Panjim City, Goa

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Goa is divided into two districts: North and South Goa. North Goa has the state capital, Panaji, the former capital of Old Goa, with its interesting churches and cathedrals and a string of beaches. Margao is the main town in South Goa and is reminiscent of the Portuguese colonial past.

Panaji is one of India’s smallest state capitals. People pass through Panaji on their way to Old Goa or to the beaches, but it is a town worth visiting.

Restaurants and Cafés

Hotel Venite (31st January Road, Sao Tome) has tiny balconies overlooking the street and traditional Portuguese décor. Excellent Goan dishes and seafood are served here.

Udipi Boarding and Lodging, located very near Venite, this also has a balcony overlooking the street. Serves inexpensive, basic but tasty food.

The New Café Hema (General Bernado Guedes Road) near the municipal market serves a superb fish curry and rice thali for Rs 15 and vegetarian snacks from Rs 5.

Chit Chat Restaurant at the Tourist Hotel, has a veranda overlooking the Mandovi River. It is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Kamat Hotel, south of the municipal gardens, is one of the excellent chain of vegetarian restaurants familiar across India.

Visava Restaurant on the east bank of the Ourem River (at the end of the footbridge) serves reasonably priced Goan dishes, as well as Chinese and vegetarian food.

Sher-e-Punjab at the Hotel Aroma, serves perhaps the best tandoori in town. There is also a branch on 18th June Road.

Delhi Darbar (MG Road) is also a tandoori place, but is slightly more expensive than the Sher-e-Punjab. This is a popular restaurant and you need to book for the evening.

Goenchin, just off Dr Dada Vaidya Road, is a Chinese restaurant but is more expensive than most places here, with main dishes from Rs 90, and specials from Rs 100 to Rs 150.

Riorico, at the Hotel Mandovi, is the best restaurant for Goan cuisine, but has a limited menu.

Pastry shops in Panaji: the best is the Pastry Cottage, near the Hotel Nova Goa.

Entertainment:

The Kala Academy: ( Dayanand Bandodkar Marg), has programmes of dance and music and art exhibitions throughout the year and is worth visiting.

AROUND PANAJI

Miramar : 3 km west of Panaji, is the nearest beach to the capital. It is neither very attractive nor a good place to swim. Further down is Dona Paula, a small town with several resorts that has developed from a fishing village. There are good bus services to Miramar and Dona Paula from Panaji’s Kadamba bus stand.

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While in Goa, It's a must to visit Panjim the capital of Goa. It's a beautiful city located on the banks of River Mandovi. Panjim is a scenic city and it's beautifully managed by the government of Goa. It has beautiful Gardens all around the city. Miramar beach is also located in Panjim and so also famous place DonaPaulo. Across the town on the other side of Mandovi river is a beautiful area called Betim, Verem and Porvorim. It's fun to be in Panjim city in the evening while taking a stroll on the Mandovi bank. You can very well enjoy river cruise in the evening with Fun, Music and scenic view of the city from the river.

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Panaji or Panjim is the state capital of Goa. Panaji is the local version while the portuguese version is Panjim.
It is the political, educational and cultural centre of Goa. It has very well preserved its old colonial buildings (hanging balconies, red tiled roofs, rooster on the perch of the roof) along with new modern buildings. The city does not have skyscrapers but has a charm of its own. Some important attractions in the town are Dona Paula Beach, Miramar beach, Canlangute beach, The Chapel of Our Lady of the Mount, Archaeological Museum, Science museum, administrative buildings, Adil Shah's Palace, Goa Kala Academy and the Mandovi river. It is a busy and crowded city, more so because of the year long tourists. The main city centre is quite crowded and can be suffocating.

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The river cruises are very nice, you can book from Panjim at the jetty , day cruises you can see the scenery and the sunset cruise has a meal mostly included...its amazing, all boats on the river are lit up.... really spectacular....
I have included a site with river cruises, although I did not book through them, I booked at govt tourist agency.

Built in 1619 with a huge bell.

We encountered some of the most persistent beggars in the state on the steps of this church.

Panjim, also known as Panaji is the state capital with a sleepy atmosphere a few excellent restaurants.

Panjim or Panaji!The capital of Goa is set along the banks of a river-The Mandovi.
Shop for some goan treats-cashews,feni etct!Some restaurants I've heard raves about are the Riorico-in Hotel Mandovi and Goenchin(I think that's how you spell it!) The former serves fabulous Goan food(supposedly the best in Goa!) and the latter-Chinese
Do hop on a cruise on the Mandovi-and they'll wine you and dine you(and dance you!)Goan style!!:)
Book in advance!

The streets of Panjim gave me a certain taste of ecuatorial Africa. It was more like being at a portuguese colony in Africa or America, those western style houses, that lustful vegetation, that sense of decay and rusty surroundings… that humidity in the air.…

Fontainhas is Panjim's oldest and most distinctive “portuguese style” quartier. It is located at the banks of the Uorem little river, at the south-east part of the city. It has a lazy colonial atmosphere, with blocks of neoclassical houses and terracotta rooftops up the sides of Altinho Hill.