Goa, also known as 'the pearl of the east', is known for its Gothic churches, age-old ruins, palm-fringed beaches, coconut groves, ferry rides, and bubbly folk music. With its 131-km-long coastline, Goa is an important destination in every tourist's itinerary. Sun, sand and sea being the major attractions, Goa is a perfect heaven for the ones who need and want relaxation. Goa is one of India's special places, a State seemingly blessed with fabulous weather, even more fabulous beaches, delightful people, good food, hill-top forts, little white-washed churches, soaring Portuguese-era cathedrals, a unique cultural legacy-small wonder, therefore, that Goa is one of India's prime holiday destinations. Come the holidays or just about any long weekend, and Goa is packed with jaded yuppies hoping to switch off and unwind for a few days, and sun-starved Europeans, soaking up all that glorious sun and food.

The beaches in Goa, like the others along the Konkan coast, are long, and straight, and fringed with palm trees, but unlike much of the neighboring coastline, Goa has an impressive infrastructure of hotels and beach resorts, restaurants and bars, which cater to all price ranges, from top-notch 5-star luxury, to hippy flop-shops. For Goa is a magnet which attracts all types, and in any one day, in any one walk along a beach, you will see them all. Local fishermen haul in their nets in the evenings, in company with aging hippies hanging around Anjuna beach, who sit and meditate on the beach at sunset, seeking their own particular brand of spiritual salvation. Children build sand-castles, giggling young Indian girls dance around in waves fully clothed, people learn to wind-surf, others stretch out and soak up the sun, and everyone, generally feels mellow and relaxed, and definitely on holiday

Tourist Map of Goa