Tourists' Paradise : Goa

Goa, in India, is world famous for its beaches. The Goan coast is lined with a number of beaches, each with a distinctive flavor, some have golden sand, some white, some have fine sand grains, some with coarse etc. But one thing common is the distinctive blue Arabian Sea and the swaying coconut and palm trees.

Panaji (Panjim) is the state capital located on the banks of the Mandovi river and Vasco, Margao, Mapusa and Ponda are the other major towns. Goa is serviced by an international/national airport located at Dabolim near Vasco. An intra-state and inter-state bus network also plays an important role in getting locals and visitors alike in and around Goa.

Dona Paula Beach : The beach is named after Dona Paula de Menzes, daughter of a viceroy (in colonial India), who threw herself off the cliff, when refused permission to marry a local fisherman, Gaspar Dias. The myth says that Dona Paula is entombed in the Cabo Chapel of the Raj Bhawan and is supposed to be seen emerging from the moonlit waves wearing only a pearl necklace. With the romance and myth attached to it, haunted by Dona Paula de Menzes, tourists throng the Dona Paula Beach.

Anjuna Beach :

The Anjuna beach was 'discovered' sometime in 1950's and 60's by a group of travellers and then they began to meet here in dry season to party. Situated eight kilometers west of Mapusa, Anjuna beach is the most happening of all beaches in Goa.

Since the arrival of the Hippies in the sixties, Goa has been a major destination for the foreign and domestic tourists.

The tourist season in Goa begins in late September and carries on through early March. The weather in these months is usually dry and pleasantly cool.

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.