Goa-the Tourist Paradise,Beaches of Goa,Old Goa,Chuches of Goa,goa,panaji,coasts in goa,old goa,holiday in goa,velha goa,goa pottery,goa shopping,goa handicrafts,goa's history,goa resorts,goa beaches,goa churches,goa beaches

Goa

A little way up the coast from the famed Malabar Coast is Goa the land of the golden sun, sand and surf. Goa's antiquity stretches back to the 3rd century B.C. when it was ruled by the Mauryas.

Kings and dynasties switched hands. In 1510 Goa saw the arrival of the Portuguese who were lured by the quest for the aromatic spices of India. They established themselves in the small area of Old Goa but, eventually, were forced to leave in the 20th century. However, they have left an indelible cultural stamp on Goa. Today, Goa is a wonderful blend of the East and the West, of Hinduism and Christianity, and yet it retains a unique charm and ethos all its own. For the beach enthusiast, Goa is a veritable paradise. Snug in the Western Ghats with its surf-washed beaches, Goa helps you discover an exciting new beach every day.
goa,panaji,coasts in goa,old goa,holiday in goa,velha goa,goa pottery,goa shopping,goa handicrafts,goa's history,goa resorts,goa beaches,goa churches,goa beaches

goa,panaji,coasts in goa,old goa,holiday in goa,velha goa,goa pottery,goa shopping,goa handicrafts,goa's history,goa resorts,goa beaches,goa churches, beaches of goa

And, there is a wide variety of them Colva, Betul, Dona Paula, Calangute, Gasper Dias, and a host of others. Miles and miles of golden-hued beaches, fringed with palms stretching out into the horizon, while the sun beams at the merry dance of the waves.

Important tourist place in Goa: Panaji

Fun & Frolic and great seafood

The Goans simply thrive on festivities, and most of the festivals are woven around religionfrom Christian, to Hindu to Muslim. These are invariably accompanied by feasting and dance and music.

But, most of all, it is the carnival time which is the most joyous. There are masked balls, street dances, fancy dress, float parades, dancing and singing groups, and much more. This typical Latin festival immediately precedes lent, and the highlight of the exotic frenzy of merriment is King Momo and his bizarre followers who enter Panaji on Fat Saturday on the eve of the Carnival. There is a glittering pageant of colourful tableaux and masked revellers. In the countryside, the carnival is called Intruz in which Christian peasants put up satirical folk-playlets and sing from door to door.

And for feasting, Goa is a seafood lover's paradise. It offers fresh prawn, Gray Fish Lobster, Crab, Squid, Tuna, Pomfret, Mackerel, Kingfish, Sardine in addition to chicken, mutton and pork - all done to perfection and flavoured with exotic spices and curried. Plus, you have rich desserts like Bebinca, pancakes and Bolinhas, and fresh fruits like bananas, papayas, melons, pineapples, jackfruits, cheekus, custard apples and mangoes.