Goa – A Fascinating Holiday Destination

Variously famous as ‘Orient’s Pearl’ and a ‘Paradise for Tourists’, the vibrant Goa is situated on the west coastal region of India and the coastal belt is called as ‘Konkan’. The splendid scenic exquisiteness and the architectural beauty of its archaic houses, churches and temples have made this state one of the most favorite destinations for the travelers across the world.

However, Goa is a lot more than only sea and beaches. This state has a soul which in depth has a unique history, prosperous culture and a number of exquisite natural landscapes that India is offering. The actual Goa is mainly in its inner areas, both in its buildings and in its surroundings which are away from the littoral area. Goa was made free from the Portuguese colonization by the Army of India on 19^th December, 1961 and it was made a Union Territory together with Daman and Diu. Goa was granted statehood on 30^th May, 1987 and thus became the 25^th Indian state. Goa is the meeting place of cultures, races and religions of West and East over the decades. Goa has a multi-colored and unique lifestyle which is diverse from other parts of India. Catholic and Hindu communities cover almost the whole population with Muslims and few other religions being the minority.

The best season for tourist’s in Goa starts from the mid September to early March. The climate during these months is generally dry and moderately cool. The weather becomes quite hot during May and by the last week of June; Goa gets the complete blast of monsoon with unexpected downpours along with tropical thunderstorms. However, during the monsoon itself, Goa becomes the most stunning, with lush greenery sprouting everywhere.

In addition to the natural attractiveness, the wonderful beaches and the marvelous sunshine, the tourists of Goa loves the peaceful, cordial and friendly nature of the people of Goa. After all, Goa is the place, where the people actually know how to get relaxed more than any other place on this planet.

 Main Attractions in Goa

Goa has many tourist spots to visit. Some of them are as follows:

Museums – Goa has a number of museums and art galleries to see. There are many museums run by the government in Panaji which includes the State museum of Goa, Kala Academy, Science Center of Goa and Central Library. In Vasco-da-Gama, the museum of Naval Aviation is a nice place to witness the vintage aircraft.

Beaches – Goa is well-known for its beautiful beaches. There are many famous beaches such as Arjuna beach, Palolem beach, Vagator beach, Baga beach, Colva beach and Morjim beach where various popular clubs and various eating options are there. In these beaches tourists can enjoy different water sports, sunrise and sunset.

Churches – There are many world-renowned churches in Goa. These churches are of great importance for the Catholic community. Some of these famous churches are Bom Jesus Basilica, Se Cathedral, St Francis of Assisi’s Church, St. Catejan’s Church. These churches displays the ancient architecture and are a must visit place for the tourists.

How to Reach

By Bus – The main bus station of Goa is Kadamba bus station and it is at Panaji. The state transport of Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra operates from this bus stand. These buses are well connected with all other cities of Goa and other states.

By Train – Goa has its own railway stations which are Vasco-da-Gama and Madgaon and are well linked with all the major Indian cities through railway. Outside the railway station, tourists can take a taxi or cab to get to their lodgings.

By Air – The international airport of Goa is in Dabolim, which is only 29 kms away from Panaji. There are regular flights which connects Goa with all the major cities in India and abroad.