ELECTIVE 5

HOUSING LAWS AND POLICIES

UNDERSTANDING NEIGHBOURHOOD:-

MARGAO CITY, GOA

CHESLON TEREZA
ROLL NO: 05
FO. Y. B. ARCH SEM-7
 MARGAO CITY

MARGAO

• Margao is a city in the western Indian state of Goa. Its Portuguese colonial past is evident in buildings like the
1675 baroque Holy Spirit Church, with its ornate interior and pipe organ. Sat Burzam Ghor is a grand 1700s
mansion with 3 of its original 7 gables remaining. Margao Municipal Garden includes the colonial Municipal
Building and library. Southwest, in Benaulim, the Goa Chitra Museum exhibits ancient tools. ― Google
• Weather: 28°C, Wind W at 8 km/h, 83% Humidity More on weather.com
• PIN: 403601/2
• Neighborhoods: Comba, Swami Vivekanand Society, Calconda, MORE
• District: South Goa
• Elevation: 10 m (30 ft)
• Sub-district: Salcete

• HISTORY
• Margao in pre-Portuguese times was one of the important settlements in Salcete and known as Matha Grama
(the village of Mathas) as it was a temple town with nine Mathas in temple schools. Its replacement in 1579 was
destroyed by raiders. The present church was built in 1675.

• While the western side of the Holy Spirit Church developed as a market place, the settlement grew on the
eastern side, that is, the Borda region.
 TOPOGRAPHY
• Margao is located at 15°16′25″N 73°57′29″E. It has an average elevation of 10 m (33 ft).[10]

• By road, Margao is located approximately 33 km (21 mi) from the capital Panjim, and 25 km (16 mi) from Dabolim
Airport , 560 kilometres (350 mi) South of Mumbai

• Nestled on the banks of the Sal River, Portuguese style mansions dot its landscape. One of the fastest growing cities
in Goa, its fast growing suburbs include Aquem, Fatorda, Gogol, Borda, Comba, Navelim and Davorlim.

 CLIMATE
• Margao features a tropical monsoon climate. Summers are warm whereas winters are mild. Summers last from
March–May when the temperature reaches up to 36 °C (97 °F) and winters from December–February when it is
usually between 15–28 °C (59–82 °F). Monsoons occur from June–September with heavy rainfall and gusty winds.
The annual average rainfall is 2,881 mm (113.4 in).

 DEMOGRAPHICS
 As of the 2011 census of India,[12] Margao had a population of 87,650.[1] Males constituted 51% of the population
and females 49%. It had an average literacy rate of 90%; male literacy was 93%, and female literacy 86.8%. In
Margao, 9.8% of the population was under 7 years of age. With a population of 106,484 in the metropolitan area,
Margao is second largest Urban agglomeration in Goa.
 CULTURE/CITYSCAPE
• The city is also claimed as the cultural capital of Goa. A cultural center named 'Ravindra Bhavan' was inaugurated by
the then Chief Minister of Goa, Digambar Kamat in July 2008 at Fatorda which is also an Official Venue For
International Film Festival of India . It also has Goa's biggest sports stadium, the Nehru Stadium at Fatorda.[13] The
Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan was held in 1964.[14]

• Some of the theatres in Margao include the Gomant Vidya Niketan, OSIA Multiplex, Vishant and Lata; in addition to
Goa's biggest theater, the Metropole. Inox has recently launched a multiplex with a capacity of 904 seats. The Gomat
Vidya Niketan is a premier centre for arts in the town.

• People from all over Goa congregate at the special market to buy spices and dried fish to be used during the
oncoming rainy season.

• The usual specialities that are found in the cuisine of Goa are also to be found in Margao. The curry of Margao is a
praised local speciality. Cans of curry of Margao are currently exported to Portugal and elsewhere.

• Margao is also the name of a brand of spices sold in Portugal.

LANDMARKS
MUNCIPAL GARDEN
In the centre of the town is the Municipal Garden, known as Praça
Jorge Barreto, around which most restaurants and office buildings are
located. On the park's south side like the colonial style red-washed
Municipal building, known as Margao Town Hall which was built in
1905, and the Library. The northern segment of the Municipal garden
was developed by the Mavany family and is named after His Highness
Prince Shah Karim Al Hussaini, Aga Khan IV/Imam of Nizari Ismaili
Muslims who visited Goa just before its liberation. The entire garden is
now municipal property and is maintained by the Margao Municipal
Council.

THE HOLY SPIRIT CHURCH

The Largo de Igreja, or the Church of the Holy Spirit, was built by the
Portuguese in 1675 and boasts a pristine white façade and an interior
dripping with gilt crystal and stucco. The Municipal Garden square is
defined on one side by the church with its baroque architecture and
the parochial house, and on the other side by the palatial mansions of
affluent elite Catholics, positioned in a row. The Associação das
Communidades (Communities Association) building and the school
being the odd exceptions which add to its character and sense of
scale. They have a maximum height of two stories, and balcões
balconies and varandas (verandas) facing the square. Parallel to the
church square is the commercial street (old market). There is also a
landscaped area next to the church called Praça da Alegria (Joy
Square). The church feast is celebrated before the monsoons, it is a
time when many residents make pre-monsoon purchases to stock up
for a prolonged rainy season.
HOUSE OF SEVEN GABLES
Just within walking distance of the Holy Spirit Church, is the famous "House of Seven Gables" or "Sat Burzam Ghor".
This magnificent mansion was built by Inacio Sebastiao da Silva, emissary and private secretary of the Portuguese
Viceroy, in 1790. Today, only three of the seven gables remain. The family church with its Baroque and Rococo
workmanship, exhibits the loftiness of the Portuguese time.