Goa

Goa is the smallest state in India by area, set on the western coast, world-famous for its beaches, nightlife and distinctive Portuguese-influenced culture. Its capital is Panaji. A former Portuguese colony, it has the highest per-capita income among Indian states and is a premier tourist destination.

Goa is a narrow coastal strip on the Arabian Sea, with palm-fringed beaches, estuaries and the forested Western Ghats rising inland. It is laced with rivers and has a tropical monsoon climate, hot and humid with heavy summer rains.

Goan culture is a unique blend of Indian and Portuguese influences, evident in its cuisine, music, whitewashed churches and relaxed coastal lifestyle. It has a significant Catholic community alongside Hindu traditions, and a vibrant festival and tourism scene.

Goa was the capital of Portuguese India for some 450 years, far longer than any other colonial holding in the subcontinent, until it was incorporated into India in 1961. It became a full state in 1987, retaining strong European cultural traces.