The Western Ghats physically divide the Deccan highlands from the state of Goa, which is located on the southwest coast of India inside the Konkan area. With the Arabian Sea forming its western coast, it is situated between the Indian states of Maharashtra to the north and Karnataka to the east and south. By both size and population, it is the fourth-smallest state in India. Among all Indian states, Goa has the highest GDP per capita, which is 2.5 times more than the national average. Goa was deemed to have the finest infrastructure in India by the Eleventh Finance Commission of India, and according to the National Commission on Population of India, it also has the best quality of life (based on the commission's "12 Indicators"). According to the human development index, it has the third-best score among Indian states. Vasco da Gama is the state's largest city, and Panaji is the state's capital. The Portuguese, who first came to the subcontinent in the early 16th century as merchants and quickly conquered it, left their cultural mark on the historic city of Margo in Goa. As a result, Goa became an overseas territory of the Portuguese Empire, part of what was then known as Portuguese India, and remained as such for about 450 years until it was annexed by India in 1961. Konkani, which is spoken by the vast majority of people in Goa, is the state's official language. Because of its white sand beaches, vibrant nightlife, places of worship, and World Heritage-listed architecture, Goa attracts a sizable number of local and foreign tourists each year. Due to its proximity to the North Western Ghats jungles, one of the world's unique biodiversity hotspots, it also boasts a diverse range of flora and wildlife.
