Area: 3,701 sq. Km
Population: 1.3 million
Capital: Panjim (Panaji)
Main Languages: Konkani, Marathi, Hindi, English and Portuguese
Best time to visit: October to May

White sand and blue seas, warmed by the sun; lush tropical vegetarian; sleepy villages surrounded by bright paddy field; leisurely lifestyles and baroque churches- Goa is all this and much more. Goa became Part the Indian Union only in 1961. Goa has taken into its fold dynasties and religions. Goa lies on Arabian sea ensconced on the slopes of western Ghats- the Sahydari range.Its seven rivers- Tricol, Chapora, Mandovi, Zuari, Sal, Talpona and Galibaga- flow from these ranges. They flow west towards idyllic palm-fringed beaches like Aranbol, Vegator, Arjuna, Baga, Calangute and Miramar in the north Colva, Betul and Palolemin the south.

Goa has pleasant climate throughout the year. With 130 Kms of coastline. Goa offers an immense variety of superb beaches, some totally secluded, others with many facilities. The palm - fringed Dona Paula, with its magnificent view of the Marmagao harbour, and the lovely Miramar closet to Panaji. Across the Mandovi River are Candolim, the famous Calangute, followed by Baga, Anjuna, Vagator and, in the extreme north, the little-known Harmal.

Siridao, near the estuary of the Zuari River, is a shell collector's dream. Still further south there are Bogmalo, Valsoa and finally, around eight kilometers (five miles) from Margao, the glorious stretch of colva, virtually deserted except for a few resorts and quietest around Benaulim and the Betul Promontory.