Welcome
to South India and experience the untouched delightful South by invasions throughout
its history. South India and the Indian heritage is more intact here than in other
regions of the country. This is a land of temples, a land of the devoutees.
The widest belt of forests
along the western ghats is in Goa and neighbouring Karnataka state. The high
rainfall accounts for this because the elevation of the mountain range here
is lower.
The coastal areas on the other hand, provide the tropical backdrop. There are
several plants and trees unique to Goa and some introduced by the Portuguese,
most famous of which is the green Chilies, which today has become an essential
ingredient in the Indian Curry.
The tropical location of Goa is responsible for its warm humid climate and laterite
and lateritic Clayey-loamy soil. The mean temperature even in the coldest month
is over 20 degrees centigrade.
Average rainfall is over 500mm along the western ghats and a little less elsewhere.
The length of the dry season averages from 5 to 6 months. For all these reasons,
the dominant vegetation is of the moist decidous type.
Goa is endowed with over 1512 documented species of plants, over 275 genera
of birds, over 48 genera of animals and over 60 genera of reptiles.
About 10% of Goa is set aside as wildlife reserve and this area includes four
large wildlife sanctuaries.
