Get in
Panaji is 30km from Vasco da Gama (Dabolim airport).
Taxis and buses go to Panaji, but if you have only got backpack, motorcycle taxis are a bargain, plus you get to ride on the pillion seat! Be sure to fix fares before the ride. Madgaon is a Konkan Railway train station.
Most trains from Bombay stop at a small station called Karmali. This is the place to get down while going to Panaji.
The NH17 (National Highway-17) goes through Goa. (This is the route buses will take while coming down from Bombay). The route is scenic, but narrow and unsafe, so driving down it is not recommended unless you are used to Indian Roads.
See
Do
Eat
Some of the best food in the world is found in this calm and breezy capital city.
Drink
There are lots of places in Goa where one can find a bar and restaurant. There's one around every corner of the every road. The famous ones are Ben and sand in Margao, Kentucky's at Colva beach, baywatch in Benaulim, Joecons in Benaulim, plus loads of shacks on beaches.
Sleep
A Pousada Guest House on Luis de Menezes Rd.
Telephone: (083) 2422618
Mobile: 09822175680
Doubles are 300-500 Rs per night. This is a small guest house so best to book ahead.
Panaji (Konkani/Hindi/Marathi: पणजी, English: Panjim, Portuguese: Pangim) is the capital of the Indian state of Goa. It lies on the banks of the Mandovi estuary, in the district of North Goa. With a population of 65,000 (a metropolitan population of 100,000 if suburbs are included), Panaji is Goa's third largest city after Vasco and Margao.
The current official name is Panaji. The Portuguese name was Pangim. The city is called Panjim in English. It has been spelt as Panaji since the 1960s, and is also called Ponnje in Konkani, the widely spoken local language.
Earlier a small village on the riverfront, in 1843 the city had been renamed Nova Goa (Portuguese for New Goa) when it officially replaced the city of Goa (now Old Goa) as the administrative seat of Portuguese India, though the viceroy had already moved there in 1759.
After the end of Portuguese colonial rule, it was incorporated with the rest of Goa and the former Portuguese colonies, into India in December 1961. Panaji became a state-capital on Goa's elevation to statehood in May 1987. Between 1961 and 1987, it was the capital of the Union Territory of Goa, Daman and Diu. A new Legislative Assembly complex was inaugurated in March 2000, across the Mandovi river, in the suburb of Porvorim. Panaji is also the administrative headquarters of North Goa district.
The heart of the city is the Church Square or Municipal Garden with the Portuguese Baroque Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Church, originally built in 1541. Other tourist attractions include the old and rebuilt Adilshahi Palace (or Idalcao palace), dating from the 16th century, the Menezes Braganza Institute and the Central Library, the \ Mahalaxmi Temple, the Jama Masjid mosque, the Chapel of St. Sebastian and the Fontainhas area in general which is considered to be the Old Latin Quarter, as well as the nearby beach of Miramar. The Carnival celebrations in February include a colourful parade on the streets. This is followed by the Shigmo, a local Hindu spring festival.
Well-known places in Panaji are the 18th June Road (a busy throughfare in the heart of town and a shopping area for tourists and locals),Mala area, Miramar beach and the Kala Academy cultural centre known for its structure built by famous architect Charles Correa. Kala Academy in Panaji is a place where Goa showcases its culture and art.
Educational Institutes
Some prominent educational Institutes in Panaji are
Besides this the only university in Goa the Goa University too is situated at Taleigao Plateau on the outskirts of Panaji.
Government Offices
The Goa Government as well as the Indian Government has its major offices in Goa.
The Goa Assembly is situated at Porvorim, some two kilometres away from Panaji. The hillock called Altinho houses some major central government offices and the residences of prominent officials and politicians.
Research centres
The prominent National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) is situated at Dona-Paula, on the outskirts of Panaji city. They carry out research in various fields related to marine sciences.
Politics
The Member of Legislation (MLA) for Panaji is Manohar Parrikar of the Bharatiya Janata Party, who was also chief minister of Goa for around five years. On the outskirts of Panaji is the Taleigao constituency, represented by Atanasio "Babush" Monserrate.
The C.C.P. (Corporation of City of Panaji) administers the city and its chief is Tony Rodrigues. The Governer of Goa, S. C. Jamir stays at the Raj Bhavan Dona Paula on the outskirts of Panaji.
Image: our lady panjim.jpg|Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Church
image:AbaDeFaria.JPG|Statue of Abade Faria
Image:INOX_Multiplex_Theatre.jpg|The Inox Multiplex Theatre near the Panaji market
Image:GMC_building.jpg|The renovated Goa Medical College Building next to the Inox theatre
image:Circle.JPG|The Panaji Circle under the Mandovi bridge.This links Panaji city to the road going to Ponda, Ribandar, Marcela and other places
Demographics
As of 2001 India census, Panaji had a population of 58,785. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Panaji has an average literacy rate of 81%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 85%, and female literacy is 77%. In Panaji, 9% of the population is under 6 years of age.
See also
External links
