GOA
Goa, a tiny emeralad land on the West
Coast of India, with its natural scenic beauty, attractive beaches and temples famous for
its architecture, feast and festivals and above all hospitable people with rich
culture has an ideal tourist profile.
Goa abounds in festivals and fairs
around Temples and Churches which also  communicate early legends. There are
occasions when a Goan peasant manifests joy and happiness. Picturesque Goa nestled along
the Western Coast of India was sought as a place of retreat by saints and seers since
ancient times. Goa the ancient Gomanchala of vedic fame was liberated from the
portuguese after nearly 451 years and the result of this great mix of cultures is today a
happy blend of eastern and western cultures. The State takes pride in its many magestic
mosques, temples and churches.
Goa has a rich heritage experienced in
its traditional folk, arts, music, dance, festivals pageament and feast. Music is way of
life with the Goans while traditional music still remains strongly in the rural areas, the
urban areas have taken to more modern music styles and generes.
Whereas domestic traffic is growing
steadily at the rate of around 5 %, there has been a spurt in the number of visitors from
abroad in recent years, primarily because of increase in operation of direct charters to
Goa from U.K., Germany, Holland, Switzerland, Sweden, Finland and Denmark, as evidenced
from the following figures:
| Year |
No of flights |
Passengers |
| 1991-92 |
121 |
17102 |
| 1992-93 |
259 |
39871 |
| 1993-94 |
299 |
58369 |
| 1994-95 |
313 |
59881 |
| 1995-96 |
337 |
75694 |
| 1996-97 |
282 |
73172 |
| 1997-98 |
340 |
88817 |
Source: Department of Tourism - Goa
AGRA
Agra has long been renowned as the city
of the Taj Mahal. This has often overshadowed  the fact that this royal Mughal city
has, in addition to the legendary Taj, many magnificent monuments that epitomise high
point of Mughal architectural achievement. Not even Delhi, the seat of kings and emperors
for over a thousand years, can boast such a heritage of architectural and cultural
splendour from the golden age of the Great Mughals.
Situated on the banks of Yamuna
River, Agra, with its crowded alleys and predatory rickshaw riders, is much like any other
north Indian City, once you are away from its imposing Mughal monuments. As a part of
Utter Pradesh, discover a facinating Indian state through a series of colourful fairs and
festivals. The hotspots of Utter Pradesh are historic cities of Agra, Lucknow and
Jhansi, the pilgrim towns of Varanasi, Mathura-Vrindavan and Rishikesh, Buddhist
centres like Sarnath and Kushinagar and the enchanting hills of Kumaon and
Garhawal.
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM
(TRIVANDRUM):
Thiruvanananthapuram, the
capital of Kerala, is the key entry point to the state. Named after  Anantha,
the thousand-headed serpent of mythology, this is an ancient city with trading links that
brought it into close contact with the rest of world. The city is well located along
spacious avenues with several parks, and a green lushness pervades the capital.
If Thiruvananathapuram functions as
an entry point for the state, its major attraction is also Kovalam Beach, one of the
finest in the country and certainly the best in the state. A world class resort hotel is
run here by Indian Tourism Development Corporation, while a few more modest accommodations
cater to the tourist on a budge. There are water-sports available here, while the more
adventurous may also opt for a ride on the fishing catamarans. The beach is barely 12 Km/7
mile from the capital.
DESTINATION EAST
Exotic and enexplored, washed by
the azure depths of the Bay of Bengal, cradled by  the verdant cliffs of
the Eastern ghats, Destination East is gradually proving alluring to Indian as well as
foreign tourists. The coastal belt circuit of the ancient cities of
Calcutta-Bhubaneshwar-Puri-Konark best affords one of the opportunity of experiencing the
real East in all its pristine glory untouched and unspoilt by external influences.
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