Goa Velha

This article is about a village in North Goa. For the UNESCO World Heritage Site, see Old Goa.
Goa Velha
Town

Saint Andrew's Church and School
Goa Velha
Coordinates: 15°26′38″N 73°52′52″E / 15.444°N 73.881°E / 15.444; 73.881Coordinates: 15°26′38″N 73°52′52″E / 15.444°N 73.881°E / 15.444; 73.881
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)

History

The town of Goa Velha stands on the site of the ancient port of "Govapuri" or "Gokapattana", 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.

Geography

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.

Demographics

As of the 2011 India census,[1] Goa Velha had a population of 4,322 . Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Goa Velha has an average literacy rate of 89.17%, higher than the state average of 88.70 %: male literacy is 82%, and female literacy is 71%. In Goa Velha, 9% of the population is under 6 years of age. 68.12% of the population is still Christian, 27.97% is Hindu and 3.77% is Muslim. Goa Velha Census Town has total administration over 1,055 houses to which it supplies basic amenities like water and sewerage. It is also authorize to build roads within Census Town limits and impose taxes on properties coming under its jurisdiction.

References

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