Be it Gomanta, Goparashtra or simply Goa, when History is concerned, this little state has its own share. Tossed into the hands of numerous empires and finally coming into Portuguese control for over 400 years, Goa has reasons for it’s diversity from all other parts of the country.
A chronological summary of various empires ruling this state is as follows:

Early History:

The early history of Goa can be dated back to 3rd century BC with the foundation of Buddhism by the Mauryan Empire ruled by the Buddhist Emperor Ashoka.

Hindu Dynasties

From the 4th to the 6th century, the dynasties which ruled Goa were: The Abhiras of western Maharashtra, the Batpura and the Bhojas of the Yadava clan of Gujarat to rule this state.

In 6th - 8th century the rule passed on to Chalukyas of Badami who ruled from 578 to 753 AD.
In 8th to 10th Century, the ruling dynasty was the Rashtrakutas of Malkhed.

The Kadambas, the ancient royal family of Karnataka, who ruled Goa (1006 AD-1356 AD) were the last to rule as the state passed on to Muslim rulers. Kadambas are credited to create the first settlement in old Goa, and hence leading to its prosperity.

Muslim Rule:

The weakening of Kadamba dynasty witnessed the invasion of Bahamani Sultanate in 1350 AD, which conquered and ruled Goa till 1370 AD. This was a time of destruction and murder for the Hindus. The Bahamani Sultanate was finally overthrown by the Hindu Empire of Vijayanagar in 1370, which ruled the place for 100 years. The Bahamis however, recaptured Goa again in 1470 AD and made it a part of the Muslim Empire.

With the closing stages of this dynasty in 1492, Goa fell into the hands of Adil Shah's Bijapur Sultanate. Adil Shah was the last ruler of Goa before its Portuguese conquest.

Portuguese Conquest

It was Alfonso de Albuquerque, the Portuguese admiral, who saw the profit Portuguese could make if they captured Goa. He set to conquer it in 1510 AD but it was defeat he met from the ruler Ismail Adil Shah. The Admiral, however, was not ready to give up and returned after three months with renewed forces and a local ally called Timmaya, finally conquering Goa in a day. The major Muslim population of Goa died either in battling or in escaping the place. This led to the permanent settlement of the Portuguese in Velha Goa or Old Goa.

With Portuguese came their religion and there were forced conversions into Christianity during this period. There was also strict censorship of literature and laws forbidding non Christians from various professions. Most temples were destroyed and Hindus were evicted from the state.

As dismay as it may seem, things were not all so bad. The trade, for example, flourished. The Portuguese, also brought along with them, their marvellous architecture in the forms of churches and cathedrals, the most famous being the Bom Jesus basilica in Old Goa, which is one of the two world Heritage Sites in Goa and is a pilgrimage for Christians around the world .
Decline of the Portuguese Empire

By mid 17th Century, Goa began to decline as the commercial port of the Portuguese, which in other way was a sign of the declining Portuguese empire in the eastern world. Constant attacks by the Marathas, appearance of Dutch fleets in Indian waters and military losses to Dutch and English armies, all led to the loss of power of Portuguese in Goa.

India’s Independence

As India got independent from the British rule in 1947, Goa was still in the possession of the Portuguese. At first, the Indian government tried to negotiate the transfer of its sovereignty, but the Portuguese refused. The Indian army, then, commenced with its operation ‘Vijay’, resulting in the annexation of Goa.

Goa, along with Daman and Diu, was given a status of union territory, being controlled directly by the central government. In 1987, the union was split, and Goa became the 25th state of India.

Today, Goa is the one of the hottest travel destinations in the world, both because of its beauty and the wonderful blend of Indo-Portuguese culture. The heavy influence of Portuguese language, religion, architecture and food in Goa is a delight for the traveller and a priced possession for the native.