Since the arrival of the hippies in the sixties, Goa has been a major destination on the itinerary of international and domestic tourists. The tourist season in Goa begins in late September and carries on through early March. The weather in these months is usually dry and pleasantly cool. Then it gets fairly hot, around May and by end of June, Goa receives the full blast of the Indian monsoon, with sudden downpours and tropical thunderstorms. However, it is also during the monsoon that Goa is probably at its most beautiful.

On 19th December, 1961, Goa was liberated by the Indian Army from Portuguese colonization and it became a Union Territory. On 30th May, 1987, Goa was conferred Statehood andit became the 25th State of the Indian Republic. A meeting point of races, religions and cultures of the East and the West over the centuries, Goa has a multi-hued and distinctive lifestyle, quite different from the rest of India. In this fact lies its charm.

All the communities have mutual respect for one another and this secular outlook has given Goa, a longand unbroken tradition of religious harmony. The warm and tolerant nature of the Goansallows them to celebrate and enjoy the festivals of various religions, such as Ganesh Chaturthi, Diwali, Christmas, Easter and Id, all with equal enthusiasm. Just before the austerities of Lent, the people of Goa celebrate Carnival, with a grand parade in Panaji (an international tourist attraction) and festivities across the state.