hours exploring this most sedate of State Capitals. Situated on the southern banks of the Mandovi River, Panaji only became the capital of Goa in 1843 by when the harbour at Old Goa had silted up and disease had driven its inhabitants out. The best way to explore the town is by foot, wandering around the old cobbled alleyways, colonial villas, red-roofed houses, taverns and cafes, much like any small Portuguese town. There are some wonderful old government buildings; some dating to before colonisation, and some elegant churches. Most memorable is the Church of the Immaculate Conception, which was built in 1541; it is topped with a huge bell that sits between two delicate Baroque-style towers.

Beaches at Goa :

Palolem Beach : A relatively deserted beach, Palolem is about 35 Km from Margao. It is one of the most enchanting beaches of Goa with a backdrop of the Western Ghats.

Vagator Beach : 24 km from Panaji, this is a popular beach dominated by the Chapora Fort (which marks the entrance to the bay) in the north and Calangute beach to the south. It's a free-and-easy mood at Little Vagator beach where a young, hip crowd and nude sunbathing are the norm.

Calangute : 16 kms from Panaji, this 7 km-long 'queen of beaches,' is a popular holiday resort. The small houses amidst the coconut groves behind the beach are always in demand. It is the most popular holiday resort in Goa and a hit with foreign tourists.

Colva : 6 km. from Margao, it is the pride of Salcete and rivals Calangute in scenic splendour. Here sea , sand and sky blend in enchanting natural harmony, weaving their magic spell on the visitors. The beach offers good accommodation facilities.

Where to Stay at Goa :

• Cidade De Goa Beach Resort (5 Star)
• Fort Aguada Beach Resort (5 Star)
• Four Season Leela Beach (5 Star Deluxe)
• Goa Renaissance Resort ( 5 Star Deluxe)
• Holiday Inn Resort ( 5 Star Deluxe )
• Hotel La Paz Garden (3 Star)
• Hotel Nova Goa (3 Star)
• Hotel Mondovi (3 Star)

How to Reach at Goa :

By Air : From October to April tourists can fly directly to Goa's Dabolim airport on charter flights. Various International Tour Operators operate these flights. It is noteworthy that the Indian citizens cannot make use of these flights. For the domestic tourists there are daily flights from Mumbai and Delhi. From Bangalore there are flights 4 times in a week.

By Rail : Goa is well connected by the Indian rail Network. There are direct trains from Delhi and Mumbai to Goa.

By Road : The excellent road network of Goa links it with neighbouring states like Maharashtra and Karnataka.

By Water : Boat Services are available between Mumbai and Panaji.