Like a child joyfully rotating a kaleidoscope and chuckling at the changing patterns, one just gets hooked on to Goa. Beauty can be quite inebriating and here you have so much of it—in the golden sands, the blue waters, the sylvan forests and the lakes. Palm-swathed hills, islands, beaches and riverine waters rush to the freedom of the waves, unfold, meet the eye and merge with yet another visual wonder which the land generously and continuously keeps unfolding. Add to this the spicy nip of the sea, the tang of fish-curry rice, the moistened sips of cocum, the pleasure of discovering a crab under a stone, and the thrill of walking on a beach full of crisp seashells. The mind stops thinking and the heart begins speaking!

Come monsoon and this hundred-kilometre coastline turns into a fantasyland. Wild wind that rustles the hair, a sprinkle of water drops all around. On one side stand the palm trees, lush green and swaying in the wind, and on the other the vast Indian Ocean greets you. The dense cover of the clouds makes the ocean look darker than usual until some clouds part sending down brilliant beams of sunrays which hits the ocean turning it into a radiant jewel of a thousand diamonds. This and much more is the charm of Goa.

Situated on the western coastline of India, Goa is split into two districts, North Goa with the capital city of Panaji and South Goa with places such as Vasco da Gama and Margao. The history of the place goes far back in time when it was a part of the Mauryan Empire around 3rd century BC. Later the place came under the influence of Satavahanas, Chalukyans, Vijaynagar, Adil Shahi Dynasty of Bijapur, and finally the Portuguese who under Alfonso de Albuquerque invaded Goa in 1510. They ruled the region till 1961, when the Indian forces liberated it and Goa became a part of the Republic of India.

In the local dialect, Goa is often referred to as ”Goa Dourada,” (meaning ”Golden Goa”) because of its beaches, forts, churches, waterfalls, seminaries, and caves. The beaches such as Dona Paula, Calangute, Anjuna, Colva, Miramar, and Vagator can be compared with the best beaches around the world. Churches and forts in Old Goa take the visitor to an era far back in time. Goa is rich not only in culture or entertainment, but it also has a rich floral and faunal heritage making it a complete destination.

Medieval and colonial architecture, wildlife, lakes, and rivers; the state of Goa is full of all these and more. The wildlife sanctuaries of the state may not have as much abundance of denizens but the relative serenity and better tourist facilities made up for that. Sanctuaries like Molem Wildlife Sanctuary, Dandeli, and Bondla are the part of wild heritage that Goa has still survived despite ever increasing number of people encroaching up on the forestland. Temple of Tambdi Surla is one of the few religious structures in the state that survived Portuguese onslaught while Mayem Lake is the favourite escape of the locals.