Margao

Understand

This South Goa city is also the second-largest (after Vasco da Gama) by population and very busy as the administrative headquarters of South Goa. This beach spans more than 30 kilometres, from Sancoale in the north to the Mobor Peninsula in the south. Margao lies somewhat in the middle of this beach, five kilometres eastwards. Hence, it's a convenient base station for beaches like Velsao, Cansaulim, Arossim, Majorda, Betalbatim, Colva, Sernabatim, Benaulim, Varca, Fatrade, Cavelossim and Mobor. Like other Goan places, Margao too has got multiple names in different languages. It's called Madgaon by the Indian Railways, and the local Konkani pronunciation is Mudgannv or Modgannv. Margão is the Portuguese name and spelling. Skirted in part by the River Sal, Margao is known for its huge Indo-Portuguese style mansions -- they are more visible around here than in other parts of Goa. Take a look around Abade Faria Road and its eastern parallel, the Padre Miranda Road, the area around the Holy Spirit Church and St. Joaquim Road that leads to Borda. Margao is crowded and hot, but it's worth seeing. The hustle and bustle is quite incredible.

Getting there

The nearest airport is Goa Airport, at Dabolim (28 km). Margao is connected by road to other cities like Mangalore, Udupi, Karwar, Ratnagiri, and Mumbai through national highway 17. Also, there is a road which connects Margao to Ponda and other towns in Goa.

By train Goa's biggest and most important railway station, 1 Madgaon Junction (IR station code: MAO), is 2 km east of Margao town, off NH-17. Margao's railway station is big and important, an intersection of the Konkan Railway and the South Western Railway (earlier South Central Railway). It is the terminus station for several Konkan Railway trains, being a major station of the Mumbai-Mangalore rail line, after Ratnagiri. Almost all trains passing through Goa stop here, and it is the gateway to south Goa. There are direct trains from most parts of India including Delhi, Mumbai, Cochin, Mangalore and Bangalore. For a list of trains, see the main article. Margao is also a convenient point to disembark for the beaches of Palolem (38 km) or Colva and Benaulim (about 6-8 km).

By bus Margao is well connected with other cities of Goa by bus. Express mini-buses run by the (Goa government) Kadamba Transport Corporation connect Margao to Panjim (Panaji), the state-capital. These mini-buses leave from the KTC Bus Stand, on the outskirts of Margao, and one needs to queue up to buy a ticket. They ply during peak hours (not after 8PM or so). Some inter-state buses touch Margao. For instance, buses headed to Bangalore via the Karwar route, touch Margao in the evenings, and pick up passengers there. Some of the buses for Mumbai leave from Margao, but they are only a few. Buses connect the Margao-Panjim route till 9:30PM. Margao is also connected to Ponda, Vasco da Gama, Canacona, Karwar and a number of outlying villages of Margao. Margao is a major terminus on the Konkan Railway route, and local and express trains connecting to Mumbai, Gujarat, Kerala, coastal Karnataka and Tamil Nadu halt here as per their schedules.

Getting around

It is very easy to get a bike for rent in Goa, so go to any of the famous Motorcycle taxi guys and ask for a bike to rent and they will be happy to assist you. Auto rickshaws are very rare to find while taxis (Maruti Omni's, ambassadors, etc.) are easily accessible. Motorcycle taxis are a great option for solo travellers. Private buses are also very efficient for travelling within Margao and to nearby locations. Remember: unlike other states, Goa doesn't have separate men and women seating arrangements. Busses are cheap with maximum charges of around ₹6 for a 3-5 km distance. Intercity/interstate trains leave from the bigger junction station about 2 km from the centre of town. If you are getting a bus into the city and get dropped off here (just 2 km north of the main city square), public buses only run 7AM-7PM, but private buses run until about 11PM. They stop at the main road entrance to the bus stand, close to the middle. It's ₹10 to the centre of town in a private bus.

See

Some landmarks in Margao include the Presentation Convent (Holy Spirit Church area) and the Fatima Convent (near the municipal square). They are two of Margao's oldest unisex high schools started and being run by Catholic religious congregations, for girls. Clergy Home along arterial Padre (Pe.) Miranda Road was among the first shelters for retiring priests built by the Goa Archdiocese. Today you can see the reconstructed version. It is near today's district hospital, Hospicio, which is a unique edifice in its own right. It was founded by Rev. Antonio Joao de Miranda, a humble Catholic clergyman, after whom the thoroughfare outside is named. Clube Harmonia was originally called the Clube de Margao (subsequently renamed as Teatro de Harmonia) operating from a house at the Borda locality. The idea of a modern building for the Teatro de Harmonia was mooted by its members in 1936. The present structure was built 1955. Together with Bernado Peres da Silva (BPS) Club, Clube ABC and Margao Cricket Club, Harmonia is today a leading social club of the town. Hindu Mathagramasth Sabha: As the 'mathagram' in the name suggests, it's a Brahmin institution. It has provided yeoman's service in education, irrespective of creed or caste, to Margaoites. It runs the Damodar Arts & Science Higher Secondary School (not to be mixed up with Damodar College, that's run by Vidhya Vikas Mandal, a different ball game), one of the best higher secondary schools in Goa, if one goes by Std. XII science board exam results. Aga Khan's Children's Park: Few would be aware that the northern half of the Margao municipal garden was actually developed by a businessman, Abdul Javerbhai Mavany, hailing from Margao's minuscule Agakhani community. He did that after two young sons were lost to cancer and His Highness, The Aga Khan, was visiting Goa. The park was inaugurated by Goa's last Portuguese Governor General, Vassalo e Silva, in 1959. Margao is home to the popular deity of Damodar, as reflected in names

Do

See the musical fountain on weekend evenings, near Nanutel hotel Watch an Indian movie at one of the several cinemas If you go around May/June, there is a feast of the Holy Spirit church. To celebrate this, there is a huge street side sale of everything from clothes to furniture to kitchen utensils. It's near the KTC bus stand along the road. Try to lay your hands on the inexpensively priced "Margao Heritage Walk Map", that has been researched by architect-urban planner Ashish K Sinai Rege of Altinho Panjim. This is a creatively crafted map that offers suggestions for three 'heritage walks' around Margao. Each is of 20, to 35 and 45 minutes.

Buy

Margao also has a 'covered' market (earlier Mercado de Afonso de Albuquerque, near Pimplapedd or Pimpalakatta in Konkani), along Francisco Luis Gomes Road (a.k.a. Old Station Road), even if the town's main market