Panaji Goa
Panaji the Capital of Goa
Panaji (sometimes pronounced Panjim or Panajim), the capital of Goa and the third largest city in the state, situated on the southern banks of the Mandovi River, adding so much more to the natural charm of this untypical Goan city.
Panaji is a fascinating city, you will not find here any skyscrapers or heavily polluted air; instead you will find some of the most beautiful architecture, in the form of old churches, Portuguese houses and historical monuments. The riverside and the beaches around are a “must visit” for all those who want to experience the hardcore Goa nature that a city has to offer.
Although you can completely bypass Panaji Goa, either by jumping off the train at Margao or Mapusa or by heading straight off somewhere on a local bus, it is still worth spending time here, at least once.
Tourist attractions around Panaji
Fontainhas is an old Portuguese district of Panaji, located west of the Ourem River. The narrow streets, tiled red-blue-yellow-green buildings, shuttered windows and tiny overhanging balconies offer an atmosphere more reminiscent of the Portuguese days. You can visit the Church of St. Sebastian, in the southern part of the district.
The Church of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception is the main church of Panaji, constructed in the 15th century. This church is believed to be one the oldest in Goa and is dedicated to Mary, with two altars, one dedicated to Jesus and the other to The Lady of Rosary. The church is located on the eastern side of Church Square.
Goa State Museum, located in the EDC Complex in Patto, exhibiting a collection of artefacts of the pre-colonial era, antique furniture, temple sculptures and art. The galleries of the museum feature Christian art and Hindi sculpture, and paintings from all over India.
Goa beach around Panaji
Most tourists visit Goa for its incredible beach scene. If you only passing by Goa and want to make the best of a short visit, by not traveling to far, the two closest beaches to Panaji city center are: Miramar beach - only 3 km from the city center, and Dona Paula - about 7 km away. Both beaches are beautiful, offering a variety of Goa beach Resorts, and are much nicer place to watch the sunset then Panaji city center.
Other nearby recommended Goa beaches are, Calangute Beach - located nearly 16 km north of Panaji. Or if you don’t mind the 2 hour drive, and are planning to visit the south of Goa, don’t skip Palolem beach Patnem and Agonda. There you’ll discover a wide selection of accommodation, from common Goa resorts with a selection of beach huts, private Goa beach house, flats, or 5 star hotel. Most of them located directly on the beach.
Accommodation and Resorts in Panaji, North Goa
Panaji offers a large scale of Goa Resorts and accommodation solutions for all traveler classes. Few amazing 5 stars hotels are set in the city, together with service apartments, private villas or a guesthouse rooms, all available for long and short terms.
Generally speaking, in Goa hotels and resorts located near the beach tend to be pricier than the in-town hotels. Note that areas nearby Panaji, like Calangute Beach and other beaches both North and South of the capital offers great deals for accommodation, and do worth checking out.
Business in Panaji
If you visit Goa for business, or you are starting a new business in Goa, you will probably spent a lot of time in Panaji, whether you like it or not. The good news are, in Panaji you can probably find most of the services, infrastructures and facilities needed for your business. Lawyers, Accountants, Government Offices and the Courthouse, Police and FRO, are all in Panaji center. Panaji offers a reliable electricity and stable internet settings in comparison to the rest of Goa, this fact together with the proximity to the business services. And the better human resource, attracts many new business to keep their offices in the capital.
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