Goa Velha (Old Goa)

Goa Velha is a census town in North Goa district in the Indian state of Goa. It should not be confused with the World Heritage Site Velha Goa (English: Old Goa).

The town of Goa Velha stands on the site of the ancient port of "Govapuri" or "Gokapattana", which was founded by the Kadamba dynasty in the 11th century on the banks of the Zuari. Govapuri was one of the main ports first of Kadamba kingdom, and subsequently of the Vijayanagara Empire. In the 15th century, a number of wars were fought between the Deccan sultanates and Vijayanagar for control of the Goa region, as a result of which Govapuri came under the control of the Adilshahs of Bijapur. Govapuri was devasted by the wars. In addition, the Zuari had begun to recede from the port as a result of silting. As a result, the new Adilshahi rulers built a new port city for Goa some distance to the north, on the banks of the Mandovi. The Portuguese eventually made the new city the capital of Portuguese India, and called the old port of Govapuri "Goa Velha" (Portuguese for "Goa the Old"). Goa Velha continued to exist as a small town under Portuguese rule, and in 1961 was incorporated into India along with the rest of Goa.

Source: Wikipedia