GoaCity » City Info » Geography

Goa occupies a prime location along the Konkan coastal belt on the western coast of India. Known for its beaches and scenic beauty, Goa is bordered by Maharashtra state to the north and Karnataka state to the south. The Western Ghats in the east contribute to the dense forests of Goa and its bountiful flora and fauna. The Arabian Sea stretches its waves along the coastline of Goa attracts tourists globally. Rivers such as Mandovi, Tiracol, Zuari, Chapora, Sal and Talpona form a navigation network for transporting goods, mining ores and other agricultural products in Goa. These rivers travel their natural path towards the sea. They divide into various estuaries and bays, multiplying the coastline's beauty.

Coordinates (Panaji): 15.50°N 73.83°E

Photo Credit: Nichalp / CC BY-SA 3.0

Climate

Goa experiences a pleasant climate all year round, which is a boost for the tourism industry. A typical coastal climate with the rainy season dominating for four to five months in a year, the summers are hot and humid, reaching a high of almost 35°C (95°F) in May. The winters do not contribute much, with only two months dedicated to the season between mid-December to mid-February. The temperature drops to around 29°C (84.2°F) during the day while the night experiences around 20°C (68°F). Temperatures may vary slightly according to the location of the coastal and inland regions.

Monsoon is the primary season of Goa with lashes of rain of around 325cms per day with the sunshine of 3-5 hours a day.

The best time to visit Goa is from October to February when there is no rain, humidity is at its lowest, and it's not too hot either.

Goa is set apart from the Deccan Plateau due to the division made by the Western Ghats. As you travel further from the coastline towards the ghats, the slope rises to form the cliffs, hills and mountains. Goa is engulfed within these slopes from one side resulting in a favourable climate.

Flora & Fauna

Goa is partly coastal and partly hilly, and the forest coverage is around 1,424sq.km. (550 sq.mi.). These forests are located within the inland regions of Goa, and their tropical diversity can be proven by the rich flora and fauna such as bamboo canes, chillar barks, Maratha barks and bhirand. Nearly 56% of Goa is covered under forests and trees, including coconuts, mangoes, cashews, jackfruits, etc.

Animals that rule the forests are boars, foxes and migratory birds. Crabs, lobsters, shrimps, jellyfish, oysters and catfish are some of the aquatic life found in the sea surrounding the Goan coastline.

There are various wildlife sanctuaries such as Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary, Molem Wildlife Sanctuary, Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary, Madei Wildlife Sanctuary, Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary and Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary.