The city of Panaji (Goa) is the capital of the smallest state in India by area. Once in the city, many tourists are surprised to find something Indian here, but they find more typical signs of a Mediterranean port resort with characteristic narrow streets, residential buildings with red, tiled roofs, white temples and a crowded embankment.
General information
Panaji is completely different from a traditional Indian city. The resort stands out for its intricate network of streets, small houses and a modern port that accepts ships from all over the world. Thanks to the mixture of cultures and religions, there is a special flavor here. Unique architectural monuments dating back to the 12th century have been preserved here.
Interesting fact! The name literally translates to land where there are no floods.
The first mention of Panaji is related to the events of 1107, when an Arab sheikh ordered the construction of a castle at the mouth of the Mandovi River. During the reign of the monarch Manuel, who was popularly called Potrugalsky, the settlement turned from an ordinary port into the capital and received the name Nova Goa.
It is noteworthy that the resort became the capital of the state of Goa three times:
- 1843-Old Goa was flooded with mud, so it was decided to move the capital to Nova Goa;
- 1961-Goa became part of India and Panaji became the capital again;
- 1987-the city was officially granted the status of the capital.
Modern Panaji is a small resort with a population of about 100 thousand people. At the same time, the locality is considered the scientific and cultural center of the region.
Useful to know! Panaji is conveniently located from a geographical point of view — there is a seaport, an air terminal, and a railway station.
The city is divided into several districts, you can get around them all in just half a day:
- Kampal-located in the western part of Panaji, the main tourist attractions are the city park, cultural park, cinema, market;
- Altino Hill is part of the Fontaines area, which is particularly pleasant to walk, and from the top of the hill you can see the whole of Panaji, where the residences of influential families and the bishop are built on Altino;
- Fonteynes is the most beautiful area, it is most reminiscent of Portugal, here you can find houses of various shades, lots of greenery and fountains, the most popular is “Phoenix”;
- Sao Tome district captures the atmosphere of Portugal as accurately as possible — small houses with tiled, red roofs.
Panaji and its surroundings are rich in vegetation that grows only on this part of the globe. On the territory of three nature reserves, various species of animals and birds live in natural conditions. Especially popular are the beaches of Panaji, covered with snow-white sand.
As for the climate-typical for the tropics. In summer, the air warms up to +32 degrees, in winter it does not fall below +20 degrees. In July, the long monsoon season begins, which lasts until the beginning of autumn.
Attractions
Panaji has a rich architectural and cultural heritage left by the Portuguese conquerors. In every corner of the village you will find interesting sights-grains of history, which can be traced — how Panaji changed.
Fort Reis Magos in India
The attraction is located opposite Panaji, namely on the north bank of the Mandovi River. Translated from Portuguese, the name means-three kings. We are talking about the three magi who gave gifts to Jesus after his birth.
Interesting fact! In addition to the ancient fort, the village is also home to the oldest temple in the Bardez region (India).
The defensive structure was built in the 15th century by order of the Indian Shah. Then the fort passed to the Portuguese, who strengthened it, expanded it and equipped it with a long-range gun. In the 18th century, the port was briefly ruled by the British. After regaining the building, the Portuguese organized a prison in it.
To this day, the attraction has been preserved very well and still represents an interesting object of military architecture. The building is built in tiers, which are connected by steps.
After a major restoration, the fort turned into a large museum complex. Opening hours: daily except Mondays from 9-30 to 17-00. Entrance fee is 50 rupees or $0.70. It is allowed to shoot only on the phone, for shooting with a professional camera you will have to pay 20 thousand rupees ($28).
Official site of the fort: www.reismagosfort.com
Fontainhas Quarter
There is a lot to see in Panaji, as the old quarter is the most vividly represented culture and architecture of Portugal-narrow streets, beautiful alleys, colorful houses and white churches.
Interesting fact! The name translates to fountain Quarter, the most interesting tourist attraction — the Phoenix Fountain – is located next to the quarter and once provided drinking water to the local population.
Fontainhas was founded during the period when the city received the status of the capital of Goa, people from Portugal began to come here. That is why the exterior of the area is not much different from a typical Portuguese street. By the way, among the locals you can still find descendants of the Portuguese.
Typical architecture of the quarter — open verandas, houses no higher than two floors, elegant windows and, of course, colorful walls.
Attractions of the quarter:
- ancient chapel of San Sebastian;
- art galleries;
- parks.
It is in the Fontanes area that cultural events, festivals, exhibitions and competitions are held annually.
Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception in India
This is the first Christian church that was built by the Portuguese, and after a while it became a symbol of Goa. Construction was carried out in 1540, and the building was expanded 80 years later.
After construction, the church was a landmark for ships that passed the mouth of the Mandovi River. Sailors always went inside to receive a blessing for a safe voyage. For the construction of the church, a picturesque place was chosen not far from the center. A massive four-tiered staircase leads to the entrance. The facade of the landmark of Panaji, Goa is decorated in a Baroque style. The white color gives the building an airiness and lightness. In the dark, the walls are beautifully illuminated. Inside there are three altars – the largest is dedicated to the Virgin Mary, the other two are smaller and decorated with carvings.
Practical information:
- working hours: every day from 9-00 to 12-00 and from 15-30 to 19-00, on Saturday – from 9-00 to 12-30, and on Sunday – until 17-00;
- admission is 10 rupees-a symbolic fee for the renovation of the church, but during services, tourists are restricted to visit.;
- it is forbidden to enter in open clothes and without a headdress.
Deltin Royale Casino
This is the most famous floating gaming club in Goa and India. Outside you can see the ship, but inside it is a real city, where there is a large selection of games and entertainment, there is a restaurant, a bar, a hotel.
By paying for the entrance to the ship, the tourist gets access to all card games, slots, snacks, drinks.
Important! To get into the casino, you must comply with the dress code, for example, tourists in shorts may not be allowed inside.
St. Catherine’s Church
Among the attractions of Panaji, St. Catherine’s Church is considered one of the most significant religious buildings. The church is named after Catherine of Alexandria and was built to commemorate the victory of Portuguese troops over the Muslims. This significant event coincided with the celebrations in honor of St. Catherine.
Initially, the religious building in India was built of steel, clay, brushwood and even mud, but 10 years later, in 1562, a new architectural project was developed, in 1916 the updated temple was opened, and in 1940 it was consecrated.
The landmark of Goa is decorated in Manueline style, and the interior is made in Corinthian style. Initially, the project planned two bell towers, but at the end of the 18th century, one of them was destroyed. On the tower that survived, a bell was installed – the largest in the state. The church has 15 altars, built in eight chapels. The main decoration of the church is the altar of St. Catherine. There are old paintings around it. The attraction is truly unique, it is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Interesting fact! Next to the altar there is a chapel, according to one of the legends, here in 1919 there was an apparition of Jesus.
St. Alexius Church
A Catholic church that was built in the years when the state of Goa belonged to Portugal. The absolutely snow-white building does not remind you that the Portuguese imposed their religion by rather cruel methods.
The building is very beautiful, decorated in the Gothic style, has two towers. It is considered a mandatory travel event to take a photo near the church. Twice a day-in the morning and in the evening – you can hear the bell ringing of the temple. They sell jewelry at the entrance – these are offerings to local gods, so if you want the Indian gods to protect you, do not be stingy to buy a small piece of jewelry and present it as a gift.
The church is located at CHOGM Road, Arpora, Calangute.
Panaji Beaches
The beaches of Panaji in India are rightly called the Mecca for tourists. The coast of the Arabian Sea is covered with white sand, the water is clear and clear, palm trees grow on the shore.
Various entertainment options are available for tourists:
- diving;
- water sports equipment rental points;
- chiropractor services – on the shore there are salons that offer services according to the Ayurvedic system.
Patnem-Colomb Beach
A great place for romantics and lovers of peace and quiet. Despite the fact that the beach is located near Palolem, the atmosphere here is quite the opposite. If Palolem is a noisy, crowded place, then on Putnam you can enjoy the silence and relax.
The sea in this part of India is calm, there are almost no waves. The entrance to the water is gentle, the sea bottom is flat, sandy, without stones. On the shore there are many cafes, shops, sun beds are installed. Prices generally do not differ from prices in restaurants and cafes in Panaji. It is nice that there are no bungalows and huts that are rented out to tourists on this beach.
Dona Pola Beach and Observation deck
The place is beautiful and picturesque, but more suitable for walking, enjoying beautiful views and beautiful photos. You can not swim here because of the dirty water and large stones in the water.
The” highlight ” of the beach in India is the observation deck, which offers a wonderful view. There is also an inexpensive market where you can buy bedspreads, knitwear, souvenirs, air mattresses and other goods necessary for recreation.
There is a beach near Panaji, easily accessible by auto rickshaw, the distance does not exceed 7 km. Opposite the beach is the Salim Ali Nature Reserve on Chora Island.
Miramar
The name of the beach translates as “looking out to sea”. The shore is covered with large, almost river sand, trees grow, creating a shadow. Miramar is located at the mouth of the Mandovi River, so the coast is washed by salt and fresh water. The entrance to the water is gentle, convenient for children, the width of the coastline is 100 meters. The beach is adjacent to Dona Pola and is located three kilometers from Panaji.
Rest here not only tourists, but also locals, so the beach is always crowded. Right on the beach there are cafes where you can eat and relax. By the way, near the beach there are many hotels for every budget, there are also villas, guesthouses and apartments.
Useful to know! On the beach, ebbs and tides are especially pronounced.
Useful tips
- Be sure to try lamb dishes, in Goa it is prepared especially delicious-in curdled milk, in the form of meatballs, with curry sauce. Also try fish and seafood.
- During your holiday in Panaji, make sure to set aside time for shopping – this is the best way to get acquainted with the culture and traditions of the country. The range includes products made of gold, silver, silk. The markets offer a huge selection of fruits, nuts, be sure to buy real Indian tea as a souvenir. A real adventure is going to the night market.
- Prices for accommodation are quite high, the jump in prices occurs in winter – during the high season, when there are especially many tourists at the resort. The cost of living in a hut on the beach will cost from $ 5.5 per day-this is the most budget-friendly option, without amenities. A bungalow with amenities costs $ 37 per night, and a five-star hotel room costs from $ 150 per night.
- Transportation in the city-auto rickshaws, buses, taxis. The rate is negotiated in advance.
- Mobile communication and Internet in the city is stable, of good quality, there are several mobile operators.
- Panaji is a fairly calm city, but you need to keep an eye on your personal belongings, especially in tourist areas.
- Take the necessary set of medications on your trip.
- Be sure to check the quality of the mosquito net on the windows, otherwise the rest will turn into an insect control.
- When ordering food, warn the waiters about the amount of pepper in the dishes.
Panaji, Goa-an amazing place in India, where you can find the Latin Quarter, typical Portuguese tiled roofs, comfortable beaches, interesting sights.
