The history of Goa dates back to the 3rd century when it was part of the Mauryan empire. Then it came under the rule of the Satavahanas of Kolhapur. It changed hands with the Chalukyas of Badami. Goa was also ruled by the Shilharas and Kadambas. In 1312 Goa for the first time fell into the hands of the Muslim rulers when Harihara of the Vijayanagar Empire evacuated the coastal area. Goa for the Vijayanagar was an important port to carry out trade with the west via the Arabian Sea. In 1469 Bahami Sultans of Gulbarga captured Goa. Then came Adil Shahis' of Bijapur from whom the Portuguese took over in 1510.

Goa is blessed with natural harbor's and ports which were ideal for theseafaring Portuguese. They needed this place to control the spice trade to Europe and the Middle East. Initially the occupation was limited to a small area around the present day Goa. But Slowly the Turks were driven out of the area and Portuguese captured a large area and hence gained a good hold over the spice trade from the East. Goa become the Viceregal seat of administration for the Eastern colony of the Portuguese. The Marathas nearly occupied Goa from the Portuguese in the 18th century. During the Napoleonic wars Britishers had a brief occupation of Goa otherwise the Portuguese were masters of Goa till 1961 when they were finally driven out.

Goa has Hindu population in majority but the life style and culture of the place has so developed that skirt dominates the saree. And who can forget Feni, the locally brewed liquor which is popular as much among the tourist as it is among the locals. In 1542 came St. Francis Xavier, a Jesuit Missionary. Once Christianity came to the place many churches were built and till date they are famous for their designs and architecture. But the main attraction of Goa is its soft golden beaches. These beaches still awash with budget travelers of all ages and degrees of affluence. Not only foreigners Goa is also attracting an ever increasing number of Indians from out side Goa.

Goa was coveted and ruled by a great number of Indian kingdoms and dynasties from the 4th century onwards. The first kingdom to rule Goa and Konkan were Bhojas, who were the feudatories of Ashoka in 4th and 5th centuries AD. The city of Chandrapur (present Chandor) was founded by Prince Chandraditya, son of Chalukya King Pulakesin from 566 to 597 A.D. after this, Goa was ruled consecutively by Silahara Dynasty, Kadamba Danasty, and finally Hoysalas from 1022 to 1342 A.D.

From the 14th century onwards, Goa became a great trading center on the west coast, especially in the vast trade of horses imported from the Middle East. This was the time for bigger empires to move in and Vijayanagar Empire conquered it in 1344. But there empire was not going to last too long and in 1347, Bahmani Sultans defeated Vijayanagara forces in 1347 and controlled Goa. Afterwards, it was a time of great prosperity and peace for Gpa, especially during the rules of Yusuf Adil Shah and Ismail Adil Shah. They created beautiful houses, fortified Goa, and encouraged local craftsmen. Their liberal and progressive rule was not going to last too long and situation changed in 1510 A.D.

Goa for all purposes was not on the Portuguese Radar even after a long time of their presence in India. When the Portuguese nobleman Alfonso de Albuquerque and his cousin Francisco de Albuquerque were sent with a powerful fleet in 1503 on the orders of King Dom Manuel I, the purpose was to defend the cargoes of spices, mostly pepper, against Arab Muslim raiders.

Turist Attraction in Goa:

Temples in Goa:
When you think of Goa in India, then images of beaches and sea cross your mind, so it comes as an added surprise to find that Goa in India also has numerous temples doted all around. Once you visit these temples in India's Goa, one is washed with a sense of purity and sanctity.

Churches in Goa:
Thanks to the Portuguese invasion, Goa, India, has a number of churches to boast about. Many of these Goan churches are outstanding and exemplary cases of Christian architecture. Most of the church in Goa display a tiered frontispiece and are framed with columns and pilasters. They belong to the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries. The local population, with their artistically receptive minds, assimilated the symbols of Christian art.

Villages in Goa:
To this day, if you ask the Goans where they are from, they'll give you the name of their village, their 'ancestral village' as they often call the Goan village. And since many of the villages in Goa have probably evolved from early Stone Age settlements, each Goan village has had plenty of time to develop its individual character overlaid by an Iberian stamp.

Beaches in Goa:
God has been very kind to this Indian town of Goa in terms of beaches. Beaches in Goa rank among the top beaches in the world. And why shouldn't it? With over 40 lovely beaches to its credit, one can just get lost in the mesmerising beauty of these beaches in India's Goa. You have to tour across Goa, India to experience the beauty first-hand.

Carnival in Goa:
Come February and you will find excitement bubbling across Goa…the reason…well, Goa is getting dressed for the carnival. It doesn't take much time for this small Indian state of Goa to get into the carnival mood, basically the party mood.

Getaways in Goa:
You will never get tired of the beaches or the temples or the churches in Goa, but just in case, you want to try something different, then there are many getaways in India's Goa.

Palolem Beach:
Located in South Goa, this beach is 37 km from Margao. This beach, also known as Paradise beach, has a peaceful atmosphere and is less crowded than some of the more popular beaches. Dolphin cruises and fishing expeditions are other attractions of Palolem.

Agonda Beach:
Located in south Goa, near Palolem this beach is unspoilt and pristine. There are no hotels or souvenir stalls here, just the 3 km long beach fringed by palms. Nearby is the picturesque fort Cabo de Rama, which is worth exploring.