The 130 km long coastline of Goa on the golden Konkan coast of the Western Ghats is along the Arabian Sea. This small former Portuguese enclave is one of India’s most popular tourist spots, both for the domestic and international Traveller. The name is derived from the Konkani word `Goyan’, which means a patch of tall grass.Once a great Hindu stronghold, Goa was a part of the grand Mauryan empire, around 3rd century B.C.Goa sand and sea The Satvahanas of Kolhapur and later the Chalukyas of Badami, took over the governance. Other dynasties followed, including a short-lived Muslim invasion. Thereafter, the Vijayanagar Empire established itself for almost a century. This era ended with the arrival of the Sultans of Gulbarga, around 1469 AD. Then the rule passed on to the Adil Shah of Bijapur. Goa soon became a bone of contention between the Dutch, English, French and Portuguese, all vying for its possession. Ultimately, in 1510, the Portuguese conquered Goa. Alfonso de Albuquerque led the invasion. After ruling for four centuries, in 1961, fourteen years after the country’s independence, the Portuguese handed over possession of this colony to India.