Food,Culture,Language:
Food:
Imagine a cuisine that carries an nonpareil aroma of Portugal, covered with exotic Indian spices and soaked in the inescapable katzenjammer of Goa's favourite drink, fenny! In a search of brilliant culinary art, Goa, recolonised Portuguese taste buds. Any visit to this palm-fringed patch of sand is a spicy experience perhaps unmatched along the stretched shoreline up till Kerala in the south, outrunning even the magical Mughal kitchens of the north. And why not? The wine-and-garlic vinho d' alhos is reincarnated in spices, the original Portuguese chourico do reino is recognisable today only by its shape, and instead of from Iberian wine, Goa today allures the whole world with its fermented cashew apple juice, fenny. Indeed a cuisine that carries history, culture and myriad influences by people from several continents, Goa is an epicurean delight for every vacationer in every season!

Culture:
Goa was named as Golden Goa by the Portuguese. It was once an important Portuguese colony. The Portuguese were driven by their desire to spread their faith to the local population. Hence the culture of Goa is deeply influenced by Portuguese culture. However, In spite of remaining under Portuguese control for so long, majority of the people in Goa are still Hindu. Though, strong catholic influences are visible everywhere in the art, culture, and society. . Modern day Goa, a state of India, is a quaint blend of tradition, religion and modernity. Hindu temples are as much a part of Goa as are Christian monuments. The culture of Goa today is a synthesis of Portuguese and Indian cultures.

Language:
Goa being a major tourist spot offers a tourist friendly medium of interaction through English. In major towns, English is widely used in writing and conversation. After the departure of the Portuguese, the Portuguese language lost all its flavour and usage. However, very few - particularly the older generation - still use Portuguese. Konkani and Marathi, much related, survived in Goa by secret studies at home, in temples and public places in villages. Both Konkani and Marathi are derived from Sanskrit, the mother of majority of Indian languages. These two languages use "Devnagari" script like Sanskrit. Marathi is used for official purposes and is widely taught in schools too. However, Goa being a tourist hub, almost everyone in Goa can speak in English and Hindi. So, the total number of languages spoken in Goa is English, Portuguese, Konkani,Hindi and Marathi.

Helpline:
POLICE:
Police – 100, Anjuna – 2273233, Calangute – 2278284, Cancona – 2633357, Colva – 2788396,
Dabolim airport – 2541506, Mapusa – 2262231, Margao – 2705095, Old Goa – 2285301,
Panjim – 2428400, Pernem – 2201233

RAILWAYS:
Margao (Reservation) – 2712940, Margao (Enquiry) – 2712790, Karmali, Old Goa – 2285798,
Tivim – 2298682, Cancona – 2643644, Vasco – 2512337

AIRWAYS:
Indian Airlines – 2428181, 2542444, Air India – 2431100, 2541445, Jet Airways – 2438792, 2540029,
Sahara Airlines – 2230237, 2541211

ROADWAYS:
Kadamba Transport Corp. (KTC), Panjim - 2438034, Kadamba Transport Corp. (KTC), Mapusa – 2262161, Kadamba Transport Corp. (KTC), Margao – 2701986, Kadamba Transport Corp. (KTC),
Vasco – 2513505

TOURIST INFORMATION:
Goa Tourism – 143, Goa Tourism Development Corporation GTDC – 2226515, 2226728,
Department of Tourism – 24387750/5