Old Goa
Old Goa
| |
|---|---|
City | |
| Coordinates: 15°30′11″N 73°54′43″E / 15.503°N 73.912°E | |
| Country | India |
| State | Goa |
| District | North Goa |
| Sub District | Ilhas |
| Established | 1510 |
| Founded by | Afonso de Albuquerque |
| Named after | "Old Goa" in Portuguese |
| Government | |
| • Type | Panchayat |
| Area | |
• Total | 4 km2 (2 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 6 m (20 ft) |
| Population (2011) | |
• Total | 2,550 |
| • Density | 640/km2 (1,700/sq mi) |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Konkani |
| • Also Spoken | English, Portuguese |
| • Historical | Portuguese |
| Religions | |
| • Dominant | Roman Catholicism |
| • Minor | Hinduism |
| • Historical | Roman Catholicism |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| Postcode | 403403 |
| Telephone Code | 0832 |
Old Goa (Konkani: Pornnem Gõy; Adlem Gõy; Portuguese: Velha Goa, lit. ''Old Goa'') is a historical site and city situated on the southern banks of the River Mandovi, within the Tiswadi taluka (Ilhas) of North Goa district, in the Indian state of Goa.
The city was established by the Bijapur Sultanate in the 15th century AD. After the Portuguese conquest of Goa, it served as capital of Portuguese Indian possessions, such as Mumbai/Bombay (Bom Bahia) territory and the state of Kochi/Cochin (Cochim), until its abandonment in the 18th century AD due to a plague. Under Portuguese rule, it is said to have been a city of nearly 200,000 people, from whence the spice trade was carried out across the Portuguese East Indies. The deserted city, containing churches and convents of outstanding architectural and religious importance, has been declared a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO. Old Goa is approximately 10 kilometres (6.2 miles) east of the current state capital of Panjim (Portuguese: Nova Goa, lit. ''New Goa'').