Goa is considered as one of the most advanced states in India in terms of
education and social infrastructure. A former Portuguese colony and Indian union
territory, Goa became a state in 1987. The capital is Panaji (Panjim). The chief
products are rice, cashew nuts, and coconuts. There is a growing manufacturing
sector and tourism is also important to the economy. The languages spoken there
are Portuguese, English, Marathi, and Konkani, a dialect. About 35% of the
region's population is Roman Catholic; the rest are mostly Hindu.
Old Goa, the original capital, was a prosperous port city in the late 16th
cent. A cathedral, churches, and several palaces survive from this period. The
most notable structure is the Church of Bom Jesus, with its tomb of St. Francis
Xavier, who did missionary work in the region (1542–52). In 1842, Panjim was
built to replace Old Goa as capital.
Long a famous port, Goa was known to Arab seafarers. It had been ruled by
Kandamba dynasty for more than a millennium when it was conquered by Muslim
forces in 1312. Goa became part of the Hindu kingdom of Vijayanagar in 1370 but
was recaptured by Muslims 100 years later. The Portuguese under Afonso de
Albuquerque annexed it in 1510 from territory belonging to the sultan of
Bijapur. Goa was invaded by Indian troops in 1961 and incorporated into India in
1962.
Goa - Climate
Temperatures in Goa are moderate with not
much variation. The summer is at its hottest in May while the winter months of
January and February are the coldest. Otherwise, the state experiences tropical
weather the rest of the year. Goa receives rainfall from the Southwest monsoon
between the months of June and September. July receives the highest rainfall
while February is the driest month.
Goa - Flora and Fauna
About a third of Goa's total land area is
still covered by forests. When the first wildlife reserves were established in
Goa, there were hardly any animals in them. The Bhagwan Mahavir National Park
near Molem is the largest of Goa's wildlife reserves. Spread over an area of 107
sq km, the park has a sizable population of leopard, chital and sloth bear along
with several species of birds. Where there are no forests, much of the landscape
is covered with plantations. Coconut, cashew and jackfruit grow in abundance and
Goa's market places are full of them.
The state is rich in many minerals and
there are some large manufacturing and production units operating out of the
state. By far the largest industry in the state is tourism, which has
contributed significantly to the state’s economy. With a much higher literacy
rate than the rest of India and significant improvement in physical
infrastructure, Goa is poised to become one of the leading economic regions in
India, which would be in a position to attract larger number of tourist to its
fold.
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