Panaji, (Pangim in Portuguese, usually known as Panjim in English) is the capital of the Indian state of Goa and the headquarters of North Goa district. It lies on the banks of the Mandovi River estuary in the Tiswadi taluka. The word Panaji is derived from the words panjani and khali, which mean a boat and a small creek respectively, in Sanskrit. Thus, the modern word Panaji is a corrupt form of the old word Panjanakhani as inscribed on the discovered Panaji copper-plates dated 1059 CE, belonging to the rule of Kadamba king Jayakesi I. The Mandovi River, also known as Mahadayi or Mhadei river, is described as the lifeline of Goa. It originates from a cluster of 30 springs at Bhimgad in the Western Ghats in the Belgaum district of Karnataka. Panaji features a tropical monsoon climate. The climate in Panaji is hot in summer and equable in winter with temperature ranging from 32 °C to 23 °C.
History: The name of the city was first mentioned in the stone inscription of Kadamba king Jayakesi I dated 1054 CE as ‘Panjanakhani’, giving him the epithet of Padavalendra which is Kannada for the lord of the western ocean. The city’s present official name is Panaji. A small village on the river front, 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 capital of Portuguese India, though the Viceroy had already moved there in 1759. Panaji was annexed by India with the rest of Goa and the former Portuguese territories in the Indian annexation of Portuguese India in 1961 from Portuguese rule. Panaji became a state capital on Goa’s elevation to statehood in 1987. Between 1961 and 1987, it was the capital of the Union Territory of Goa, Daman and Diu.
*(All the above information are from Wikipedia.)
Transport:
Airport: The nearest airport is Dabolim Airport which is 30 kilometres away. It is connected to all major airports across India.
Rail: The nearest railway station is Karmali, about 10 km to the east, but many express trains do not halt there. A more important railhead is Madgaon Junction, 45 km to the south, being the main junction on the Konkan Railway all trains stop here.
Road: Panaji is connected with the state of Karnataka to the south and Maharashtra to the north by winding highways. State Transport buses are available from the Kadamba bus stand in the middle of the town to various places in Goa and nearby cities of other states. Additionally, many private tour operators also run frequent buses to major cities in and outside Goa.
Local: Motor Bikes, Auto rickshaws and buses are available for transportation within the city. Tour operators provide vehicles on hire. One can even hire a bicycle or bike from various vehicle rental services here.
Tourist Interest:
All the locations are located within a radius of 5 km in and around Panjim. While the other major destinations of Goa are situated at a distance more than this.
Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception: This 17th-century church is located in the centre of the city and is the prime tourist destination in Panjim.
Goa State Museum: This is also a popular destination among tourist and history freaks.
Miramar Beach: A lovely golden beach of soft sand girdled with palm trees. It is located at a distance of approximately 4 km from Panjim.
The other places of interest here are the Kala Academy, the Planetarium. Walk through the old city and river Cruise are among the must-dos in Panjim. Goa being a small state, all the major tourist attraction are located close to Panjim. Trips to all these destinations can be done by making this location as the base.
Tour Planner:
This tour planner is made on the basis of the location of the destinations. One can make changes as per their interest, convenience and accessibility and duration of the trip. In this post, I have only mentioned the plan for Panjim city. The rest of Goa will be covered later.
Day 1: All the major attraction in Panjim cam be covered in a day. While the evening can be used in river cruise and shopping.
Hotels: Online booking is always preferable for discounts in tariff. Hotels in Panjim are Hotel Traveller’s Inn, Hotel Blessings, SinQ Abode, Vivanta, Chances Resort and Casino, The Mandovi, L’ Hotel Eden and more.