Goa�s capital, Panaji is an exquisite tiny city with the river Mandovi flowing along one side of the town. It has retained its old world charm as you can still find in some of the areas having red-roofed buildings, and also a Latin Quarter at the eastern part of town. This city offers panoramic views of the surroundings and it is strewn with the well-laid gardens, impressive statues and avenues. There are many things about Panaji that have drawn tourists not only from the domestic but also from the international circuit. There are several places to visit in Panaji such as Miramar beach, Marine Biology Museum and Taxonomy Reference Center of the National Oceanography Institute. Besides, don�t miss out the mouthwatering dishes of Panaji that would titillate your taste buds. Touristplacesinindia.com is the site you can browse through for the important inputs about Panaji that would be of great help to those who are planning a tour to Panaji.

Fast Facts

Area	35.99 Sq Km
Altitude	Sea Level
Languages	Hindi, English, Konkani and Marathi
Religion	Hinduism, Christianity, and Islam
STD code	0832

History

The history of Panaji goes back to the olden days of Purta Dharmas when the Kadamba king, Shasthadeva (1007-1050) entrusted Kalapa with the administration of Panajim. The inscriptions gathered from here reveal that Panajim was earlier known as Pahajani Khali - Pahajani from which Panajim allegedly got its name and Khali possibly refers to the creeks and backwaters flourishing in the area.

The Portuguese after the conquest of Goa, called Panajim as Panaji or Ponji. The Viceroy Dom Manuel de Saldanha de Albuquerque on December 1, 1759 took his residence from Panelim to Panajim. The old castle of Adil Shah was completely refurbished and a palace was built where the Government Secretariat stands at present.

After the collapse of Old Goa in the 19th century, Panajim was elevated to the position of a city on March 22nd 1843 and was renamed `Nova-Goa' (New Goa). After Goa became independent from the rule of the Portuguese in the year 1961, it came to be known as Panajim.

Best Season, Climate, and Clothing

The climate of Panaji (Panjim) is tropical and the summers are hot and sweltering. The best time to visit is during the winter when the weather is pleasant and relatively cool. As far as clothing is concerned, cottons would be ideal all the year round.

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