Goa is a tiny emerald land situated on the west coast of India. It was liberated from the
Portuguese rule in 1961. Goa covers an area of 3702 km square and comprises of two districts North Goa and South Goa. Goa is surrounded by Maharashtra in the east, Karnataka in the south and Arabian Sea in the west. Goa is situated on the west coast of India and is on a distance of 594 km from Mumbai by road.

The capital state of Panjim located at the mouth of Mandovi River can be got to by boat. There is also an international airport and a railway station in Goa. The chief attraction here is the wonderful colonial Portuguese architecture in the eastern neighborhoods of Fontainhas and Taome where mansions and churches date back to 16th century. At the centre of the town is the imposing Church of the Immaculate Conception built in 1541.

Near the water’s edge is the Secretariat which was an old palace occupied by Portuguese colonial officers. Being a small town, it does not take more than a few hours to walk around Panjim, however, if one wants, a bike or an auto rickshaw are good ways to wander around in the city and also visit old Goa which is on a 30 minutes drive from Panjim and where some historical sites are located.

In the north of Panjim, the beaches of Calangute, Baga and Anjua are well known spots for hanging out where one can sunbath and relax to the heart’s content. The south of Panjim is more about solitude and stretches of white sand. Near to south Panjim is Palolem beach and further north of Palolem is Agonda beach which is more isolated and peaceful while to the south is Galgibaba with a vast area of sea and sand.

Goa is divided into two parts namely South Goa and North Goa. South Goa district covers the entire southern part of Goa. To the west is the Arabian Sea while to the north is the North Goa district and in the south and east is located the district of Karnataka. To the eastern south are located the mountain ranges of Sahyadri, along with a dense forest. Many streams and rivers also flow from this area namely Zurai, Talpona, Sal and Galgibah. These rivers are also used for transportation. Boats are available which can be hired or a tour can be joined which gives a round of all the important places in the district.

The major cities of South Goa are Panaji, Vasco-Da-Gama, Mormugao Harbor, Margao, Mapusa, Pilar; these cities can be reached by air as well as by bus. To move from one city to another, buses are also available but the public buses are too full and crowded, for this purpose express buses should be used. The famous beaches in South Goa are Arambol Beach, Vagator, Anjuna Colva Beach, and Miramar. For traveling from one beach to another, motor bikes are very popular among young people. Jeeps are also available on rent which is a good mode of traveling in sandy and hilly areas.

The other half of Goa is called the North Goa district. It is nearer to the state of Maharashtra. The main features of North Goa that add charm to it are the plateaus, the costal plains and the low lying river basins. The important lakes in North Goa are Mayem, Chimbel, Carambolim and Calapur also used for transportation. North Goa is divided into two parts, a busy area around Baga and Calangute and a much less developed area north of the river at Siolim.

Most of the year, the weather is hot in Goa as it is located in the tropical zone. The month of May is the hottest. The monsoon season lasts from June to September during which the city receives its share of rainfall. Between December and February the weather is cool, however the days remain warm with moderate amount of humidity.