Goa Images Reflections and Reality[Part One]
"Images are the killers of the reality" I can't recall this or this type of words where I read but if you are visiting Goa with some of the images I assure you that you are going to find the vice versa situation , here reality is all prepared to kill your images. The first image that will go under the breakage if you are traveling by road is the Goa is the shortest piece of Indian land with most pictures and scenic nature. As if you preferred to go from the Belgaum, Karnatak, almost whole of the four hours of your journey you will feel mesmerised by the adventurous, fearful and scenic beauty of heights and Vallie's. Many of the,road side cliff top waterfalls will prove hurdle in your journey if you are visiting round the corner of rainy season and will force you to relax for a while at the door step of nature , cloud play during this time adds unforgettable experience to your memory. If your choice is go via the Maharashtra then from Kolhapur there are two options for you One by Amboli road and another by Gaganbawada Road though there is third option by Radhanagari road is also available but most of the visitors opt one from the former two. If you are traveling by the Kokan railway do opt for day journey to have the same experience that you will have by road travel either from Karnataka or Maharashtra.
Geographicaly Goa is situated on the west coast of India and its boundaries on the western side are composed by the Arabian Sea, Where as state is connected with Maharashtra on the north side and with Karanataka in the east and south directions. Population wise it is the fourth smallest and area wise is the smallest state of India. The state was under the Portuguese governance for about 450 years hence being in India you will found many things not matching with Indian customs and traditions, don't be surprised if you feel that life style of Goa is not matching with the rest of India, it is because still the ruins of Portuguese life style are very much alive in the human society of the state even after almost 50 years [ included in India in 1961] of Independence, though India is said to be country of festivals but here you will find the social stimulation towards the festivals only at the time carnival and to some extant during the New year celebration, thus here your second image get killed by the reality.
If we try to turn the history pages we will find that the natives of Goa are basically Saraswat Brahman who were moved from bank of river Saraswati to Bengal and were known as Gaud Saraswat, were shifted to Goa and during the era of Mahabharat & then were known as the Gomantak beside these Brahaman families some migrants from the south called Kundbis were the part of initial human society of the Goa. I am not sure but it is said that When Lord Vishnu was on earth as Parashuram, he defeated Samudra, the sea and since that time Samudra had never crossed the limit fixed by the arrow of Parshuram, which falls at the village Bannali [Bann = arrow and ali=village] presently known as Benaulim.
Some of the Dynasties that rules over the Goa are : The Scytho-parthians [ 2nd-4th century AD] ; The Abhiras, Batpura Bhojas [ 4th to 6th century]; TheChalukyas of Badami [6th to 8th century AD]; The Rashtrakutas of Malkhed[8th to 10th Century AD] ;The Kadambas [1006 -1356AD] ; The Yadavas of Devaguiri (modern Daulatabad) [ 12th to 13th century AD] ; The Hindu Empire of Vijayanagar [14-15th century AD]; The Muslim Bahmani Kingdom of Deccan [15th century]. Portuguese has take the control of the land somewhere near the 1510.
It might be surprise for you that in this era of high communication, Goa state still don't have own Television Transmission, there is no separate news channel for the state,you have to depend on Mumbai Doordarshan for the weather report and for local news on the not so much reliable cable network. The same thing is with the newspapers [though the scene is changing with a vigorous rate] This might be the due to the reason that during the Portuguese times any person seen reading newspaper was punished physically, the hangover of that mentality is so high that natives are still unable to get rid of it. Yet another example of this mental slavery is the tradition according to which during the tourist season [October- December] when Portuguese tourists are visiting Goa, state's cultural and tourism Minister remains present at Air port to welcome them, this tradition remain unbroken even during the rule of Hindutav wadi Party BJP.
Your another image about Goa that is going to become vanish on the surface of reality is the night life, the first thing that will make you spellbound is the start of closing of shops near around the seven in the evening and even in the major cities Like Panaji, Mapusa, Madgaon, Vasco you will have to search for an open hotel for the dinner after 11pm. You will be welcomed by the empty roads even after 9 O'clock at night.
This was all about the historical, Geographical and social life of the Goa, for the star tourist attractions which are in abundance here I will write a separate blog including the reasons why it is said" Go Goa 365 days on Holiday".
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