- Panaji
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पणजी/Panji — capital — Coordinates 15°29′N 73°50′E / 15.48°N 73.83°ECoordinates: 15°29′N 73°50′E / 15.48°N 73.83°E Country India State Goa District(s) North Goa Mayor Yatin Parekh Population
• Density
65,000 (2001[update])
• 1,821 /km2 (4,716 /sq mi)
Time zone IST (UTC+05:30) Area
36 km2 (14 sq mi)
• 7 metres (23 ft)
Panaji (Konkani: पणजी Ponnji, pronounced [pɔɳɟĩ], [pɵɳɟiː] (
listen), Marathi पणजी, usually known in English as 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 in the city and approximately 100,000 in the metropolitan area, 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, located on 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, with red-roofed houses built in Latin style. It also has modern houses, well laid gardens, statues and avenues lined with gulmohar, acacia and other trees. The Baroque church of the Our Lady of Immaculate Conception located overlooking the main square known as Praça da Igreja, pretty villas, cobbled streets and interesting buildings give Panaji a Portuguese ambience.
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 15°29′N 73°50′E / 15.48°N 73.83°E.[2] It has an average elevation of 7 metres (23 feet). Panjim has various vadde or sub-divisions, some of which are São Tomé, Fontainhas, Mala, Portais, Altinho, Cortin, Praça da Igreja, Tar (near the ferry wharf), Bazar, Japão (near Don Bosco), Boca da Vaca. Some areas outlying it are Campal, Santa Inez, Chinchollem, Batulem, Patto. Besides lying on the banks of the river Mandovi, Panjim is bounded by two creeks, locally called pői in the singular, namely Ourem and Santa Inêz creek.
History
Panaji was annexed by India with the rest of Goa and the former Portuguese territories, in the invasion of 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[update] 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
Climate data for Panaji Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Average high °C (°F) 31.6
(88.9)31.5
(88.7)32.0
(89.6)33.0
(91.4)33.0
(91.4)30.3
(86.5)28.9
(84.0)28.8
(83.8)29.5
(85.1)31.6
(88.9)32.8
(91.0)32.4
(90.3)31.28
(88.31)Average low °C (°F) 19.6
(67.3)20.5
(68.9)23.2
(73.8)25.6
(78.1)26.3
(79.3)24.7
(76.5)24.1
(75.4)24.0
(75.2)23.8
(74.8)23.8
(74.8)22.3
(72.1)20.6
(69.1)23.21
(73.77)Precipitation mm (inches) 0.2
(0.008)0.1
(0.004)1.2
(0.047)11.8
(0.465)112.7
(4.437)868.2
(34.181)994.8
(39.165)518.7
(20.421)251.9
(9.917)124.8
(4.913)30.9
(1.217)16.7
(0.657)2,932
(115.43)Source: wunderground.com[4] 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 Mira Mar. Hanuman Mandir at Mala on hill top (altinho) and its annual zatra in february is a major attraction of the Panaji. Panjim also currently hosts the relics of Saint John Bosco also known as Don Bosco, albeit temporarily till the 21st 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 Narkasur parade on previous night of Divali 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 the village Chorão, near Panjim, 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 near 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 crowded beaches in Panaji, which remains full with local and international tourists throughout the year.
Education
Some prominent educational Institutes in Panaji are
- V. M. Salgaocar College of Law, Miramar.
- The Progress High School.
- Goa Medical College
- Santa Cruz High School, Santa Cruz
- Don Bosco High School.
- Goa Institute of Management.
- Dempo College of Commerce and Economics, at Altinho.
- Dhempe College of Arts & Sciences, at Miramar.
- Sharada Mandir at Miramar
- Mary Immaculate Girls High School at San Tome/Fontainhas.
- Peoples High School at Mala
- Mushtifund High school.
- Goa College of Pharmacy
- Goa Polytechnic Panaji
- Goa College of Fine Arts
- Dr. Hedgewar High School
- The Rosary High School Miramar
- Our lady of Rosary (Green Rosary) Donapaula
- Taleigao Chess Academy devoted to promote chess as learning tool
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.
- Passport Office, Panaji
- Junta House houses government offices.
- Industrial Development Corporation Goa
- Goa Education Development Corporation
- Sports Authority of Goa
- Bombay High Court - Goa bench
- Press Information Bureau (Government of India's Press Office)
- All India Radio, Altinho
- Doordarshan Complex, Altinho
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 mayor is Yatin Parekh. The Governor of Goa, stays at the Raj Bhavan (Cabo Raj Nivas), at Dona Paula around 8 kilometres from Panaji.
Gallery
- Panjim Gallery
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Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Church
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Statue of Abbé Faria
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The Inox Multiplex Theatre near the Panaji market
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The renovated Goa Medical College Building next to the Inox theatre
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Panaji Circle under the Mandovi bridge links Panaji city to the road going to Ponda, Ribandar and Marcela
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The Miramar Beach
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Panjim Market Buildings
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Villa Paradiso
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Mandovi Bridge from the top Of Ribandar
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Dona Paula Beach
See also
- Basilica of Bom Jesus
- Shanta Durga temple
- Dudhsagar Falls
- The Pool (2007 film)
- The 1961 Armed Liberation of Goa
References
- ^ 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)
- ^ Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Panaji
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Historical Weather for Delhi, India". Weather Underground. http://www.wunderground.com/NORMS/DisplayIntlNORMS.asp?CityCode=42182&Units=both. Retrieved November 27, 2008.
External links
State and Union Territory capitals of IndiaAgartala · Aizawl · Bangalore · Bhopal · Bhubaneswar · Chandigarh · Chennai (Madras) · Daman · Dehradun · New Delhi · Dispur · Gandhinagar · Gangtok · Hyderabad · Imphal · Itanagar · Jaipur · Jammu (in winter) · Kavaratti · Kohima · Kolkata (Calcutta) · Lucknow · Mumbai (Bombay) · Panaji (Panjim) · Patna · Puducherry (Pondicherry) · Port Blair · Raipur · Ranchi · Shillong · Shimla · Silvassa · Srinagar (in summer) · Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum)
Categories:- Indian capital cities
- Cities and towns in North Goa district
- Indian Ocean
- Port cities in India
- Populated coastal places in India
- North Goa district
- Panaji
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