Goa History

Goa traces its history to a very ancient period. It was known for as Gopakappattan. An arrow from Lord Parsurama's bow fell into the sea instantly reclaiming the land called Gomant. This was during the Mahabharat -- today this reclaimed land is called Goa!
Through known history, Goa has belonged to various Kingdoms starting with the Mauryas under Ashoka in 250 BC. From the 6th to 8th centuries, the Chalukyas dominated only to replaced by the Rashtrakutas and in turn the Kadambas over the next three centuries. Muslim rule came to Goa towards the end of the 14th century in the form of the Bahamanis who then lost it and recaptured it from the Vijaynagar emperors a century later. The last King to rule before the Portuguese set foot was Yusuf Adil Shah of Bijapur. In 1510 Albuquerque captured Old Goa. Over the next 351 years the Portuguese consolidated their hold over Goa, braving a Dutch blockade in 1603 and a Maratha attack in 1667.The Marathas were eventually routed in 1739 and thereafter until the Pinto revolution of 1787 there was no further threat to their rule.
The 'New conquests' between 1782 and 1791 were the result of four decades of planning first initiated by King Joao V of Portugal. When India attained Independence in 1947, tremendous pressure was exerted on the Portuguese to hand over Goa, Daman and Diu. The Portuguese held on grimly, even using force on occasion (as in 1955 when a group of 'satybeacheshis' from India was attacked). It was a case of delaying of the inevitable which happened on 19 December 1961 when the Indian Army marched in, after a Naval Blockade by the Indian Navy. 26 years later, Goa attained statehood shedding its erstwhile 'Union Territory' status on 30/5/1987.