Goa, this drop of golden sun on the West coast of India, is bestowed upon by innumerable gifts. Picturesque landscape, sun drenched beaches, historic monuments, pleasant climate, culinary expertise and above all hospitable people.

Goa, situated on the western coast of the Indian peninsula, the state is separated from Maharashtra by the Terekhol River in the north, Karnataka in the south, the Western Ghats in the east, and the Arabian Sea in the West.

Goa is divided into four divisions

The Eastern hill region
It comprises of Western Ghats like Sattari, Ponda, Canacona, and Sanguem;

The Central Valley Lands
Pernem, Bicholim, Ponda, Eastern Sanguem, and Quepem forming the Central Valley Lands.

The Flood Plains
It just comprises of the rolling uplands

The Coastal Plains
Coastal plains comprises of Tiswadi, Mormugao, Bardez, and Salcete.

History of Goa
Goa was a part of the Mauryan Empire, around third century BC. The Satvahanas of Kolhapur, and the Chalukyas of Badami, took over the governance later. There were other dynasties which followed, including a short-lived Muslim invasion, until the Vijayanagar Empire established itself for almost a century. This era ended with the arrival of the Sultans of Gulbarga, from whom the rule passed on to Adil Shah of Bijapur. Most of the time there were so many who wanted to annex this beautiful island state. And soon, the Dutch, English, French and Portuguese, all began struggling for its possession. But ultimately, in 1510, Goa went to the Portuguese, with Alfonso de Albuquerque leading the invasion. Portuguese continued to rule for around four centuries, in 1961, fourteen years after the country's independence, the Portuguese had to leave Goa.

Tourist influx started in Goa in the 60s and 70s with hippies, the spoiled children of western materialism. With opening of Goan skies for chartered flights, number of holidayers increased exponentially in the 1980 and 90 and growth in numbers is still continued. In 1987, Goa was conferred statehood.

Anjuna Beach
With its fluorescent painted palm trees and infamous full moon parties, Anjuna, 8-km west of Mapusa, fringed by groves of swaying coconut palms, the curve of soft white sand conforms more closely to the archetypal vision of paradise than any other beach on the north coast. Bathing is generally safer than at most of the nearby resorts, too, especially at the more peaceful southern end, where a rocky headland keeps the sea calm and the undertow to a minimum.

Baga Beach
Baga, 10-km west of Mapusa, is basically an extension of Calangute. One interesting fact about Baga beach is that, even the locals are unable to decide where Baga beach ends and from does it begins. Lying in the lee of a rocky, wooded headland, the only difference between this far northern end of the beach and its more congested centre is that the scenery here is marginally more varied and picturesque. The old red tiled fishers houses behind the dunes have long been swamped by gaudily lit bars, Tandoori terrace restaurants and handicraft shops, which makes it perfect place to cool in the nights.

Calangute Beach, "A Topping On Tourist Pie"
A mere 45 minute bus ride up the coast from the capital, Calangute is Goa's busiest and most commercialized resort, and the flagship of the state government's bid for a bigger slice of India's package-tourist pie. The road from the town to the beach is lined with Kashmiri-run handicraft boutiques and Tibetan stalls selling Himalayan curios and jewelry.

Agonda Beach
If you continue driving towards Panaji, the next beach is Agonda. It. s long and lonely, fringed with palms and casuarinas and dominated by a large hill to the south. However, it. s not safe to swim out too far here.

Palolem beach
If you drove in from the southern state of Karnataka and wanted to discover the nearest, reasonably well-known Goan beach, then the chances are that you would be directed to Palolem. It' s a beach of white sand facing a blue bay between two headlands. The little wooded islands on the northern headland are interesting, and if you are interested, try to persuade one of the fishermen to ferry you across. They do offer to take you out to spot dolphins.

Varca Beach
Though Mabor, Cavelossim, and the next three beaches are really a single strand, they are treated as separate beaches because of the villages they were once associated with. Thus the next on the north is Varca. It's really an extension of the others. It does, however, have deep rows of casuarinas and is long, clean, and quite lonely.