Well, leaving the dramatics aside, Marmagoa was the site
that was first chosen to be the capital of the Portuguese
Empire. This is why, in 1685, the construction of the fort
started along with the founding of a township. The Viceroy
even moved to Marmagoa in 1703, but the Maratha warriors
(term used for Shivaji and other Hindus originating from
Maharashtra, who fought against foreign rulers) attacked
the site repeatedly, and Old Goa was made the capital instead.
Thus, Marmagoa is more or less the Fatehpur Sikri of Goa,
minus the monuments, of course. But with the harbour starts
lore. The port is one of India's finest natural harbours.
If one wants to extricate oneself from the beaches, a sunset
walk around the harbour can be a pleasant change.
How to Get There
Air:
Dabolim, Goa's airport, lies on top of a rocky plateau,
4-km southeast of Vasco da Gama.
Rail:
The nearest railway station is situated at Vasco da Gama.
Road:
Kadamba Terminus is 3-km east of the town centre from
Vasco. From Vasco one can catch ferries to reach Margao
harbour.
Places to Stay
Being one of the major cities of Goa and a trade harbour,
it’s not difficult to find good and reasonable accommodations
in the city. The options include mid-range hotels to budget
hotels and tourist lodges. One can also find fine beach
resort accommodations over here.
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