Panaji

पणजी/Ponnji
—  capital  —
पणजी/Ponnji
Location of पणजी/Ponnji
in Goa and India
Coordinates
Country  India
State Goa
District(s) North Goa
Mayoress Carolina Pó
Population

• Density

 65,000 (2001)

• 1,821 /km2 (4,716 /sq mi)
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
Area

• Elevation

 36 km2 (14 sq mi)

• 7 metres (23 ft)

Panaji (Konkani: पणजी Ponnji, pronounced [pɔɳɟĩ], [pɵɳɟiː]( listen)) 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 da Gama and Margao.

Panaji means “Land that never floods”. Panaji is the capital of Goa and headquarters of North Goa District, a small and charming city on the left bank of the Mandovi River, with red-roofed houses built in Latin style, also has modern houses, well laid gardens, statues and avenues lined with Gulmohar, Acassia and other trees. The church on the main square, the Baroque architecture, pretty villas, cobbled streets and interesting buildings give Panaji a Portuguese ambience. The city lies along the left bank of the Mandovi River - piled up against terraced hills, a jumble of concrete buildings with whimsical balconies and red-tiled roofs, bleached clean churches and a riverside promenade.

Contents

Etymology

The word Panjim is etymologically 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 world Panjakhali as inscribed on the copper-plates found, belonging to the rule of Kadamba king Tribhuvanamalla.[1]

The official name is Panaji. The Portuguese name was Pangim. The city is called Panjim in English. It has been spelt as Panaji since the 1960s. The city is called paṇaje or Ponnji in Konkani.

Earlier 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 administrative seat of Portuguese India, though the viceroy had already moved there in 1759.

Geography

Panaji is located at .[2] It has an average elevation of 7 metres (23 feet).

History

When Operation Vijay ended Portuguese colonial rule, Panaji was incorporated into India with the rest of Goa and the former Portuguese colonies, in 1961. 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. A new Legislative Assembly complex was inaugurated in March 2000, across the Mandovi river, in Alto Porvorim. Panaji is also the administrative headquarters of North Goa district.

Demographics

As of 2001 India census,[3] Panaji had a population of 58,785. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Panaji has an average literacy rate of 81%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 85%, and female literacy is 77%. In Panaji, 9% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Climate

Panaji
Climate chart ()
J F M A M J J A S O N D
 
 
0.2
 
32
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0.1
 
32
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1.2
 
32
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12
 
33
26
 
 
113
 
33
26
 
 
868
 
30
25
 
 
995
 
29
24
 
 
519
 
29
24
 
 
252
 
30
24
 
 
125
 
32
22
 
 
31
 
33
22
 
 
17
 
32
21
average max. and min. temperatures in °C
precipitation totals in mm
source: Indian Meteorological Department

Panaji features a tropical monsoon climate. The climate in Panaji is hot in summer and equable in winter. During summers (from March to May) the temperature reaches up to 32°C and in winters (from December to February) it is usually between 28°C and 20°C.

The monsoon period is from June to September with heavy rainfall and gusty winds. The annual average rainfall is 2932 mm (115.5 inches).

Landmarks

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 old and rebuilt Adilshahi Palace (or Idalcao palace), dating from the sixteenth century, the Menezes Braganza Institute and the Central Library, the 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 of Miramar. Hanuman Mandir at Mala on hill top (altinho) and its annual Jatra in February is a major attraction of the Panaji.

The Carnival celebrations in February include a colourful parade on the streets. This is followed by the Shigmo/ xigmo, or Holi. The Narkasur parade on previous night of Dipavali in the city is very colourful.

Well-known places in Panaji are the 18th June Road (a busy thoroughfare in the heart of town and a shopping area for tourists and locals), Mala area, Miramar beach and the Kala Academy cultural centre known for its structure built by architect Charles Correa. Kala Academy in Panaji is a place where Goa showcases its culture and art.

Other attractions

Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary is a bird sanctuary named after the orthinologist Dr Salim Ali. The sanctuary, located in Chorao, plays host to rare and endangered bird species — both migratory and resident.

Miramar, Bambolim, Dona Paula Beach: Goa is famous for its beaches, and Miramar, Bambolim, Dona Paula are three popular beaches located near Panaji.

Also located in Panjim, is the Goa Science Center which was opened to the public in December 2001.

Dona Paula:

Dona Paula is the meeting point for two of the Goa’s famous rivers. These two rivers meet at Arabian Sea. The official residence of the Governor of Goa, Known as Cabo Raj Bhavan is situated on the westernmost tip of Dona Paula.

Miramar Beach:

This beach is located near to Panaji. This is one of the overcrowded beaches in Panaji, which remains full with local and international tourists throughout the year.

Education

Some prominent educational Institutes in Panaji are

Besides this, the only university in Goa the Goa University too is situated at Taleigao Plateau on the outskirts of Panaji.

Research centres

The National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) is situated at Dona Paula, on the outskirts of Panaji city. They carry out research in fields related to marine sciences.

Government offices

The Goan government, as well as the Indian government, has its major offices in Goa.

The Goa Assembly is situated at Alto Porvorim, some two kilometres away from Panaji. The hillock called Altinho houses some major central government offices and the residences of prominent officials and politicians.

Politics

The Member of Legislation (MLA) for Panaji is Manohar Parrikar of the Bharatiya Janata Party, who was also chief minister of Goa for around five years. The C.C.P. (Corporation of City of Panaji) administers the city and its chief is Carolina Pó. The Governor of Goa, Dr. S. S. Sidhu, stays at the Raj Bhavan (Cabo Raj Nivas), at Dona Paula around 9 kilometres from Panaji.

Gallery

Panjim Gallery

Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Church

Statue of Abbé Faria

The Inox Multiplex Theatre near the Panaji market

The renovated Goa Medical College Building next to the Inox theatre

Panaji Circle under the Mandovi bridge links Panaji city to the road going to Ponda, Ribandar and Marcela

The Miramar Beach

Panjim Market Buildings

Villa Paradiso

Mandovi Bridge from the top Of Ribandar

Dona Paula Beach

See also

References

  1. ↑ Title: Gazetteer of the Union Territory Goa, Daman and Diu: district gazetteer, Volume 1; Publisher: Gazetteer Dept., Govt. of the Union Territory of Goa, Daman and Diu, 1979 (Original from the University of Michigan, Digitized: 30 Aug 2008)
  2. ↑ Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Panaji
  3. ↑ "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 2004-06-16. http://web.archive.org/web/20040616075334/http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999. Retrieved 2008-11-01. 

External links


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