About Goa

All communities here have respect towards one another and their secular outlook has given Goa a long and an unbroken tradition of religious harmony. Goan people have a very warm and tolerant nature and it allows them to celebrate the festivals of various religions. The state of Karanataka borders Goa from the south east and Maharashtra, home of Bollywood, is in the north. The vast Arabian Sea on the west forms the magnificent coastline for which Goa is most famous.

Rivers like The Terekhol, Zuari, Sal, Mandovi and Chapora weave their way throughout the state forming inland waterways. These waterways are used to tansport Goa's main export goods of Iron and Manganese ore to Mormugao harbour. These waterways add beauty and romance to the land and at the coast these waterways form estuaries, creeks and bays breaking the sandy palm fringed coastline. Behind these coastlines are the fishing villages among the coconut groves.

Panjim is the capital of Goa located on the banks of river Mandovi. Panjim is the hub of goa's business activities. It has numerous purpose built, state of the art and very well equipped business centres right in the city centre as well as beautifu, colonial style Portuguese buildings which add a very Mediterranean feel to the town. Other major towns in Goa are Vasco, Margaon, Palolem, Bagha and Mapusa. Goa is very well connected by frequent and reliable bus services. Intra and Inter-state bus networks play an important role in getting local people and tourists from one place to another. Private taxis, rickshaws, scooters, motorbikes and cars are also available for cheap rental.

The vast green expanse of the Sahyadri mountain range ensures that Goa has an abundance of water. The sea and rivers abound in seafood- prawns, mackerel, sardines, crabs and lobsters are very popular with locals and visitors.

Goan cuisine is a blend of the different influences the Goans have had to endure over the centuries. The staple food in Goa is fish and rice. Unlike the Christian food the Hindu Goan food is not strongly influenced by Portuguese cuisine.

In Goa, state languages are Konkani and Marathi but English is widely spoken all over. The national language Hindi is also well understood in most areas of Goa.

The tourist season in Goa begins in late September and carries on through early March. The weather in these months is usually dry and pleasantly warm. Then it gets fairly hot around May and by the end of June Goa receives the full, spectacular blast of the Indian monsoon. However it is also during the monsoon that Goa is probably at its most beautiful, with greenery sprouting all around.

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