Getting Oriented

Getting Oriented

Goa is best described as short (105 km/65 mi long) and sweet (full of friendly locals). The capital city Panaji divides the northern beaches from those in the south and is the regional transportation and cultural center of this diminutive territory. Though it's the smallest state in India, there's a wide diversity of terrain including sandy beaches, lazy backwaters, acres of emerald green rice paddies, thick palm forests, and steep, jungle-covered mountains. Unlike the enormous states to the north, Goa can be easily be explored from one end to the other.