Goa, India

Originally, Panjim was a small village on the river front which was renamed Nova Goa in 1843 when it replaced the city of Old Goa officially as the administrative seat of Portuguese India. Like the former Portuguese territories and rest of Goa, Panjim was annexed by India in the invasion of 1961. While Panjim is host to more of the local population, it also draws visitors as it houses some of the most popular sites in Goa. Some of these include the Portuguese Baroque Our Lady of Immaculate Conception Church which was originally built in 1541, the Chapel of St. Sebastian and the old and rebuilt Adilshahi Palace which dates back to the 16th century. Apart from these, the Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary which plays host to rare and endangered species of birds is located close to the city and draws visitors. The city is easily accessible by road and has a number of educational institutes within and on the outskirts. It also has hotels, although few in number to cater to the accommodation of tourists. Situated on the banks of the Mandovi River, Panjim is the third largest city in Goa and is also the capital of the state. It is the headquarters of the North Goa district and has a population of about 100,000.