The state of Goa in India is mainly famous as one of the best holidaying destinations in the country. The exotic sea beaches along with varied facilities for adventurous sports as well as the age old temples and churches attract people from across the globe. Apart from that, it is the richest state of the nation and has got the best quality life and infrastructure.

Goa Location

With its geographical location at 15.563° N and 73.818° E, it is a part of the Konkan region of the south western part of India. The state is surrounded by the states of Maharashtra towards its north and Karnataka towards its south and east. Its western border is shared by the Arabian Sea.

Rivers flow through Goa

The main rivers flowing through the state of Goa are follows:

The Chapora
The Mandovi
The Sal
The Terekhol
The Zuari

Among these, river Mandovi and river Zuari are the biggest rivers of the state.

When was this Goa established?

Goa formally came into existence on 30th May, 1987.

How big is Goa?

The state is spread over a total area of 3, 702 sq. kms.

Total population of Goa

The report published post Census 2011 shows the state to have a total population of 1, 457, 723 with a population density of 393.8 people per sq. kms.

Literacy rate of Goa

87 % of the total population of the state is literate.

Capital of Goa

The capital city of this state of south east India is Panaji.

Largest city in Goa

Vasco da Gama is the largest city in Goa.

Major cities of Goa

Apart from the two cities mentioned earlier, other main cities of the state are Mapusa, Margao, Old Goa and Ponda.

Goa's highest peak

The highest peak of Goa is Sonsogad in Sattari, located at a height of 3, 827 ft above the level of the sea.

Governor of Goa

The existing Governor of the state is Mr. K. Sankaranarayanan.

Goa's Chief Minister

The present Goa Chief Minister is Mr. Digambar Kamat, who belongs to the Indian National Congress (I. N. C.).

Form of the Goa legislature

This south East Indian state has got a unicameral form of Government.

Official language of Goa
Being located in the Konkan area, the inhabitants of the state speaks the language of Konkani. However, languages like English, Hindi, Marathi and Portuguese are even widely used there.

Which religion is followed in the Goa?
Being mostly inhabited by Roman Catholics, Christianity forms the main religion of Goa. Hinduism and Islam are part of the state's religion as well.

What is the domestic dialing code of the Goa?
The domestic dialing code or the Standard Trunk Dialing (S. T. D.) code of Goa is 0832.

How is the weather of Goa?
Featured by hot and humid climatic conditions throughout the year, the state has got the following three distinctive seasons:

Summer: Summer season stretches from the month of March to May. Among these months, May is the hottest month with temperatures rising above 35° C.
Monsoon: Rainfall sets in Goa during early June and continues till the later half of the month of September. July receives the most of the annual precipitation of around 90 cm.
Winter: The state has got a comparatively short winter stretching from mid-December to February, when temperature ranges in between 21° C to 28° C.

When can Goa be best visited?
Keeping in mind the climatic condition of the state, the best time to visit the place is the period in between the months of October and March.

Which is the nearest airport to the Goa?
The state of Goa has got its own military cum civilian airport named as Dabolim Airport. Though it is a domestic airport, it connects the city to international destinations as well through chartered flights.

Which is the main railway station in Goa?
Madgaon Railway Station situated at Panaji, being the chief railway station of the state, connects Goa to other parts of India.

Which is the state's main port?
Mormugao Port is the major port of the state.

Which crops are cultivated in this state?
Apart from cashew, the principle agricultural crop of the place, other major Goan crops are as follows:

Arecanut
Brinjal
Banana
Coconut
Cucumber
Jackfruit
Gourd
Mango
Paddy
Pumpkin
Pineapple
Radish

Which is the official animal of Goa?
The official state animal of Goa is Bison or Gaur.

Which is the official state bird of Goa?
The state bird of Goa is Yellow Bulbul with red colored throat.

Which is the official state plant of the state?
Matti or Terminalia Crenulata is Goa's official state tree.

Which is the main sport in Goa?
Football forms the main favored sport in the state. The state owns numerous football clubs like Churchill Brothers, Dempo, Salgaocar, Sporting Clube de Goa and Vasco Sports Club. The state owns a cricket team as well.

Which festivals are most famous in the state?
Apart from the religious ones, some of the vibrant Goan festivals are:

Bonderam Festival
Feast of Three Kings
Feast of St. Francis Xavier
Shigmo Festival

Which forms of handicrafts are available in Goa?
The state being filled with coconut palms, most of the handicraft forms are related to that. However, some of the prominent forms of handicraft found in this state of south east India are:

Bamboo craft
Clay work
Coconut craft
Fiber work
Paper mache
Shell work

Last Updated on 02 November 2011

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