Panaji

Panaji, town, capital of Goa, India. Panaji lies at the mouth of the Mandavi River where it empties into the Arabian Sea, and has been the administrative capital of Goa since 1843, when it succeeded the previous Portuguese capital of Old Goa. The town was originally a small fishing community, growing in importance from 1759 when the Viceroy moved to Panaji to escape the disease epidemics of Old Goa. The town has some light industry and is a holiday resort, with its picturesque coastal location, colonial, and whitewashed houses, and local places of interest. Landmarks inlcude the Church of the Immaculate Conception, and Mahalaxmi temple. Population 98,915 (2001).