Goa Velha
| Goa Velha | |
|---|---|
| Town | |
Saint Andrew's Church and School
|
|
 Goa Velha
Goa Velha
|
|
| Coordinates: 15°26′38″N 73°52′52″E / 15.444°N 73.881°ECoordinates: 15°26′38″N 73°52′52″E / 15.444°N 73.881°E | |
| Country |
 India
|
| State | Goa |
| District | North Goa |
| Sub District | Ilhas |
| Founded by | Afonso Albuquerque |
| Named for | "Goa - The Old" in Portuguese |
| Government | |
| Area | |
| • Total | 6.20 km2 (2.39 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 6 m (20 ft) |
| Population (2011) | |
| • Total | 4,322 |
| • Density | 700/km2 (1,800/sq mi) |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Konkani |
| • Also Spoken (understood) | English |
| • Historical | Portuguese |
| Religions | |
| • Dominant | Christianity |
| • Minor | Hinduism |
| • Historical | Roman Catholicism |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| Postcode | 403108 |
| Telephone Code | 0832 |
Goa Velha is a census town in Ilhas, Goa. It should not be confused with the World Heritage Site Velha Goa (English: Old Goa). St. Andrew's is its parish church. It is well known for its yearly 'procession of saints' (Konkani: santanchem pursanv)
The town of Goa Velha stands on the site of the ancient port of "Govapuri" or "Gopakapattana", which was founded by the Kadamba Dynasty in the 11th century on the banks of the Zuari River. Govapuri was one of the main ports first of the Kadamba Dynasty, and subsequently of the Vijayanagara Empire. In the 15th century, a number of wars were fought between the Deccan sultanates and Vijayanagara for control of the Goa region, as a result of which Govapuri came under the control of the Adilshahs of Bijapur. Govapuri was devastated by the wars. In addition, the Zuari had begun to recede from the port as a result of silting. As a result, the new Adilshahi rulers built a new port city for Goa some distance to the north, on the banks of the Mandovi. The Portuguese eventually made the new city the capital of Portuguese India, and called the old port of Govapuri "Goa Velha" (Portuguese for "Goa the Old"). Goa Velha continued to exist as a small town under Portuguese rule, and in 1961 was incorporated into India along with the rest of Goa.
Goa Velha is located adjacent to Pilar in Ilhas, North Goa. By road it is approximately 2.5 kilometres north-west of Agaçaim, 12 kilometres south-east of the capital Panjim, 17 kilometres north-east of Vasco da Gama, and 22 kilometres north of the South Goa district headquarters Margão.
...
Wikipedia