The former Portugese enclave of Goa, is one of India's most popular destination amongst travellers. The main reason for this is its magnificent palm-fringed beaches. Despite more than three decades of liberation from Portugese colonial rule, Roman Catholicism remains a major religion in Goa.

Goa's history stretches back to the 3^rd century B.C. when it formed a part of Mauryan empire . It was later ruled by the Saravahanas of Kolhapur at the beginning of the Christian era and was controlled by Chalukyas of Badami from 580 to 750 A.D. It fell to Muslims for the first time in 1312, but  were forced to evacuate in 1370 by Harihara I of the Vijayanagar empore who ruled Goa for nearly 100 years. In 1469, Goa was conquered by Sultans of Gulbarga and later it passed on to Adil Shahis of Bijapur who made Goa their second capital.

The Portugese arrived in Goa in 1590 and ruled Goa untill 1961. The only time when they were nearly vanquished was in the late 18^th century, by the Marathas and a brief occupation by the British during the Napoleonic wars in Europe.