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Panaji is laid out in a typical grid pattern that is centered on a church square. It has beautiful, red roofed houses with stucco walls that are built in Latin style, and have well-laid gardens. Avenues lined with statues and trees add to the old world charm of this place.
Largo da Igreja, the Chruch Square is an impressive and dazzling white-balustrade stairway in front of the Church of the Immaculate Conception.
The Secretariat was built in1615 by the Portuguese on the site of Palacio Idalcao, the Palace of the Sultan of Bijapur, Yusuf Adil Khan. It is a many-shuttered edifice that was an erstwhile residence of the viceroy.
The Portuguese heritage of the town is well preserved in parts of it that still consist of narrow winding streets, old houses with over hanging balconies, red-tiled roofs and numerous small cafe's and bars.
The Campal, as the riverside boulevard is called, is one of the most picturesque spots in Panjim.
Weekend Trips/Excursions:
The capital city of gorgeous Goa is dotted with places worth seeing in and around. Just 3 km from Panaji is the Miramar beach. The Miramar beach is one of the many beaches Goa boasts of. The long walks on the silvery sands of the Miramar are the best way to enjoy the beach. Further ahead there is the fishing village of Dona Paula around Panaji. The Dona Paula beach is a place that attracts several tourists. The Marine Biology Museum and Taxonomy Reference Center of the National Oceanography Institute is a must see while at the Dona Paula. The old Goa or the Golden Goa lies around Panaji and is a must see. Magnificent churches sumptuous buildings, stately mansions and broad streets once characterized the 3sq miles (8km) of old Goa. Today it's a small village surrounded by the huge churches and convents built during its heyday, and which attract visitors from many parts of the world. Among the many splendid buildings of old Goa, are the magnificent churches & cathedrals such as Se Cathedral, Church of St. Francis of Assisi, or Basiica of Bom Jesus as already mentioned contribute in making Old Goa as Golden Goa.
Make your holidays at Panaji more enjoyable by seeing these nearby places. These places not only enhance tourism potential in Panaji but also are worth seeing holiday spots themselves.
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