Goa Cities
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Mapusa
The colourful
market town of Mapusa (pronounced ‘Mapsa’) is the main
population centre in the northern districts of Goa. Even
its name is thought to be derived from the Konkani word
for a measure - "map" and the phrase fill up - "sa".
Mapusa is Goa's third largest |
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town and the
capital of the northern Bardez taluka. It is mainly a market
town for the surrounding beach areas of Calangute, Candolim,
Anjuna and Baga. It is a fairly small town with mostly modern
building spread around the slopes of a small hillock called
Altinho. It lies about 13 kms from the capital city of Panaji.
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Margao (Madgaon)
Margao (also known as Madgaon) is the capital of the
southern taluka of Salcette which is the state’s richest
and most fertile and also of the South Goa district.
Margao is the main population centre of south Goa and is
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Margao is
Goa's second largest town and a bustling commercial centre. It
is a pleasant provincial town, which was given the status of
town by Royal decree in 1778. Margao has an old-worldly charm
about it because of its Portuguese churches, and some
magnificent specimens of old Portuguese houses complete with
shady balcaos (porches) and oyster-shell windows in its Borda
area.
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Old
Goa
Old Goa or Goa Velha is 8 km from Panaji and may be
regarded as the spiritual heart of the territory. It
lies on the southern banks of the Mandovi river on the
crest of a low lying hill. It owes its origin as
Portuguese capital to Alfonso de Alburquerque, and some
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early
development to St. Francis Xavier who was here in the mid 16th
century. However, before the Portuguese arrived it was the
second capital of the Bijaipur kingdom. Now, all the mosques
and fortifications of the period have disappeared, and only a
fragment of the Sultan’s palace walls, half-a-dozen imposing
churches and cathedrals remains.
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Panaji
Panaji (also called Panjim) is the capital of the Union
Territory of Goa, Daman and Diu. Daman and Diu are now
in Gujarat. Panaji is a small town by Indian standards,
and a miniscule state capital, with only 50,000
inhabitants. It is laid out on a grid pattern. It is a
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town utterly
unique to the subcontinent, yet for most travellers it tends
to be a quick after thought to a Goan beach holiday. The main
languages which are spoken in Panaji are Konkani, Marathi,
English and Hindi. The best time to visit Panaji is from
October to March.
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Ponda
Ponda, known as Antruz Mahal because of the
concentration of culture, music, drama and poetry also
houses the temples. The busy inland town of Ponda, about
29 kms southeast of Panaji, and 17 kms north-east of
Margao is home to a number of unique Hindu
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temples and
several spice plantations. The city of Ponda is also the
capital of Ponda Taluka. Ponda can be described as the Hindu
heart of Goa. It is famous for the five important temples that
are situated around the town, and also has the largest mosque
in Goa. Ponda is also the gateway to Goa's wildlife
sanctuaries, both the Bondla and the Mahavir Wildlife
Sanctuary and also the Dudhsagar Waterfalls.
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Sanguelim
Sanguelim is the ‘home’ area of the Ranes tribe who
migrated S from Rajasthan in late 18 century. Originally
Rajput, they spend the next century fighting for the
Portuguese as mercenaries and then against them for
arrears of pay. In 1895 one of their revolts
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necessitates
the dispatch of troops from Portugal. The main tourist
attractions in Sanguelim are the Temple of Vitthala, Dudhsagar
Waterfalls.
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Vasco-da-Gama
The industrial town of Vasco-da-Gama, named after the
Portuguese voyager, lies around 30 kms away from the
capital city of Panaji and is spread around the base of
the peninsula which leads to the Mormugao harbour. The
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rule around
1543, and within a few years, it was transformed into one of
western India's busiest ports. The main town of Vasco is well
laid out pretty much in a straight line along parallel roads
interlinked by small bylanes. In recent times, the city has
been attracting local visitors, to what is easily the best
cinema theatre in the whole of Goa.
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