History of Goa

Goa was a part of the Mauryan Empire, around third century BC. The Satvahanas of Kolhapur, and the Chalukyas of Badami, took over the governance later. Other dynasties followed, including a short-lived Muslim invasion, until the Vijayanagar Empire established itself for almost a century. This era ended with the arrival of the Sultans of Gulbarga, from whom the rule passed on to Adil Shah of Bijapur. Soon, the Dutch, English, French and Portuguese, all began struggling for its possession. Ultimately, in 1510, the Portuguese conquered Goa, with Alfonso de Albuquerque leading the invasion. Having ruled for around four centuries, in 1961, fourteen years after the country's independence, the Portuguese had to leave Goa. Tourist influx started in Goa in the 60s and 70s of 20th century with hippies, the spoiled children of western materialism. Behind them came the explorers, and at the end the mass tourist traffic. With opening of Goan skies for chartered flights, number of holidayers increased exponentially in the 1980 and 90 and growth in numbers is still continued. In 1987, Goa was conferred statehood and Daman and Diu was made a separate union territory.