Margao

Margao is also called Madgaon or Maudgao in Konkani, the local language, before in times of the Portuguese the city was called Margão. The city of Margao is located in southern part of Goa, which is a small western State of India; Margao is located in the heart of the Salcett Taluka. It is also the second largest and busiest city, the commercial capital of the Goa State, capital of the South Goa District, and also the administrative headquarters of the district and of the Salcete Taluka. The city lies on the banks of the River Sal.

Margao city was the home of the Mathas of the Vaishnava, the number of Mathas grew gradually and gave the name of the Matha-gram, which was the first name that came from the combination of two words, “Math” that means Hindu Religious Center; and “Gram” that means Village. Later, the city took the name of Madgaon, finally when the Portuguese was ruler in this land the name became Margao; but the most important fact for the city in the Portuguese pre-era was the River Sal, which was the hotspot of trade in the region, received cargo boats from Arabian and Africa, and once a major religious center. Later, during the Portuguese rule, the city became in a landscape with the hugest Portuguese style, in its mansions, churches, and buildings in the European style.

Now located to 30 kilometers from Vasco da Gama city, and 33 kilometers from Panaji the Capital of the Goa State, is a hub of the transporting in the state, there is a railway junction positioned at the intersection of the Konkan Railway and the South Western Railway. The city is surrounded by fertile landmark, and the town is an important agricultural market. It also has sightseeing places, many religious places such as ruins of dozens of wealthy temples and dharamshalas, which was destroyed when Portuguese conquered India; Catholic churches is other attraction, these are still more than the Hindu Shrines, the Mansions which are beautiful by their architecture are the memories of the Portuguese past, and the influx of the migrant labor from neighboring Karnata and Maharastra, making of the city a town cosmopolitan and multicultural.

The major attractions of the city are its beaches, especially Colva beach and the Benaulim Beach; both are a summer retreat for Margao’s moneyed middle classes and other tourists, located to 7 kilometers from Margao, these are the most old resort of the South Goa. The city is beautiful by its historical Largo de Igreja, the church square, near of the church called the Holy Spirit, dominate of the entrance of the city, just north of the municipal garden square, other beautiful place to walk o spent the free time, near of the famous “House of Seven Gables” or “Sat Burzam Ghor”.

The town is a center of the markets trading, these have riot of colors and a very Goan experience of a lifetime, and inside of the market you can find variety of shops, textiles, handicrafts and ready made garments.
Margao was known as Madgaon before the Portuguese settlement. Ancient Margao was home to the Vaishnavas before the settlement of the Portuguese colonizers and there were a number of hindu temples here. The earliest settlers used to reside around the Damodar Temple which was later brought down and the Holy Spirit Church was made in its place. During the Portuguese rule of Goa many Hindus migrated out of the area to other parts of India. Hindu temples were destroyed and Christianity became the main religion. Those who stayed back were forced to convert to Christianity.

It was one of the major trading cities under the Portuguese and was known to be the administrative and commercial center.