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Information about Goa |
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Goa is a little seaside state with an identity that is a
seamless blend of Portuguese and Latin influence and Indian
tradition. The name Goa is derived from the Konkani word
‘Goyan’ which means a patch of tall grass. Goa is located
about half way down the west coast of India. It is a lush
green paradise edged on the one side by the wooded foothills
of the Sahyadri range and on the other side by the Arabian
Sea. This small former Portuguese enclave is one of India’s
most dazzling tourist place. More than 450 years of Portuguese
rule preceded by Hindu and Muslim supremacy have made Goa an
exciting mixture of cultures. Panaji is the capital of Goa.
Hindi, English, Konkani, Marathi and Portuguese are the main
languages which are spoken in Goa. Imposing churches, forts
perched on high promontories, delightful old mansions, villas
and picturesque whitewashed villages set amidst velvety paddy
fields are part of this exciting heritage. Goa is a perfect
holiday destination for any tourists with its marvelous,
un-spoilt expanses of palm fringed beaches, mystical hills and
groves, seas, local hospitality, relaxed life styles enlivened
by the music and dance and superb cuisine. Goa is also one of
the Millennium destinations of the world. The best time to
visit Goa is between November to February and June to
September. |
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History
of
Goa |
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According to the Indian mythology, Goa was originated by
Parshuram, a God of the Hindu pantheon. This mythical land was
known as ‘Aparanto’ at that time which in Sanskrit means a
place beyond the exotic and beautiful. A place unfettered by
time. Goa combines Old Portuguese architecture with a distinct
Portuguese flavour to the lifestyle and a history that abounds
with Indian mythology. |
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Geography of
Goa |
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The 131 kms. long coastline of Goa is set on the Konkan coast
on the Western Ghats along the Arabian Sea. This place is
surrounded by the wooded foothills of the Sahyadri range on
the one side and by the Arabian Sea on the other side. The
mountain ranges in Goa houses a wealth of natural beauty and a
totally different way of life. Jackfruit, mango, cashew nut
and pineapple trees can be seen in plenty. |
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Climate
of
Goa |
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The climate in Goa is tropical and remains from about 21 to 32
degree Celsius. Goa can be visited at any time of the year.
But it is most pleasant from November to February. The best
time to visit Goa is from November to February and during the
monsoons, when it is at its loveliest. The monsoons starts
from June and continues till September. During the monsoons,
there is a truly impressive sight in Goa. The monsoon clouds
sweeping in from the sea make a spectacle of sheer grandeur.
The sea angry and active puts on a grand show on the occasion.
The entire hill slopes and the countryside turns spectacularly
lush and green. The rivers, swollen with rainwater, flow with
a renewed gusto which shows the mood prevalent at the time and
peace reigns unchallenged in this idyllic land. |
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People of
Goa |
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Hindus, Catholics and Muslims comprises the total population
of Goa. The people of Goa are very gentle and friendly and
represents a blend of diverse cultures, assimilated over
hundreds of years. The three hundred years of Portuguese rule
together with the old Indian traditions has left an indelible
imprint on the collective psyche of Goans which can be seen in
their music, architecture, culture, customs and lifestyles. |
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Cuisine of Goa |
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Besides having many features, Goa is also a gourmet's
paradise. Food in Goa is not just a source of nourishment,
but, it's an art. The people of Goa are very particular about
enjoying their food. It has to taste good, smell good and look
good. The coastline has a rich variety of seafood like fishes,
prawns, oysters, lobsters, crabs, squid and mussel’s pomfret.
Each of these varieties are imbued with the inimitable
flavours of Goan cooking which includes spices, chillies and
variety of curries. These flavours lend themselves to the
exotic meat and chicken dishes of the land. The vindaloo,
sorpotel, chicken cafrial and xacuti are the different non
vegetarian dishes. For vegetarians, there is the delicious
Konkani cuisine. The taverna or bar is also there in Goa. The
towns have modern, smartly furnished bars with gleaming
fittings and colourful names. Whereas, the traditional taverna
is small, friendly and also retained a certain rustic charm.
Goan wines are very good and inexpensive. Feni is the unique
and typical Goan brew. It is made from cashews or the palm
trees. |
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Festivals of Goa |
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Various local Christian and Hindu festivals and temple
festivals are celebrated in Goa. Some of the festivals which
are celebrated in Goa are New Year, Reis Magos, the Feast of
our Lady, Goa carnival, Harvest Festival, Dussehra, Diwali,
Christmas, Feast of St. Francis Xavier, etc. The feast day of
the St. Xavier is a major festival in which the whole village
participates in it. Hindu festivals are cause for colourful
processions and festivity. For years, a carnival rivaling the
Rio celebrations has been an annual feature of Goa. The
three-day Austere festival of Lent is also vibrantly
celebrated in Goa. |
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Shopping in Goa |
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Centuries ago, the European traders used to came here to trade
in nuts, spices and textiles. Even today, Goa’s cashew nuts
and condiments are popular with visitors. Curios and costume
jewellery fashioned from shell and pearl, straw hats and
basket of Woven rope, traditional craft of the fisher folk and
the gaily coloured skirts are the famous shopping items in Goa.
In Goa, you can shop at the beach as well as on the streets.
The shops by the beach provides the best hunting grounds to
pick up souvenirs that remind us of the colonial history of
Goa. The Anjuna Beach is known for its flea market which sells
cameras, swimming gears, bikes and ethnic Indian handicrafts.
A Friday market is also held at Mapusa. In this market, you
can buy liquor brews like feni and urak, Goan sausages,
cashews, meat, farm produce, jute, leather and ceramic ware. |
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Music and Dances in Goa |
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Music, dance and folklore are deeply rooted in the heart of
Goans, and the rhythm runs in the blood of the people of Goa.
Goan folklore, which comprises of folk songs, dances, music,
visual arts and folk tales are rich in content and variety.
The folk music has devotional and contemporary overtones, and
it displays a lively rhythm. The folk dances reflect the
rhythmic vitality. Dancing and revelry are an integral part of
Goan weddings, which combine Catholic and Indian traditions.
Some of the young Goans in a twilit evening sing a Mando
(traditional love song) on the guitar. Some of the beaches
also provides the setting for many shows by local performers.
In the night the sounds of music can be heard well into the
wee hours, as performers and audience linger on under starlit
skies, with the sound of waves filling in the silence. |
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Adventure Sports in Goa |
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Blessed with rivers, backwaters and a long coastline, Goa
offers exciting water sports. The water sports varies from the
passive to the highly active. The various water sports are the
water scooter ride, sailing, windsurfing and parasailing. The
wind surfing is locally known as body breaking. In this sport,
you are alone on a board with a single sail, in full command
of your craft, flying along in front of a brisk land breeze.
The experienced trainers are also there that will take you
through the rudiments you need to learn in this exciting
sport. The parasailing involves skimming along behind a
motorboat, as a canopy unfurls behind you and lifts you off
the surface of the sea. Swimming, diving, snorkeling, scuba
diving and sunbathing can also be enjoyed on the beaches in
Goa. |
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Wildlife Sanctuaries
in Goa |
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There are three wildlife sanctuaries in Goa which preserves
the thick forests and habitats along the slopes of the Western
Ghats. These sanctuaries are the Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife
Sanctuary, the Bondla Sanctuary and the Cotigao Wildlife
Sanctuary. The wet deciduous forests of these wildlife
sanctuaries have abundant bird life and are the habitat of
animals like the bison, leopard, sloth bear, sambar, chital,
pangolin, etc. The Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary is located on the
Chorao island along the Mandovi river, close to Panaji. This
bird sanctuary has mangrove forests and varieties of water
birds. |
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Cultural Activities in Goa |
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Throughout the year, various cultural festivals are celebrated
in the beautifully designed Kala Academy located on the banks
of the Mandovi river in Panaji. A Pop, Beat and Jazz Music
festival is held in May. Bhajan and Kirtan festivals and the
Sangeet Samaroh is also held here which attracts the finest
performers from all over the country. The Drama Festival and
the well known Teatro Festival that celebrates Goa’s folk
drama tradition is also held in the Kala Academy. |
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Beaches in Goa |
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The coastline of Goa is studded with some of the world’s most
beautiful beaches or liitle coves or bays which are completely
different and have a special charm. Due to this, Goa is also
known as the India’s Mediterranean. In the north of Panaji,
some of the finest beaches are edged by tall laterite cliffs.
These beaches are Sinquerim, Calangute, Baga, Miramar, Anjuna,
Vagator and Chapora beach. Calangute and Baga beach are the
most popular beaches in Goa. These beaches stretches for more
than 7 kms. Candolim beach is one of the lesser known beaches
of Goa. Some of the southern beaches with their expanses of
sparkling white sand and calm sea include Bogmalo, Utorda,
Majorda, Colva, Benaulim, Cavelossim and Mobor. |
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Churches in Goa |
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Velha Goa, the old capital of the Portuguese, lying further
above from Panaji is an open-air museum. This magnificent 16th
century city was once known as Goa Dourada (Golden Goa) and it
rivaled the European cities in splendour and wealth. Today
some of that grandeur can be seen in the imposing churches,
convents and monasteries. They have high vaulted roofs and
lavishly baroque interiors with carved and gilded altar pieces
and statues. The 'Tuscan style Se'Cathedral, the largest
Church in Asia is also located in Goa. This church is
dedicated to St. Catherine of Alexandria and has 15 altars.
This church has some of the finest examples of religious art.
In the Basilica of Bom Jesus, the embalmed body of Goa’s
patron saint, St. Francis Xavier is kept which is perfectly
preserved since his death, almost 450 years ago. The other
churches in Goa are the Church of our Lady of Rosary, the St.
Monica convent, the St. Augustine's Church and the St. Cajetan
Church. |
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Temples in Goa |
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Besides churches, temples are also there in Goa. The
Portuguese influence can also be seen in the form and
structure of these temples. In the 16th century, when
Portuguese persecution was at its peak and temples were being
destroyed, deities from ancient shrines were smuggled out
across the border into the adjoining area of Ponda. In the
18th century, these shrines were converted into graceful
temples and built in a style unique to Goa. The temples are
built in a style that incorporates Hindu, Islamic and
Christian architectural elements. These temples have
elaborated deepa stambhas, domes which are crowned by kalasas,
saracenic arches, traditional mandapas and temple tanks. Some
of the famous temples are the Shri Mangesh Temple, Shri Nagesh
temple, Shri Mahalsa Temple, Shri Ramnathi Temple and the
Shanta Durga Temple. The 15th century Shri Mangesh Temple is
located in the Ponda district and dedicated to Lord Shiva.
Shri Mahalsa Temple is located in Mardol and dedicated to
Vishnu. The Shanta Durga Temple is dedicated to Durga, the
Supreme Goddess of Peace. The Mahadeva Temple located at Tamdi
Surla, is the only surviving example of Kadamba temple
architecture. This temple is built in black basalt stone and
adorned with sculpted monolithic pillars, niches and
delicately carved bas-reliefs. |
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Tourist Attractions in Goa |
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Panaji, the capital of Goa, is located along the Mandovi
river. The white washed and red tile – roofed buildings rising
up the hills give it a Mediterranean look. Panaji is known for
its fine buildings. The present Government Secretariat is
located along the river. Once the Governor’s residence, it was
built at the site of the palace of Adil Shah, the ruler of
Bijapur. The Church of Our Lady of Immaculate conception
dominates the City Square and its steps zig zag up the hill.
The old Latin quarter of Fontain has an old world charm. Its
little lanes and stairways going up the hill are lined with
the houses with wrought iron balconies. The little Chapel of
San Sebastian blends into these surroundings. Kala Academy,
the main centre of all the cultural activities in Goa, is a
beautifully designed modern complex in Panaji. The Mayem Lake,
situated amidst the folds of a ring of hills, the imposing
ramparts of the Tirakol fort and the Church town of Old Goa,
once the seat of Portugese rule in Goa are another tourist
attractions in Goa. The Miramar beach is located near Panaji.
Maragao is a major commercial centre. It also has some
beautiful old houses and churches. The towns of Vasco da Gama
and the Mormugao Port are located nearby. Mapusa comes alive
each Friday when a local market springs up. |
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Accommodation in Goa |
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Accommodation is no problem at Goa, where a place to stay is
easy to find. There are several well developed beach resorts,
holiday cottages, small hotels and five star resorts in Goa.
Those who want an interesting and local option can stay in
many family houses as a paying guest. |
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How to reach Goa |
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By Air
Goa is well connected by air. Indian Airlines and other
private airlines operates flights to Goa from Bangalore,
Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Chennai and Kochi. Indian Airlines also
connects Goa with Kuwait and Sharjah.
By
Rail
Goa is easily accessible by rail from Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad,
Rajkot, Mangalore, Ernakulam, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad,
Pune and Thiruvanantapuram.
By Sea
The Damania Shipping Corporation operates non-stop catamaran
service between Goa and Mumbai from October to May.
By
Road
Goa is also well connected by road. The National Highways 4A,
17 and 17A runs through Goa. The drive from Mumbai to Goa is
easy and picturesque as Goa is situated right on the main
highway. |
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