Vasco da Gama, Goa

Infobox Indian Jurisdiction
native_name=Vasco da Gama
type=town
locator_position=left
latd = 15.4|longd=73.83
state_name=Goa
district=South Goa
leader_title=
leader_name=
altitude=
population_as_of = | population_total = | population_density =
area_magnitude=1
area_total=
area_telephone=
postal_code=
vehicle_code_range=
unlocode=
footnotes = |

Vasco da Gama (Konkani/Marathi : वास्को) (often shortened to Vasco) is a small city in Goa state on the west coast of India. It is named after the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama. Vasco has Goa's largest population, estimated at over 100,000. It is also the headquarters of the Mormugao taluka. The town lies on the western tip of the Mormugao peninsula, at the mouth of the Zuari River, about 30 km from Panaji (Panjim), Goa's capital, and about 5 km from the Dabolim Airport (GOI).

The place was founded in 1543, and remained in Portuguese hands until 1961, when Goa was annexed to India. The Indian Navy's Goa Naval Area (base) is located at Vasco from which it controls Dabolim airport and, in effect, the entire tourism-dependent state of Goa.

Vasco "city" is well connected by road, rail, sea and air;By road by the NH 17A (National Highway), by rail by the South Western Railway, by the sea through the Mormugoa Harbour and by air by the Dabolim Airport, thus serving as the main hub for foreign Tourists.

Manganese ore mined in interior regions is brought to Marmugoa by barges navigating the rivers Mandovi and Zuari, and then either collected in the Mormugao Port to be loaded onto bulk carrier ships or directly loaded onto the ships using trans-shippers.Ore which is collected on the port is handled by state-of-the-art machinery called MOHP (Mechanical Ore Handling Plant). This includes massive bucket wheel loaders and miles of conveyor belts. The port has berthing facilities for large cruise liners as well as a floating dry dock.

Tourism

Bogmalo Beach is 9 km from Vasco. This beach is quite risky as it has underwater currents and is therefore usually monitored by lifeguards. Khollant and Baina are two smaller beaches around Vasco.

The people from Vasco love fun and music, so it is a matter of fact that Goa's premier musical group, Diamond Orchestra, hails from Vasco. The town is also home to several English bands from Goa namely, Lynx, Heaven's Touch, and Kollectiv Soul. Vasco is also famous as the abode of Goa's toddy tappers, Vialli (locally known as Render), holds the world record for staying in a coconut tree for almost two years. Facts|date=June 2008