Panaji

Panaji
पणजी
Panjim
City
Panaji
Panaji

Location of Panaji in Goa

Coordinates: 15°29′56″N 73°49′40″E / 15.49889°N 73.82778°E / 15.49889; 73.82778Coordinates: 15°29′56″N 73°49′40″E / 15.49889°N 73.82778°E / 15.49889; 73.82778
Country India
State Goa
District North Goa
Sub-district Ilhas
Government
 • Mayor Surendra Furtado
 • Deputy Mayor Bento Lorena
Area
 • Total 36 km2 (14 sq mi)
Elevation 7 m (23 ft)
Population (2011)
 • Total 114,405
 • Density 3,200/km2 (8,200/sq mi)
Demonym(s) Ponnjekar, Panajikar
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN 403 00x
Telephone code 0832
Vehicle registration GA-07
Website www.ccpgoa.com

Panaji /ˈpʌnədʒiː/ (Panaje, pronounced [pɔɳɟĩ], [pɵɳɟiː], 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 Tiswadi taluka. With a population of 114,405 in the metropolitan area, Panaji is Goa's largest city, ahead of Margao and Vasco da Gama.

Panaji means "land that never floods". It has terraced hills, concrete buildings with balconies and red-tiled roofs, churches, and a riverside promenade. There are avenues lined with gulmohar, acacia and other trees. The Baroque Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Church is located overlooking the main square known as Praça da Igreja. Colourful villas, cobbled streets and interesting buildings give Panaji a Portuguese ambience.

Panaji has been selected as one of the hundred Indian cities to be developed as a smart city under PM Narendra Modi's flagship Smart Cities Mission.

Etymology

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 Panjakhali as inscribed on the copper-plates found, belonging to the rule of Kadamba king Tribhuvanamalla.[1]

The city's present official name is Panaji. The Portuguese current name was Pangim, although officially named Nova Goa. The city is called Panjim in English. It has been spelt Panaji since the 1960s. The city is called Ponnjé 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 capital of Portuguese India, though the Viceroy had already moved there in 1759.

Geography

Se Cathedral in Old Goa

Panaji is located at 15°29′56″N 73°49′40″E / 15.49889°N 73.82778°E / 15.49889; 73.82778.[2] It has an average elevation of 7 meters (23 feet). Panaji has various vāde or sub-divisions, some of which are São Tomé, Fontainhas, Mala, Portais, Altinho, Cortin, Praça da Igreja, Tar (near the ferry wharf), Bāzār, Japão (near Don Bosco), and Boca de Vaca. Some areas outlying it are Cāmpāl, Santa Inez, Chinchollem, Batulem, and Pātto. Besides lying on the banks of the Mandovi River, Panaji is bounded by two creeks, locally called pői in the singular, namely Ourém and Santa Inêz.

History

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. 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

During the 2011 census of India,[3] Panjim had a population of 114,405. Males constituted 52% of the population and females 48%. It had an average literacy rate of 90.9%; male literacy was 94.6% and female literacy 86.9%. In Panjim, 9.6% of the population was under 7 years of age.

Climate

Panaji features a tropical monsoon climate (Köppen climate classification Am). 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 31 °C and 23 °C.

The monsoon period is from June to September with heavy rainfall and gusty winds. The annual average rainfall is 2,932 mm (115.43 in).

Climate data for Panaji (1971–1990)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 36.6
(97.9)		 39.2
(102.6)		 39.0
(102.2)		 39.8
(103.6)		 38.6
(101.5)		 35.9
(96.6)		 32.3
(90.1)		 34.0
(93.2)		 33.2
(91.8)		 37.2
(99)		 37.2
(99)		 36.6
(97.9)		 39.8
(103.6)
Average high °C (°F) 32.0
(89.6)		 31.7
(89.1)		 32.2
(90)		 33.1
(91.6)		 33.4
(92.1)		 30.3
(86.5)		 29.1
(84.4)		 28.7
(83.7)		 29.8
(85.6)		 31.8
(89.2)		 32.9
(91.2)		 32.7
(90.9)		 31.5
(88.7)
Daily mean °C (°F) 26.0
(78.8)		 26.3
(79.3)		 27.7
(81.9)		 29.3
(84.7)		 30.0
(86)		 27.6
(81.7)		 26.7
(80.1)		 26.4
(79.5)		 26.9
(80.4)		 27.9
(82.2)		 27.6
(81.7)		 26.9
(80.4)		 27.4
(81.3)
Average low °C (°F) 19.9
(67.8)		 20.7
(69.3)		 23.2
(73.8)		 25.5
(77.9)		 26.5
(79.7)		 24.8
(76.6)		 24.3
(75.7)		 24.0
(75.2)		 24.0
(75.2)		 23.9
(75)		 22.2
(72)		 21.0
(69.8)		 23.3
(73.9)
Record low °C (°F) 14.4
(57.9)		 13.3
(55.9)		 17.5
(63.5)		 19.4
(66.9)		 20.9
(69.6)		 20.9
(69.6)		 20.5
(68.9)		 21.7
(71.1)		 21.0
(69.8)		 20.0
(68)		 15.3
(59.5)		 15.7
(60.3)		 13.3
(55.9)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 1
(0.04)		 5
(0.2)		 56
(2.2)		 861
(33.9)		 853
(33.58)		 622
(24.49)		 237
(9.33)		 111
(4.37)		 35
(1.38)		 2
(0.08)		 2,813
(110.75)
Average rainy days (≥ 1.0 mm) 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.6 3.8 24.0 28.2 27.2 14.9 6.6 3.5 0.3 109.3
Average relative humidity (%) 67 69 71 71 71 85 88 89 86 80 70 64 76
Mean monthly sunshine hours 311.8 290.2 291.0 289.0 296.5 125.1 105.7 122.1 177.1 247.7 272.6 299.3 2,828.1
Source #1: NOAA[4]
Source #2: India Meteorological Department (record high and low up to 2010)[5]

Landmarks

Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Church

The heart of the city is the Praça da Igreja (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 Idalçao Palace), dating from the sixteenth century, the Institute Menezes Braganza, the Mahalaxmi Temple, the Jama Masjid Mosque, the Chapel of St. Sebastian and the Fontainhas area—which is considered to be the old Latin Quarter—as well as the nearby beach of Miramar. Hanuman Mandir at Malā on the hill top (Altinho) and its annual zatrā in February are a major attraction of Panaji. Panaji hosted the relics of Saint John Bosco (also known as Don Bosco) till 21 August 2011 at the Don Bosco Oratory.

The carnival celebrations in February include a colourful parade on the streets. This is followed by the Shigmo/xigmo, or Holi. The Narkāsūr parade on the night before Diwali in the city is very colourful.

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

Other attractions

Inside the Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary
Dona Paula

Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary is a bird sanctuary named after the ornithologist Dr Salim Ali. The sanctuary, located in the village of Chorão, near Panaji, plays host to rare and endangered bird species—both migratory and resident.

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

Dona Paula is the meeting point for two of Goa’s famous rivers, Zuari and Mandovi. These two rivers meet at the 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 is one of the more crowded beaches in Goa, which remains full with local and international tourists throughout the year.

Also located near Panaji, is the Goa Science Centre which was opened to the public in December 2001.

Education

The renovated building of Goa Medical College

Some educational institutes in Panaji are:

Besides this, the only university in Goa, the Goa University, is situated at Taleigao on the outskirts of Panaji.[8]

Research centres

The National Institute of Oceanography (CSIR-NIO) is situated at Dona Paula, on the outskirts of Panaji city. It does research in fields related to marine sciences.

Transport

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

The nearest airport is Dabolim Airport which is 30 kilometres (19 miles) away.[9]

Media and communications

State-owned All India Radio has a local station in Panaji which transmits various programs of mass interest.

Government offices

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

The Goa Legislative Assembly is situated at Alto Porvorim, about 2 km (1.2 mi) from Panaji. The hillock called Altinho houses some major central government offices and the residences of prominent officials and politicians.

Politics

The Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Panaji is Siddharth Kunkolienkar of the BJP

The Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP)[10] administers the city and its mayor is Surendra Furtado.[11] The Governor of Goa stays at the Cabo Raj Bhavan at Dona Paula, about 8 km (5 mi) from Panaji.[12] The incumbent Governor is Bharat Vir Wanchoo.[13]

International relations

Twin towns – Sister cities

Panaji is twinned with:

Gallery

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, Digitised: 30 Aug 2008)
  2. ↑ "Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Panaji". Fallingrain.com. Retrieved 2012-05-09.
  3. ↑ "Provisional Population Totals Paper 2, Volume 2 of 2011: Goa State Tables" (PDF). censusindia.gov.in. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
  4. ↑ "Goa (Panjim) Climate Normals 1971-1990". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
  5. ↑ "Ever recorded Maximum and minimum temperatures up to 2010" (PDF). India Meteorological Department. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
  6. ↑ http://www.gmcmec.gov.in/
  7. ↑ http://olorosaryhss.com/index.html
  8. ↑ http://www.unigoa.ac.in/
  9. ↑ "Airports Authority of India". Aai.aero. 2011-09-21. Retrieved 2012-05-09.
  10. ↑ http://www.ccpgoa.com/
  11. ↑ http://www.navhindtimes.in/goa-news/surendra-furtado-elected-ccp-mayor
  12. ↑ http://www.rajbhavangoa.org/rajbhavan_past_present.htm
  13. ↑ http://www.rajbhavangoa.org/governor_about.htm
  14. ↑ "Acordos de Geminação, de Cooperação e/ou Amizade da Cidade de Lisboa" [Lisbon - Twinning Agreements, Cooperation and Friendship]. Camara Municipal de Lisboa (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2013-08-23.

External links

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