subject: Hotspot Adventurous Place In India-goa [print this page] people. Goas irrefutable appeal lies in its 105km long coastline divided by headlands, rivers, estuaries and bays into 40 beautiful beaches. Palm-fringed, rimmed by rocks, abutting rivers, outlined by laterite cliffs or approached through a tangle of vegetation, each beach is unique whether its sand is soft silver or coarse golden. The easy going, relaxed air conjures up the magic to make Goa, one of Indias major tourist destinations attracting over a million visitors annually, three quarters of them from overseas. Visitors are drawn to Goa for its joie de vivre and its warm and friendly people. So come to Goa - all you need to take along with loads of suntan lotion is loads of holiday spirit.
Fritter away your time at more than six thousand bars in Goa and also dont miss out on a traditional drink, Feni, made of cashew nuts or coconut sap. The drink is quite popular and is enjoyed by majority of people here.
Historically Speaking
According to Hindu scriptures, this enchanting land was created by the sage Parashuram (Lord Vishnu, the Protector, in the sixth of his ten incarnations), and soon became a retreat for the Gods in times of stress. Understandable, Goa is the perfect holiday destination. Lord Shiva, the Destroyer
visited Goa twice, after marital spats with Parvati, his divine consort. Unable to bear the loneliness and heartbreak, she followed him each time, made up and returned to live happily ever after in Kailash their heavenly abode or until their next row! Legends apart, Goas history goes back to the third century BC when it was part of the great Mauryan kingdom of the Emperor Ashoka. After his death in 232 BC, the region came under the suzerainty of various Hindu dynasties such as the Satavahanas, Kshatrapas, Chalukyas and the Rashtrakutas. An indigenous dynasty, the Kadambas, rose to power in the 10th century. They ruled for over three hundred years and made Goa into a major maritime power using the natural harbours to make Goa a thriving centre of maritime trade. The 14th century was a turbulent phase in Goas history when its control passed from the Yadavas of Devagiri to the Delhi Sultanate (1356-1378) and finally to the Vijayanagar kings who ruled it for almost a hundred years. Towards the end of the 15th century, the Bahamani Sultans of Gulbarga and the Adil Shahis of Bijapur held sway. Meanwhile, in their quest for new spice routes and driven by a proselytising zeal to spread Christianity, the Portuguese landed in Calicut, Kerala in 1498. Unable to get a foothold there, they captured Goa from the Adil Shahis in 1510. Before long they had established their maritime might in the Arabian Sea and controlled the most prosperous trade routes. Gradually Goa became the seat of the Portuguese Empire in Asia and the Far East. Its capital, Old Goa, became a centre of immense wealth and opulence, attracting vast numbers of Portuguese immigrants. By the end of the 16th century Old Goa had a population of around 300,000, much larger than that of Lisbon, Paris or London. Though the Marathas posed a threat in the early 18th century, the Portuguese were able to retain control and continued to enlarge their territory further east. A fledgling independence movement began in the late 19th century, seeking self-rule or even merger with British ruled India. However, the territory remained under Portuguese rule till 1961 when a political movement, launched in the wake of Indias independence in 1947, led to its liberation by India. After 26 years as a centrally administered Union Territory, Goa was granted full statehood on 30 May 1987. More than 15 centuries of Hindu rule, followed by a short span of Muslim control and then 450 years of Roman Catholic domination under Portugal, has left a hybrid of Eastern and Western cultures that makes Goa a unique experience. Happily, the large community has managed to neatly balance its Konkani roots with the dominant Christian influence.
How to get there by Air
Goa has an international airport at Dabolim, 30 km from the capital, Panaji. Several overseas charter companies as well as most domestic airlines have flights to Dabolim. The regular domestic connections are from Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Kochi and Chennai. From the airport to your hotel or to any
of the towns, catch a cab or a metered taxi. If you are booked to stay at a hotel, most offer pick ups within their price.
How to get there by Rail
The two main railway stations are Margao (Madgaon) and Vasco da Gama. The major connections are to Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Rajkot and Thiruvananthapuram. From other places in the north, east and southeast you can travel to Londa Junction and then transfer to a connecting train to Margao/Vasco da Gama.
How to get there by Bus
Renting a car and being independent is really the best thing, but the buses are pretty good too. Bus connections are available to Mumbai, Bangalore, Mangalore, Mysore, Pune, and other important tourist destinations in the region, operated by the Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra Road Transport Corporations
and some private operators. Air-conditioned bus services are also available on some of the routes.
Best time to Visit
The best time to visit is between late October and early April. The peak season is from mid-December to mid-January, when the weather is near perfect, with daytime temperatures rarely going beyond 32 C. The carnival period in the month of February through to early March ia another peak time, attracting
a lot of tourists to North Goa. It is a great time, a lot like the Christmas season with parades, pageants and lots of merrymaking late into the nights.
There is a very, very wide variety of accommodation to choose from depending on what your needs are and how much you want to spend. At the top end, you could pick a plush villa with a sea view all to yourself, or check into one of the many deluxe five stars resorts. Most of the five star resorts
like the Taj Exotica, Leela and Park Hyatt are located in the South of Goa with the Fort Aguada and Taj Holiday Village being the only luxury properties in the North. There are umpteen number of 3 star hotels that are spread out all over in Goa south and north. Most of them offer packages which are reasonably priced and almost all are near or on the beachfront. Or you might like to stay with a Goan family as paying guests so that you are able to share their customs and get to know Goa close up. Yet again you could opt for a dormitory set-up so that you are able to stretch your money further. And, of course, you might decide to stay in a regular hotel, and choose one (standard, budget) depending on the range of services and facilities offered. All these are possible here and all that you have to do is plan and book early so that you dont end up having to narrow your options too much!
Nearby Places
Ponda, Kesarval Springs, Bondla, Wildlife Sanctuary, Mumbai, Hampi, Jog Falls, Gokarna and many more places at situated at close distance to Goa
For more information for this Destination please check india Travel Guide
