About Goa - India

About Goa

The Smallest State of india spreading to about 3072 Sq. Kms. in area & sourrounded by Maharashtra in North, Karnataka in the East and South & by Arabian Sea in west. Panaji (Panjim) is the state's capital, Vasco-da-Gama its largest city in state. Margao the historic city also known as old goa.

The State is divided into 2 districts called North Goa & South Goa. Goa Known for its Beaches is visited by hundreds & thousands of foreigners & domestic tourists every year. Below are the some beaches listed under there districts.

Districts of Goa

1. NORTH GOA

Anjuna Beach

A favorte haunt of the backpackers in Goa, Anjuna beach is the highest visited beach in Goa. The beach is known for its Wednesday Flea Market. It is also famous for the beach sports, parties, and shacks.

Arambol Beach
Located about 50 km from Panaji, the long and lonely ambience of the Arambol beach provides a soothing contrast to the hustle and bustle of other Northern Goa beaches. If you are yearning for some solitude and tranquility, the Arambol beach with its serene surroundings fits the bill perfectly.

Candolim Beach
Candolim beach is closer to the famous Fort Aguada. The beauty of the beach is increased by the view of fort on one side and sea on other side. Candolim is a perfect place for lazying around.

Chapora Beach
Chapora Beach is counted amongst the most popular as well as the most visited beaches of Goa. It is situated at a distance of approximately 10 km from Mapusa. One of the major attractions of the beach is its boat building and fishing legacy, which seems to be perfectly merged with its booming tourism industry.

Dona Paula Beach
The beach is a remembrance to the daughter of a former Governor of Goa, who commited suicide as she was not permitted to marry a local fisherman. The beach is a favorite amongst the foreign tourists. Adventure sports and parties are a common scene here.

Miramar Beach
Miramar Beach is the nearest beach from the capital of the Goa, Panaji. A lovely golden beach of soft sand girdled with palm trees, Miramar is one of the most popular beaches. From here one has an excellent view of the Aguada fort. Sunset watching is one the most favorite activity on the beach.

Baga Beach
Baga beach was developed by the Hippies in 1960s. They found this beach to be perfect for the night parties and drug abuse. Though all illegal practices have been stopped, the beach remains one of the favorite party places.

Sinquerim Beach
The twin beach of Candolim beach, Sinquerim is also known for its sheer beauty. The soft white sand spread, lined with palm and casuarina trees have an everlasting effect on the minds of the visitors.

Bambolim Beach
The Bambolim beach is located near Panjim. The beautiful beach has been converted to a beach resort, called as Bambolim Beach Resort. The resort was started in 1989 and is one of the prime stay options in Goa. The Bambolim beach resort has all the excellent facilities of a five star hotel.

Vagator Beach
The beach in Vagator village, known as Big Vagator beach is a wide sandy beach, behind which is a quiet village, a few old Portuguese bungalows and village guest houses.

2 . SOUTH GOA

Colva Beach

The most famous beach in South Goa, Colva attracts most tourists in South Goa. Situated near Margao, the place around Colva beach has also developed as a market, with restaraunts, shops, stalls and shacks.

Benaulim Beach

2 Km from Colva beach, the beach is haunt for the budget travelers. The Benaulim village is known for fishing, rice-farming, coconut groves and paddy fields. The place is a tourist haven with small guest houses and souvenir stalls.

Bogmalo Beach

The small beach of Bogmalo came to fame when Oberoi group opened its 5 star resort on the beach. Since then, the beach has developed a lot. There are some good cafes and shacks around the beach.

Palolem Beach

The crescent shaped bay, lined with swaying coconut palms and hemmed by a pair of rocky crags makes Palolem beach the most idyllic beach of South Goa. The white sand beach in an arc is picture perfect. The village located nearby has several cafes and souvenir stalls catering to travelers.

Varca Beach

The picture perfect Varca beaches have a unique feature of being preferred by those who want to spend time in quiet environs away from the crowd. The beach is 2 Km from Benaulim beach and is among the favorite haunts of those who come to South Goa for beach tourism.

Cavelossim Beach

The Cavelossim beach is next to the Verca Beach. The Cavelossim beach offers excellent sights of Dolphins in the sea.Cavelossim Beach is ideal for shell collecting, strolling, or indulging in more active pursuits like renting a kayak or catamaran.

Agonda Beach

The beach of Agonda is totally untouched and remains the most virgin beach of South Goa. A major attraction of the beach is the nearby Cobe de Rama, a prehistoric fort.

Benavali Beach

A tiny, relaxed resort a few miles South. It has a handful of budget hotels, excellent seafood restaurants& a verdant village inland. The beach is a nice place to spend some quality time with family and friends.

Velsao Beach

Velsao Beach of Goa is gaining more and more popularity amongst tourists every year. The beach is situated on the southern coast of the state, at a distance of approximately 25 km from Panjim, its capital city.

Major Cities of Goa

Panajim - The capital city of Goa located along the River Mandovi.
Vasco do Gama - Vasco da Gama is the biggest town of Goa. Majority of Goa's population resides over here.
Margao - Margao is famous for its ancient cultural heritage and the conventional customs of people over there.
Mapusa - Mapusa, also pronounced as Mapsa by the locals, this place is situated on the converging point of the National highways going through Goa.

History of Goa

Goa's known history stretches back to the 3rd century BC, when it formed part of the Mauryan Empire.[6] It was later ruled by the Satavahanas of Kolhapur, around 2000 years ago it was passed on to the Chalukya Dynasty, who controlled it between 580 to 750. Over the next few centuries Goa was successively ruled by the Silharas, the Kadambas and the Chalukyas of Kalyani, rulers of Deccan India.

In 1312, Goa came under the governance of the Delhi Sultanate. However, the kingdom's grip on the region was weak, and by 1370 they were forced to surrender it to Harihara I of the Vijayanagara empire. The Vijayanagara monarchs held on to the territory until 1469, when it was appropriated by the Bahmani sultans of Gulbarga. After that dynasty crumbled, the area fell to the hands of the Adil Shahis of Bijapur who established as their auxiliary capital the city known under the Portuguese as Velha Goa.

In 1510, the Portuguese defeated the ruling Bijapur kings with the help of a local ally, Timayya, leading to the establishment of a permanent settlement in Velha Goa (or Old Goa).

Coat of Arms of Goa as a Portuguese possession (1675).The Portuguese encouraged the spread of Christianity , often with repressive measures,such as the Goan Inquisition,leading to a significant population converting to Christianity. The repeated wars of the Portuguese with the Marathas and the Deccan sultanate, along with their repressive religious policies led to large migrations of Goans to neighbouring areas.

In 1843 the capital was moved to Panjim from Velha Goa. By mid-18th century the area under occupation had expanded to most of Goa's present day state limits. Simultaneously the Portuguese lost other possessions in India until their borders stabilised and formed the Estado da India Portuguesa, of which Goa was the largest territory.

After India gained independence from the British in 1947, Portugal refused to negotiate with India on the transfer of sovereignity of their Indian enclaves. On 12 December 1961, the Indian army commenced with Operation Vijay resulting in the annexation of Goa, Damman and Diu into the Indian union. Goa, along with Daman and Diu was made into a centrally administered Union Territory of India. On 30 May 1987, the Union Territory was split, and Goa was elevated as India's twenty-fifth state, with Daman and Diu remaining States of India.

How to reach Goa

Air transport 
Goa is well connected with air transport from all countries with airport at DABOLIM and from all major cities in india.

Rail transport 
Goa is connected thru Train Transport to and from all major cities in india operated by Indian Railways.

Road transport 
Goa has excellent road network connecting all major cites of india by NH-17, NH-4A,NH-17B.

Water transport 
Goa is well connected from mumbai to its capital city panajim, thru konkan shoreline.