goa

from the lush green hills of the western ghats in the east to the golden tropical sands in the west, goa is the smallest state in india. only twenty to thirty miles wide, goa is home to over sixty miles of palm fringed coastline

colonised by the portuguese for over 450 years, goa once more became a part of india in 1961. today the towns and villages reflect that mediterranean influence, mingled with the exotic magic of India. this is apparent in both the architecture and the world famous goan cuisine

there's a beach in goa to suit every taste: lounge in the sun, enjoy water sports or explore further afield to find solitude and tranquility

there's more to goa than seaside sun worship, however. inland the fertile hills and valleys are studded with colourful temples and grand churches depicting the rich and diverse cultural heritage.

adventuring is safe and simple and local people are both friendly and helpful. the main languages spoken in goa are hindi and konkani, although english is widely understood

the pace of life is relaxed and, thanks to the hippies 'discovering' goa in the 60's, the tourist infrastructure caters for western needs. thankfully, however, goa retains the charm that initially drew people here