Goa Velha

Goa Velha
Town
Goa Velha Location of Goa Velha in Goa
Coordinates: 15°26′33″N 73°52′59″E / 15.44250°N 73.88306°E / 15.44250; 73.88306Coordinates: 15°26′33″N 73°52′59″E / 15.44250°N 73.88306°E / 15.44250; 73.88306
Country	India
State	Goa
District	North Goa
Sub-district	Ilhas
Population (2001)
• Total	5,411
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
Postcode	403108

Goa Velha (Konkani: Vhoddlem Gõi/ व्हडलें गोंय) is a census town in Ilhas, Goa. It should not be confused with the World Heritage Site Velha Goa (English: Old Goa). St. Andrew's is its parish church. It is well known for its yearly 'procession of saints' (Konkani: santanchem pursanv)

History

The town of Goa Velha stands on the site of the ancient port of "Govapuri" or "Gokapattana", which was founded by the Kadamba Dynasty in the 11th century on the banks of the Zuari River. Govapuri was one of the main ports first of the Kadamba Dynasty, and subsequently of the Vijayanagara Empire. In the 15th century, a number of wars were fought between the Deccan sultanates and Vijayanagara for control of the Goa region, as a result of which Govapuri came under the control of the Adilshahs of Bijapur. Govapuri was devastated by the wars. In addition, the Zuari had begun to recede from the port as a result of silting. As a result, the new Adilshahi rulers built a new port city for Goa some distance to the north, on the banks of the Mandovi. The Portuguese eventually made the new city the capital of Portuguese India, and called the old port of Govapuri "Goa Velha" (Portuguese for "Goa the Old"). Goa Velha continued to exist as a small town under Portuguese rule, and in 1961 was incorporated into India along with the rest of Goa.

Geography

Goa Velha is located adjacent to Pilar in Ilhas, North Goa. By road it is approximately 2.5 kilometres north-west of Agaçaim, 12 kilometres south-east of the capital Panjim, 17 kilometres north-east of Vasco da Gama, and 22 kilometres north of the South Goa district headquarters Margão.

Demographics

As of the 2001 India census,^[1] Goa Velha had a population of 5,411. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Goa Velha has an average literacy rate of 77%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 82%, and female literacy is 71%. In Goa Velha, 9% of the population is under 6 years of age.

References