Madgaon

About 33 km south of Panjim, Madgaon is a major religious centre and commercial hub of Goa. Madgaon is the oldest and the second largest city in Goa. Located on the banks of the Sal River, the city gets its name from the Sanskrit word ‘Mathagram’ which stands for a place that has a math.

The city was home to numerous mathas of the Vaishnava sect. The name changed to Margao when the Portuguese colonized the region. Madgaon is the capital of Salcete taluk which gets its name from the Sal River. Sal River, which has now become choked with silt, was once a very popular place for trading activities. Boats from Arab and African countries used to frequent the town with precious cargo to be traded. There are many churches, temples and monuments in the city and along the Colva and Benaulim beach. The Church of Holy Spirit is a fine example of Goan architecture and it also has carved apostles.