Goa

One of the smallest states in modern
India. It lies between the states of
Maharashtra and Karnataka on the
shore of the Arabian Sea. Goa was a
Portuguese colony for more than 400
years and did not become a part of the
Indian union until 1961, when India
engineered a nearly bloodless takeover.
Goa still retains much of its Portuguese
influence—in its food, easygoing pace,
and the continuing presence of Roman
Catholicism—which makes it one of the
most unusual cultural areas in India. For
general information about Goa and all
the regions of India, an accessible reference is Christine Nivin et al., India. 8th
ed., Lonely Planet, 1998.