The Archaeological Museum, Old Goa
Old Goa - 9 km from Panaji - was once the centre of Portuguese dominion on the west coast of India. Here one can see fortress walls and administrative buildings, monasteries and impressive churches, especially the Basilica de Born Jesus which contains the mortal remains of Saint Francis Xavier.
The Archaeological Museum, known for its massive size, is housed in an abandoned convent of St. Francis of Assisi, displays objects that recreate the history of Goa. On display are antiques from Hindu period, sculpture of Hindu deities, for example an Uma-Mahesha, and many sati and hero stones. The large coin collection displays coin issued by various rulers - Hindu, Muslim and Portuguese. The rarities to be found in the Archeological Museum are a couple of beautiful Jain bronzes rescued by customs and excise officials from smugglers. On the ground floor there are photos of the prehistoric rock carvings at Usgalimal.
The paintings in the Archeological Museum include portraits of Vasco da Gama, the Portuguese explorer reached India in 1498, and Alfonse Albuquerque, the founder, and other governors, all clad in the prevailing European fashions of the day.
How To Reach :
By Road/Bus :
Panaji can be easily reached by roads as highways have been built that link it to neighboring states of Karnataka and Maharashtra. Inter state transport is prevalent from Maharashtra and Karnataka to Goa. Other private tour operators also run their buses regularly.
By Plane/Air :
Panaji can be easily reached by flights from major cities like Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai, Cochin, Trivandrum, Mangalore, Bangalore, etc. The Dabolim airport is at a distance of around 30 kilometers from Panaji.
By Train/Rail :
The main railway station of Goa is at Margao and is at a distance of around 33 kilometers from Panaji. Regular trains ply from places like Mumbai, Delhi, Jaipur, Secunderabad, Pune, etc.