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Panjim, also known as Panaji, is the capital of Goa and the headquarters of North Goa district. Earlier, it was also the territorial capital of the former Portugal India. It used to be a small fishing village with a lot of coconut trees, creeks and fields. The riverside, dotted with radiantly whitewashed houses offers a fine and unique view, with some really amazing things to do in Panjim. It is a typical Goan town and Panaji is constructed around a church facing a square. The town has some beautiful Portuguese Baroque-style buildings and enchanting old villas.
8 Things To Do In Panjim
Here are the top things to do in Panjim for a blissful vacation in Goa that will capture your hearts for a lifetime memory:
1. Witness Monumental Views At The Basilica Of Bom Jesus
Photo: Aviatorjk / Wikimedia Commons
The Basilica of Bom Jesus is more than 400 years old and is surrounded by well-managed gardens. This Roman Catholic basilica is where St. Francis Xavier’s remains are present.The baroque-style architecture of this heritage monument is very pleasing to the eye and the gateway is ornate. The church is one of the oldest in Goa and in the country as well. The floor is built of marble along with rare stones. Apart from the intricate gilded altars, the interior style of the church is quite simple. The church also has paintings of moments taken from the life of St. Francis Xavier. Visiting this church is one of the best things to do in Panjim.
Timings: 8 AM to 6 PM
Entry Fee: Free
2. Enjoy A Stroll At Vainguinim Beach
Photo: Timothy A. Gonsalves / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only
With the scenic Arabian Sea on one side and the tough cliffs of the Western Ghats, Vainguinim Beach is the ideal lazy getaway for those who wish for the sun. Popular for its silver sand seashore, Vainguinim Beach is an amazing destination to visit with greenish-blue water and great marine life. You can either go for a relaxing swim or indulge the adventure junkie in you with windsurfing, banana boat rides, water skiing or parasailing. Different types of beautiful, twittering birds dig into yummy seafood. The beach has an array of trees which are housed by a variety of birds, one of the amazing things to see in Panjim.
Timings: 12 AM to 12 PM
Entry Fee: Free ( activities in the beach have separate charges)
3. Try Sampling Traditional Goan Food At Kokni Kanteen
Photo: Lazybuck / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only
Since 1972, Kokni Kanteen has been serving Goan food, the iconic fish thali and a special Shravan thali, and fresh fish which is rava fried. Some more Goan favourites here are ambotik, cafreal and tondak are on the menu as well. Kokni Kanteen feels like a beautiful and cosy home, adorned with toy kitchen sets, clay and brass utensils, and images of Goa with Konkani music booming over the speakers. The food is quite simple and fuss-free. When you start wondering about what to do in Panjim, visit Kokni Kanteen.
Timings: 12:30 PM to 3 PM and 7:30 PM to 11:30 PM
Entry Fee: ₹850 for two
4. Visit Mahalaxmi Temple
Photo: Lovelitjadhav / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only
Nestled in the very heart of the city of Panaji, this temple is one of the most sacred and popular temples of Panaji city. Goddess Mahalaxmi is considered the prominent deity of the entire city. The idol of Mahalaxmi in this temple is also very unique as it has a very near resemblance to the renowned Mahalaxmi idol of Kolhapur. Its religious grandeur and popularity in Panaji are the same as the famous Siddhivinayak Temple of Mumbai or the eminent Sai Baba Temple close to the city of Ahmednagar. The main idol of the Goddess Mahalaxmi is also brought outside during the festival of Mahashivratri, on a chariot carried on the shoulders of devotees.
Timings: 6 AM to 8:30 PM
Entry Fee: Free
5. Pray At Our Lady Of The Immaculate Conception Church
Photo: Ondřej Žváček / Wikimedia Commons
Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Church is a major tourist spot in Goa. From here, you can admire the picturesque views of Panjim, apart from clicking some lovely pictures on the zigzag steps of the church. The large ancient bell it houses is a source of awe and was acquired from the Augustinian Monastery when it got damaged. It is painted in a bright white colour, the church stands out easily due to its colossal belfry and two towers. During the Festival of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, held each year on 8 December, the church is colourfully illuminated along with a fair.
Timings: 6 AM to 1 PM and 5 PM to 8 PM
Entry Fee: Free
6. Have Fun At The Casino Pride
Photo: Pixabay / Pexels / Image For Representation Only
Casino Pride is a vibrant and exciting place that you should visit at least once during your trip to Panjim. Situated on the delicate waves of the Arabian Sea, the whole arrangement is set on the deck of a cruise. This magical setting will transcend you to a different realm with all the services it has for its visitors. Sailing through the massive ocean, the cruise gives you some stunning views of the horizons of golden land and turquoise sea. The casino has a selected range of games from around the world and some of the most popular games from Indian origins.
Timings: 24*7
Entry Fee: ₹2000 per adult
7. Explore The Goa Chitra Museum
Photo: JosephAssisFernandes / Wikimedia Commons
The Goa Chitra Museum in Benaulim is one of the few museums in Goa that showcases traditional farming equipment, which includes tools used by farmers centuries ago. There are over 4000 tools exhibited here. The museum is based in the coastal Goan village of Benaulim. It was opened to the public in 2009, and run by the artist-curator-restorer Victor Hugo Gomes. Gomes, a lifelong collector of objects. This museum in Goa also showcases coconut farming tools, local pottery, ancient carts, milk churning tools, traditional hand-woven baskets and several other implements that are not in use any more. The Archaeological Survey of India has rated this museum “India’s Top Most Contemporary Museum”.
Timings: 9 AM to 6 PM
Entry Fee: ₹300
8. Enjoy Bird Watching
Photo: Malene Thyssen / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only
Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary is an estuarine mangrove habitat, which is declared as the bird sanctuary, and located on the western tip of the Island of Chorão along the Mandovi River. The sanctuary is named after Salim Ali, the eminent Indian ornithologist. The sanctuary and island are accessed by a ferry service running between Ribander and Chorão. The sanctuary has a paved walk that runs between mangroves, covered by low mangrove forests. The common species of birds include the striated heron and western reef heron. Other species that have been recorded include the little bittern, black bittern, red knot, jack snipe and pied avocet.
Timings: 6 AM to 6 PM
Entry Fee: ₹30 for Indians and ₹100 for Foreign tourists
Panjim has been a personal favourite beach destination in Goa for many tourists who come here. The serene and exciting things to do in Panjim allures everyone for a minimum of one visit in this lifetime. It is a wonderful place to visit and now that you know about all its attractions, visit and make memories. Plan an amazing trip to Panjim in Goa with TripXL.
Cover Photo: Fredericknoronha / Wikimedia Commons
