Information on Goa

Goa is often referred to as the 'Pearl of the Orient' and is a 'tourist's paradise'. It is located on the western coast of India, in the Konkan coastal belt.

According to legend, Lord Parshuram - an incarnation of the Lord Vishnu - created Goa. Over the ages, Goa has been ruled by several successive kingdoms - the Rashtrakutas, Kadambas, Silaharas, Chalukyas, Bahamani Muslims etc. However, the most famous rulers have been the Portuguese. On December 19, 1961, Goa was liberated from the Portuguese clutches by the Indian Army and made an Indian Union Territory. It attained Statehood in 1987.

Goa is the smallest state by area in India. It is the fourth smallest by population. The capital city of Goa is Panaji while the largest city in Goa is Vasco da Gama. The state has only two districts, North Goa and South Goa.

The city of Margao holds its Portuguese cultural influence as Goa is a former Portuguese colony. Goa is known for its famous beaches, churches and heritage buildings. The state is visited by lakhs tourists every year both international and domestic.

Quick facts on Goa:

State	Goa
Capital	Panaji
Location	15°29'56"N 73°49'40"E
Best Time to Visit	October - June
Area	3,702 sq km
Population	1,457,723
Languages Spoken	English, Konkani, Hindi
Time Zone	GMT/UTC + 05:30 hour
Pin Code	403xxx
STD Code	0832

Last Updated on: 20^th March 2013