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| About Goa |
| Better known
centuries back as "Pearl of the Orient" and "Rome of the East", the state of
Goa is located on the western coast of India in the coastal belt known as
Konkan. The magnificent scenic beauty and the architectural splendours of
its temples, churches and old houses have made Goa a firm favourite with
travellers around the world. |
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Alluring and
endless golden sand beaches, tall swaying fresh green palms, enticing blue
seas, evergreen hills and mountains, winding rivers and creeks, fields and
especially the palm fringed pearly white beaches, do not even begin to
capture the magnetism of Goa. |
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Having been
the meeting point of races, religions and cultures of East and West over the
centuries, Goa has a multi dimensional and distinctive lifestyle quite
different from the rest of India. Hindu and Catholic communities make up
almost the entire population with minority representation of Muslims and
other religions.
The vast green expanse of the Sahyadri mountain range ensures that Goa has
an abundance of water. The sea and rivers abound in seafood - prawns,
mackerels, sardines, crabs and lobsters are the most popular with the locals
and the visitors. |
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Along with English which is
widely spoken all over Goa, Konkani and Marathi are the state languages. The
national language Hindi is also well understood in most areas around the
state.
Goan cuisine is a blend of different influences the Goans had to endure
during the centuries. The staple food in Goa is fish and rice, both among
the Hindus and the Catholics. Unlike the Christian food the Hindu Goan food
is not strongly influenced by the Portuguese cuisine. |
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Since the arrival of the
Hippies in the sixties, Goa has been a major destination on the itinerary of
international and domestic tourists.
The tourist season in Goa begins in late September and carries on until the
Monsoons arrive. The weather in these months is usually dry and pleasantly
cool. However it is also during the monsoon that Goa is probably at its most
beautiful, with greenery sprouting all around. |
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| Besides the natural beauty, the fabulous beaches
and sunshine, travellers to Goa love the laid-back, peaceful, warm and
friendly nature of the Goan people. After all, more than anywhere else on
planet earth, this is a place where people really know how to relax. |
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| Goa is well connected to the rest of the country
by the following modes |
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By Air
There are daily flights to Goa from Delhi, Mumbai, Banglore, Hyderabad
Pune, Chennai, Cochin and Ahmedabad. Goa is also a major International Airport for charter flights from
Europe and the United Kingdom. There are direct flights from Dubai, Sharjah, Kuwait and Sri Lanka. |
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By Rail
Goa is well connected by Konkan Railways
to Mumbai, Delhi, Pune, Secunderabad, Bangalore, Cochin, Bhopal, Jaipur,
Vadodara, Ahmedabad, and other major cities. |
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By Road
Panaji is connected by road to the main
national highways crossing through Goa. Panaji is connected by road to
Mumbai-594 km, Belgaum-157 km, Bangalore-632 km, Mysore-696 km, Pune-470 km and Manglore-450 km. |
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