Margao

Margão
City
Margao City Square
Margão Location of Margão in Goa
Coordinates: 15°16′25″N 73°57′29″E / 15.27361°N 73.95806°E / 15.27361; 73.95806Coordinates: 15°16′25″N 73°57′29″E / 15.27361°N 73.95806°E / 15.27361; 73.95806
Country	India
State	Goa
District	South Goa
Sub-district	Salcete
Government
• Chairperson	Dayanand Deulkar
Elevation	10 m (30 ft)
Population (2011)
• Total	106,528
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN	403601/2
Telephone code	0832
Vehicle registration	GA-02-, GA-08-
Website	www.mmcmargao.gov.in

Margao (pronounced [mɔɽɡãːw] ( listen)) is the second largest city by population, and the commercial and cultural capital of the Indian state of Goa. It is the administrative headquarters of Salcete taluka and South Goa district. By road, Margão is located approximately 33 kilometres (21 mi) from the capital Panjim, and 27 kilometres (17 mi) from Vasco da Gama.

Etymology

Margão is the Portuguese spelling with Modgāo being used in Konkani. It is derived from the Sanskrit Maṭhagrām which means a village with a matha.

History

The Old Fish Market (Before it was shifted near the kadamba bus-stand.)

Margao in pre-Portuguese times was one of the important settlements in Salcete and known as Matha Grama (the village of Mathas) as it was a temple town with nine Mathas in temple schools. Its replacement in 1579 was destroyed by raiders along with the seminary that had been built alongside it.^{[citation needed]} The present church was built in 1675.^[1][2]

The initial settlement of Margao grew from the site of the ancient Damodar Temple. The original temple was demolished and the temple tank was filled up to be replaced by the Holy Spirit church and church grounds^{[citation needed]}. The deity Damodar (a form of Lord Shiva) was carried across the Zuari Agranashini river to the Novas Conquistas in which the Sonde rulers resided.^{[citation needed]} While the western side of the Church developed as a market place, the settlement grew on the eastern side, that is, the Borda region, with the church at its core and extended outwards.

The Holy Spirit main square is defined on one side by the church with its baroque architecture and the parochial house, and on the other side by the palatial mansions of affluent elite Catholics, positioned in a row. The Associação das Communidades building and the school being the odd exceptions which add to its character and sense of scale. They have a maximum height of two stories, and balcões and varandas facing the square. Parallel to the church square is the commercial street (old market). There is also a landscaped area next to the church called Praça da Alegria (joy square).

Margao's importance as an administrative and commercial area grew with the increasing dependence of the surrounding towns and villages; leading to the administrative centre with the town hall at its centre being built in the south. The commercial market became attached to it and was hence called maud-gao or the market town of Goa, and since then the city has grown towards the east.

In 1961, Goa was incorporated into the Indian Union, and Margao was declared as the administrative center of the district of South Goa.

Geography

Margao is located at 15°16′25″N 73°57′29″E / 15.27361°N 73.95806°E / 15.27361; 73.95806 and has an average elevation of 10 metres (33 ft).^[3]

Nestled on the banks of the River Sal, Margao is amongst the oldest recorded towns in Goa.^{[citation needed]} Portuguese style mansions dot its landscape. One of the fastest growing cities in Goa, its fast growing suburbs include Aquem, Fatorda, Gogol, Borda, Comba, Navelim and Davorlim.

Climate

Margao features a tropical monsoon climate. The climate in Margao 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 2881 mm (113.5 inches).

Demographics

As of the 2011 census of India,^[4] Margão had a population of 106,528. Males constituted 51% of the population and females 49%. It had an average literacy rate of 90%; male literacy was 93%, and female literacy 86.8%. In Margão, 9.8% of the population was under 7 years of age.

Education

Margao hosts many schools and colleges. Loyola High School (Goa) near Old Bus Stand is a Jesuit-run school and is one of the oldest in Margao. The Model English High School, popularly known after its founder Shri. Bhatikar, was established in the year 1935 and is one of the leading educational institutions in the state of Goa as per the curriculum prescribed by the Directorate of Education, Goa, and the Goa Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education, Goa. Manovikas High School, now located in Sonsodo, is one of the premier ICSE schools in Goa.^{[citation needed]} The other educational institutes in Margao include St. Joseph High School at Aquem, Holy Spirit Institute, Presentation Convent (for girls), Fatima Convent (for girls), and Perpetual Convent High School Located in Navelim.

The colleges in Margao include the S.P.C. C. of Arts and Science was housed in Portuguese Military Barracks opposite Multipurpose High School place called Vidyanagar. The then Principal Dr. Wagh who was later appointed the Director of Post Graduate Center of Bombay University, situated in Sushila Building 18 June Road Panjim. This college was shifted to the present location in 1972 and the Principal was Prof P. S. Rege. The Buildings were inclined in shape narrower at the base and broader at the top and it was a kind of attraction of architecture which has undergone a change and modified later on. The Parvatibai Chowgule College, Shri Damodar College of Commerce and Economics and Shri Damodar Higher Secondary School Of Science and R.M.S Higher Secondary School. There are also ITIs (Industrial Training Institutes) which impart technical education.

Transport

Air

The nearest airport to Margao is Dabolim Airport which is 23 km away from it.^[5]

Rail

Margao Railway Station is Goa's biggest and most important^{[citation needed]} as it is a railway junction positioned at the intersection of the Konkan Railway and the South Western Railway. Most trains stop at Margao; hence, it is used more commonly as a transit stop rather than a tourist destination by many people who either head off down south to Palolem (38 km) or to Benaulim and Colva which are about six kilometers away.

Metro

Skybus Metro at a station

The city hosts the test track for Skybus Metro,^[6] an elevated rail system which is patented by the Konkan Railway Corporation.^[7] The Skybus Metro project was later scrapped due to an accident which occurred during the test drive killing one engineer and a seriously injuring a crew of three.^[8] However, Mr B Rajaram who had invented the rail system has stated that in his opinion, the accident was avoidable.^[9]

Road

Margao is connected by road to other cities like Mangalore, Udupi, Bhatkal, Kumta, Karwar, Ratnagiri, and Mumbai through the National Highway 17 (NH17). Also, there is road which connects Margao to Ponda and other towns of Goa state.

Language

Konkani is the most widely spoken language in Margao. Portuguese is still spoken and understood by a small number of people. English, Marathi and Hindi are also spoken and understood by the city's population. The dialect of Konkani in South Goa is different from that spoken in North Goa.

Tourism

Margao city hall

Margao Municipal Garden, located in the heart of the city.

Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, picture taken from the Monte Hill.

Can of curry from Margao, in Portugal.

The city has many sights and destinations. These include the 'Closed' Market called, in the Portuguese language, Mercado de Afonso de Albuquerque or in Konkani as "Pimplapedd" or "Pimpalakatta," the municipal building (Câmara), the municipal garden, Anna Fonte (natural springs), Old Market or Mercado Velho, Holy Spirit Church, grand colonial mansions (especially the Seven Gables House near the church), the chapel at Monte Hill, the Hindu crematorium or 'Smashan' and the Muslim burial ground or 'Kabrasthan' both situated on Pajifond's Rua das Saudades.

Some of the city suburbs include Pajifond, Aquem, Gogol, Borda, Malbhat, Kharebandh, Old Market, Navelim and Comba, the last two being the oldest parts of the city.

There are a number of churches and temples in Margao, since the population is predominantly Roman Catholic with a significant Hindu and a very small Muslim minority. The famous churches in Margao are the Holy Spirit Church, the Grace Church, The St Sebastian Church in Aquem (The Old St. Sebastian Chapel, popularly known as the Pandava Copel still stands next to the modern St. Sebastian Church) and the Monte Hill Chapel, the famous temples are the 'Damodar Temple' (Saal), the 'Hari Mandir', the 'Maruti Mandir' at Davorlim the 'Saibaba Temple' at Davorlim, the 'Shiv Temple' (Ling) at Fatorda near Nehru Stadium (which is the original Temple of Damudora). There are 2 mosques in Margao, One in the Malbhat area and one on the Monte hill. Presently, since 2004, there are twenty-four new mosques in Margao. There is also a Jain temple at Pajifond.

Landmarks

Some lesser known information about some famous landmarks:

Margao City Hall: The city hall is situated in the heart of the city.

Margao Municipal Garden: The northern segment of the Margao municipal garden was developed by the Mavany family and is named after Aga Khan, during his visit just before Goa's liberation. The entire garden is now Municipal property and is maintained by the Margao Municipal Council.

Narcinva D. Naik residence/Damodar Sal:Swami Vivekananda stayed in this house during his visit to Goa in October 1892.^[10] The mansion also houses Margao's well-known temple-hall "Dambaba Saal".

Piple Katta Mandir (pedar) Near the New Market .

Culture

The town is also known as the cultural capital of Goa. A cultural center named 'Ravindra Bhavan' was inaugurated by the Chief Minister of Goa, Digambar Kamat in July 2008 at Fatorda which is also an Official Venue For International Film Festival of India . It also has Goa's biggest sports stadium, the Nehru Stadium at Fatorda.^[11]

Some of the theatres in Margao include the Gomant Vidya Niketan, OSIA Multiplex, Vishant and Lata; in addition to Goa's biggest theater, the Metropole.

People from all over Goa congregate at the special market to buy spices and dried fish to be used during the oncoming rainy season.

The usual specialities that are found in the cuisine of Goa are also to be found in Margao. The curry of Margao is a praised local speciality. Cans of curry of Margao are currently exported to Portugal and elsewhere.

Margão is also the name of a brand of spices sold in Portugal.

Gallery

See also

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Margao.

• Hospital in Margao – Apollo Hospital
• Tourist information about Margao
• Photographs of the life in Margao

v t e Localities in and around Margao Aquem Assolna Borda Benaulim Betul Chinchinim Chandor Comba Colva Curchorem Curtorim Cuncolim Davorlim Fatorda Gogol Mobor Navelim Nuvem Quepem Raia Sanvordem Sarzora Varca Velim Verna