|
Map of Goa
|
|
|
Goa is the smallest state of the Republic of India but also one of the best known. With an area of 3700 km2, the region has 1.3 million inhabitants called "goans." The capital is Panaji and the official language is konkani.
|
Goan beaches
|
Since its independence in 1961, Goa became a tropical paradise for hippies and now for a lot of foreigners who love its scenery. Goans beaches are among the most beautiful in India and are visited every day by hundreds of visitors from December to June. The most popular beaches are located at the north of Panaji (Candolim and Chapora) and the south of Vasco de Gama.
|
Architecture and scenary
|
Cities of Goa have kept a retro architecture of European cities. The presence of Catholics there is still very strong. Goa offers not only landscapes of postcards, but also many sites to visit. A particular example is the ancient capital of Goa still called Old Goa. It is a beautiful city known by the Portuguese: "Lisbon of the East". Today Old Goa is still a city of pilgrimage for Catholics.
With the Hindu culture, the scenery of Goa is mixed : hindu temples located near white portuguese churches. This is quite surprising. The first goan temples were built more than hundreds years ago. Despite urbanization, temples retain their sanctity, unlike other regions in India. The temples are carefully maintained. Both Catholic and Hindu populations live in perfect harmony, sharing the same religious holidays each other (Christmas, Ganesh ...).
Finally, the scene of Goa is dotted with large green fields of rice, enriching the already very vivid colors of this idyllic landscape.
|
Tourist area
|
Today, major hotels have settled in the southern part of Goa. The category of tourists who lives there belongs to a class rather easy. The north is more of a crossing point for travelers.
Anjuna is the main point of northern Goa and attracts hordes of tourists (who come by bike, boat, bus or by walking) every Wednesday for the "FleeMarket" or flea market (crafts or clothing ). But Anjuna is most famous for its music "trans".
Today business of Goa is mainly tourism and fishing those anarchic development makes the natural sites loose their initial beauty. It is one of the most developed (literacy rate is above 80%) and richest state of India.
|
Goan cooking
|
|
Goan cooking is adapted for tourists and accessible to everyone. Due to the close coast, a large variety of fish is available and this can be felt in the goan gastronomy. Examples of dish : a dish of "King Fish" or "Pompfret" or "Royal Prawns" with "garlic potatoes" for around 100Rs only € 3 per person.
|
How to reach Goa
|
|
To get to Goa from another area of India, it is better to fly. However, a train goes from Delhi and stops at Belgaum. The rest of the trip to Goa (150 km, or about 5 hours) must be done by bus.
|
Google Map
|
|
Google AJAX Search API Sample
Loading...
|
|
 |
|  |
|
Goa within few words : |
| Country
|
India
|
| Capital
|
Panaji
|
| Languages
|
Konkani; Hindi; Marathi
|
| Aera (km²)
|
3 702
|
| Population (2007)
|
1 347 668 hab.
|
| Density
|
363
|
| Literacy (2001)
|
4th
|
| Total
|
82,32 %
|
| Men
|
88,88 %
|
| Women
|
75,51 %
|
| Administrative division
|
State
(2 districts)
|
Website : Wikipedia
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
