Goa

Goa is a state in India that is located on the southwestern coast of the country inside the Konkan area. It is separated from the Deccan highlands by the mountain range known as the Western Ghats. It is situated in the centre of India, between the states of Maharashtra to the north and Karnataka to the east and south, with the Arabian Sea defining its western shore. It is the state with the lowest amount of land and the fourth-fewest amount of people in India. The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita of Goa is two and a half times as high as the GDP per capita of India as a whole. This makes Goa the state in India with the highest GDP per capita. Goa was ranked as having the highest quality of life in India by India's National Commission on Population and the Eleventh Finance Commission of India, both of which were based on the commission's "12 Indicators." The Eleventh Finance Commission of India named Goa the best-placed state because of its infrastructure. Within all of India's states, it achieved the third-best rating possible on the human development index.

While Vasco do Gama is the state's most populous city, Panaji serves as the capital of the state. Goa became an overseas territory of the Portuguese Empire, a part of what was then known as Portuguese India, and remained as such for about 450 years until it was annexed by India in 1961. The historic city of Margo in Goa still exhibits the cultural influence of the Portuguese, who first travelled to the subcontinent as merchants in the early 16th century, and who soon after conquered it. Goa became an overseas territory of the Portuguese Empire, a part of what was then known as Portuguese India, The majority of Goans communicate with one another using Konkani, which is recognised as the state language.

Because of its beaches with white sand, vibrant nightlife, places of worship, and architecture that is included on the World Heritage List, Goa receives a significant number of visitors from both inside India and from other countries each year. It is also home to a wide variety of flora and animals because to its proximity to the North Western Ghats jungles, which are recognised as one of the world's most important centres of biodiversity.