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Vasco da Gama, Goa

Coordinates: 15°23′53″N 73°48′40″E / 15.39806°N 73.81111°E / 15.39806; 73.81111
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Vasco da Gama
City
A view of the city
A view of the city
Map
Vasco in Goa
Coordinates: 15°23′53″N 73°48′40″E / 15.39806°N 73.81111°E / 15.39806; 73.81111
CountryIndia
StateGoa
DistrictSouth Goa
Sub-districtMormugao
Named forVasco da Gama
Elevation
43 m (141 ft)
Population
 (2011)[1][better source needed]
 • Total
100,000
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN
403802
Area code91-832
Vehicle registrationGA-06
Official languageKonkani[2]
Websitewww.mmcvasco.com

Vasco da Gama (/ˌvæskoʊ də ˈɡæmə/), often shortened to Vasco, is a city in the state of Goa on the west coast of India. It is named after the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama. It is the headquarters of the Mormugão taluka (subdistrict). The city lies on the western tip of the Mormugao peninsula, at the mouth of the Zuari River, about 30 kilometres (19 mi) from Panaji, Goa's capital, 28 kilometres (17 mi) from Margao, the district headquarters and about 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) from Dabolim Airport.

The city was founded in 1543 and remained in Portuguese hands until the 1961 Indian military operation that annexed Goa. The 1888-constructed Mormugao Port remains a busy shipping route in Asia. This port is built by the Portuguese king in alliance with Gali Sidhayya who is the then zamindar of the Goa region. It is one of the major ports of independent India.[3] The shipbuilding area of Goa Shipyard Limited that builds Indian Navy and Coast Guard vessels was also built there in 1957 (during the Portuguese era). Initially built around the city's harbour as the 'Estaleiros Navais de Goa', the area has, since the end of Portuguese presence, expanded into construction for several other branches of maritime patrol and security. The Indian Navy has an obvious presence here, with its vast campuses and ports, which include the naval base INS Hansa.[4]

History

[edit]
Vasco da Gama Municipal Market in 1958, with the Clock Tower on the left

This city, in the former Portuguese territory of Goa, is named after the famous Portuguese explorer and navigator Vasco da Gama, who held the title of Governor of Portuguese India. This city serves as the headquarters of the Mormugao sub-district. It was founded in 1543 and remained in Portuguese hands until 1961, when the territory was lost to India.[5][better source needed]

Vasco da Gama, 1st Count of Vidigueira was the first European to reach India by sea. His initial voyage to India (1497–1499) was the first to link Europe and Asia by an ocean route, connecting the Atlantic and the Indian oceans and, in this way, the West and the East. He reached Goa on 11 September 1524 but died at Kochi three months later. His remains were eventually returned to Portugal and interred at St Jeronimos monastery.[6][better source needed]

The city is sometimes referred to as Sambhaji Nagar. Sambhaji was the eldest son of Shivaji, the founder of the Maratha Empire. An attempt was made to change the city's name to Sambhaji Nagar, and this is reflected in a few government records. However, no official records have been found as to when the city was renamed. It is thus dismissed as a political move.[7][8][9]

Renovation of Clock Tower

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Clock Tower at Vasco da Gama, Goa

In 2015, after a campaign by the Goa Heritage Action Group and the History Lovers Group, the Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) decided to renovate the clock tower of the municipal market in the heart of the city. Built in 1921, the complex is an example of Art Deco style of architecture.[10][11] The renovation work was completed in 2017 with funding provided by the Rajaram and Tarabai Bandekar Charitable Trust, and the clock was brought in from Nashik.[12][13]

Climate

[edit]

The city has a tropical monsoon climate (Koppen: Am)

Climate data for Vasco da Gama
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 31.1
(88.0) 		31.2
(88.2) 		31.4
(88.5) 		32.0
(89.6) 		31.6
(88.9) 		27.9
(82.2) 		26.7
(80.1) 		26.7
(80.1) 		27.5
(81.5) 		29.5
(85.1) 		31.3
(88.3) 		31.6
(88.9) 		29.9
(85.8)
Daily mean °C (°F) 25.4
(77.7) 		25.9
(78.6) 		27.0
(80.6) 		28.4
(83.1) 		28.5
(83.3) 		26.1
(79.0) 		25.2
(77.4) 		25.1
(77.2) 		25.5
(77.9) 		26.5
(79.7) 		26.8
(80.2) 		26.1
(79.0) 		26.4
(79.5)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 20.4
(68.7) 		20.9
(69.6) 		23.0
(73.4) 		25.2
(77.4) 		26.1
(79.0) 		24.9
(76.8) 		24.3
(75.7) 		23.9
(75.0) 		23.9
(75.0) 		24.2
(75.6) 		23.0
(73.4) 		21.5
(70.7) 		23.4
(74.2)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 1
(0.0) 		0
(0) 		5
(0.2) 		6
(0.2) 		83
(3.3) 		718
(28.3) 		868
(34.2) 		578
(22.8) 		272
(10.7) 		137
(5.4) 		27
(1.1) 		5
(0.2) 		2,700
(106.4)
Average rainy days 0 0 0 1 6 20 22 21 18 12 3 1 104
Average relative humidity (%) 64 67 74 74 76 89 91 91 89 84 72 63 78
Source: Climate data.org[14]

Transport

[edit]

Vasco is connected by road by the National Highway 17A and National Highway 17B, by rail by the Vasco da Gama railway station,[15] by the sea through the Mormugao Port[16] and by air through Dabolim Airport, thus serving as the main hub for most tourists visiting the state of Goa.

Sports

[edit]

As in the rest of Goa, football is the most popular sport in Vasco. Two teams from the town have participated in the I-League – Vasco Sports Club and Salgaocar Sports Club. Salgaocar SC were Champions of the 1998–99 season[17] of the erstwhile NFL. Tilak Maidan is a 6,000-seater[18] football ground located in the city, hosts Indian Super League matches.[19] The stadium sporting a magnificent turf hosted I-league matches during April 2013, as the home ground for the four teams from Goa in the league, when Fatorda Stadium was closed down for renovation.[20]

Although cricket is not as popular as football, a Vasco resident Shadab Jakati[21] plays for Goa in the Ranji Trophy first-class competition and has also been selected to play for the Chennai Super Kings IPL franchise. Railway Stadium is a cricket ground in Vasco da Gama. The only recorded match held on the ground was a first-class match between Goa and Kerala in the 1986/87 Ranji Trophy,[22] which Kerala won by 6 wickets.[23]

Politics

[edit]

The city of Vasco falls under the boundaries of the South Goa (Lok Sabha constituency) previously Mormugao Lok Sabha constituency in the Lok Sabha. The current Member of Parliament is Francisco Sardinha of the Indian National Congress.[24]

The extended city of Vasco / Mormugao elects three representatives to the Goa Legislative Assembly:[25]

Research

[edit]

The National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research (NCAOR)[26] located at Headland Sada is a research and development institution administered by the Ministry of Earth Sciences. It is responsible for administering the Indian Antarctic Program and maintains the Indian government's Antarctic research station, Maitri. In addition to laboratories for marine sample processing/analyses, it hosts a special low-temperature ice core sample storage facility. It is also the nodal agency for Indian scientific participation in the deep sea drilling research under the aegis of International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP).

Education

[edit]
  • The Birla Institute of Technology & Science, Pilani started its second campus BITS Pilani Goa Campus at Zuarinagar in Vasco da Gama. The campus offers undergraduate and postgraduate courses in engineering and science.[27]
  • The Navy Children School, established in 1987 under the aegis of Naval Education Society, is located in Vasco-da-Gama. It is one of eight similar institutions in India.[28]
  • The city has two Kendriya Vidyalayas, established under the aegis of the Indian Navy. Both are located at Mangor Hill in the Varunapuri compound.[28]
  • Mormugao Educational Society's College of Arts and Commerce, locally known as MES College, is an institution in Zuarinagar, Vasco-da-Gama which provides training in commerce and the arts.[29]
  • Mormugao Port Trust also runs three schools at the Primary, Secondary and Higher Secondary levels named Deepvihar.[30]
  • New Dawn Ashadeep School is a special school for the physically disabled.[31]
[edit]
  • Old Bus station
    Old Bus station
  • Motorcycle Taxi Stand and Municipal School
    Motorcycle Taxi Stand and Municipal School
  • Martyrs Memorial (Hutatma Chowk)
    Martyrs Memorial (Hutatma Chowk)
  • Old Municipal Market
    Old Municipal Market
  • Post Office
    Post Office
  • St. Andrew's Church
    St. Andrew's Church
  • Main fish and produce market
    Main fish and produce market
  • Vasco da Gama Railway Station
    Vasco da Gama Railway Station
  • Bat's Island (Pequeno) seen from Baina Beach
    Bat's Island (Pequeno) seen from Baina Beach
  • Replica of the INS Viraat at the Naval Aviation Museum
    Replica of the INS Viraat at the Naval Aviation Museum

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Maps of India-Vasco da Gama". Archived from the original on 21 April 2017. Retrieved 1 March 2017.
  2. ^ "The Goa, Daman and Diu Official Language Act, 1987" (PDF). indiacode.nic.in. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
  3. ^ "Major ports cargo traffic up 4.83% in Apr–Nov". The Hindu: Business Line. 10 December 2018. Archived from the original on 5 November 2021. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  4. ^ "Goa airport's runway deteriorating, may affect operations: Indian Navy". Hindustan Times. 11 May 2018. Archived from the original on 11 May 2018. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  5. ^ "Reclaiming Vasco-da-Gama, the port town". The Neutral View. 30 January 2018. Archived from the original on 12 December 2018. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  6. ^ "Vasco da Gama's Voyage of 'Discovery' 1497". South African History Online. 21 March 2011. Archived from the original on 3 March 2022. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  7. ^ Jha, Navin (2 December 2015). "Has Vasco da Gama been renamed Sambhaji?". oHeraldo. Archived from the original on 27 May 2017. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  8. ^ "Demand to change name of Vasco da Gama city". Goa News. 26 December 1997. Archived from the original on 19 April 2017. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  9. ^ Nagvenkar, Mayabhushan (5 December 2015). "From Vasco da Gama to Sambhaji: Goans accuse BJP of a sneaky plot to rename a town". Scroll.in. Archived from the original on 20 April 2016. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  10. ^ "Vasco's heritage clock tower to get a new lease of life". The Times of India. 21 June 2015. Archived from the original on 20 December 2018. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  11. ^ "History Lovers Group all set to restore the Vasco Clock Tower". The Navhind Times. 13 March 2015. Archived from the original on 15 December 2018. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  12. ^ "Tick-tock! Vasco's heritage clock tower catches up with the times". The Times of India. 1 April 2017. Archived from the original on 19 December 2018. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  13. ^ Fernandes, Adelmo (5 June 2017). "Vasco heritage clock stands tall amidst a dilapidated market". oHeraldo. Archived from the original on 15 December 2018. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  14. ^ "Vasco da Gama Climate: Temperature & Weather by month". Climate data. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  15. ^ "Vasco Railway Station bags 'best maintained station' award". oHeraldo. Archived from the original on 15 December 2018. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  16. ^ "Italian cruise ship brings over 1,000 visitors to Goa – Times of India". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 19 December 2018. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  17. ^ "Indianfootball.com". Archived from the original on 23 October 2018. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
  18. ^ "Venue Details: Tilak Maidan". indianfootball.com. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 11 February 2010.
  19. ^ ISL 2021-22: Mrcela, Vazquez goals leads to 1-1 draw between SC East Bengal and Kerala Blasters Archived 12 December 2021 at the Wayback Machine sportstar.thehindu.com. 12 December 2021. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
  20. ^ "I-League to resume at Tilak Maidan from Thursday". Archived from the original on 18 February 2015. Retrieved 8 April 2013.
  21. ^ "Shadab Jakati – India Cricket – Cricket Players and Officials – ESPN Cricinfo". Content.cricinfo.com. Archived from the original on 27 March 2009. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
  22. ^ "First-class Matches played on Railway Stadium, Vasco da Gama". CricketArchive. Archived from the original on 5 October 2015. Retrieved 29 October 2011.
  23. ^ "Goa v Kerala, 1985/86 Ranji Trophy". CricketArchive. Archived from the original on 14 December 2014. Retrieved 29 October 2011.
  24. ^ "South Goa Lok Sabha Election Result 2019 LIVE Updates: close contest between Cosme Francisco Caitano Sardinha from INC and Narendra Keshav Sawaikar from BJP". Firstpost. Archived from the original on 16 June 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  25. ^ "Goa elections result 2017: Full list of constituencies and their winners". 12 March 2017. Archived from the original on 21 April 2017. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
  26. ^ "National Centre for Antarctic & Ocean Research, Goa, India". NCAOR.nic.in. Archived from the original on 8 October 2012. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
  27. ^ "BITS Goa to enter into MoU with Texas varsity – Times of India". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 12 December 2018. Retrieved 10 December 2018.
  28. ^ a b "CBSE schools in Goa log impressive pass percentages at Class X exam – Times of India". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 12 December 2018. Retrieved 10 December 2018.
  29. ^ "MES College felicitates meritorious students". The Navhind Times. December 2020. Archived from the original on 10 December 2018. Retrieved 10 December 2018.
  30. ^ "Thousands protest in Goa after girl raped in school toilet". NDTV.com. Archived from the original on 10 December 2018. Retrieved 10 December 2018.
  31. ^ "Gul Panag to run Goa River Marathon". DNA India. 6 December 2011. Archived from the original on 10 December 2018. Retrieved 10 December 2018.
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Goa limestone

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