Panaji or Panjim as it was earlier called is the capital city of Goa. Panjim which means the ‘land that does not flood’ is a beautiful city situated on the left bank of the river Mandovi. With its exquisite Portuguese Baroque style buildings, bleached clean churches, brilliant old villas with whimsical balconies the city of Pananji is a reminiscent of a provincial Mediterranean town. Once the centre of the Portuguese rule in southern India, Panjim is located in North Goa is famous for its Churches, Cathedrals, Beaches, Villas, Forts and Palaces. Portugal influence is still evident in hanging balconies, narrow lanes and red roof tiled houses.
Top Tourist Places Near Panaji
Panaji attracts many tourists every year. The city is blessed with some enchanting natural landscapes, beaches and wonderful buildings. There are several fascinating tourist attractions in Panaji.
Church of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception
This is the most prominent and elegant church in Panaji and was built in the year 1541. The church is located at the top of the Bairro Altos de Pilotos hill. It is a white structure with Portuguese Baroque style tall twin towers. A huge bell fixed at the top between two towers was taken from an Augustinian monastery in Old Goa.
Dona Paula
Dona Paula Beach is beach outside Panaji about 7 km west of Panjim in North Goa District. Dona Paula is the meeting point for two of Goa’s famous rivers, Zuari and Mandovi at the Arabian Sea. This beach is an ideal spot for sun bathing as well as other adventure sports like Jet-skiing and parasailing.
Miramar Brach
Miramar is one of the crowded beaches which are only 3 kms from the city centre. In Portuguese language 'Miramar' means viewing the sea.
Church of St. Sebastian
Whitewashed Chapel of St. Sebastian stands at the end of a small square. Portuguese speaking locals hold an annual street fiesta to celebrate patron Saint's day in mid-November. An interesting feature of this chapel is the presence of a striking crucifix which originally stood in the 'palace of the inquisition' in old Goa.
Museum
This Archaeological Museum is also known as the Christian Art Museum. It has eight galleries and display many items belonging to the era when Portuguese ruled in Goa. The museum also houses great collection of Hindu gods and goddesses’ statues, wooden statue of St. Peter and sixty portraits of governors and viceroys of Goa.
Ruins of St. Augustine's Tower
St. Augustine is located on the Holy Hill at Old Goa near the Nunnery. Only thing remaining of this once biggest church in Goa is a lofty 46-metre high tower.
Apart from there are many other places worth visiting like the Secretariat, Central Library, Calangute Beach, Candolim Beach, Institute Menezes Braganza, Fontainhas etc.
How to Reach Panaji
The nearest airport is the Dabolim Airport which is located 29 km south of Panaji. Madgaon is the nearest railway station. Many trains run between Panaji and prominent cities such as Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and New Delhi. Another railway station Vasco Da Gama railway station is 30 km away from Panaji. Panaji is well connected with the major cities of Maharashtra and Karnataka. Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation buses provide frequent services for Panaji.
Accomodation
Plenty of accommodation options are available in Panaji ranging from luxurious 5-star hotels and 3- star hotels to resorts and budget hotels which cater to the different budgets of the tourists.