Sightseeing Highlights:
Buildings & monuments:
The Secretariat
Originally the palace of the 16th century Sultan Adil Shah, this is one of the oldest buildings in the city and is also known as Idalcao's Palace. This later became a rest house for many Portuguese governors, and also the home for the Viceroy. Today, it is converted into the Goan State Legislature.
The Museum
It is a reservoir of artefacts dating back to the pre-colonial era, comprising deities, stones, temple sculptures, antique furniture, etc.
Azad Maidan
Once home to the bronze statue of Alfonso de Albuquerque, which has now been moved to the State Museum, this square land with a domed structure is a memorial ground dedicated to famous freedom fighters of Goa.
Fontainhas
This is one of the remaining old parts of the town, located between the hill of Altinho and the creek of Rua de Ourem. It's been called so, due to the presence of the many springs located here. A lot of the buildings here have still retained the colours of blue, yellow or green, reminiscent of the Portuguese days. You could visit the Church of St. Sebastian here, in the southern part.
Sao Tome
The other old part is Sao Tome, which is now around the General Post Office, which used to be an erstwhile tobacco house. The area in front of this was the spot where many public executions were carried out.
Altinho
This is the hill which also happens to be home to the Bishop's Palace, and the residence of the Archbihop of Goa. The Chief Minister's residence is also located here. This hill is divided into two parts by a road and offers a great view of the city of Panjim.
Statue of Abbe Faria
A famous Goan priest, Abbe Faria was also a scientist, revolutionary and the Father of Hypnotism. His statue near the Secretariat shows him in the act of hypnotising a woman.
Institute of Menezes Braganza is home to some fascinating historical artefacts as well as the Central Library, said to be India's oldest public library.
Church Square
Originally, it was named after a 16th century physician, Garciad Orta, who spent an entire lifetime studying and classifying Indian herbs. This is today known as the Church Square or the Municipal Garden, which is a green park. The center of the square has the Ashoka Pillar, India's national emblem, placed atop a column, 12mts high. This used to be occupied by the statue of Vasco da Gama, which is now at the State museum of Old Goa.
Churches:
Church of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception
Built in the 15th century, it is said to be one of the first churches of Goa, but was rebuilt in the 16th century. It is dedicated to Mary with two altars flanking its sides, one dedicated to Jesus and the other to Our Lady of Rosary. It is home to the great bell moved from the Church of Our Lady of Grace in Old Goa, and a statue of St. Francis Xavier. It is on the eastern side of Church Square.
Church of St. Anne at Talaulim
Built in the late 16thcentury, it is dedicated to St. Anne and located on the riverbanks of Siridao. It is a magnificent building displaying a mix of Hindu and Christian architecture and has a cylindrical roof. Inside you will find designs of lotuses, fruits, palm leaves, etc in some of its woodwork and walls.
Temples:
Mahalaxmi Temple
This is the first Hindu temple, allowed to be built during the Portuguese rule after 300 years. Built in the 18th century and renovated again in the 19th, the deity is said to have come from the village of Taleigao
There are the temples of Hanuman, in the centre of the city and the modern Jain Temple that you can visit as well.
Masjids:
Safa Shahouri Masjid, Ponda
Said to be the biggest and the oldest mosque of Goa, this 15th century masjid is the only remaining piece of work out of the 26 that were built by the King Adil Shah.
The other mosques are the Jama Masjid, near the Panjim Church and the Aga Khan Jamatkhana, near the Azad Maidan, both not very old.
Beaches:
Miramar is the most famous beach of Panjim, along which there is a pleasant promenade lined with benches shaded by coconut trees. This beach is the hotspot for day tourists who arrive in bus-loads for shopping and snacking at the many stall which line the seafront. On the other side of the promenade are the houses of Goa's rich and famous.
A little ahead lies the famous beach of Dona Paula, which is known not only for its local legends but also for the water sporting activities that it offers.
You could also head out 16 kms away to the Calangute Beach, said to be the 'Queen of all Goan Beaches'.
Other Activities:
Water sports is one of the most exciting activities around Panjim. The National Institute of Water Sports in Panjim, and the Dona Paula Sporting Club are some of the organisations that offer organised activities.
Eating is another great adventure in Panjim Portuguese, Konkani and other world cuisines are available at the many restaurants that dot the city.
For shopping, pick up the local curry pastes, feni, cashewnuts, Goa sausages and the famous sweet dish Bebinca.
Excursions:
The most famous excursion from Panjim is that of Old Goa, now on the UNESCO heritage list, with its many beautiful monuments maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India. The Basilica of Bom Jesus is one of the most prominent churches of Old Goa, and contains the relics of St. Francis Xavier. Se Cathedral is the largest church in Goa and one of the largest in Asia. Erected originally in the 15th century out of mud and stone, it was refurbished and dedicated to St. Catherine. Located atop the hill of Monte Santo, Church of Our Lady of Rosary is one of the earliest churches of Goa and said to be very sacred as St. Francis Xavier used to teach catechism here. There are many more such churches and cathedrals that you can visit to catch a glimpse of Goa's rich past.
Dr. Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, named after the famous ornithologist, is located on the island of Chorao along the Mandovi River. You can reach it by a delightful ferry ride and then enjoy some good bird watching in its green surroundings.
Visit the nearby town of Mapusa, 13kms from Panjim. It is famous for its Friday markets and also as a gateway to the many beaches in North Goa like, Candolim, Anjuna, Baga, and Arambol.
Tourism info:
Goa Tourism Development Corporation Ltd
Trionora Apartments,
Dr Alvares Costa Road,
Panaji
Goa- 403001
Tel: 91-832-2420779, 2427972, 2436666.
The city of Panjim lies on the banks of the River Mandovi and is connected to the mainland by bridges. It is Goa's third largest city, after Vasco and Margao. While its official name has been Panaji since the 1960's, it was called Panjim by the Portuguese, who ruled Goa for over 400 years.
Panjim, for many centuries was a neglected fishing village of creeks, fields and coconut trees. In 1632, the then Viceroy decided to link it to the village of Ribandar with a causeway 3.2 kms long, which was at that time the longest bridge in Goa. You can see it even today, and it is called Pointe de Linhares after the man who commissioned it.
The original capital of the Portuguese was Old Goa, now a World Heritage Sight for its magnificent churches and cathedrals. However, this 'Golden City' was besieged by fire, flood and plague. In 1759, with the gradual decline of Old Goa, the Viceroy, Dom Manuel de Saldanha de Albuquerque, shifted his residence to Panjim at the Adil Shah Fort. Gradually houses were built in Panjim, public projects were started and effective drainage systems were set up. In 1843 Panjim was given the status of a city and the named the capital of Goa, called 'Nova Goa'.
It was only after the end of the Portuguese rule in 1961, that, it along with Goa and the other Portuguese colonies became a part of India. Goa was formerly a Union Territory and was only declared a state in 1987, when Panjim became its capital. Remnants of the old city can be found in its old sections of Fontainhas and San Thome. The city is ornamented with beautiful old buildings from the Portuguese rule, painted in bright blue, red and yellow. It has tree-lined cobbled streets, pretty gardens and a beautiful promenade on the river-front. |
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