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| General Information about GOA |
Goa : Tourist Paradise.
Area : 3,360 sq. km.
Language : Konkani, Marathi, Portuguese, English.
Best Time to Visit : October to March.
Clothing : In Summer:Light cotton; In Winter:Woolens.
Altitude :169 mtrs, above Sea Level.
Capital : Panaji.
STD Code :0832. |
About Goa
Goa is located on the western coast of India in the coastal belt known as Konkan. Goa was once upon a time under Portuguese rule. The Portuguese are a carefree happy people who believe hospitality is an art and not an industry. They have left a legacy of love and brotherhood amongst the Goan folk. So, besides being a picturesque seaside holiday spot, Goa is famous for its fun-loving people, its free flowing Feni (native cashew wine) and its yearlong festivals.
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.
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.
PLACES TO VISIT IN GOA
• Mormugao Harbour : It is 34 Kms. from Panaji and 4 Kms. from Vasco-da-Gama. It is one of the fine natural anchorages on the West coast of India and the hub of intense maritime activity.
• Panaji : It was a small fishing village with lots of coconut trees, creeks and fields. For centuries it remained so and was a neglected ward of Taleigao village with the only massive structure, the Adil Shah Fort by the Mandovi river. In 1632 the then Viceroy, Count de Linhares, Dom Miguel de Noronha built the 3.2km causeway linking Panjim with Ribandar village.
• Mapusa : Mapusa (pronounced as Mapsa by the locals) is Goa's third largest town and the capital of the northern Bardez taluka. It is mainly a market town for the surrounding beach areas of Calangute, Candolim, Anjuna and Baga among others. Even its name is thought to be derived from the Konkani word for a measure - "map" and the phrase fill up - "sa". It is a fairly small town with mostly modern building spread around the slopes of a small hillock called Altinho. It lies about 13 kms from the capital city of Panaji and on most days there is hardly anything to entice the casual visitor to its environs.
BEACHES IN GOA
• Anjuna Beach : Anjuna, 18 kms from Panaji is a popular beach area adjacent to Chapora fort- it was the haunt of the flower generation in the sixties - and is still popular with the younger generation. The Anjuna band plays for the beach party at night. Palm trees stand motionless in the warm air. Anjuna attracts a weird and wonderful collection of over monks, defiant ex-hippies, gentle lunatics, artists, artisans, seers, searchers, sybarites and itinerant expatriates who normally wouldn't be seen out of the organic confines of their health-food emporia in San Francisco or London.
• Dona Paula Beach : 7 kms from Panaji. An idyllic picturesque spot. Command a fine view of the Zuari river and Mormugao Harbour. Water scootering facilities are available here. It is near the rocky point between the Mandovi and the Zuari is Dona Paula, a secluded bay with a fine view of the Marmagao harbour. This is an idyllic spot to relax and sunbathe. Water scootering facilities available. Named after Dona Paula de Menezes, this place is called the Lovers Paradise due to a myth which has been attached to this place. Dona Paula takes its name from a viceroy's daughter who threw herself off the cliff, when refused permission to marry a local fisherman.
• Colva Beach : This is the most important beach in the south circuit equipped with all modern amenities like air-conditioned resort complexes, tourist cottages, discos, seashell artefact stalls, refreshment stalls, eateries, guest houses, expanding the village enormously. The Church of Our Lady Of Mercy in Colva is famous for its miracle statue of Menino Jesus. The road leading from the Church to the beach is where all the facilities are located. Colva is a small village in south Goa on the shores of the Arabian Sea. It lies 39 km away from Panaji, capital of the Indian state of Goa. Two km further ahead from Colva is Benaulim.
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