Panjim or Panaji, the capital city of Goa is located on the left bank of the river Mandovi and is connected to mainland by bridges. It is the third largest city, after Vasco and Margao. The beautiful red hoofed houses, built in Latin style, white washed churches, well-manicured gardens, tree lined boulevards, colonial buildings and the cobbled lanes add to the charm of the city. Home to many reputed colleges and institutes, Panaji boasts of several historical monuments, temples and churches, which are scattered all over the city. Church of the Lady of Immaculate conception, St Anne Church, Chapel of St Jerome, Mahalaxmi Temple, Hanuman temple and Jain temple are some of the major pilgrimage shrine here. Other tourist attractions in Panaji are Idalcao’s Palace, Fontainhas, San Thome, Altinho, Church Square, Statue of Abbe Faria, Menesez Braganza building and Panjim State Archeological Museum.
Panaji offers plenty of accommodation options to tourists. Finding a place to stay is only a problem during festive season (Sept-Oct) and during peak season that is from December to January when the room tariffs double. At other times, the hotels in Panjim offer amazing discounts on all room categories and hotel packages. The budget hotels in Panjim are clustered around the Fontainhas and the back street behind the esplanade. The rooms offered are clean and spacious and have all necessary amenities such as television, fan, telephone, and hot/cold running water. Budget conscious travellers can also choose to stay in the GTDC hotels, which offer good value for money.
For high-end tourists, Panaji has many five star hotels, which are known for their international standards of service and gracious hospitality. Located in the posh areas of Panjim, the five star hotels in Panjim are just a stone’s throw away from the major landmarks of the city and the premier shopping areas. Overlooking the well-inlaid gardens, the rooms of the hotels are elegantly decorated and are endowed with state of the art amenities. There are multi cuisine restaurants, bars, swimming pool, business centers, fitness center, games rooms and entertainment zone with in the premises of the five star hotels in Panjim.
Many hotels in Panjim have travel desks, which organize exciting sightseeing tours and excursions for the guests. Some of the other facilities provided by Panjim hotels are Doctor on Call, Car Parking, Safe Deposit Lockers, Laundry, Money Changer, Car Rental, Banking, Internet Access, and Credit Card Acceptance. |
