GOA       
Stretches of silver sand wetted by a rush of blue waters, the sky mirroring the sea below, the strumming of guitars from distant taverns, white churches resting against green paddy fields and coconut groves, long nights spent over brewed feni, longer days of sun, sand and sea. In other words, --- Goa.
Goa lies on the western slopes of the western Ghats, touching the Arabian sea. It is world famous for its beaches. It also has picturesque landscapes, monuments, a pleasant climate, cuisines for every taste and above all a hospitable people. Goa was under the control of the Portuguese for over four centuries till after India's independence in 1947 and it was liberated only in 1961. Goa presents a somewhat different picture to the foreign visitor than any other part of the country. Not only the proportion of Christians (almost all of whom are Catholics) in the total population of Goa much higher than that obtaining in most of the other States; the general way of living is also markedly different. Western influence is evident in the dress and food habits, and the general life of the people is quiet and peaceful. Goa's architecture is a class apart. It combines Portuguese, Indian and Mughal styles.
Goa was the "center of gravity" of the Portuguese empire in India. It remains a treasure-house of information going back even four to five centuries. This was also the "first city in Asia" to be completely subject to Portuguese sovereignty, compared to the regions along the Malabar coast which were merely factory-houses. But this region commanded strategic importance. Because of its location -- halfway up the west coast of India -- and its rivers, besides other features.
A striking feature of Goa is the harmonious relationship between the two principal religious communities, the Hindus and the Catholics, who have lived together peacefully for generations.

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