Old Goa
Old Goa was a historic city situated on the southern bank of the River Mandovi, on the island of Tiswadi.The city was established by the Bijapur Sultanate in the 15th century AD.
Following its conquest by Afonso de Albuquerque in 1510, the city rapidly grew in importance and became the capital of the Portuguese East Indies, becoming a flourishing metropolitan city of 2,00,000 by the 17th century.Goa tremendiously influenced its surrounding territory and eventually gave the modern state of Goa its name. The city was remarked by numerous travellers as being one of the wealthiest cities in Asia, filled with splendor and pomp. The city reached its zenith during 1580–1630, rivalling the cities of London and Lisbon of that time.The city was struck by numerous plagues and epidemics all through the 17th century, and it rapidly decayed following the decline of Portuguese supremecy in the east. It was already deserted by the 1760's.
Getting to Old Goa
Panjim (Panaji), the state capital of Goa, is barely 9 km from here, so it is easy to take a bus from Panjim to Old Goa. Private vehicles too ply, but taxis tend to overcharge in Goa.
Worth seeing
- 01Archaeological Museum and Portrait Gallery
- 02Basilica of Bom Jesus
Home to the grave of St.
- 03Church of St
Cajetan.
- 04Chapel of St
Catherine.
- 05Church and Convent of St
Francis of Assisi.
- 06Church of Lady of Rosary
Things to do
Spend time walking around the monuments and see how Old Goa fits into global history and the meeting points of cultures of another century.
Where to eat
Options for food and drink are limited in Old Goa. There are a few restaurants in the area, and along the highway that passes through the area.
Getting around Old Goa the local way
- Get inFrom the railway station, taxis, rickshaws and buses go to Panaji, but if you are carrying only a backpack, motorcycle taxis are a bargain, plus you get to ride on the pillion seat!
From Wikivoyage: Panaji, CC BY-SA. Not yet checked by us. Last edited 2026-09.
Text adapted from Wikipedia and Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photograph: Wikimedia Commons (see Commons), Wikimedia Commons.