Discover 11 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in Panaji (India). Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: Goa Science Centre, Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Church, and Goa State Museum. Also, be sure to include Sunaparanta in your itinerary.
Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in Panaji (Goa).
Table of Contents
Goa Science Centre
Museum in Panaji, India. The Goa Science Centre is a science museum is located on New Marine Highway, Miramar, Panjim. It is a joint project of a division of India's National Council of Science Museums and Goa's Department of Science Technology & Environment.[1]
Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Church
Catholic church in Panaji, India. The Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Church is located in Panjim, Goa, India. The Church conducts Mass every day in English, Konkani, and Portuguese.
The colonial Portuguese Baroque style church was first built in 1541 as a chapel on a hill side overlooking the city of Panjim. It was eventually replaced by a larger church in the 1600s as part of Portuguese Goa's religious expansion. This church houses the ancient bell that was removed from the Augustinian ruins of the Church of Our Lady of Grace in the once famed city of Old Goa. This bell is considered to be the second largest of its kind in Goa, surpassed only by the Golden Bell which resides in the Sé Cathedral in Old Goa.[2]
Address: Rua José Falcão, 403001 Panaji
Goa State Museum
Museum in Panaji, India. Goa State Museum, also known as the State Archaeology Museum, Panaji, is a museum in Goa, India. Established in 1977, it contains departments including Ancient History and Archaeology, Art and Craft, and Geology. The museum, as of 2008, had about 8,000 artifacts on display, including stone sculptures, wooden objects, carvings, bronzes, paintings, manuscripts, rare coins, and anthropological objects. Currently, the Museum is located at the Adil Shah's Palace in Panaji. The Museum's erstwhile premises at the EDC Complex in Patto, Panaji shall be demolished to make way for a new Museum building.
The museum was earlier located at the EDC Complex in Patto, Panaji; before that, it was housed at St. Inez, Panaji. Currently, the Museum is located at the Adil Shah's Palace (Old Secretariat) in Panaji. The Museum's erstwhile premises at the EDC Complex in Patto, Panaji shall be demolished to make way for a new Museum building.[3]
Address: Panaji, Patto, Panaji
Sunaparanta
Art center in Panaji, India. Sunaparanta, Goa Centre for the Arts is a cultural centre in Altinho, Panjim, Goa. Its official website describes it as a "non-profit, process-based initiative to encourage creation, learning, understanding, appreciation and enjoyment of the visual arts through education and dialogue in Goa".[4]
Address: Near Lar De Estudantes, 403001 Panjim
Kala Academy
Cultural center in Panaji, India. Kala Academy is a prominent cultural centre run by the Government of Goa, in Goa, India. Situated at Campal, Panjim, it is registered as a society, and was started in February 1970. The building was designed by Charles Correa. It plays the role of being an "apex body to develop music, dance, drama, fine art, folk art, literature, etc. and thereby promote cultural unity of Goa."
Funded by the Government of Goa, the centre offers training through its faculty, and also organises festivals, competitions, exhibitions, workshops, seminars, and other programmes related to various forms of the local arts. It has a General Council of 28 members, a 14-member Executive Board, and advisory committees for various sections. In August 29, the government of Goa siad the structure could not be repaired or renovated and might have to be demolished.[5]
Address: Campal, Panaji - Goa 403 001, Panaji
Atal Setu
The Atal Setu is a cable-stayed bridge in Goa that runs between Panaji and Porvorim. It carries National Highway 66 over the tidal part of the Mandovi River. It is 5.1 kilometres long, making it the third longest cable-stayed bridge in India. Two wheelers, three wheelers and bullock carts are prohibited from using the Atal Setu due to its height of 30 metres. It officially opened on 5 February 2019.[6]
Casino Goa
The Casino Goa is a live casino located offshore in Panaji in Goa. The casino is located on a yacht, the M.V. Caravela, anchored in the River Mandovi. The casino vessel worth is 110 million Rupees and is owned by the Advani Pleasure Cruise Co Ltd, a subsidiary of Delta Corp and Casinos Austria. It has around eleven tables of American Roulette, Blackjack and Paplu besides a few electronic slot machines.
The setup of the casino was controversial as live gambling is outlawed in India. This was partially circumvented by hosting it off the mainland. The government in Goa is promoting offshore goa casino ship by granting new licences to more companies in an attempt to generate more tourist related revenue. Goa state is the only one in India that permits both electronic inland casinos as well as live offshore ones.
In 2021, the company announced that it would be investing 1.5 billion in building a new vessel to replace Caravela.[7]
Address: 1st Floor Behind Old Secretariat, 403001 Panjim
Miramar Beach
Miramar is the beach area of the Goan capital of Panjim, also known as Panaji and is one of the most visited beaches of Goa. It is one of the two only beaches in Panjim, other being Caranzalem beach. Many people, mostly tourists, come to this beach every day. Miramar Beach was the venue for Beach Volleyball events of the 2014 Lusofonia Games. Originally named Porta de Gaspar Dias by the Portuguese, the name was then changed to Miramar.
Situated at the confluence of the Mandovi River and the Arabian Sea, it is a small beach that occasionally hosts some events. There are several educational institutions in the surrounding vicinity, including Dhempe College of Arts and Science, V. M. Salgaonkar College of Law and Sharada Mandir High School. Clube Gaspar de Dias and a popular café are nearby.[8]
Address: 3 km from Panaji Centre, Panaji
Azad Maidan
Historical landmark in Panaji, India. Azad Maidan is a martyrs' monument and ground in the Indian state of Panaji, Goa. It is located opposite the Goa Police headquarters on the Mahatma Gandhi Road, Panaji. It is located at 15°30′0″N 73°49′34″E.[9]
Address: Mahatma Gandhi Road, Panaji
Shanta Durga Temple
Hindu temple in India. Shri Shantadurga Saunsthan is a private temple complex belonging to the Goud Saraswat Brahman Samaj located 30 km from Panaji at the foothill of Kavalem village in Ponda Taluka, Goa, India.
H.H.Shrimad Swamiji of Shri Kavale Math is spiritual head Of Shree Shantadurga Saunsthan, Kavale. H.H.Shrimat Shivananda Saraswati Swami Gauḍapādāchārya of Shri Kavale Math is spiritual chief Of Shree Shantadurga Saunsthan, Kavale.
Shree Shantadurga is the Kuldevi (family deity) of many Goud Saraswat Brahman.
On 4 December 2016, (Margashirsh Shuddh Panchmi). Shree Shantadurga Devasthan, Kavale has completed its 450th year of existence.[10]
Siridao
City in India. Siridao, or Siridão, is a neighborhood located at the southern end of the city of Panaji, capital of the Indian state of Goa. It is completely located on the island of Tiswadi, one of the talukas in the state of Goa. At the entrance of the neighborhood, one can see three stone carved statues playing musical instruments with a dog. Here is preserved the testimony of a huge man like creature who once inhabited the place and who was locally nicknamed 'Paulist'.[11]