GOA

Variously known as "Pearl of the Orient" and a "Tourist Paradise", 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.

• GOA -Panaji is the capital.

• Vasco da Gama is the largest city. The historic city of Margao still exhibits the cultural influence of the Portuguese, who first landed in the early 16th century as merchants, and conquered it soon thereafter. The Portuguese rule existed for about 450 years, until it was annexed by India in 1961.

BEAUTIFUL SUNSET

WHY IS GOA SO POPULAR?

• Goa is renowned for its beaches, places of worship and world heritage architecture. Goa is visited by large numbers of international and domestic tourists each year. It also has rich flora and fauna.

GEOGRAPHY• - Goa encompasses an area of 3,702 km². Most of

Goa is a part of Konkan.• Goa has a coastline of 101 km• . Goa's main rivers are Mandovi and Zuari.• The Mormugao harbour on the mouth of the River

Zuari is one of the best natural harbours in South Asia.

• Goa has about 140 islands. Goa has more than three hundred ancient tanks and over a hundred medicinal springs. The soil is rich in minerals.

CLIMATE

• Geography Goa has a hot and humid climate for most of the year. The monsoon rains arrive by early June. Goa has short winter between December and February. The temperature goes down to around 21 °C. May is the hottest, seeing temperatures of over 35 °C. Goa's major cities include Panaji, Vasco, Mapusa, Margao and Mormugao.

MORE ABOUT GOA

• Flora n Fauna - Goa's wildlife sanctuaries boast of more than 1512 documented species of plants, over 275 species of birds, over 48 kinds of animals and over 60 genera of reptiles.

• Rice is the main food crop with main cash crops Coconuts, cashew nuts and fruits like pineapples, mangoes and bananas.

• State animal is Gaur, state bird is Bulbul, and state tree is Asan. Goa's forests are rich with medicinal plants.

. VAGATOR is a lovely palm-fringed beach with the Chapora Fort in the back ground situated on the Kalsua along the Chapora river basin.

BEAUTIFUL BEACHES OF

GOA

COLVA AND BENAULIM

BEACH

BEACHES IN GOA

CALANGUTE is also known as BAGA BEACH. It is Queen of Goa's Beaches and the most popular holiday resort in Goa known for scenic splendour.

FAMOUS TEMPLES

• Manguesh Temple Sri Manguesh Shiv temple at Mangueshi in Ponda Taluka, the most prominent among temples, is situated along the National Highway-4A about 23-km from Panaji.

• It is famous for its pristine glory, which attracts thousands of visitors every year and is gifted by the Welcome Gate, an elegant lamp tower, a "Noubatkhana" overlooking the temple tank and the "Agrashalas" on three sides. the structure visitors see today dates from the 1700s.

• GOA Shanta Durga Temple Temples Nagueshi Temple Pandava Caves 1st century AD Siolim Temple.

• PREPARED BY: GEETU• IX-B