Variously known as "Pearl of the Orient" and a "Tourist Paradise", 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.

Legends from Hindu mythology credit Lord Parshuram, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu with the creation of Goa.

Over the centuries various dynasties have ruled Goa. Rashtrakutas, Kadambas, Silaharas, Chalukyas, Bahamani Muslims and most famously the Portuguese have been rulers of Goa.

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 Goans allows them to celebrate and enjoy the festivals of various religions such as Ganesh Chaturthi, Diwali, Christmas, Easter and Id 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.

Terekhol (Tiracol), Mandovi, Zuari, Chapora, Sal and Talpona are the main rivers which weave their way throughout the state forming the inland waterways adding beauty and romance to the land besides being used to transport Goa's main export commodity of Iron and Manganese ore to Mormugao Harbour. Along the way to the coast these waterways form estuaries, creeks and bays breaking the sandy, palm-fringed coastline behind which lie the fishing villages among the coconut groves.

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.

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.

Panaji, the capital city of Goa is the charming little travel hub for the tourists coming to Goa. Though, it does not possess several world renowned monuments, its bears an ambience which has a captivating charm. Panjim or Panaji is one of the India's smallest and pleasantest state capitals and is located on the south bank of the wide Mandovi River. The town has preserved its Portuguese heritage appreciably well and parts of it still contains narrow winding streets, old houses with over hanging balconies, red-tiled roofs and numerous small bars and cafe's. The charm of Panaji is that it is very small city, and has little scope for growth as it is bounded by Altinho (a hillock), on one side, the Arabian sea on the other Mandovi River on the third side, and Ourem Creek on the fourth so the city will always retain its charm and beauty.

Sightseeing at Panjim -

The Idalcao Palace : The Idalcao Palace was once the castle of the Adil Shahis of Bijapur. It served as the Viceregal Palace until 1759 after the Portuguese rebuilt it in 1615. In 1843 it housed the secretariat and now it is the Passport office.

Our Lady of Immaculate Conception : Our Lady of Immaculate Conception is Panaji's main church, which was built in 1541 and enlarged in 1619. It is designed after the church at Reis Magos, and the second largest bell in Goa that was salvaged from the ruins of the Augustian Monastery in Velha Goa is now placed here.

Braganza Institute : The main attraction of the Braganza Institute is a blue tiled frieze depicting the Portuguese colonisation of India.

The Chapel of St Sebastian : The Chapel of St Sebastian is a relatively new structure that was built in the 1880's. It has the crucifix that was originally in the Palace of Inquisition in Velha Goa. Mahalaxmi Temple : A Hindu temple, the Mahalaxmi Temple speak volumes of the Hindu population living here. Margao, the capital of the Salcete province, houses many commercial establishments. Margao is Goa's second largest city and commercial metropolis of Salcete taluka in South Goa. It still retains the atmosphere of Goa’s Portuguese colonial past, and is ideally connected to the rest of the Indian by rail. Margao is the headquarters of South Goa District and is regarded as the main commercial city of Goa. It is famous for its ancient cultural heritage and traditional customs of the people of Goa. Margao is known for its bazaars and restaurants, bus stands and railway stations. The picturesque Colva beach is just 5 km away from Margao.

Sightseeing at Margao -

Holy Spirit Church : Places of interest in Margao are the Holy Spirit Church erected in 1565 with the outstanding cross built in front of the church.

Jorge Barreto Park : The large rectangular 'Jorge Barreto' Park in front of the colonial-styled building with its arched corridors is a remarkable feature, worth seeing.

Market of Margao : Margao's famous market presents the agricultural produce of the entire South Goa. The most notable of these is the 'Sat Burnzam Ghor', which originally had seven roofs. This is one very ideal place to know about the market culture of Goa.

Monte Church : The 'Monte Church' situated on a little promontory is another attraction worth visiting here. This place is an ideal point to get a bird's eye-view of the city below and the Arabian Sea, beyond.

Other Attractions : Chandreshwar Bhutnath Temple and the Rachol Seminary are also worth visiting in Margao.

Vasco da Gama, 29-km by road southwest of Panjim, sits on the narrow western tip of the Marmagoa (also known as Mormugao) peninsula, overlooking the mouth of the Zuari River. Acquired by the Portuguese in 1543, this strategically important site was formerly among the busiest ports on India's west coast. It remains a key shipping centre, with container vessels and iron ore barges clogging the choppy river mouth, but holds nothing of interest for visitors, particularly since the completion of the Konkan Railway, when Goa's main railhead shifted from here to Margao. The only conceivable reason one might want to come to Vasco is to catch a bus to Dabolim airport, of Bogmalo beach, 8-km southeast.

Sightseeing at Vasco-da-Gama -

Bogmolo Beach : The sandy beach at the end of the cove would be even more picturesque were it not for the monstrous multi-storey edifice perched above it. A Former Fishing Village, Today's Tourist Hangout The village is still present at Bogmalo, complete with a tiny-whitewashed Chapel and gangs of hogs nosing through the rubbish, but its environs have been transformed. Pricey café-bars blaring Western music have crept up the beach, while the clearing below the hotel is prowled by assiduous Kashmiri handicraft vendors. Compared to other beaches of Goa, Bogmalo is still a small-scale resort. As long as one hasn't come to Goa to get away from it all or party all night, then one'll find Bogmalo congenial enough. The beach is clean and not too crowded, the water reasonably safe for swimming, and there are plenty of places to eat, drink and shop. If, on the other hand, one is looking for somewhere not yet, on the package tourist map, one'll be better off further south, at the far end of Colva Beach or beyond.

The Naval Aviation Museum : The first naval museum in Asia was inaugurated at Dabolim, Vasco in 1998 and opened for public from the 19th October 1998. The museum showcases the history of Indian Naval Aviation, various aircrafts, weapons, sensors, safety equipment, rare photographs depicting Goa's liberation and artifacts.