India’s
geographically-smallest but economically-richest
state, Goa, is located on the western coastal belt
of Konkan, flanked by the Arabian Sea. As is natural
in the case of all coastal cities, expanses of warm
sand, waving palm trees, and glorious sunsets are
what come to mind. What makes Goa special beyond the
prototypical beach holiday (not taking away anything
from the fact that Goa is a beautifully
idyllic beach holiday destination), however, is
first of all its nature as a biodiversity hotspot;
with more than 40 estuarine and approximately 90
riverine islands, and flanked on the east by the
Sahyadri mountain range (collectively known as the
Western Ghats), Goa was previously compared by the
National Geographic to the Congo and Amazon Basins
for the rich diversity of its tropical flora and
fauna.
Secondly, and
arguably far better-known, is Goa’s colonial
history, which has undoubtedly shaped this coastal
city’s nature as a multi-religious, multicultural
and foreign-friendly state. The Indo-European
dialects of Konkani and Marathi, in addition to
English, Hindi and Portuguese, are spoken in Goa,
and celebrated festivals range from Christmas, to
Ganesha Chaturthi (the Hindi festival commemorating
the birthday of the Lord Ganesha, deity of wisdom
and fortune), to the legacy of the Portuguese: the
Carnival before Lent. Goa’s colonial history has
also gifted it with a present-day showing of a
beautiful blend of Hindi and Portuguese architecture
(with some elements of the Mughal from when Goa was
occupied by them in the late 17th century
A.D.). As such, a visitor to Goa will be able to
admire the remainders of elegantly-domed monuments,
the spacious and airy houses of bright Portuguese
blues and Indian reds, and even gilded reredos
in whitewashed churches. Most of the architecture
with overtly-Portuguese influences was reconstructed
in the manner of more indigenous styles when India
reclaimed Goa in 1961.
The foreign
influence is also visible in the most popular sport
in Goa, football, which traces its beginnings back
to the late-19th century when it was
first incorporated by a British priest in schools as
part of a Christian education. Goa also has two
World Heritage sites, the more well-known of which
is the Bom Jesus Basilica that houses the remains of
Saint Francis Xavier, who was the leader of the
first missionaries to Goa in the mid-16th
century.
Goan cuisine,
famous for its richness and the wide variety of its
curry fish recipes, must also be given a mention.
Typical ingredients are coconut (and its milk),
spices, peppers, vegetables, and vinegar, making for
a headily-savory taste that is bound to be
appreciated even by those first-timers wary of the
spicy nature of Indian food.
