Discover Goa

Goa ( GOH-ə; Konkani: [ɡɔ̃j]; Portuguese: [ˈɡoɐ] ) is a state on the southwestern coast of India within the Konkan region. It is geographically separated from the Deccan highlands by the Western Ghats. It is bordered by the Indian states of Maharashtra to the north and Karnataka to the east and south, with the Arabian Sea forming its western coastline. It was the capital of the eastern Portuguese empire until 1961. It is India's smallest state by area and fourth-smallest by population. Panaji (Panjim) is the state's capital, while Vasco da Gama is its largest city by population. The state's official language is Konkani, spoken by the majority of its inhabitants.
The Portuguese, who first voyaged to the subcontinent in the early 16th century as merchants, conquered it on request of Timoji shortly thereafter. Goa became an overseas territory of the Portuguese Empire and part of what was then known as Portuguese India, remaining under Portuguese rule for approximately 451 years until its annexation by India in December 1961. The ancient City of Goa (now Old Goa), considered one of the greatest cities of Asia in the 16th century, was abandoned in the 19th century following disease outbreaks, and what remains of it now includes scattered churches and convents amidst ruins. The historic cities of Margão and Panjim still reflect the cultural legacy of Portugal.
Goa is one of India’s most developed small states and has the second-highest GDP per capita among all Indian states, more than twice the national average GDP per capita. The Eleventh Finance Commission of India named Goa the best-placed state in terms of infrastructure, while India's National Commission on Population ranked it as having the highest quality of life in the country. It ranks highest among Indian states in the Human Development Index. Goa has a robust tourism sector. It has biodiversity, lying near the Western Ghats, a biodiversity hotspot.