Panaji, the capital of Goa and headquarters of North Goa District is a small and charming city on the left bank of silvery Mandovi river, with beautiful, red-roofed houses, also boasts of many modern houses, gardens, statues and avenues. Enchanting panorama unfolds from atop Altinho (Hill Top).
Panaji's history goes back to the Purta Dharmas - the charitable deeds of Gandagopal Kelima whose grandfather Kalapa was entrusted with the administration of Panajim by the Kadamba king, Shasthadeva (1007-1050), a good and a glorious king who "by his works redressed all the wrongs in his kingdom". This is gathered from an inscription of the Kadamba king, Vijayaditya I, dated February 7, 1107, and refers to Panajim as Pahajani Khali - Pahajani from which Panajim supposedly got its name and Khali probably refers to the creeks and backwaters abounding in the area. The first few Portuguese chroniclers, soon after the conquest of Goa, refer to Panajim as Panaji or Ponji which is said to mean "Land that never gets flooded". According to one Portuguese philologist, the word Pongy is derived from Panch Yma Afsumgary or five wonderful castles where the Muslim king, Ismail Adil Shah, and his wives used to live. Its name was later changed by the Portuguese into Panajim. When Old Goa collapsed in the 19th century, Panajim was elevated to the status of a city on 22nd March 1843 and was renamed `Nova-Goa' (New Goa). After liberation in 1961, it came to be known as Panajim.
Panaji or Panajim perhaps does not have great buildings or well-known attractions but what it has is its character and that is more than enough for a willing visitor to have a look around. Panaji is also the travel hub of Goa and this is the first place to be touched up while you are landing in Goa. Dabolim Airport located on the outskirts of Panaji connect Goa with other places in India and also welcomes good number of charter flights directly flying from Europe. The town of Panaji is laid out in typical grid pattern, centered on a church square. It is a charming city on the left bank of the silvery Mandovi River. It has beautiful, red roofed houses with stucco walls built in Latin style, well laid gardens, statues and avenues lined with trees.
The Church Square or Largo de lgreja is the focal point. The Church of the Immaculate Conception, designed in Portuguese Baroque style was modeled on the church at Reis Magos. The image of Lady of Fatima can be found in one of the altars.