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Goa the most famous sea side resorts in India. Goa has always been an attraction for the tourists, who want to be close to the sea, sand and enjoy sun. In the 60's Goa was among the most frequented places in India. The hippies thronged the place. With them came a culture of careless, unbounded life style. Today all this has changed. Instead of the hippies, one spots serious tourists who come to enjoy the beaches and colourful culture of Goa. Today the beach parties might be small but they are more lively and have much more fun to offer than the 'stoned' parties during the hippy trails of the past

North Goa :
North Goa is known and loved as a land of golden beaches, palm trees, paddy fields and wooded hills. Its churches, temples, shrines and forts tell its history. It is associated with music, the famous Goan cuisine and most of all with a peace-loving , smiling people.

Location :The North Goa District has an area of 1736 Sq. Km. Its geographical position is marked by 15o 48’ 00” N to 14o 53’ 54” N latitudes and 73o E to 75o E longitudes.

North Goa shares its boundaries with the Sawantwadi & Dodamarg, of Ratnagiri District and Kolhapur District of Maharastra state and with South Goa District shares the southern boundary

Physical Features : North Goa being a part of the West Coast region of India, has many physical features that are common to neighbouring regions of Maharastra and Karnataka States.

But the features that land the landscape and scenery of Goa a distinctive charm of their own, are the Sahyadris in the east. The middle level plateaus in the center with their detached elements abutting in several places into the sea, and the low-lying river basins and the coastal plains

Lakes : Lakes constitute a scenic feature in Goa, though most of them have a limited and local use for irrigation. Most of them owe their origins to the bunds across stream valleys, large and small, and also on plateau margins and in alluvial flats. The important lakes of North Goa are Mayem, Chimbel, Carambolim & Calapur.

Climate : The territory, which is situated well within the tropics and flanked by the Arabian Sea to the west and the Western Ghats (Sahyadri) rising to an average height of 1 km. To the east, has tropical-maritime and monsoon type of climate, with profound orographic influence.

Accordingly the climate is moist throughout the year. Other features of the climate are the regular and sufficient rainfall 320 cm during the southwest monsoon season, mainly from June to September. The climate is generally pleasant. Discomfort may be felt in the absence of wind particularly during pre-monsoon and post-monsoon months.

Due to proximity of the seas, the territory is generally humid, with a further rise in humidity during the monsoon weather. Even in summer the relative humidity is above 60 percent.

Temperature variations through the seasons are also slight. May is the relatively warmest month when the mean daily temperature is around 30 degrees C and January the coolest with mean daily temperature at slightly lower value of about 25 degrees C. Along the coast the maximum temperature recorded rarely goes beyond 37 degrees C.

Summer: 24 o C - 32 o C
Winter: 21.3 o C - 32.2 o C
Rainfall: 320 cm (June to September)

Languages Spoken : Konkani, Marathi, Hindi, English & Portuguese

Clothing : Tropical clothing throughout the year, light woolen in December- January

South Goa
Location: South Goa District covers the entire southern part of Goa state. Arabian sea is to the west of district, North Goa district to the North and Uttar Kannada district of Karnataka in the East and South. South Goa is situated between the latitudinal paralles of 15 degree 29' 32" N and 14 degree 53' 57" N and longitudimal parallels of 73degree 46' 21" E and 74 degree 20' 11" E. From noth to south and from east to west the district spans a distance of 86 kms and 40 kms respectively. The total geographical area of the district is 1966 sq kms.

Access: Goa is well connected by road, rail, water and air ways. In Goa there are three main national highways N.H.4A, N.H.17, N.H.17A. Panaji, the capital city of Goa is connected by N.H.4A from Belgaum in Karnataka. The N.H.17 starts in Mahad in Maharastra state and enters in Goa through Patradevi and passes through talukas Pernem, Bardez, Tiswadi, Salcete and Canacona talukas. Third highway, N.H.17A is from Cortalim to Mormugao harbour. Cities Panaji and Margao are well connected by road from Mumbai, Pune, Kolhapur, Miraj cities in Maharashtra and Banglore, Belgaum, Hubali cities in Karnataka.

Goa is connected by rail route through Konkan Railway and Southern Railway from Delhi. Also, it is well connected by air routes from Bombay and Delhi. Goa has an international airport at Dabolim. The distance from Margao to Dabolim airport is 29 kms.

Most of the rivers in Goa are used for waterways. Ferry boats were means of crossing rivers in Goa. Rivers Mandovi and Zuari are being used for carrying ore to Mormugao harbour. Goa is also connected by waterway from Bombay.

Climate: Goa has hot climate as it lies within the tropics. There is no much change in climate throught the year. Daily temperature range is not very high. Goa gets rains in the months June, July, August and September. June-September is the mansoon season here. The rainfall is more in the mountain region than the coastal region. Goa gets heavy rain from South-West monsoon winds. Goa has cool climate during then months October-January. It starts geting warmer from February and it remains till May.

Rice is the most important crop in Goa. Due to warm humid climate rice is mainly grown here and it grown in the coastal region. After rainy season, rice, chillies, onions crops are grown in Goa. Cash crops are also grown in Goa. Mainly plantation of Cashew, Coconut, Mangoes, Areca palm, Kokum and Jackfruit is done in Goa.

Towns in South Goa:
Panaji: The capital of Goa and headquarters of North Goa District, a small and charming city on the left bank of silvery Mandovi River, with beautiful red-roofed houses, built in Latin style, also boasts of many modern houses, well laid gardens, statues and avenues lined with Glmohar, Acassia and other trees. Enchanting panorama unfolds from atop Altinho (HillTop).

Mapusa: 13kms. The capital of Bardez Taluka, on the National Highway 17, is at the cross roads of the network of highways covering whole of North Goa. Weekly fair on Friday is held at the modern streamline market, attended by large crowds.

Pilar: 11 Kms. Important religious and eductional centre of Christian Missionaries. The Church, Seminary and School atop hillock command a magnificent panorama of the countryside around and a fine view of Mormugao Harbour & Zuari River.

Margao: 33 Kms. The capital of South Goa District in the hinterland of Southern Goa in Salcate Taluka is a thriving commercial metropolis linked by rail to the rest of India & Mormugao Harbour and by National Highways, with Maharashtra and Karnataka. It has imposing old mansions and modern buildings.

Vasco-Da-Gama: 30 Kms. A modern, well laid out city close to Mormugao Harbour, has beautiful and extensive avenues. The air terminus of Goa at Dabolim lies on the outskirts of the city. It is also the railway terminus for passenger service on the South Central Railway.

Mormugao Harbour: 34 ksm. (4 kms. From Vasco-Da-Gama) is one of the finest natural anchorages on the West Coast of India and the hub of intense maritime activity.

Chandor (Chandar): 9 kms. East of Margao the menezes Braganza House, mostly late 18th Century and previously owned by Lemon nationalist and Journalist Luis De Menezes Braganza has a series of magnificent rooms especially the great salon with its fine furniture and the largest private library in Goa.

Goa Fairs & Festivals :
With the majority of the population being Hindu, Goa has scores of festivals celebrated all around the year. All these festivals do not occur on fixed dates of the caldendar year, since they are based on the Hindu calendar.

Despite the long period of Portuguese colonisation, the Hindu festivals have retained their unique Goan character and are celebrated with deep fervour.
In Hindu mythology, Goa is called the land of the Gods and with good reasons. There are hundreds of Gods and Goddesses with differing names, tastes, rituals and traditions. Most of these have remained unchaged over the centuries while others have adapted to the changing times and circumstances.

Quite a lot of the Goan festivals are actually Jatras (feasts) of the local or family deity celebrated at the temple of the God or Goddess called Devasthan. It is a festive and colourfull occassion in the temple complex with thousands of devotees taking part in the celebrations and the palakhi (palanquin) procession.

Hindu Festivals:
Mahashivratri: A celebration in the honour of Lord Shiva held at all the principal Shiva templeIs, it is celebrated in Harvalem, Ramnathi, Kavlem, Mangueshi, Nagueshi, Shiroda, Brahmapuri. Shirgao, Kasarpal, Fatorpa and Panaji.
more about Hindu Festivals

Muslim Festivals:
Units of Shah Abdullah at Ponda -17th Zilhaj (February).
more about Muslim Festivals

Christian Festivals:
January 6: Feast of the Three Kings at Reis Magos, Cuelim (Cansaulim) and Chandor.
more about Christian Festivals

Carnival: Among the various colourful feasts and festivals feasts and festivals that Goa celebrates -with great eclat, Carnaval and Shigmo are the most rumbustious, awaited by the population with intense enthusiasm. Unlike 'Shigmo' which is also celebrated in some oilier parts of India, although under different appellations, 'Carnaval Goa's own, unique, and the Union Territorys contribution to India's other expressions at untrammelled revelry.
more about Goa Carnivals

Shigmo Festival: Holi in Goa is celebrated as Shigmotsav, which is a festival of farewell to winter and welcome to spring celebrated with colour, songs and dances to the beat of drums. Float parades depicting various scenes of mythology are also held.
more about Shigmo Festival

Other Festiavls Goa: A time to express happiness at the arrival of spring is a 3-day festival of colour, fun and frolic providing a healthy entertainment for all. young and old. with khells, dance and parades. It is celebrated in February March.
more about Other Festivals of Goa

Goa Museums
Archaeological Museum: Old Goa, 9 km from Panaji, was once the centre of Portuguese dominion on the west coast of India. Here one can see fortress walls and administrative buildings, monasteries and impressive churches, especially the Basilica de Born Jesus which contains the mortal remains of Saini Francis Xavier.
more about Archaeological Museum

Museum of Goa Daman & Diu: The Museum of Goa concentrates on archaeological and archival material. Consequently the sculpture collection displays antiquities from the various Hindu dynasties that once ruled Goa. Also on view are important inscriptions and manuscripts, coins and textiles. The furniture, art objects, especially ivory statues, pertain to Christian-Portuguese influences.
more about Museum of Goa Daman & Diu

Institute Menezes Braganza: On view at the Institute Menezes Braganza are stone sculpture, bronzes and terracotta artefacts. There are coins, stamps and paintings which include drawings and etchings.