Goa
Goa is the smallest state in India in terms of size and the fourth smallest in terms of population. Goa, located on the west coast of India in this area known as Konkan, borders the state of Maharashtra in the north, and the state of Karnataka in the east and south, making the Arabian Sea form its west coast. Its capital is Panaji, the largest city of Vasco da Gama, while the historic city of Margao still highlights the influence of Portuguese culture. Portuguese merchants landed in Goa at the beginning of the 15th century, and embraced it shortly thereafter. The Portuguese colony dates back to 450 years, until it was taken over by India in 1961. Goa is famous for its beaches visited by hundreds of thousands of tourists from within and abroad each year. Goa is also famous for its temples and architecture of the world's heritage including the Basilica of the Bom Jesus in Goa Lama which makes cave as one of the main Christian pilgrimage sites in Asia. Goa is also rich in flora and fauna because of its position in the Western Ghat range which is classified as a hotspot of biodiversity.