Goa is a tourist paradise, squeezed between the seas and the lush forested hills. It offers glistening sands, swaying coconut palms, Add to this the spicy nip of the sea, the tang of fish-curry rice, the moistened sips of cocum, the pleasure of discovering a crab under a stone, and the thrill of walking on a beach full of crisp seashells.Or stop-by at a small taverna (bar) for a feni - a locally brewed drink made from cashew or coconut, listen to the sounds of a mando (love song) and the strains of a guitar mingling with the sensuous lapping of the waves, or the warm golden sands of lonely, idyllic beaches.

There is a Mediterranean atmosphere in the quaint towns with their red-tiled roofs and narrow streets and the charming fishing villages surrounded by coconut groves.It is easy to slip into Goa’s warm effortless existence. In Goa, Latin influence fuses with Indian color to produce an enchanting hybrid. Goa’s traditions of language, religion, dances have remained firmly entrenched despite the end of Portuguese rule in 1961.

Goa is split into two districts, North Goa with the capital city of Panaji and South Goa with places such as Vasco da Gama and Margao. The history of the place goes far back in time when it was a part of the Mauryan Empire around 3rd century BC. Later the place came under the influence of Satavahanas, Chalukyans, Vijaynagar, Adil Shahi Dynasty of Bijapur, and finally the Portuguese who under Alfonso de Albuquerque invaded Goa in 1510. They ruled the region till 1961, when the Indian forces liberated it and Goa became a part of the Republic of India.

 Luxury hotels and budget guesthouses overlook fisherman mending their nets, and beer comes cheap and chilled. Discovered by pioneering hippies, looking for peace and love, Goa’s beaches are now filled with persistent hawkers during the day and  parties at night. Lavishly gifted by nature, Goa can also boast of its rich cultural and historical heritage. It is hardly surprising that the Portuguese who came in search of spices in 16th century decided to put down roots in this tropical paradise. Goa’s natural boundaries, the Arabian Sea and the Sahyadri mountains, had sheltered it from much of India’s inland turmoil, while its strategic location on the newly discovered trade route to the East made it even more attractive.

Tucked away snugly between the hills of the Western Ghats on the East, Arabian Sea to the West, Maharashtra’s coastline to the North, and Karnataka’s coastline to the South, this tiny territory covers 1350sq miles (3500 sq km). It provides spectacular views with bottle green hills wooded with jackfruit, mango, and cashew groves, cut across by river and edged by miles of sun-drenched beaches. Warm, languid climates, and a gentle unspoilt people, complete this compelling kaleidoscope.