GOA (INDIA)
Mythologically,
Goa's origin is ascribed to Parshurama, a god of the Hindu pantheon. In
the first century of the Christian Era, Goa was a part of the Satavahana
empire, followed by the Kadamba, the Rashtrakutas of Malked, the Chalukyas
and the Silahars. The empire of the Yadavas was displaced by the Khiljis
from Delhi,by the end of the 14th century, which heralded the advent of
Muslim rule to Goa.
The capital of
the state of Goa is a small and charming city on 
the left bank of the silvery Mandovi
River. Built in the Latin style,
the town boasts of many modern houses. Well laid-out
gardens and
avenues bordered with Gulmohar, Acassia and other
flowering trees
add to the charm, it became the capital of Goa
in 1843, though the
Portuguese Viceroys had shifted their
residence from the outskirts
of Old-Goa to the former palace
of Adil Shah at Panaji as early
as 1759. The town has preserved its Portuguese
heritage remarkably
well and parts of it still consist of narrow
winding streets, old houses
with over hanging balconies, red - tiled
roofs and numerous small
bars and cafe's. Many signs in Portuguese are
still visible over shops,
cafe's and administrative buildings.
Panaji's
main attraction are the narrow winding streets,small cafe's,
bar's,and occasional old stone buildings
dating from the 16th and
17th centuries.Its 'sights'are few, but among
those worth visiting are
the old Church of the Immaculate Conception
(on the hillside at one
end ofthe Municipal Gardens)and the Mahalaxmi
Temple. The nearest
beach is at Miramar, 3 Km along the road
to Dona Paula.
Mapusa
( pronounced locally as 'Mapsa') is the
main centre of
population in the northern provinces of
Goa and the main town for
supplies if you are staying either
at Anjuna or Chapora. If you're
staying at Calangute or Baga, you have a choice
of Panaji or Mapusa
as a service centre.
In itself, there is nothing to see in Mapusa,
though the friday market is perhaps worth a visit.
You may, however,
need to stay here overnight if you're
catching a bus to Bombay the
following day.
VASCO-DA-GAMA
situated 30 Kms from Panjim - is a modern
well laid out city close to Mormugao harbour.
The Goa airport
Dabolim is located on the outskirts of the city.
It is also
railway terminus. 
Old - Goa
is famous for its churches and cathedrals. Some
of the old buldings
are converted into museums maintained by Archaeological
Survey of India. Old Goa
is still the spiritual heart of
Christian Goa. It has been granted World Heritage
Status by UNESCO for its extraordinarily grandiose
churches & convents.
before the arrival of the Portuguese,
Old Goa was a thriving
and prosperous city and the second
capital of the Adil Shah
dynasty of Bijapur.At that time it was surrounded
by fort walls,
towers and a moat, and contained many temples
and mosques
as well as the large palace of Adil Shah.
Today none of these
structures remain except a fragment
of the gateway to the
palace. What there is dates from the Portuguese
period.
Under the Portuguese the city grew rapidly in
size and splendour
eventually coming to riva Lisbon
itself, despite an epidemic in
1543 which wiped out a large percentage of the
population. Many
huge churches, monasteries and convents
were erected by the
various religious orders which came to Goa under
royal mandates,
the Franciscans being the
first to arrive. Old Goa's splendour
was short-lived however, since by
the end of the 16th century
Portuguese supremacy on the seas had been replaced
by that of
the British, Dutch and French. The city's decline
was accelerated
by the activities of the Inquisition and devastating
epidemic which
struck the population in 1635.Indeed had not
the Portuguese been
in treaty relations with the
British it is probable that Goa would
either have passed to the Dutch
or been absorbed into British
India. It is located nine km east of Panajim.
Beaches
Goa's
over 104 km. long coastline, is a sequence of beaches,
separated from one another by rocky
headlands, bays and
estuaries of rivers.
Calangute:
16 kms from Panaji is the 7 kms. long 'queen
of beaches'.
Being a popular holiday resort, the small houses
amidst
the coconut groves behind
the beach are always in
constant demand.
Dona Paula:
7 kms from Panaji near the rocky point
between the
Mandovi and the Zuari is a secluded bay
with a fine
view of the Marmagao harbor - an idyllic spot
to relax
and sunbathe.
Colva Beach:
This beach is 6 kms. from Margao. It is
the pride of
Salcete and the only rival
to Calangute in scenic
splendor. Here sea, sand and sky blend
in enchanting
natural harmony, weaving their
magic spell on the
visitors. The beach offers good accommodation.
Miramar:
A lovely golden beach of soft sand girdled with
palm
trees - is almost part of Panaji.
It is one of the
most popular beaches.
Anjuna:
It is 18 kms from Panaji. A popular beach area
adjacent
to Chapora Fort - it
was the haunt of the flower
generation in the sixties - and is still popular
with
the younger generation.
Arambol:
It is a unique beach in North Goa - about
50 kms from
Panaji. It is both rocky and sandy and
the most sought-
after beach by foreign visitors.
Agonda:
A small picturesque and secluded beach - very
popular
with visitors wanting peace and solitude. It
is 37 kms
from Margao.
Vagator:
22 kms from Panaji is a popular beach dominated
by the
Chapora Fort in the north. To the south of
Vagator is
the Calangute beach.
Pololem:
Relatively secluded,one of the most beautiful
beaches
of Goa. It is 37 kms from Margao.In the backdrop
are
the Western Ghats.
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