Facts and Trivia about Goa Holidays

With the month of October already staring us down, Goa might have started witnessing the arrival of Indian and international tourists in large numbers. The tiny Indian state of Goa has already attained the distinction of being the most popular tourist destination in India and the tourism statistics of 2010 proves the statement with over 2 million annual visitors. In this particular blog post, I have enlisted some facts and details that will prove why Goa is so much popular around the world.

•  As per the tourism statistics of 2010, Goa witnessed arrival of over 2 million tourists out if which 1.2 million were from abroad.

•  The 125 kilometer long coastline of Goa is dotted with a total number of 16 beaches categorized as North Goa and South Goa beaches.

•  Being ruled by Portuguese invaders for over 450 years, Old Goa is an ideal jaunt for art lovers and connoisseurs. The churches and cathedrals housed here were built sometime around 15th and 16th century and recognized as World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

•  The full of beans night life of Goa is quite hit with youngsters who love to groove on the beats of trance music. Anjuna and Vagator are the most popular party destinations in Goa and therefore, you will find number bars and pubs such as Café Looda’s, Mango Tree, Curlies and Paradiso. 

•  If you are fascinated by casino life of Las Vegas, you won’t be disappointed in Goa. The state is home to some popular casinos that offer best gaming facilities tantamount to the international standards. Las Vegas, Chances, Winners and Floating Casino Royale are popular names in the list.

 •  The concept of home stays in Goa is fast picking up with those interested in glimpsing the local lifestyle of the populace. Here a local resident lends a part of their home to the tourist on rent which also helps in generating income for them.

A 5 minute Goa Travel Guide

Goa Map :

Goa is a tiny Indian state on its western coast and is one of the most popular beach destinations in Asia. Goa has everything that a great, all round vacation calls for – pristine beaches, colonial forts, wildlife sanctuaries, highlands, lush green landscapes, tropical climate and hospitable people. This blog is a brief tour guide enlisting the various aspects of Goa, handy for first time travelers.

Goa – Fast Facts :

Established	30 May 1987
Capital	Panaji
Largest city	Vasco da Gama
Districts	2
Government
• Governor	B. V. Wanchoo
• Chief Minister	Manohar Parrikar (BJP)
• Legislature	Unicameral (40 seats)
• Parliamentary constituency	2
• High Court	Bombay High Court - Panaji, Goa Bench
Area
• Total	3,702 km2 (1,429 sq mi)
Area rank	28th
Population (2011)
• Total	1,457,723
• Rank	25th
• Density	390/km2 (1,000/sq mi)
Time zone	IST (UTC+05:30)
ISO 3166 code	IN-GA
HDI	0.779 (high)
HDI rank	3rd (2005)
Literacy	87% (3rd)
Official languages	Konkani

Major Goa Attractions :

Churches :	Chapel of St. Francis Xavier The Church and Convent of St. Monica Se Cathedral . The Convent and Church Of St. Francis of Assisi The Professed House and The Basilica of Bom Jesus
Beaches :	Anjuna, Vagator, Calangute, Baga, Dona Paula, Varca, Colva, Bogmalo, Cavelossim
Forts :	Aguada, Chapora, Mormugao, Tiracol, Cabo da Rama
Major cities :	Panaji, Vasco da Gama, Mapusa, Margao, Old Goa, Bicholim, Mormugao

Accommodation :

Being such a popular beach destination in Asia and outside, Goa receives A LOT of tourist footfall every year. Fittingly, there is no dearth of accommodation options in Goa, as is evident by the thousands of hotels, resorts, B&B inns and homestays available by the beach and in the city area. There are hotels for every taste, every budget. Topping at INR 38000 ($700), daily hotel tariffs go as low as INR 1000 ($18 Approx.)

Climate and Geography :

Having a tropical geography, Goa is blessed with a moderate climate all through the year. The temperature hovers between 20 °C to 34 °C. Relative humidity stays around 60 %. The months of June –September receive sufficient rainfall and fall in the off-season. This is when tariffs are their lowest. The best time to visit Goa is between the months of November and March.

Most of Goa is part of the Konkan highlands in the Western Ghats. Zuari and Mandovi are the two major rivers, draining 69% of Goa’s total demographic area. Goa has a total coastline of 101 kilometers, most of which is beach area.

Transportation  :

Goa’s Dabolim Airport caters to domestic and international flights and is used by militia and civilians. NH17 and NH4 are the two highways running through Panjim. Taxis, Autorickshaws and Motorcycle taxis can be hired for intra-city travel. Goa’s ferry system is really efficient and carries a lot of people and property every day. The South Western Railway and the Konkan Railways connect Goa to neighboring cities of Mumbai, Kolhapur, Pune and others.