Goa, a tiny emerald land on the west coast of India, the 25th State in the Union of States of India, was liberated from Portuguese rule in 1961. It was part of Union territory of Goa, Daman & Diu till 30 May 1987 when it was carved out to form a separate State. Goa is visited by large numbers of international and domestic tourists each year for its beaches, places of worship and world heritage architecture. Goa is India's smallest State-with the largest heart.
Capital city : Panaji
Chief Minister : Manohar Parrikar
Governor : Mridula Sinha
High Court : High Court of Bombay at Goa- Altinho, Panjim
Chief Justice : Dhirendra Hiralal Waghela
Number of Districts: 2 (North Goa District, South Goa District)
Speciality: Goa is endowed with Mineral Resources. Iron ore, Manganese ore, Bauxite are minerals of economic importance. Besides there are minor minerals like Basalt, Laterite stones and rubbles, River sand, Murrum etc., which are in great demand as construction material.
National Parks :
Sl.No.
|
Name of National Park
|
Special Species (if any important)
|
Important Remarks
|
1.
|
Bhagwan Mahavir (Mollem) National Park
|
Gaur, Sambar, Leopards, Spotted Deer, Slender Toris, Jungle Cats, Malayan Giant Squirrels
|
located in the Goan town of Mollem, situated on the eastern border of Goa
|
2.
|
Dr Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary
|
flying foxes, jackals and crocodiles
|
Goa's only bird sanctuary, area consists of mangrove vegetation
|
Important Dams, Rivers and Lakes:
Dams
Sl.No.
|
Dam
|
River
|
Nearest City
|
Purpose/Project
|
1.
|
Salaulim Dam
|
Sanguem
|
Sanguem
|
Irrigation
|
2.
|
Anjunam Dam
|
Mandovi
|
Satari
|
Irrigation
|
Rivers
Sl.No.
|
River
|
Remarks
|
1.
|
Mandovi
|
described as the lifeline of the indian state of Goa.Mandovi joins with the Zuari at a common point at Cabo Aguada, forming the Mormugao harbour.
|
2.
|
Chapora
|
It runs westward into the Arabian sea at Chapora and demarcates the border between the North Goa talukas of Pernem and Bardez.
|
3.
|
Zuari
|
the largest river in Goa, it is a tidal river
|
Lakes/ Waterfall
Sl.No.
|
Lake/Waterfall
|
Located in/near
|
1.
|
Dudhsagar Waterfall
|
Sonaulim
|
2.
|
Mayem Lake
|
Bicholim
|
3.
|
Carambolim Lake
|
Panaji
|
Important Power generation plants:
Sl.No.
|
Plant/Project
|
Type/Category
|
1
|
Reliance Energy Limited
|
Thermal
|
2
|
Goa Gas Power Station
|
Gas Power generation
|
Airports:
1. Goa International Airport (Dabolim Airport)
Folk Dances:
1. Talgadi
2. Goff
3. Tonya Mel
4. Mando
5. Kunbi dance
6. Suvar
7. Dasarawadan
7. Virabhadra
Tribes:
1. Gowdas
1. Gowdas
2. Kunbis
3. Velips
4. Dhangars
Important Regional Festivals:
Sl.No.
|
Festival Name
|
Remarks
|
1.
|
Bonderam Festival
|
celebrated in the month of August, in memory of the protests that were raised by scores of villagers against the unjust and unreasonable system adopted to settle down land disputes and ownership issues of land.
|
2.
|
Christmas
|
celebration of Christmas in Goa starts from the Christmas Eve and lingers on for some time even after the actual date of the festival.
|
3.
|
Goa Carnival
|
It is a four-day celebration that begins on the Saturday before Ash Wednesday. The Goa Carnival is led by King Momo which has its own rhythms of guitars, folk songs and drumbeats accompanied by a colourful parade of floats and dancing troupes.
|
4.
|
Feast of St Francis Xavier
|
held on the 3rd of December at the Basilica of Bom Jesus in Old Goa. St Francis Xavier is the patron saint of Goa. His body has been preserved for centuries and lies in an exquisite silver casket at the Basilica and is displayed every ten years during the exposition.
|
5.
|
Grape Festival
|
Goa Tourism Development Corporation organizes this festival.
|
6.
|
Shigmo Festival
|
This 'festival of colours' in the state of Goa is celebrated as Shigmotsav. This is celebrated to bid farewell to winter and to welcome the season of spring.
|
7.
|
Sunburn Music Festival
|
Asia's largest music festival
|
Important Temples/Archaeological Monuments/Sites:
Sl.No.
|
Monument/Temple/Sites
|
Located in
|
Remarks
|
1.
|
Bom Jesus Basilica
|
Old Goa
|
UNESCO heritage site, this church is world renowned to still host the mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier.
|
2.
|
Se Cathedral
|
Velha
|
one of the largest in India whilst being amongst the famous churches in Goa too. Being one of the oldest in the country, the Se Cathedral was built to celebrate the victory of the Portuguese ruler Afonso de Albuquerque for capturing a Goan city in 1510.
|
3.
|
Church of St Francis of Assisi
|
Velha
|
amongst the revered Roman Catholic churches. Known for its Barque and Corinthian architecture, the church’s interiors are finely inlaid with ornaments. On the tabernacle reside two statues – one of the Christ and the other of St. Francis of Assisi.
|
4.
|
Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception
|
Panaji
|
17th century structure
|
5.
|
Church of St. Cajetan
|
Velha
|
resembles the St. Peter’s Church in Rome. Built with laterite blocks, the church has influences of Corinthian style of architecture.
|
6.
|
Church of Our Lady of Miracles
|
Sanguem
|
Built by the Portuguese government, this church once collapsed before being rebuilt. By 1977, the old church was completely demolished and in place a new church was erected.
|
7.
|
Mormugao Port
|
South Goa district
|
Goa’s main port
|
8.
|
Baga Beach
|
North Goa
| |
9.
|
Candolim Beach
|
North Goa
|
One of the best beaches in Goa known for its scrubbed sand dunes. Located close to the famous Princess River is known for its unspoiled scenic beauty and serene atmosphere.
|
10.
|
Calangute Beach
|
North Goa
|
Referred as the Queen of Goa Beaches, Calangute Beach, famous for its golden shimmering sand
|
11.
|
Anjuna Beach
|
North Goa
|
known for its rock formations
|
12.
|
Morjim Beach
|
North Goa
|
Referred to as the Turtle Beach, Morjim Beach is nestled amidst verdant locales.
|
13.
|
Fort Aguada
|
Bardez sub-district, North Goa
|
well-preserved seventeenth-century Portuguese fort
|
14.
|
Chapora Fort
|
near Anjuna Beach
|
Built by Adil Shah of Bijapur. It was given a new dimension when the Portuguese took over and one can see traces of the Portuguese architecture in it.
|
Sport Stadiums:
Sl.No.
|
Stadium
|
Sport-Purpose
|
City
|
1
|
Jawarharlal Nehru Stadium (Fatorda Stadium)
|
multipurpose
|
Margao
|
2
|
Tilak Maidan Stadium
|
football
|
Vasco da Gama
|
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