Holidays In Goa

Area :	3,702 km Sq.. (approx.)
Capital :	Panji
Languages spoken in Kerala :	Konkani, Marathi, Portugues, English
Population :	1,340,000 (As on 2001)
Boundaries :	East and South - Karnataka, West - Arebian Sea, North - Maharastra, and Terkhol River ;
Airport :	Dabolim

Legends from Hindu mythology credit Lord Parshuram, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu with the creation of Goa. Goa has a long history dating back to the 3rd Century B.C. Over the centuries lot of dynasties have ruled Goa, 451 years of Portuguese rule has imbued Goas towns and villages with a unique culture. It became a State in 1987. The vast expanse of the Arabian Sea on the west forms the magnificent coastline.

Goas coastline provides endless sun drenched crescents of sand. It has a range of mountains and is dotted by various rivers. The land away from the coast is rich in minerals and ores and medicinal springs. Whitewashed chapels and churches that dot the landscape are surrounded by sleepy villages and rice fields. The magnificent scenic beauty and the architectural splendours of its temples, churches and old houses have made Goa a firm favourite with travellers

Languages: 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.

Food: The sea and rivers abound in seafood - prawns, mackerels, sardines, crabs and lobsters are the most popular with the locals and the visitors The staple food in Goa is fish and rice, both among the hindus and catholics.

Goa Festivals

Goa has scores of festivals celebrated all around the year. All these festivals do not occur on fixed dates of the calendar year, since they are based on the Hindu calendar.

Despite the long period of Portuguese colonisation, the Hindu festivals have retained their unique Goan character and are celebrated with deep fervour. In Hindu mythology, Goa is called the land of the Gods and with good reasons. There are hundreds of Gods and Goddesses with differing names, tastes, rituals and traditions. Most of these have remained unchanged over the centuries while others have adapted to the changing times and circumstances.

Quite a lot of the Goan festivals are actually Feasts of the local or family deity celebrated at the temple of the God or Goddess called Devasthan.

Getting there :

By Air : Goa is well connected by airline services to most major cities in India. All flights to and from Goa operate from the Goa Airport at Dabolim near the port town of Vasco-da-Gama.

By Rail : Vasco-da-Gama and Margoa are connected by train with Bangalore, Belgaum, Hospet, Hubli and Hyderabad and via Miraj to Bombay, Delhi and Agra

By Road : Kadamba Transport Corporation. MSRTC and KSRTC operate frequent bus services between Panaji, Vasco da Gama and Margao

By Sea : Ship services between Bombay and Goa organised by Damania.

Climate : Goa has visitors all the year round. The weather gets fairly hot around May and by end of June, Goa receives the full blast of the Indian monsoon with sudden downpours and tropical thunderstorms. However it is also during the monsoon that Goa is probably at its most beautiful, with greenery sprouting all around.

Best time to visit : October to March

Airports Nearby : Goa International Airport, Dabolim

Dona Paula Goa

About the Dona Paula Goa in Goa :

The Dona Paula 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 not only in search of the deceased beloved, but also to indulge in water sports on the clear waters. The Dona Paula Beach offers an opportunity to the tourists to have a sunbath and buy cheap seaside goods from local vendors.

This beach has also been the location for many Indian movies, the most famous being Ek Duje Ke Liye. Given this dual attraction, Dona Paula Beach has become a popular tourist spot.

Attractions Around Dona Paula Beach :

The Reis Magos Church: Among the places of interest at the Dona Paula beach side, there's the Reis Magos Church considered to be one of the oldest churches in Goa. It is dedicated to the three Magi (the wise men of the East)-Gaspar, Melchior, and Balthazar who, according to a legend, were guided by a star to Bethlehem to greet the newborn Jesus.

Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary: The Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary is situated on the western tip of the island of Choro, along the Mandovi River, about 9-km from Dona Paula beach. Spread over 2-sq-kms, this sanctuary is a mangrove forest. Local and migratory birds are found here throughout the year, making it a bird watcher's paradise.

National Oceanography Institute: Another nearby attraction of the Dona Paula beach site is the National Oceanography Institute. Set up in the 1960s, the National Oceanography Institute delves not only upon marine biology, but incorporates almost all the major branches of coastal and marine oceanography. The major attraction of the institute is its Marine Biology Museum and Taxonomy Reference Center.

Nearby Beach Sites :

Two more beaches are also located within the proximity of the Dona Paula Beach. These are the Miramir beach, which lies 4-km north of Dona Paula, and the Vainguinim Beach, which is situated 1-km west of the beach side.

How To Reach :

By Air : The nearest airport is at Dabolim, which is 29 km away from Panaji and 36 km from Anjuna.

By Rail : Goa is connected with Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Mangalore, and Thiruvananthapuram by train. The nearest railway station at Karmali, which is 15 km from the beach.

By Road : The Dona Paula Beach is well connected by road from the capital city.