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| About Goa |
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Goa, a tiny emerald land on the west coast of India, the 25th State in the Union of States of India, was liberated from Portuguese rule in 1961. It was part of Union territory of Goa, Daman & Diu till 30 May 1987 when it was carved out to form a separate State.
Goa covers an area of 3702 square kilometers and comprises two Revenue district viz North Goa and South Goa. Boundaries of Goa State are defined in the North Terekhol river which separates it from Maharashtra, in the East and South by Karnataka State and West by Arabian Sea. Goa lies in Western Coast of India and is 594 Kms (by road) away from Mumbai city.
Goa, for the purpose of revenue administration is divided into district viz. North and South Goa with headquarters at Panaji and Margao respectively. The entire State comprises 11 talukas. For the purpose of implementation of development programmes the State is divided into 12 community development blocks. As per 2001 census, the population of the State is 13,42,998.
Administratively the State is organised into two districts North Goa comprising six talukas with a total area of 1736 sq. kms. and South Goa comprising five talukas with an area of 1966 sq. kilometers. In all there are 383 villages of which 233 are in North Goa district and 150 in South Goa district. As per the 2001 census, there are 44 towns of which 14 are Municipalities and remaining are census towns.
A very striking feature of Goa is the harmonious relationship among various religious communities, who have lived together peacefully for generations. Though a late entrant to the planning process, Goa has emerged as one of the most developed States in India and even achieved the ranking of one of the best states in India with regards to investment environment and infrastructure.
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| PEOPLE, CULTURE & FESTIVALS |
The state of Goa is abundant and rich in people, culture and festivals. Being an immensely multi-cultural state, its festivals and people are numerous and various.
People: The people of Goa are very friendly, relaxed and extremely happy-go-lucky. The afternoon siesta is an important feature of life in Goa; in accordance with it shops down their shutters from one to four. People of Goa belong to different faiths and come from different cultural backgrounds. However, they all lay emphasis on good living.
Culture: Having had a multicultural past, the people, culture and festivals of Goa have been accordingly affected. The Portuguese were great church builders, their desire to spread their faith an important motivation. However, the early Hindu and Muslim settlers were nonetheless eager to populate the land with their descendents. So, what you see in modern-day Gao is a direct result of their urge. And much as the image evoked by Goa is the picture of its lush and luxurious beaches, the inhabitants of Goa are very religious-minded and conscious of their ethnicity.
Goan Food too forms an important part of the culture of Goa. Goa boasts of many different cuisines - the Konkan, the Portuguese and the Bahamani Nawabi traditions. Sea-food and rice, however, is a common feature with all these categories. Goa is abundant in different types of fish, the chief being, prawns, mussels, oysters and crabs.
Festivals: Goa is a medley of people, culture and festivals. So, all the major religious festivals of India are celebrated in Goa. In any case, fairs, fetes, fests, feasts and festivals are quite a regular feature of Goan life. Celebration is an integral part of Goan life; and not to miss out, they also have a day to commemorate the very idea of fun andfestivity.
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Being the most sought-after destinations in India, travel to Goa is no longer a problem to worry about. Situated on the western coast of India, the state is blessed with many attractions including, sun drenched beaches, forts, churches and beach resorts, colonial charm. Last but not the least it is the culture that makes it different from other states of India.
Mumbai is the nearest international airport. Travel to Goa is a mere 45 min flight from Mumbai. Your other option of travel to Goa, which is also cheap, is a 14-hour bus or train journey. Apart from this, several charter companies fly into Goa's Dabolim Airport direct from the European countries. Another alternative to travel to Goa is by water. The Frank Shipping operates the boat service between Mumbai and Panaji.
Traveling within Goa too is quite easy. Bus as well as rent-a-car services are quite widespread. A unique experience is that of the motorcycle taxi. Several ferry services are also available.
The tourist season in Goa begins in late September and carries on through early March because the weather in these months is compatibly cool and dry. So it is highly advisable to travel to Goa during this time. Some quick information about Goa is given below:
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| Goa Details:- |
| Capital: |
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Panaji. |
| Language: |
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Konkani, Marathi, English, Hindi. |
| Area: |
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3,800 sq km. |
| Tourist season: |
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October to March. |
| Climate: |
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Coastal.
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| Population: |
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1.3 million.
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| Religion:
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70% Hindus, 30% Christians.
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| Coast: |
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97 km..
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PHOTO GALLERY |
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