Magnificent Goa

By: Shreyas D on 01:22

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GOA

A state on India's West coast; is a former Portuguese colony with a rich history. Spread over 3,700 square kilometres with a population of approximately 1.4 million. It has a unique mix of Indian and Portuguese cultures and architecture that attracts an estimated 2.5 million visitors each year including about 1 million foreign tourists. Goa is visibly different from the rest of India, owing to Portuguese rule which isolated it from the rest of India for 451 years.

With the rule of the Portuguese for over 450 years and the consequential influence of Portuguese culture, Goa presents a somewhat different picture to the foreign visitor than other parts of the country. The state of Goa is famous for its excellent beaches, churches, and temples. The Bom Jesus Cathedral, Fort Aguada and a new wax museum on Indian history, culture and heritage in Old Goa are other tourism destinations.

Renowned for its beaches, places of worship and world heritage architecture. It also has rich flora and fauna, owing to its location on the Western Ghats range, which is classified as a biodiversity hotspot.

Konkani is spoken as a native language. But almost all Goans can speak and understand Marathi and Hindi, followed by English, Kannada & Urdu. The best time of the year to visit Goa is mid-November to mid-February when the weather is comfortable, dry and pleasant.

History

The history of Goa is much shrouded in mystery. When the Hindu epic Mahabharata was written in the later Vedic period (c.1000-500 BC), Goa was referred to "Gomantak"  (a Sanskrit word having many meanings, two of them being 'fertile land' and 'land of the Gods').

After India gained independence from the British in 1947, India requested that Portuguese territories on the Indian subcontinent be ceded to India. Portugal refused to negotiate on the sovereignty of their Indian enclaves. On 19 December 1961, the Indian Army began military operations with Operation Vijay resulting in the annexation of Goa, Daman, and Diu into the Indian union. Goa, along with Daman and Diu, was organized as a centrally administered union territory of India. On 30 May 1987, the union territory was split, and Goa was made India's twenty-fifth state, with Daman and Diu remaining a union territory.

Geography and Climate

Goa encompasses an area of 3,702 km2 (1,429 sq mi). It lies between the latitudes 14°53′54″ N and 15°40′00″ N and longitudes 73°40′33″ E and 74°20′13″ E. Most of Goa is a part of the coastal country known as the Konkan, which is an escarpment rising up to the Western Ghats range of mountains, which separate it from the Deccan Plateau. The highest point is the Sonsogor, with an altitude of 1,167 meters. Goa has a coastline of 101 km. 

Goa features a tropical monsoon climate. Being in the tropical zone and near the Arabian Sea, it has a hot and humid climate for most of the year. The month of May is the hottest, seeing day temperatures of over 35 °C (95 °F) coupled with high humidity. The monsoon rains arrive by early June and provide a much needed respite from the heat. Goa has a short winter season between mid-November and February. 

Goan culture has been shaped mainly by the Hindu and Catholic population. People are mostly easy going. With better connectivity by Air and Rail, there has been an influx of people from neighbouring states that has led to different cultures. Many Indians from other states have now come and settled here. Goan Catholics generally acknowledge their Hindu roots, and carry traces of a caste-system within their social beliefs. 

Art and Culture

Houses of Goa Museum

Goa has a more than its fair share of museums, art galleries and libraries. You will find many government run museums in Panaji, including the Goa State museum, the Kala Academy, the Central Library and the Goa Science Centre. In Vasco da Gama, you can find the Naval Aviation Museum, a great place to see vintage aircraft.

Old Goa is a great place to see examples of Christian religious art, and sometimes, secular art.

Attracted by Goa's bohemian life, many artists, painters and architects have made their home here. They too have proceeded to set up art galleries and museums. An example of this is Subodh Kerkar's art gallery in Candolim. Benaulim also has the Goa Chitra Museum, containing the largest collection of ethnographic artifacts ever assembled in one place.

The Goan Carnival and New Year celebration is known to attract a large number of tourists.

Architecture

In many parts of Goa, mansions constructed in the Indo-Portuguese style architecture still stand, though in some villages, most of them are in a dilapidated condition.

Fontainhas in Panaji has been declared a cultural quarter, showcasing the life, architecture and culture of Goa.

Some influences from the Portuguese era are visible in some of Goa's temples, notably the Shanta Durga Temple, the Mangueshi Temple and the Mahalasa Temple, although after 1961, many of these were demolished and reconstructed in the indigenous Indian style.

Beaches

Anjuna Beach - Close to the Chapora Fort, its key attraction is a magnificent Albuquerque Mansion built in 1920, flanked by octagonal towers and an attractive Mangalore tile-roof. 

Calangute Beach - aka Queen of all Beaches in Goa. Once highly rated. Now crowded. Expect traffic jams along the main crowded street. Beach is full of Indian tourists, a lot of noise, a lot of souvenirs and water sports beggar. Many famous clubs are located here. Nice eating options.

Baga Beach A family-beach and charter tourist destination just outside Calangute

Arambol Beach - a quiet beach in North Goa near Pernem. Not too many facilities in terms of hotels or eateries. The water is shallow and good for swimming.

Palolem Beach - a scenic beach in extreme south Goa with scenic rocks and islands off its shores. Good eating options. Less crowded compared to other popular beaches.

Morjim Beach - a beautiful beach, inhabited by Russian tourists. This place is popular among kite surfers due to the shallow depth of the sea and a very wide beach. Prices are high, with many restaurants offering Russian cuisine. Nightlife is vibrant here. 

Colva Beach - This beach's spectacle of sea, sand and sky blend in a enchanting natural harmony, weaving their magic spell on the visitors. Known for its scenic beauty.

Agonda - also known as Turtle Beach.

Bogomolo - a beautiful and serene beach near Vasco da Gama.

Other Places to visit

Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary has sambar, gaur (Indian bison) and wild boar, amongst other animals. Elephants have also been spotted here at times.

Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary.

Dudh Sagar Waterfall.

Chapora Home of the Chapora fort - Close to Vagator and Anjuna beaches. Also site for a fishing jetty. Although in pretty damaged state, Chapora fort offers mesmerizing views of sea and both beaches. It's a bit difficult to find the way to the fort, but bikers won't mind it. Built on a hill top, fort offers some resistance for climbing up.

Bom Jesus Basilica (1605) (Church) - Built in 1605, this Basilica has the mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier, one of the patron Saints of Goa. It is known for its distinctive baroque architecture that has a display of architectural pieces in wood, stone, gold and granite. Francis Xavier died while aboard a ship and his body was taken to Malacca but it was decided that he should be buried in Goa. After 2 years, it was noticed that his body had not decomposed, that was no less than a miracle. After every 10 years, his body is put for public display in a silver casket designed in the 17th century.

The Basilica of Bom Jesus

Se Cathedral (Church) - Built in 1619, one of the largest churches in Asia, which took around 80 years to get constructed, Se Cathedral is dedicated to St. Catherine of Alexandria. It was built to remember the victory of the Portuguese over the Muslim rulers in the city. The building has a Golden bell that can be heard in the whole of Goa. 

Church of St Francis of Assisi - Built in 1661, located on the back of the Se Cathedral, this church is a beautiful piece of ancient workmanship. The structure has striking painted panels showcasing the life of St. Francis of Assisi on the walls. The adjoining seminary has been converted into an art museum, which preserves the painting that was previously kept at the Panaji Secretariat. The church also has an octagonal tabernacle decorated in an ornate style.

Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception - Built in 1541, a famous landmark of Goa, it is the oldest church situated in Panaji. The towers of the church have a statue of Mother Mary at the front. Around 450 years old, this church was built to welcome sailors home. The bell of the church is 2nd largest in the world.

Church of St. Catejan - Built in 1700, Church of St. Catejan has a striking resemblance St. Peters Basilica in Rome. It was built by a group of Greek and Italian priest to initiate a contrast to the other churches built during the Portuguese times. On the left, there three altars dedicated to the Holy Family, Our Lady Of Piety and St. Clare and the right-side altars are dedicated to St. Agnes, St. Cajetan and St. John. Though the building is 300 years old, but has been beautifully preserved.

Shree Manguesh Shantadurgai Prasanna Temple - The temple is dedicated to the deity of Lord Shiva. In Maha Shivratri Festival here you can see a very big fair. In 1560, anticipating the onslaught of the Portuguese, the devotees had moved Shree Manguesh Shantadurgai Prasanna Shivalinga from Kutthal to a safer place under a Hindu prince. Surrounded by hillocks and covered by forests, the Shivalinga was kept at a place, which now is known as Mangeshi. Known for its natural beauty and pleasant surroundings, Mangeshi is still a hamlet with about 1,000 families. But it is a center of culture and the musicians from this place have earned countrywide reputation as master singers for several generations.

FOOD

Rice with fish curry is the staple diet in Goa. Goan cuisine is famous for its rich variety of fish dishes cooked with elaborate recipes. Coconut and coconut oil are widely used in Goan cooking along with chili peppers, spices and vinegar giving the food a unique flavour. Pork dishes such as Vindaloo, Xacuti, chorisa and Sorpotel are cooked for major occasions among the Goan Catholics. An exotic Goan vegetable stew, known as Khatkhate, is a very popular dish during the celebrations of festivals, Hindu and Christian alike. Khatkhate contains at least five vegetables, fresh coconut, and special Goan spices that add to the aroma. A rich egg-based multi-layered sweet dish known as bebinca is a favourite at Christmas.

Most beaches have shacks that serve surprisingly delicious meals, specially sea-food and they'll usually consult you to see how you like your food. Don't miss the shack eating experience. You'll want to go back and do it again.

The most popular alcoholic beverage in Goa is Feni; cashew feni is made from the fermentation of the fruit of the cashew tree, while coconut feni is made from the sap of toddy palms. Goa also has a rich wine & beer culture.

Sports

Although Cricket is India’s most loved sport, Goa’s most popular sport is Football. Goa, along with West Bengal and Kerala is the locus of football in the country and is home to many football clubs in India's I-League.

Transport

Air: The Dabolim airport in Vasco da Gama is Goa's only airport. Some airlines fly directly to Goa, but most international flights arrive via Mumbai.

Road: There are several bus routes from various cities, but most traffic is from mainly Mumbai, Pune Mangalore and Bangalore. Distance from Goa to various cities: Mangalore (360 km), Pune (480 km), Bangalore (590 km), Mumbai (600 km).

Train: Indian Railways connects Goa with direct train services from Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Mangalore, Kochi, Kolkata, Thiruvanantapuram, Bangalore, Chennai and Hyderabad.

Do

Relax at the beaches. Goa has an almost unbroken 70 km coastline of beaches. 

Don't forget to carry suntan, towels and chappals along when hitting the beach. Bargain for a free beach bed if you are ordering snacks from the shack.

Chill out at the discos and pubs.

Checkout Anjuna flea market.

Diving: The season is between mid October to mid May. Diving is not possible during the monsoons in India (June till mid October).

Kite surfing: is certainly not the best place in the world to try kite surfing, but it still has something to offer. Check Morjim, Arambol and Aswem beaches in North Goa. Season starts in January, you can expect 1-2 windy days a week during January and February, and 2-3 days a week during March. Water is choppy most of the time, don't expect wave riding.

Paragliding: Check Arambol Beach in North Goa for tandem paragliders.

Jet-Ski, banana ride and paragliding: Goa has one of the cheapest beach adventure sports rates. Head to Anjuna or Baga beach during daytime and you will find many small group of vendors offering these. These activities are also available on less popular beaches and you could get a bargain there as compared to popular beaches where demand exceeds supply.

On the Calangute beach, there is a wide-range of aqua-sports. Paragliding is a great experience. A motor boat will transport you from the beach to another parasailing boat. 

Come and Enjoy in Goa. Share your experiences by writing in comments below.

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