Panaji /pndi/ (Panaje, pronounced [p], [pi] ( listen), Pangim in Portuguese, more popularly known as Panjim in English) is the capital of the Indian state of Goa and the headquarters of North Goa district. It lies on the banks of the Mandovi River estuary in the Ilhas de Goa sub-district (taluka). With a population of 114,759 in the metropolitan area, Panjim is Goa's largest Urban agglomeration, ahead of Margao and Vasco da Gama. Panjim means "land that never floods".[inconsistent] It has terraced hills, concrete buildings with balconies and red-tiled roofs, churches, and a riverside promenade. There are avenues lined with gulmohar, acacia and other trees. The Baroque Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Church is located overlooking the main square known as Praa da Igreja. Colourful villas, cobbled streets and interesting buildings help Panjim retain its Portuguese ambiance and culture. Panaji is the first city in India to be built on a planned grid system.[8] Panaji has been selected as one of the hundred Indian cities to be developed as a smart city under PM Narendra Modi's flagship Smart Cities Mission.
