Goa -- Silver sands, sparkling blue waters, the sky mirroring the sea below, white churches resting against green paddy fields and coconut trees lining the coastal streets. Goa - a place you can fall in love with at first glance. There much more to Goa than sun, sand and sea. The allure of Goa is that it remains quite distinct from the rest of India and is small enough to be grasped and explored in a way that other Indian states are not. Ruled by the Portuguese till 1961, Goa still retains its indo-portuguese character -- very visible amongst its architecture as well as its people. Goa tourism byline of "Goa - 365 days on Holiday" is absolutely true. Tourists inevitably come to Goa only for its sandy beaches, but experienced travellers say that the beaches are only a part of the attraction of Goa. Goa has 500 year old churches, forts and temples, trekking routes, waterfalls, wildlife sanctuaries and even spice plantations that are worth visiting.with @thomas cardoso.