Location

Comprising approximately 3,072 kms in land area, Goa is situated on the west coast of India, bordered on the north by Maharashtra and on the east and south by Karnataka. The coastline on the west is about 105km long. The land mass of Goa consists of rain forests, rivers, lakes and lovely beaches. The landscape is dotted with Portuguese-style villas, Goan houses, mansions, churches, cathedrals and temples, in addition to the resorts and hotels that have come up recently. Variously referred to as 'Rome of the East' or 'Pearl of the Orient' in the olden days, Goa has become a favourite tourist spot the world over.

For administrative purpose, Goa is divided into two districts, North and South. These districts are sub-divided into 11 talukas.

Climate : Average

Bordering the sea, Goa has equitable climate. However, the pleasant period to visit Goa is from mid-November to mid-April when day temperatures are around 30 degrees Centigrade. From mid-April onwards, the humidity increases to saturation till it condenses and precipitates as rain in June, which continues till end of August or a little beyond. If you enjoy rain and the attendant greenery, monsoon is an ideal time to come to Goa. There is that added bonus of discounts on room tariffs, etc. Besides, the air is free of dust and other impurities having been cleaned by the rain showers.

Getting There

Goa has a well-maintained airport at Dabolim, Mormugao and is well connected by air to other parts of India through scheduled domestic flights. International charter flights operate during season bringing in tourists mainly from Europe. Goa is also connected to other principal cities of India by rail. Margao, Vasco-da-Gama, Tivim and Karmali are the rail stations from where one can travel to various places in India. Buses ply to and from all major neighbouring cities on a daily basis taking approximately 12 hours to reach Mumbai (distance 594 km) or Bangalore (distance 632 km). One has a choice of luxury, air-conditioned and sleeper coaches to travel to these places. New Delhi, the national capital, is roughly 1,904 km away.

Languages

Konkani is the principal language of Goa but almost everybody speaks or understands English. One can also hear other languages being spoken, such as Marathi, Hindi and Portuguese.

Culture, Religion and People

Goa has a mix of Hindu and Christian cultures. Christians have absorbed many Western ways such as dressing, weddings, etc while Hindus has typical Indian culture. There is also a small Muslim community. People of Goa are easy-going, warm, friendly, hospitable and very tolerant of other cultures.