GOA: PLACES OF INTEREST
This "Pearl of the Orient" is a small state on the western coast of India sandwiched between Maharashtra in the north and Karnataka in the south. It is a favorite tourist destination, renowned for its beaches.
GOA STATS:
| TOTAL AREA: 3,702 Sq. Km (1,429 Sq. Mi) | Rank: 29th |
| POPULATION (2011): 1,457,723 | Rank: 25th |
| CAPITAL CITY: Panjim | |
| LARGEST CITY: Vasco da Gama | |
| LITERACY RATE: 87% | Rank: 3rd |
| HDI: 0.779 | Rank: 3rd |
| OFFICIAL LANGUAGE: Konkani | |
| Official Website: www.goa.gov.in |
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 GOA LOCATOR MAP |
 Church of St. Francis of Assissi |
 Basilica of Bom Jesus (tomb of Goa's Patron saint) |
St. Francis Xavier's body
 Church of St. Cajetan |
 Church of Immaculate Conception |
EAST: BUBHANESWAR Cont.
Narasimha Temple, Koteshwar Temple
SHRI MANGESH TEMPLE
CENTRAL:
Shri Shantadurga Temple
SHANTA DURGA TEMPLE
NORTH EAST:
Brahma Temple
MAHALASA TEMPLE
SE CATHEDRAL IN OLD GOA
GOA: Cont.
MOSQUES:
Safa Masjid at Ponda
DUDHSAGAR FALLS
GOA COASTLINE
BEACHES:
Calangute Beach
 Mukteswar Temple |
 Nicco Park |
EAST: BUBHANESWAR Cont.
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Pathani Samanta Planetarium |
OTHER TOURIST ATTRACTIONS:
 Sun Temple |
 Sun Temple, Statue |
EAST CENTRAL: CUTTACK
NORTH CENTRAL: Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary
SOUTH: Cotiago Sanctuary
 Dudhsagar falls |
 Aguada Fort |
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FESTIVALS
Carnival in Goa:
(The day before Ash Wednesday)
Also called Carnaval or Intruz, or Mardi Gras, Carnival is the largest in India and one of the few traditional Catholic celebrations in Asia. The carnival was resurrected from a minor street celebration in 1965 by a Goan musician Timoteo Fernandes and since then has turned into a major tourist attraction. It dates back to the introduction of Roman Catholic traditions during the Portuguese conquest of Goa. Today, the urban parade includes floats from local villages, commercial entities, and cultural events. The carnival starts on Fat Saturday and concludes on Fat Tuesday, before Ash Wednesday. In Panjim, the capital of Goa, it is complemented by ‘Grape Escapade’, a local wine festival, and dance at Samba Square in the Garden of Garcia da Orta. The parade is headed by King Momo, Mr. Sixtus Eric Dias from Candolim (in 2021). The procession would have horse-drawn carriages, balloons, decorated bullock carts and elaborate floats, dancing groups, revelers wearing masks, music and sports competitions, food, and drinking.
STATE SYMBOLS: (COURTESY WIKIPEDIA)
| State animal | Gaur (Bos gaurus) |  |
| State bird | Yellow throated Bulbul (Pycnonotus xantholaemus) |  |
| State tree | Matti (Terminalia elliptica) |  |
TOURIST INFORMATION:
Accommodation: www.goa-tourism.com/acco/
Tours: www.goacom.com/tours/
excellentgoanholidays@rediffmail.com
Phone: 9822144019/08322278277
GOA CUISINE
SIGNATURE DISHES OF GOA
The series of dishes presented below are from www.toshaliresort.com/goa/foods-in-goa-htm, with only minor corrections
BEBINCA
Bebinca is the most delicious and famous sweet of Goa. This famous dessert is a polygonal cake made from egg, coconut milk, sugar and ghee with latest cake designing ideas. In the cake another layer is added after the cooking and roasting the first layer. Therefore, it takes some more time. Needless to say, it is the top food in Goa. During Christmas, it is served hot and cold.
AMBOTTIK SOUR AND SPICY
According to local languages, Ambot means spur and tik means spicy. Thus, this dish is slightly sour and pungent. The delicious gravy is prepared from dried red chilies, peppercorns and tamarind. The fish used is customarily shark or catfish and it tastes great with plain, steamed or poached rice. It is also one of the best foods in Goa.
CRAB XECXECA DELICIOUS CURRY
Goa food is known for sea food that you will enjoy at the sea coast. Crab XecXeca is a curry made from ground coconut, coriander and dry mixed roasted spices that are added to crab meat. The coconut gravy dish is frequently served with rice or bread.
FISH CURRY RICE, THE MOST COMMON GOAN FOOD
Being the essential food of Goans, Fish Curry rice is known as xittcoddi in Konkani. It is yellowish-red in color because of chilies and turmeric. The tasty and peppery dish can be broiled with a variability of fish, while mackerel is one of the favorites. The dish is eaten with steamed white rice and is the traditional Goan meal.
CHICKEN CAFREAL HOT AND SPICY CHICKEN
This Goan Food is spicy chicken cooked with coriander, lime, green chilies, peppercorns, and mint by mixing them. Pan roasted or Oven-roasted are two options to cook it. One of the best foods in Goa, Chicken Cafreal originated from Africa and is usually accompanied by green salad.
SORPOTEL A RICH STEW MADE FROM PORK
Being a rich stew that is made from pork but sometimes liver, heart and kidney are also added. Cooking sorpotel is a lengthy procedure: first the meat is parboiled, finely diced, fried and then cooked in spices and vinegar. Sorpotel usually tastes better on the 2nd and 3rd days, after it is prepared, once it has had time to mature.
MUSHROOM XACUTI FAVORITE OF LOCALS
Mushroom Xacuti is the Goan speciality, extremely hot and spicy. The hot and spicy food is prepared with chicken but tastes good with mushrooms as well.
MACKEREL REACHEADO, ANOTHER HOT AND SPICY GOAN FOOD
Mackerel Reachheado is prepared by slicing a cross section of the fish. It is stuffed with red hot chilly masala called reacheado that is made from red chillies, spices, ginger, garlic and ground with malt vinegar. The fish is them pan fried.
SANNA, A TRADITIONAL GOAN FOOD
Sanna is white, fluffy bread prepared from coconut and finely ground rice flour and mixed with toddy. Later it is inflamed and steamed. Eating with most curries, especially sorpotel or simply a cup of Indian tea would be amazing tasty.
GOAN SAUSAGES PRESENT THE TRADITIONAL GOAN TASTE
Goan sausages are made from pork meat and fat and loosely diced. The twines of sausages are immersed in pickling spices and then sun dried. The sausages are served with Pulao rice or in bread.