Vasco da Gama, a Portuguese explorer discovered Goa over 400 years ago and this little port town is named after him. The city is mainly a trading station, with the Mormugao Harbor and Goa shipyard established here. Located close by is Dabolim Airport along the naval base.
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Margao
Margao too is known for its market, though not as famous as its Northern cousin. If you’re a fan of the chourico, or local sausages, then this is the place to visit. Moreover this place has the famous Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Fatorda. Margao is situated south of Panjim, at a distance of 42 kilometers.
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Ponda
Located at a distance of 35 kilometers from Panjim, towards the east, Ponda is a domain of worship, with temples at every stop. This place richly preserves the Hindu culture of Goa. The art, poetry, drama, music etc is all here in the heart of Ponda. The temples are examples of fantastic architecture. Ponda is also famous for its forests and the spice plantations it holds.
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Mapusa
Located further up North, around 13 kilometers from Panjim, Mapusa is the first major city that you encounter when you enter Goa by train or by road. While the city has blossomed from being a small town built on a hill to much more than that, it’s most famous for the Friday market, where thousands of people throng to shop. Also, on the outskirts of the city is the Bogdeshwar temple. Mapusa is known for its abundance colleges, the Milagres feast and Goa Football Association ground.
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Panjim
Panjim, the capital of Goa and headquarters of North Goa district, is a small and charming city on the left bank of the Mandovi River. The church on the main square, the Baroque architecture, pretty villas, cobbled streets and interesting buildings give most of Panjim a Portuguese ambience.
The city is mostly noted for its modern grandeur and lighted paths and holds the honor of housing the famous Adil Shah Palace, the courtrooms and the Church of Immaculate Conception.
Well-known places in Panjim are the 18th June Road (a busy thoroughfare in the heart of town and a shopping area for tourists and locals), Fontainhas, which is the Latin Quarter and the Kala Academy cultural centre built by architect Charles Correa.
