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GOA
:: GOA
CITY GUIDE |
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Goa
General Information |
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Area |
3702 sq. km. |
| Altitude |
1167 meters |
| Temperature |
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Summer |
300C-300C |
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Winter |
300C-200C |
| Clothing |
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Summer |
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Winter |
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Languages |
Hindi,
English |
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Goa
History |
In the ancient period, Goa was
called Gomanchala, Gomant, Goapuri, Gowapur and
Gopakapattana. Goan's were originally the descendents
from the native Dravidians who where gradually overrun
by the Aryan advance from the north around 1500
BC. Aryans who settled in Western India named their
state Konkan. Goa, a part of Konkan, became an important
port of the ancient and medieval traders like the
Phoenicians, the Persians, the Arabs, the Sumarians,
the Greeks and the Romans. Until the11th century,
there was a succession of empires rising and falling
in Goa. Earlier, it was part of the territories
of Ashoka, the great Buddhist emperor of the Mauryan
Empire who reigned from 273-236 BC. In the 2nd century
BC Goa was under the Satavahanas. The Western Kshatrapus
ruled next from 150 AD. Then came the Bhojas who
made their capital Chandrapur (now Chandor). From
AD 540 the Chalukyas of Badami ruled for about 200
years. The Rashtrakutas exercised their influence
from 753 AD to 973 AD. Then came the Kadambas who
ruled from 1008 AD to 1300 AD. Under their rule
Goa became India's maritime power and they built
Gopakapattana (now Goa Velha) a few kilometres south
west of old Goa which remained the capital until
their fall. By1312 the political authority of Goa
passed to the Muslims, who under Alaud-din Khilji's
general, Malik Kafur defeated the Kadambas. The
rise of the Vijayanagar empire had its effect on
Goa. Vidyaranya Madhavthe ruler of the Vijayanagar
defeated the Muslims in 1370 AD. The Bahamani Sultans
dominated the political authority over Goa in about
1470, and in 1498 the Adil Shahi dynasty at Bijapur.
It was in 1510, that Alfonso de Albequerque captured
Goa from Yusuf Ali Adil Shah.
This brought in the Portuguese who from then
onwards influenced every walks of Goan life. Christianity
was absorbed by the inhabitants. The intermixture
of the locals who settled with the Portuguese
soldiers evolved a new culture that was unique.
The Portuguese made the city of Panaji the capital
of Goa in 1843. It was a Portuguese colony till
1961 after which it became a part of the Indian
Union. Goa attained full statehood on 30th May1987
when Daman and Diu retained separate identity
as a Union Territory.
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How
to reach Goa ? |
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Air |
Goa
is well connected by airline services to most major
cities in India. All flights, national and international,
to and from Goa, operate from the Goa Airport.
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Rail |
Goa
is connected with Mumbai, Delhi, Pune, Secunderabad,
Tirupati via Londa junction on the Mirage-Bangalore
sector of south central railway, and to Mumbai, and
Mangalore on the Konkan Railway Corporation section.
Convenient stations are Margao/Vasco and Karmali. |
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Bus |
Goa,
Maharashtra, and Karnataka state transport corporations
operate from the Kadamba bus stand at Panaji. |
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| GOA
SIGHT SEEING |
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| Fairs
& Festivals at Goa |
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GOA CARNIVAL - A THREE DAY SAGA
About the Goa Fair
Carnaval in Goa is a non-stop 3-day festival of
color, song and music, providing a healthy entertainment
for all, young and old.
The soothing climate, full of fun-'n'-frolic
which the Carnaval generates is much longed for.
It does not matter whether you enjoy or see others
enjoying. There is enthusiasm and hapiness all
around.
In the 30's, Carnaval was enthusiastically celebrated
all over Goa with a festive mood filling the air
with the sound of drums and music, procession
of masked men thronging the streets of the main
towns and even some villages. Gaily decorated
gharries, colorful dresses and armed with "cocotes"
(powder bombs) wind its way through the streets.
Khells, (esentially of Goan character, are "walking"
musical dramas enacted in the open), were specially
performed during this period, in the open.
Later, a float parade began to be organized with
"King Momo" in command and open air
street dances, attracting large crowds. |
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| Panaji
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 Panaji
is the official capital of Goa. It was called
Panjim during the times of the Portuguese and
was one of the three principal Portuguese cities
along with Velha Goa (Old Goa) and Margao. Though
it began as a suburb of Velha Goa it ended up
becoming the capital of Goa in 1843 when the
Portuguese Old Goa. It is also one of India's
smallest and most charming state capitals.
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| Vasco-da-Gama
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The town of Vasco-da-Gama was originally called
Sambhaji. This spick and span, and geometrically
planned well laid out coastal town popularly known
as Vasco is also the oldest railway terminus for
passenger service.
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| Margao
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 Margao
is Goa's second largest city and commercial
metropolis of Salcete taluka in South Goa. It
still retains semblance of Goa's Portuguese
colonial past, and is connected to the rest
of the Indian sub-continent by rail. Margao
is the headquarters of South Goa District and
is considered the main commercial city of Goa.
It is famous for its ancient cultural heritage
and traditional customs of the people of Goa.
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| Mapusa
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Mapusa's main claim to fame is its famous Friday
market where people from all over Goa come to
buy and sell their wares. It is otherwise a small
town forming the hub of north Goa.
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| Velha
Goa |
| Velha
Goa or Old Goa rose as the second capital of the
Bijapur Kingdom though all that remains of that
era today are pieces of the Gateway, part of the
wall that surrounded the Sultan's palace. The
Portuguese colonization of Goa with Alfonso de
Albuquerque's victory over the Sultan's forces
also began here. It then served as the Portuguese
capital of Goa until 1843 and from the mid 16th
century onwards, the Christian Doctrine began
to be spread from here by St. Francis Xavier.
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| Beaches
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 Goa's
best-known feature is its lovely languorous golden
beaches that stretch across the 60 miles (100
kms) long coastline. While, some of them are well
prepared for tourists and appointed with every
facility, be it hotels and resorts, beach shacks
and small restaurants serving delicious but affordable
food, or beach bazaars with colorful balloons,
the others are sandy and isolated retreats perfect
for unwinding and relaxing. The various beaches
in Goa are its must visit places. |
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| Churches
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 The
churches in the beach capital of India attract
pilgrims from far and away. Amongst the most popular
churches of Goa are Se Cathedral, Convent &
Church of St. Francis of Assisi and Church &
Convent of St. Monica.
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| Ponda
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 The
town of Ponda can easily be considered the heart
of Hinduism in Goa. For when the Hindus abandoned
their coastal settlements and moved inland during
the Inquisition, a majority of them settled in
Ponda. Ponda is now a transportation hub and some
of the best temples in Goa are located here.
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OTHER
USEFUL LINKS |
Hotels in Goa |
Tour Packages for Goa |
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