It is located about 250 miles (400 km) south of Mumbai (Bombay).One of India's smallest states, it is bounded by the states of Maharashtra on the north and Karnataka on the east and south and by the Arabian Sea on the west. The capital is Panaji (Panjim), on the north-central coast of the mainland district.
Goa, state ofIndia,comprisinga mainland district on the country’s southwestern coast and an offshore island. It is located about 250 miles (400 km) south ofMumbai(Bombay). One of India’s smallest states, it is bounded by the states ofMaharashtraon the north andKarnatakaon the east and south and by theArabian Seaon the west. The capital isPanaji(Panjim), on the north-central coast of the mainland district. Formerly a Portuguese possession, it became a part of India in 1962 and attained statehood in 1987. Area 1,429 square miles (3,702 square km). Pop. (2011) 1,457,723.
Land
Relief and drainage
Sandy beaches, estuaries, and promontoriescharacterizethe 65-mile (105-km) coastline of mainland Goa. In the interior region, low, forested plateaus merge with the wooded slopes of the WesternGhats, which rise to nearly 4,000 feet (1,220 metres) on the eastern edge of the state. The two largest rivers are the Mandavi and the Zuvari, between the mouths of which lies the island of Goa (Ilhas). The island is triangular, the apex (called the cape) being a rocky headland separating the harbour of Goa into two anchorages.
