Goa in India

Those who haven’t visited Goa tend to imagine it as some kind of Indian Costa Brava. Enowned worldwide for its spectacular beaches that are among the finest in the world, Goa in the west coast of India is a holidaymaker's paradise. Goa is visited by hundreds of thousands of international and domestic tourists each year. Goa has two main tourist seasons: winter and summer.Tourists from abroad (mainly Europe) come to Goa to enjoy the splendid climate in the winter time. In the summertime, tourists from across India come to spend the holidays.

Goa, a tiny emerald land on the west coast of India, the 25th State in the Union of States of India, was liberated from Portuguese rule in 1961. It was part of Union territory of Goa, Daman & Diu till 30 May 1987 when it was carved out to form a separate State. Goa covers an area of 3702 square kilometers and the state is divided into two districts: North Goa and South Goa. Each district is governed by a district collector, an administrator appointed by the Indian government. Goa lies in Western Coast of India and is 594 Kms (by road) away from Mumbai city. However, Goa, like everywhere in India, is never quite what you expect. But these are two very narrow sides of the Goan experience and anyone who spends much time here will discover that Goa contains more variety and vitality than almost anywhere else in India.

The main draws of Goa are the beaches, the beaches in Goa attract thousands of beach lovers and regular tourists from far and wide. The beaches in Goa are classified into the beaches in North and the beaches in South. Anjuna, Vagator, Baga, Dona Paula and Bambolim are among the most famous beaches in North. The beaches of Goa in the north are host a lot of parties and carnivals, while the beaches of south Goa are relatively quieter, and appeal to those looking for comfortable solitude.

Leaning tower

The Leaning Tower of Pisa is one of the world's most spectacular tourist attractions, which is situated in fascinating Italian city of Pisa. The Tower of Pisa is the campanile, or freestanding bell tower of the cathedral. It is one of the most outstanding campaniles or bell towers in Europe. The Tower of Pisa is located just behind the beautiful Romanesque style Pisa Cathedral.

The tower of Pisa has an unusual look that comes from its inclined condition. Construction of this tower began on August 09, 1173 AD and the infamous tilt was soon discovered in 1178 AD, however, its architects decided to continue with the project regardless. Some historians believe that the inclination of the Tower of Pisa was part of the original architect's design, but now it's confirmed that it was not so.

All the way through its creation years and over the centuries later, many attempts have been made to halt its inclination, with an aim to increase its lifespan. But most of us will agree that in its curious inclination lies its beauty, which never fails to fascinate thousands of its visitors from worldwide destinations.

The construction of the Tower of Pisa was completed in three stages, spanning over two centuries. The construction of first floor white marble campanile was started in August 1173 AD, while During the construction of third floor in 1178, the tower started leaning, possibly because of its narrow base and unstable subsoil. In 1198 AD, few clocks were temporarily installed on the unfinished construction. Its construction was halted at the beginning of the 13th century, possibly due to continuous battles between Italy and her neighbors.

The height of the tower is 55.86 m (183.27 ft) from the ground on the lowest side and 56.70 m (186.02 ft) on the highest side. The width of the walls at the base is 4.09 m (13.42 ft) and at the top 2.48 m (8.14 ft). It weighs almost 14,500 metric tons (16,000 short tons). The tower has 296 or 294 steps; the seventh floor has two fewer steps on the north-facing staircase. The tower leans at an angle of 3.97 degrees.