The 131 kms. long coastline of Goa is set on the golden Konkan coast on the Western Ghats along the Arabian Sea. This small former Portuguese enclave is one of India’s most dazzling tourist mosaics.
Goa deserves every bit of the sobriquet the ‘Pearl of the East’. The name Goa is derived from the Konkani word ‘Goyan’ which means a patch of tall grasses.
Mythological, Goa’s origin is ascribed to Parshuram—a God of the Hindu pantheon. This mythical land was then known as ‘Aparanto’ which in Sanskrit connotes a ‘place beyond the exotic and beautiful’. A place unfettered by time.
Goa combines Old Portuguese architecture vibrant with a distinct Portuguese flavor to the lifestyle with a history that abounds with Indian mythology.
Its unending beaches, pristine beauty of the seascape, its mystical hills and groves, the
Rhythmic pounding of the sea, its swaying palms-all makes it a fairytale land for the traveler.
Delights
At Goa you can add excitement and adventure to beauty. There are a host of aquatic sports you can take to ride the waves or race against the wind.
Take an exhilarating water scooter ride that skims the water with all its excitement.
Or windsurf with your board on the tumultuous sea waves that gently undulate one moment and throw you high in the air the very next.
Or have the sheer thrill of parasailing that lifts you off the surface of the sea into the air to be one with nature.
There are other getaways too, with the Yachting Association of Panaji, the Aqua Sports (India) Club and the Hiking Association, Panaji.
And for the leisurely one could sunbathe or just daydream on the beach.
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