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Panaji, the capital city of Goa is the charming little travel hub for the tourists coming to Goa. Though, it does not possess several world renowned monuments, its bears an ambience which has a captivating charm. Panjim or Panaji is one of the India's smallest and pleasantest state capitals and is located on the south bank of the wide Mandovi River. The town has preserved its Portuguese heritage appreciably well and parts of it still contains narrow winding streets, old houses with over hanging balconies, red-tiled roofs and numerous small bars and cafe's. The charm of Panaji is a that it is very small city, and has little scope for growth as it is bounded by Altinho (a hillock), on one side, the Arabian sea on the other Mandovi River on the third side, and Ourem Creek on the fourth so the city will always retain its charm and beauty.
Panjim 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 Madgaon.
The current official name is Panaji, though in the local language Konkani this gets pronounced as Ponnji, Ponnje, or Ponjhe. The Portuguese name was Pangim. Many mostly English-speaking people use the name Panjim.
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.
Incorporated 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 Adilshahi Palace (or Idalcao palace), dating from the 16th century, the Menezes Braganza Institute and the central library, the Hindu 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 Miramar. The Carnival celebrations in February include a colourful parade on the streets.
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The Idalcao Palace
The Idalcao Palace was once the castle of the Adil Shahis of Bijapur. It served as the Viceregal Palace until 1759 after the Portuguese rebuilt it in 1615. In 1843 it housed the secretariat and now it is the Passport office.
Our Lady of Immaculate Conception
Our Lady of Immaculate Conception is Panaji's main church, which was built in 1541 and enlarged in 1619. It is designed after the church at Reis Magos, and the second largest bell in Goa that was salvaged from the ruins of the Augustian Monastery in Velha Goa is now placed here.
Our Lady of Immaculate Conception, Panjim Braganza Institute : The main attraction of the Braganza Institute is a blue tiled frieze depicting the Portuguese colonisation of India.
Jama Masjid
The Jama Masjid located in Panaji is one of the few mosques in coastal Goa. It was built after the Inquisition.
The Chapel of St Sebastian
The Chapel of St Sebastian is a relatively new structure that was built in the 1880's. It has the crucifix that was originally in the Palace of Inquisition in Velha Goa.
Mahalaxmi Temple
A Hindu temple, the Mahalaxmi Temple speak volumes of the Hindu population living here.
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By Air
Goa is connected by Indian Airlines, Jet Airways, and Sahara Airlines flights from Mumbai (Bombay), Bangalore, Cochin, Delhi, Chennai (Madras), Mangalore and Trivandrum. Dabolim Airport is the nearst aiport from the city of Panaji.
By Rail
Panaji is connected with Mumbai (Bombay), Delhi, Pune, Secunderabad, and Jaipur. Madgaon is the nearest railway station.
By Road
Panaji is well connected to all the major cities of the Goa and nearby states.
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