The state of Goa is located on the western coast of
India in the coastal belt known as Konkan. Goa is variously known as "Pearl
of the Orient" and a "Tourist Paradise". The magnificent
scenic beauty and the architectural splendors of its temples, churches
and old houses have made Goa a firm favorite with travelers around the
world.
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 colonization on
December 19, 1961 and became a 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 Goans allows them
to celebrate and enjoy the festivals of various religions such as Ganesh
Chaturthi, Diwali, Christmas, Easter and Id with equal enthusiasm.
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. 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.
Hotels in Goa
offer special monsson packages as this is typically considered as off
season in Goa.
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.
